LAYS OF THE GOSPEL.

LAYS OF THE GOSPEL.

I.

THE INCARNATION OF THE WORD.

JOHN I. 1-18.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. - Verse 1.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. - Verse 14.

CREATIVE Wisdom! God's almighty Word!
For ages with the Infinite alone

Thou wast, ere nature's morning hymn was heard,
Partaker of his everlasting throne.*

And thou wast with him, when he spread the skies, When ocean at his will first ebbed and flowed, When first above the vales of Paradise

The gold and crimson of the sunset glowed.

Ages had passed; the world in silence lay,
As conscious of the time by seers foretold;
Then didst thou, Intellect's transcendent ray!
Thy glory in a human form enfold.

* Proverbs viii. 22, 27, 30.

Saviour! Incarnate Wisdom of the Lord!
How bright in thee the Father's image glows!
Thy holy influence o'er our souls be poured,
For strength in conflict, rapture in repose.

O thou, from forth whose armory divine
The heavenly glories of the Saviour came!
I bring an humble offering to thy shrine,
Sacred to thee, in thy Messiah's name.

Unworthy is the gift; but if aright

To thee 't is proffered, thou wilt not despise ; And thou canst grant the spirit of thy might, That every faithful effort sanctifies.

May it be blest, in suffering to console,

To make the Saviour's love and glory known, To burst the chains of passion's base control, And lead the penitent to mercy's throne.

THE VISION OF ZACHARIAS.

II.

THE VISION OF ZACHARIAS.

LUKE I. 1-23.

And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias.

Verse 17.

THE spirit of Elijah!

That spirit stern and bold,

In which the mighty Man of God,

Stood in the days of old,.

When with four hundred enemies *
He met in strife alone,

And bowed the heart of Israel

Before Jehovah's throne.

The spirit of Elijah!

Again it came on earth,

With him who by an angel's voice
Was named before his birth.

Taunting the guilt-stained Pharisees,

He stood with fearless mien;

He dared denounce a monarch's crime,
And brave a vengeful queen.

* 1 Kings xviii. 22.

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