In great Immanuel's mighty hand,
All hell's attempts to raze are vain.

Did faith with none but truth advise,

My steady soul would move no more, Than stable hills when tempests rise, Or solid rocks when billows roar.

But when my faith the counsel hears
Of present sense and reason blind,
My wav'ring spirit then appears

A feather toss'd with ev'ry wind.

Lame legs of faith unequal crook :

Thus mine, alas! unev'nly stand; Else I would trust my stable Rock, Not fading frames and feeble sand.

I would when dying comforts fly,

As much as when they present were, Upon my living joy rely.

Help, Lord, for here I daily err.

CHAPTER V.

THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES CONCERNING HEAVEN AND EARTH.

SECTION I.

THE WORK AND CONTENTION OF HEAVEN.

IN heav'nly choirs a question rose,
That stirr'd up strife will never close-

What rank of all the ransom'd race

Owes highest praise to sov'reign grace?

Babes, thither caught from womb and breast,

Claim'd right to sing above the rest;
Because they found the happy shore

They never saw nor sought before.

Those that arriv'd at riper age
Before they left the dusky stage,
Thought grace deserv'd yet higher praise,
That wash'd the blots of num'rous days.

Anon the war more close began

What praising harp should lead the van?

And which of grace's heav'nly peers
Was deepest run in her arrears?

“'T is I (said one,) 'bove all my race,
Am debtor chief to glorious grace."
"Nay, (said another,) hark, I trow,
I'm more oblig'd to grace than you."

"Stay, (said a third,) I deepest share
In owing praise beyond compare :
The chief of sinners, you'll allow,
Must be the chief of singers now."

"Hold, (said a fourth,) I here protest
My praises must outvie the best;
For I'm of all the human race
The highest miracle of grace."

"Stop, (said a fifth,) these notes forbear,
Lo, I'm the greatest wonder here;
For I of all the race that fell,
Deserv'd the lowest place in hell.”

A soul that higher yet aspir'd,
With equal love to Jesus fir'd-
""T is mine to sing the highest notes
To love that wash'd the foulest blots."

"Ho, (cried a mate,) 't is mine, I'll prove, Who sinn'd in spite of light and love, To sound his praise with loudest bell,

That sav'd me fom the lowest hell."

"Come, come, (said one,) I'll hold the plea
That highest praise is due by me;
For mine, of all the sav'd by grace,
Was the most dreadful, desp'rate case."

Another, rising at his side,

As fond of praise, and free of pride,
Cried, "Pray give place, for I defy,
That you should owe more praise than I:

"I'll yield to none in this debate;
I'm run so deep in grace's debt,
That sure I am, I boldly can
Compare with all the heav'nly clan."

Quick o'er their heads a trump awoke-
"Your songs my very heart have spoke ;
But ev'ry note you here propale,
Belongs to me beyond you all."

The list'ning millions round about

With sweet resentment loudly shout

"What voice is this, comparing notes,
That to their song chief place allots ?

"We can't allow of such a sound,
That you alone have highest ground
To sing the royalties of grace;
We claim the same adoring place."

What! will no rival singer yield
He has a match upon the field?

Come, then, and let us all agree
To praise upon the highest key."

Then jointly all the harpers round
In mind unite with solemn sound,
And strokes upon the highest string
Made all the heav'nly arches ring:

Ring loud with hallelujahs high,
To him that sent his Son to die;
And to the worthy Lamb of God,

That lov'd and wash'd them in his blood.

Free grace was sov'reign empress crown'd
In pomp, with joyful shouts around :
Assisting angels clapp'd their wings,
And sounded grace on all their strings.