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 S' P/juL- (TiMvfi Toni.
 
 -35^
 
 THE 
 
 MESSIAH: 
 
 From the German of 
 
 KLOPSTOCK. 
 
 THE 
 
 FIRST SIXTEEN BOOKS BY MRS. COLLYER, 
 
 AND THE 
 
 THREE LAST BY MRS. MEEKE. 
 
 To which is prefixed, 
 
 an IntrotJuction on Ditjine Jgoettg» 
 
 J-V TWO rOLUMES. 
 
 LONDOy.' 
 
 Printed for J. Walker; 
 J. Jolinson and Co.; J. Richardson; R. Faukler and 
 Son; F. C. and J. Riviiigton; Vernor, Ilood, and 
 Shai-pe; R. Lea; J. Munn; J. Cuthell; E. Jeffcry; 
 A. K. Newman and Co. ; Lackington, Allen, and Co. ; 
 Longman, llurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown; Cadell 
 and Da>ics; Wilkieand Robinson; J.Bookcr; Black, 
 Pany, and Kingsbury ; Sherwood, Necly, and Jones ; 
 J. Aspcrne; R. Schoiey; and J. Harris. 
 
 19^4267
 
 Laue, Darling, and Co. Piintcis, Ltailcahall-itrcet.
 
 MIM. 
 
 PT 
 
 - %vi 1 
 
 TUE 
 
 M E S S I A H. 
 
 BOOK X.
 
 God looks dozvn from histkrone,uhilcthcMessin7i 
 casts his eyes on his sepulchre, and prays; then 
 with a look fills Satan arid Adramelech uith 
 terror. Many cleiated souls are now given to 
 the eartli, one of whom delivers his thoughts of 
 the dying Redeemer. A cha racter of these souls. 
 A conversation betiveen Simeon and John the 
 Baptist. Miriam and Deborah lament the dy- 
 ing Saviour in a hymn. Lazarus comforts 
 Lebbeus. Uriel gives notice that the first of the 
 angels of death is descending to the earth. The 
 impressioti this makes on Enoch, Abel, Seth, Da- 
 vid, Job, and more particularly on our first 
 parents, -a ho descend to the sepidchre of Jesus, 
 and pray. The angel of death descends, ad- 
 dresses the Messiah, and makes knoun the divine 
 command. The Messiah dies.
 
 THE 
 
 MESSIAH. 
 
 EOOK X. 
 
 OTILL farther do I travel in iny tremendous path, 
 ^-^ itill ucarer draw to the Saviour's dcatli— to his death 
 •who brcath"d nou'^ht but love divine, and \vhose love 
 supports my faiutiug powers. O let me not, presump- 
 tuous, too boldly sing the great Redeemer! nor without 
 eolemn dignity attune my song ! Look down, propitious, 
 on me, who am but dust, Ü thou, by whoso omnipotence 
 1 am environ'd ! Tliou scest all the conceptions of my 
 mind, ere into thought they rise, nor is there a word that 
 trembles on my tongr.e to thee miknown. O my Ke- 
 dcemcr! enlighten me, and vhen I stumble, forgive ! 
 A ray of thy light, a drop of thy grace, is to tlie fauiish'd 
 soul tnlncss, and to its thirst, the refresldng stream. The 
 throne, which v as wont to shine serene in visible beau- 
 ty, now stood invoh "d in the thickest gloom of night : 
 solitarj' it stood, aiouud it no immortal ador\i, save an 
 angel of death, who prostrate beneatli the lowest step, 
 with rais d hAnds and suppliant eyes, look'd up \^ ith fix'd 
 attention. Meanw hile Jehovali, from his throne, beheld 
 with steady countenance the divine Redeemer from sin. 
 lie tlircngh the bright du-t of sc;ittcr"d suns, and worlds 
 obscure, thrcnigh silent natuie look'd with awful ^^e^v, 
 which none understood or felt, but he on w hon the eter- 
 nal eye was fix'd. Death, now so near, tiie Savioui-'s 
 whole frame pervades. The w orlds tremble through all 
 Their secret pow crs. Troubled, enraptur'd, silent, stand 
 all the innuortals, contemplating the Son of God, on
 
 6 TUE MESSIAH. 
 
 ■«'Lose divine face a more deadly paieness sit?. Ilii 
 Avcary, languid ej'CK are faintly cast on his near scpu!- 
 c'aie, licwn out of a lonely rock arnong trees of ancicüt 
 growth, aiid viith a miad stiil fill'd with benignity and 
 soft compüs=ioi), which no pain could expel from thence, 
 he thus pour'd t bith iu secret sighs, the yet wann thoutjhts 
 of his expbing soul. 
 
 Tliere in the sleep of death soon wilt thou, my body, 
 lie. For tins did I assume thee, O thou tabernacle of 
 clay ! Yet, though the« shait lis down in death, thoa 
 rhait not ste corruption. O my gracious Father ! " wip« 
 tvei-y tear from every eye" that shall then surround me 
 weeping ! — Have pity on them, when thoa shalt bring 
 them to their latest hour ! O hoiy Father ! have mercy 
 on all who believe in thy beloved Son, who now dies 
 for the sms of the world. Some shall gently fall asleep ; 
 some shall expire in torment. O Father! have compas- 
 sion on all who, in their struggles with death, shall thirst 
 alter help, and fly to thee for grace and consolation. 
 Have compassion on those who, weary of life, shall be 
 brought by many tribulations to the grave : who in po- 
 verty shall live, and yet shall not deny thee : who, while 
 they keep a conscience void of offence both toward? thee 
 and towards man, shall become the scorn and mockery 
 of sinners : who, true to their friends, bless even their 
 enemies : who, by their actions, shew their love to their 
 brethren, their love to mankind. Have compassion for 
 those who, undazzled by the honours, the wealth, the 
 dignities of life, sliall use them for the good of others ; 
 themselves regardless of the glitt'ning toys, and all the 
 distiuctions of vanity. Oh be merciful to all w ho, accord- 
 ing to the variety of the gifts and abilities they have re- 
 ceived from thee, shall obey thee in truth and purity of 
 heart: in their last hour shew tliem the light of thy 
 coimtcnance : w hen their eyes sink in death ; when cor- 
 ruption waits for their mortal frame, and their aspiring 
 soals are ready to take their flight to their Creator, then 
 \isit them with thy consolations, and receive them to 
 the Tvorld of rest, and peace, and joy eternal. O holy
 
 THE MESSIAH. 7 
 
 rather, God of Love ! by these gaping %vonn(lÄ, on which 
 my body is UÖW suspended : by this bloody wreath of 
 piei c-iiig thorns : by what I now suffer, and shall farther 
 suiter : by that love through which I humbled myself to 
 the death — this death of the cross, to accomplish tlie sal- 
 vation of mankind, hear me, and grant that they whom 
 I love may be faithful to the end— may die in comfort, 
 and rising to eternal life, receive the bright crown of un- 
 fading glory and immortality. 
 
 Thus silent pray'd the great, the dying Messiah. Then, 
 turning his benevolent eyes from the sepulchre, he look'd 
 v.ith stern brow on the Dead Sea, where lay Satan and 
 Adiamelech. His eyes now darted convulsive terrors 
 and deep dismay into the depths of that tempestuous 
 lake, and both the apostate spirits sunk into the lowest 
 misery. Then was fulfill'd the sentence of the Eternal, 
 that the Seed of the Woman should bruise the Serpent's 
 head. Sitan, in the midst of his anguish, stamp'd into 
 atoms one of the subterraneous rocks, and intermingling 
 his faltering accents with languid bowlings^ thus began : 
 
 fecl'st thou, like me, the inflam'd, unquenchable tor- 
 tures, which death, eternal death, pours into the deepest 
 recesses of this immortal substance ? Behold, to thee, 
 thou lost, coudenin'd, eternal sinner! I, a lost, con- 
 demn'd, eternal sinner, will, if possible, describe their 
 dread appearance, 'Tis true, the lowest Hell affords not 
 images sufficient to enable me to shew thee all my tor- 
 ments. Yet hear me, thou accurs'd ! If thou feel est not 
 all that I feel, what shall I tell thee will render thee suf- 
 ficiently miserable. With me shalt thou feel them, or, 
 stiSfen'd with horror, shall dread their approach. So 
 low am I abas'd by my misery, that I no longer rejoice 
 at thy torment. So deep is my abasement, that w ith fu- 
 rious indignation I dare to confess it. — Yes, he i? omni- 
 potent ! — Bat what — what am I ? — The blackest monster 
 of the abyss! — The lowest — the lowest I 11 .and all Hell 
 is upon me ! With ail its torments am I oppresb'd ! — To 
 all the terrors of the fiery gidph, my boasted empire, am 
 I abandon'd I — Has he held those, whom he has doom'd
 
 8 THE MESSIAH, 
 
 to eternal horror, worthy of being cast down by his 
 thunder? Ko, an angel bid us fly— our boasted courage 
 sunk, and we like coward« fled! — But in whose name 
 did his messenger utter that command ?— Oh, what do 
 1 feel ! With what new judgment am I threaten'd! The 
 great name I dare not utter ! He in m hose name we fled 
 — he whom we persecuted, now perhaps dies! A new, 
 a more fiery dart of destruction flics with this thought 
 through all my mortal powers. Daikness on darkness 
 sunonnds me. The obscure mystery affords not the least 
 glimmering ray — Ah ! this is misery — all, all around me 
 is misery ! — 1, his eternal sacrifice! Even the hope, the 
 wretched, the agonizing hope of annihilation vanishes. 
 Ye worlds, and thou Heaven, timi ye to chaos — to night 
 — to He'.l I — •Fall ye upon me, and hide me from the 
 ■vnath of the Omnipotent. 
 
 Adrameiech, vhose pride was humbled low, conld 
 scarce, with sobbing anguish and despairing look, reply. 
 Help me, 1 implore thee, help me, cry'd he, bellowing 
 loud, while on Satan he laid his iron hands. Help me 
 —thou monster, thou accurs'd, thou odious rebel, help 
 me. 1 suflfer the pangs of ever-dying death. Once I 
 could hate thee with furious hatred, but now 1 can no 
 more! — This too is pointed nii?eiy! Oh, how am 1 tor- 
 tur'd ! 1 would curse thee, but I cannot. I would curse 
 myself for imploring help of thee. Could I, with flam- 
 ing rage, vent mj curses on thee, it would perhaps afford 
 me a drop of comfort. — I will — I will. Here, faii.tirg 
 with the etibrt, he backward fell. 
 
 Thus Koth expcrienc'd the veng'-ancc sent forth from 
 the mighty Victor. So far Terror strctch'd her crushing 
 arm, that oth» r infernal rebels ft It her power, and the 
 lowest Hell resounded \^ith the h'Vihngs of desp;dr. 
 
 But O muse of Siun I no farther unveil the depths of 
 Hell, the dreary abodes of pain and horror. Another 
 and a nobler scene opens before thee ; a scene of sacred 
 mtlanrl oly, of luily arioration, and of grace divine. 
 
 Jesus now turning his eyes from the Dead Sea, view'd 
 the celesti;d band» that, dissolv'd in pious grief, and rapt
 
 THE MESSIAH. 9 
 
 i;i sacrcl wonder, surronudcd the cross. Tlie soft sensa- 
 lions of eternal love appear'd iu the looks of the divine 
 Sttviour; and long did they dwell on ihi.sc souls win» 
 never yet cnter'd a mortal frame, or saiiclify'tl the dust. 
 Now approach'd one of tliose happy periods in which 
 t'p.'j earth has beea bless'd with many noble minds, cn- 
 (ki'd with such lasting power, as to spread their influence 
 tiiroagh future ages. Tis true, the fame of viituous 
 deeds doth not always float along the stream of time : 
 yet the great eflfccts of fair examples are seen in tliose ol" 
 docile miod, conquering disguit and error; and, witli a 
 progress secret, but sure, are found to flow iuto the deeds 
 of posterity. Thus, though the stone thrown into tlie wa- 
 ter sinks, on the surface wider and still widercircles, qui- 
 verii:g spread around. Isow one of the most exalted of 
 those unembody'd spirits perceiving a gliinpse of the 
 light, which, during her stay on earth, was to beam pure 
 sanctificatioii and radiant tratli, thus indulg'd her tlioughts : 
 Still more and more do I feel that he is the great Mes- 
 siali. Innumerable and powerful as the suns that gild 
 t!ie starry fields of light whence we came, but witli intln- 
 eace much more benign, are the thoughts I read iu his 
 countenance. — But Ijow ditlerent is his appearance from 
 that of our friends the angels! — Ah, he resembles the 
 men by whom he is surrounded! but in his form alone 
 he resembles them. Iu their facts is soinctliing gloomy, 
 and averse to llieir Creator. Ah ! what is man I We 
 ni'ist also be of their numb;;r; like them we must be 
 cloth'd in mortal bodies ; like lliem shall live awhile, 
 and then return to the Eternal. Will the Creator send 
 H< to another race of human being.- ? or, are these the 
 children of Adamt If they ane, then arc th.ey our future 
 brethren. Yet this does not seem to be the earth which 
 I, at Adam's creation, saw; for that excll'd in beauty. 
 — O tliou Father of angeis and of mi u, be thy decrees 
 ac^omplish'd ! Tliy divine will be done ! and thine, O 
 thou Messiah! Of all that is dixiicult to conceive, this is 
 most inconceivable, that tlion, once array'd in thy Fa- 
 ther's glory, sutfcrcst—There thou, rais'd above the hill, 
 B2
 
 10 THE MESSIAH, 
 
 riit suspended ; there thy passing life seems to flow away ; 
 and ye angel-, \\ho once resolv'd my questions, are now 
 silent. Yet mihin myself I feel that this departing life, 
 to which, O thou divine! hast condescended to submit, 
 is of importance to me — ^to me, perhaps, of more impor- 
 tance than to the flaming seraph. — I love the safifering 
 Messiah more than 1 can tell. O my God, accomplish 
 V Imt thou hast begun i:i thy creature : complete my in- 
 liara'd, my continual, ray devout breathings after felicity ! 
 Thou alone, O thou Infinite Source of perfection, art my 
 Itlicity ! In lliy presence is eternal joy ! 
 
 Thus meditated the transported spirit, and not fruitless 
 were its meditations. God, who oft in distant periods 
 prepares what he is determin'd to accomplish, thus forms 
 the soul for a life of probation, and for the succeeding 
 joys of eternal, ineffable felicitj'. 
 
 Let time now fly N%ith joyful wings. Around the 
 cross stood waiting with devout fer^■or, the future guar- 
 dians of the souls who drew near to a mortal life. 
 ÜVcrabling with solicitous joy, the attendant angels stood, 
 v.hile from the Redeemer's eye issu'd the gieat com- 
 mand. Go and live; beUeve, and overcome. Their an- 
 gels then smiling, receiv'd their charge, and led tliem 
 fotth. 
 
 Relate, O Sion's muse ! their life. Relate their peculiar 
 »irts, and graces, while dwelling in tabernacles of claj', 
 th ey pass'd their mortal pilgrimage in sacred love and pious 
 ardour, imitating the bright example of their Saviour. The 
 effects of the new sensations they had esperienc'd on be- 
 liclding the dying Messiah, took root in all, and at length 
 Ui;!blding with their increasing perceptions, became min- 
 ^'e.l with the resplendent grace that flows from above. 
 
 One of the fairest of these souls was thine, O Timotl;y ! 
 With ardent and with humble zeal didst thou watch over 
 the church committed to thy care. Undaunted didst 
 tljou venture to preach a dying, a risen Jesus. It was 
 r.uii, the chosen champion of the Mediator, against iLe 
 n eighty of the earth, who oppot'd the doctrine of Chris^t, 
 the conqneror of death.— —It was Pan! who brought to
 
 THE iMESSIAII. 11 
 
 him the knowledge of the Lord, out of tliat awful, that 
 dazzliug light which beam'd conviction. The pure soul 
 of Timothy learnt, with tremulous joy, tlic way to eter- 
 nal felicity, and taught it to thousands. Thousands too 
 were converted by his death ; when having nobly finish'd 
 Lis course, he fell by the execnliouer's sword. Like 
 Paul and Cephas, he, as a bright and resplendent lumi- 
 nary, shone in the church. 
 
 Thou, Antipis, did.-t early receive the glorious rewards 
 prepar'd for the faithful. Then the Judge of the earth, 
 ill his sentence on the church of P.iunos, meution'd ihino 
 immortal name. With inflexible fidelitj, with pure, 
 V. ith warm ailection, thou didst love thy crucify'd Lord, 
 love him till death. 
 
 Ilermas, with tears of joy, sang the Mediator — Sang 
 hi:u who dy'd, who rose again, who ascended on high, 
 and led captivity captive — Sang the Son of God, the 
 Saviour of frail and mort il man — The Son of God, who 
 shall raise the dead — shall judge the world. His hymns 
 ^^ ere sung by Christians retir'd to solitary caves, when 
 Hermas receivhig an intimation of the will of the Most 
 High, left the choir of his rejoicing brethren, joyfully 
 sufFcr'd deatii, and went to join the more exalted choir 
 above. 
 
 rhebe, desirous of doing good, and winning souls, left 
 the narrow limits that confine her sex, and generously 
 devoted herself to the service of the church. She kindly 
 strove to remove the distresses of tlie indigent; tu help 
 the sick ; to comfort the dying. Ileaven-born Charity, 
 lier dear companion, was ahvajss with her ; but she fled 
 from Applause, and was known only to the pious, and 
 to the angels. 
 
 From every fluctuating doubt of false wisdom, Hero- 
 diou at length was freed, and was convinc'd tliat he who 
 was not more exalted by miracles than by truth, had 
 made known the Eternal Father's will; dispers'd the 
 shades of death, and mark'd the path that leads to Hea- 
 ven. Through what intricate mazes of thorny specula- 
 tion did he wander, before he reach'd the light whi;.h
 
 12 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 God, at length, pour'd around liin) ! In what pninfn), 
 ■what fiujtlesi= researches did iic engage, before he found 
 the lightness of the scale of human knowledge, and the 
 preponderating weight of that of heavenly wisdom ! 
 
 Epaphras w as poweifnl in prayer. Like Paul, lie was 
 esteemV! worthy to suffer for tlie sake of the crucify'd 
 Jc'5u«, and was thrown into the prison of a tyrruit. The 
 prison heard his prayei-s for the churches, and the bless- 
 ings deriv'd from his supplications chiefiystream'd down 
 on his bclov'd Colossians. With them he watch'd and 
 strove with unwearied diligence. His zeal and fervor 
 were blcss'd widi success. They flourish'd and spread their 
 branches, they blossom'd and brought forth the fruits of 
 sanctiflcation, righteousness and peace. Laodicea too, 
 partook of the benefits of his instructions, and by his ex- 
 Lortations and prayers, many souls were inüam'd with 
 love to the crucify'd Saviour. But at last Laodicea sunk 
 into a cool indiiierence. The belov'd disciple of Jesus 
 then sent from Patmcs the sentence of the Judge, which 
 was mingled with mercy and with grace. On her re- 
 pentance, he promis'd that she should still be cloth'd in 
 white garments, and still receive t!ie victor's crown. 
 
 Persis was one of those favourites of Heaven, whom 
 Gotl, through tribulation, leads to eternal rest. Resign'd 
 amidst her sulierings, she mingled her tears of aflliction 
 with t!;ose of gratitude and joy, when in silent pra^'cr she 
 pour'd out her soul to her Maker and Friend. 
 
 Not from a love of fame, the parliid, the lukewaim 
 rewarder of Virtue, often her cruel persecutor, and ma- 
 levolent slanderer, was Apclles actuated ; nor from a 
 fondness for the esteem of the wise, who, however saga- 
 cious, know not the secret springs of action; for the act 
 alone i» \isible to the bodily eye, the intention only to 
 th« mind of th.e agent. Thus within himself he often 
 «bought, while his love of the Onmiscient, whose piercing 
 view penetrates the secret purposes of the soul, with the 
 exalted revarfls promis'd to the pure in heart, were the 
 animating njotivcs that excited him to practise the w.oit 
 exalted >'irtue«.
 
 THE MESSIAH. 13 
 
 T!ic merit of Flavias Clemens arose not from his di- 
 v.;.<.ii)g Limself ot the lustre dcriv'd from his ailmity to 
 Ciesar. It was ca.sy lo despise the tyrant : but tht; cour- 
 tiers accnsM iiim of btiiig imeuers'd in indolence, unbe- 
 coming a Roman ; of being dead to business, honour, 
 and his country. His noble soul, though far froin being 
 inst-nsible to the sting of tiiese reproaches, still persever'd 
 in a steady adherence to the duties of Christianity, duties 
 which he esteem'tl the most exalted and sublime. Thus 
 he became worthy of the martyr's ciown. Fain would 
 he have perform'd nearer the throne, those aclions which - 
 instructed and animated the saints ; but knowing that his 
 generous labours for the good of mankind would there 
 be lost on servile flatterers, and their luxurit;us lord, he 
 c.onfin'd himself within a more contracted sphere, and 
 enjoy'd the opi»ortunity of doing good, of meditating on 
 hi; death, and improving his immortal soul. 
 
 Lucius, though wrapp'd in the ent tugled net of busi- 
 ness, with a mind free and nndisturb'd, discharg'd his 
 duty with uuweary'd ze.i! ; neither prond of his merit, 
 nor discourag'd when the seed he sow'd seem'd not to 
 shoot. Sedolons in redeeming time, he knew how to 
 banish the world ; to spaie some sacred hours fur prayer 
 and meditation ; some happy hours for the gentle offices 
 of meek-ey'd Mercy ;nul ofsniiling Charity ; and through 
 this pleasing course he entei-'d into life eternal. 
 
 Ye females, emulate the virtues of Try phena. Ye al-o 
 live among unbelievers. With the purest, the neblest, 
 the most virtuous pission, the teu(i>.r Trjphena lov'd. 
 Tiie youth was beautiful, and adorn'd with every amiable 
 quahty ; but he was an heathen, and resolv'd to remain 
 so. Tryphena apprehended danger from bis easy fiow- 
 ing eloquence, and still more from the soft passion tliat 
 sweli'd her heart. She therefore straggled and triumph'd 
 over it. Serenity and joy were then the rev.anls of her 
 pious resolution, not to hazard a soul destin'd for irmnor- 
 tality. 
 
 Linus, who before his martyrdom, bravely disdam'tl 
 to accept tii proflfer'J life, purchas'd by cpostacy, was
 
 14 THE MESSIAH, 
 
 superior to the mean enjoyments which ensnare even the 
 good, and which with pain they strive to shnn. He, re- 
 tiring alone with the Searcher of hearts, or joining in 
 company with friends of pure and noble sentiments, lov u 
 to compare men and their actions with the examples and 
 precepts of the word of God, the suurcc of sublime 
 thoughts and heavenly sentiments. He lov'd to disperse 
 the gloom that hovers o'er the grave, and to lose himself 
 in the bright ecstatic prospect of a resurrection to eternal 
 gloiT. 
 
 From Trajan, who here stain'd his noble mind, was 
 led Ignatius, sentenc'd to be dragg'd to a cruel death. 
 He triiiraph'd in bearing ignominy for his beloved Lord, 
 Ko meaner reproach could be brought against this great, 
 this exalted saint, than his too earnestly strivhag for the 
 honours which encircle the martyr's brow. The eager- 
 ness of the sons of Vice and Folly in pursuit of pleasure, 
 could only exceed the excessive ardour with which he 
 loag'd to obtahi the radiant crown ; if there can be ex- 
 cess in aspiring after such a prize. His setting glories 
 shone with the same mild intluence, as that with which 
 they rose. How valuable is the conclusion of the life of 
 a Christian! How beautiful to his companions in the 
 victory, appears the sweat of the conqueror, when he 
 has obtaiu'd his prize, and the great reward is ready ! 
 He strengthen'd, he animated with the prospect of eter- 
 nal felicity, the brethren who fiock'd once more to see 
 him, and to receive his last blessing. Those whom his 
 eyes, swimming in the iiindly drops of joy, could not he- 
 hold, by his letters he exhorted, comforted, and inflam'd 
 v.ith love to the divine Eedeemer, till being cruelly 
 (iragg'd to the amphitlicatre, he was there, by wild beasts, 
 torn in pieces. 
 
 The parents of the young and annable Claudia were 
 heathens ; heathens were her brothers and sisters. Her 
 father was a man of honoin- ; affectionate was her mo- 
 ther ; her brothers and sisters were worthy of esteem. 
 Claudia lov'd tliem, and shar'd their love. Yet she alone 
 became a Christian. Sic then lamented their error, and
 
 THE MESSIAH. 15 
 
 boldly persevcnng, in spite of opposition, dy'd In the 
 laith of lier Lord. 
 
 He who flies from society, is not always an enemy to 
 mankind. Far from the busy world liv'd Amplias, who, 
 to a deep knowledge of human frailty, united an ardent 
 and steady desire to fulfil the great, the astonishing com- 
 mand, Be ye perfect, even as your heavenly Father is 
 perfect. From the radiant seats of Heaven stream'd 
 iliis injunction, like a divine light, on the inhabitants of 
 the dust. He look'd, he never turu'd from the niu-row 
 g:;te through which it beam'd ; but with vigorous perse- 
 verance, falling and rising, clinibd the rugged i-teep. 
 
 Phlegon had travell'd over the bright circle of Grecian 
 literature, and great were his earthly posses; ions; yet 
 that dill not inflate hbn with vanity, nor these sink him 
 into voluptuousness. Wliercver he went, silent flow'd 
 the balm of humanity ; the sick receiv'd comfort ; the 
 naked were cloth'd. Gifts more CFsential he also be- 
 stow'd : these were salutary counsels to the diseases of 
 the mind, diseases worse than those of the body. lie 
 dispens'd healing comfort to the soul entangled in the 
 web of doubts, and many wavering Christians, who were 
 ready to forsake the bleeding Friend of the human race, 
 he brought back into the path of Heaven. Less from 
 prudence than from real humility, he seem'd a stranger 
 to worldly wisdom, and to know nothing but Jesus — 
 Jesus tiie Redeemer from sin, the surest support in life and 
 in deatli ! but to his brethren, perplex'd with doubts and 
 scruples, his profound knowledge flow'd like an inex- 
 haustible spring, and the thirst}' traveller was refresh'd 
 with copious draughts. 
 
 Ti-yphosa, kind by nature, and stlil more kind from 
 duty, was the best of mothers. Her numerous offspring 
 she carefully instructed in the knowledge of Christ. In- 
 exhaustible, and nnweary'd in the arts of wisdom, she 
 finish'd the work she was appointed to perform ; and 
 was an ornament to the church : yet her many good ac- 
 tions were conccal'd. But scaice had she brought forth 
 her last son, when she cxpir'd weeping. She bewail'd
 
 io' THE MESSIAH, 
 
 liim, and dy'd. Theu the blessing of the Eternal de- 
 scended ou her family. Het elder sons educated the 
 infant; who at kügth dy'd a martyr. The seraphs re- 
 ctiv'd, from the arms of death, the happy spirit. They 
 ascended ia triumph; and, \vilh ec?tatic joy, she wel- 
 com'd her son on his arrival at the regions of unutterable 
 felicity. 
 
 To forbear revenge, vs-hcn revenge is justice, is great ; 
 to love tiie oflfender, is noble : to alleviate bis distresses 
 by private oflkes of kindness, is divine. Thus didst thou 
 — wiih reverence I write thy name — thus didst thon, 
 Erastus! V/hen thiue exalted soul eutei-'d the celestial 
 abodes, angels, rising from their golden seats, congiatu- 
 lated thee, and hail'd thine arrival with songs of triuiuph. 
 
 These were th^ souls which then- guardian angels led 
 i"rom the cross of the dying Jesus, into a life of probation. 
 "With e?;pauded ^ving^ they descended from mount Olivet, 
 and came to Gelhseniaue. At the garden where the 
 Son.of the Eternal suflfer'd his agony, they w ere seiz'd 
 with awe. Those who stood under the palms sainted 
 them with cordial love : These were Simeon, ;md the 
 j^reat prophet, who had the honour to baptize tlie divine 
 Jesus, and to see the Holy Spirit hovering over hira like 
 a dove, while the voice of the Most High, descendhig 
 from Heaven, pronounc'd. This is my beloved Son, in 
 whom I ain well pleas'd. Here were also Esaiah, the 
 great prophet of the crucify'd Jesus, and Ezekiel, who 
 beheld a type of the resurrection ; when crying. Hear, 
 ye diy bones ; the bones shook, and the dead awoke. 
 Here too were Noah, who found grace in the eyes of tlie 
 Ixnd ; righteous Lot ; Älelchisedek, a prophet, priest 
 and läng; Joseph, and Benjamin iiis brother; David 
 and Jonatlian ; fair Miriam, the sister of Mose«, and 
 thou, Deborah, who sang the mercies of God, the saviour 
 of th';c, and of the host of Israel. 
 
 Simeon now cry'd. Blessed soiUs ! go and enter your 
 frail habitations of clay, the Lord be with yon. May 
 ye bring many to salvation ! May ye diffuse benevolence 
 ■\rnl love tlirough all the descendants of Adair» ; bencvo-
 
 rilE MESSIAH. 17 
 
 lence pnrer, and more sublime than the phiiosophers 
 ever taught ! Ah, John, Iww happy is their fate ! ilow 
 exalted v\ ill be their reward ! Does not this sight brighten 
 -the gloomy ideas that stream from the hill of Golgotha 1 
 
 The harbinger of the Lord returu'd — Had I words to 
 express my thoughts, could floods of mournful or joyous 
 tears reveal what I feel, then, O Simeon, would 1 tell 
 what I have felt, since the gracious Messiah has bien 
 dying on tlie cross. But silence best becomes me. 
 
 Thy words, return'd Simeon, pierce through my soul. 
 I was exulting in the end of his sufferings, and the glo- 
 ries that await him on the right hand of the Majesty on 
 High. But how hast thou brought me back ! Ah ! he 
 wliojn, weeping, I embracd — he m horn, speechless, I 
 held in my arms, till God restoring my voice, I burst into 
 prayers and thanksgivings — he — he bleeds — he bleeds 
 on the cross — with malefactors bleeds! — V/hile his heart 
 still glows with love to man — with love to his murderers 
 —he bleeds — he dies! — But I will hold my peace till ail 
 be acconiplish'd. 
 
 Then Deborah and Miriam, after a long and mournful 
 silence, burst into lugubrious lays, flowing with melting 
 softness. For the voices of the immortals rise in spon- 
 taneous harmony to express sensations like those of Dc- 
 borali and Miriam. Hence she who, on Epluaim's 
 mount, gave her name to the spreading palm, and Am- 
 ram's daughter, thus in alternate verses sang. 
 
 O thou, once the most beautiful among men, thou, 
 M ho was the f;dicst of the sons of women, how does 
 Death, with blootly hand, deform thy face! 
 
 My heart is plung'd in softest sorrow, and clouds of 
 grief surround me; yet still to me he appears the most 
 beautiful of men : of all the creation the- most lovely : 
 fairer than the sons of light, when, in lucid splendor, 
 they bow before the Eternal. 
 
 Mourn, ye cedars of Lebanon, wliich, to the weaiy, 
 aflford a refreshing shade : the sighing Cedar is cut down : 
 of the cedar is form'd his cross. 
 
 3Iouj n, ye flowers of the vale, which grow on the
 
 18 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 banks of the silver stream ; ye must not encircle the Sa- 
 \io!ir's head: it is already crown'd with piercing thorns. 
 
 UiiwearyM he lift up his hands t > his Father in behalf 
 of sinners. His feetjUnweaiy'd, visited the dwellings of 
 affliction. ^low are they pierc'd. His hands and feet 
 are pierc'd with crael wounds. 
 
 His divine brow, on this mount, he bow'd to the dust : 
 from it ran, mingled, blood and sweat. Alas ! how is it 
 now wounded by cruel thorns I — by his bloody crown ! 
 
 The soul of his mother is wounded as with a sword. 
 Ah, tlion Son most gracious and divine ! have compa;sioa 
 on thy mother, and comfort her, lest, at the foot of thy 
 cross, she die ! 
 
 Ah, were I his mother, and already in the life of bliss, 
 a sword would still pierce through my soul ! 
 
 O Miriam ! his compassion-beaming ey(;s are almost 
 extinguish'd, and hard he draws iiis breath, which still 
 breitlies nought but love. Soon will those looks no 
 lonijcr be directed towards the Heavens. 
 
 O Deborah! a mortal paleness sits on his fallen cheeks, 
 wet with the trickling drops of love.. Soon will his di- 
 viue head sink, on that cross, to rise no more. 
 
 Thou, who shinest above, O celestial Jerusalem ! burst 
 into tears of joy. Soon will the hoar of afficlion be 
 past. 
 
 Thou, who sinnest below, O terrestrial Jerusalem! 
 burst into teai'S of grief; for soon, at th j- barbarous hands, 
 will the Sovereign Judge require his blood. 
 
 The stars in tlieir courses stand still, and all the Crea- 
 tion is struck dumb, at the suft'eiing? of her Creator! — • 
 At the suiferings of Jesus! the everlasting High Priest! 
 the Redeemer! the Prince of Peace! 
 
 The earth also stands still, and from yon who dwell on 
 its surface, the son has withdrawn hi? light. Tor this is 
 Jesus! the everlasting High Priest, tlie Redeemer, the 
 Prince of Peace. 
 
 Thus responsive sang Deborah and Miriam. The 
 blessed Saviour now visibly approaching the moment of 
 death, most of the laithful withdrew, tmable to bear the
 
 THE MESSIAH. ]«) 
 
 awful Eiglit. Wiih fix'd eye and unsteady step, Lebbens 
 retir'd, follovv'd at a distance by Lazarus, who was in- 
 volv'd in more conipo&'d distress. Lebbeus entering a 
 ruinous sepulchre near the foot of the mount of Olives, 
 and le;inii;g on a piece of the fallen rock, sunk down 
 upon his knees, and rested his head on the craersry stone. 
 AVhen Lazarus stopping at the entrance, with gentle 
 voice, that would altiact the ear of languishing sorrow, 
 and make her stoop to listen, thus spake : 
 
 Sink not, my friend, beneath thy grief. Lift up thy 
 face from the damp, the silent tomb, and let me see thee 
 look at me. Ah, dost then no longer know the voice of 
 him whom thou hast always lov'd? — of him who has re- 
 turn'd thy love 1 — I am Lazarus, whose death cost thee 
 90 many tears, whom Jesus restor'd to life. Oh with 
 •what a transport of joy, that seem'd too big for utter- 
 ance, didst tiiou ilien, with faltering voice, thank our di- 
 vine Master ! Before v,e return'd him our gratefiil thanks, 
 this body lay in the grave, and corruption began to seize 
 upon it. Of this we have oft discours'd. Thou wast 
 carry'd away by the opinion of the other disciples, who 
 thought that his kingdom was to be on earth ere it began 
 in Heaven ; yet never couldst thou solve the doubts that 
 kept me from labouring to find some earthly meaning 
 in the sublime discourses of our Lord. Shake olf then, 
 O my friend! this depressing grief. Open to me thine 
 afflicted heart. Thou shalt lament him — thou shalt la- 
 ment the divine Saviour, who lingering in acutest pain, 
 has, during successive hours, been dying on the cross. 
 Yet sink not under thy grief. He can, if he pleases, de- 
 scend from the fatal tree. But thougli he die, he will 
 never see corruption. Can he who was before Abra- 
 ham, who descended from Heaven, to raise mankind to 
 the mansions of bliss — can he be subject to corruption ? 
 
 Lebbeus still lean'd on the rock, yet turning his face 
 towards Lazarus, with fix'd eyes look'd up to his friend, 
 who running to him, embrac'd him, brought him out of 
 the sepulchre, and seizing his hand, cry'd. Raise thine 
 eyes, O Lcbbüus, acd behold. 1 perceive the presence
 
 iiO THE MESSIAH, 
 
 of God in Üiis sceue of gloomy honor. A day like this 
 was surely never seen. With what solemnity is it dis- 
 tingniiu'd by the Almighty ! How Las be cloth V. the 
 heavens and earth with Li» terrors ! Jlay not God, by 
 the death of the Holy One of Israel, be accomplishing 
 those tilings we did not understand ? Since the divine 
 Saviour has been bleeding, I have felt — (how shall I ex- 
 press my thoughts in just aud worthy terms?) — 1 have 
 felt sensiUions soothing and peaceful, that have soften'd 
 my afuictiou. Every thing around me appears sacred. 
 Wherever I turn, I find the traces of the Eternal, the 
 marks of his omnipresence. This sacred tranquillity is 
 fiU'd wiib divine sensations. Since the gracious Sufferer 
 has been bleeding ou the cross, I have heard a soft 
 breezy fluttering, as if bands of the immortals were ho- 
 vering near me. The same I heard when my soul had 
 quitted its frail habitation. Celestial b( ings iho frequently 
 glance before my eyes with rapid flight. This, my dear 
 friend, diffuses through my soul a divine calm, the peace 
 of God, and dawning felicity. 
 
 Here Lazanis paus'd, when Lebbeus, fixing bis looks 
 upon Lini, suddenly callM out. Thou art struck with 
 amazement ! — Ah, who is it ? On whom dost thou gaze 
 with such joyful transport? 
 
 Lazarus, on recovering his speech, answei'd. Just now 
 a celestial spirit shot over me. — Never before have I 
 Lad such a view of the glory of an immortal ! — of the 
 bliss of the other world ! He has perhaps brought from 
 Heaven some divine ir.essige : for his ilight was swift as 
 tlie quickest thought. Having thus with faltering rapture 
 f poke, he embrac'd Lebbeus, and then added ; He will 
 not — No, he at whose birth the host of Heaven rejoic'd, 
 will not see corruption! 
 
 Lazaius beheld the splendor of Uriel. Tlie immortal 
 had flown from the sun, and with face glowing Irom his 
 inconceivable speed, went up to the progenitors of the 
 human race, and said, I must — I must inform you of 
 what I have seen. The chit f angel of death descends 
 from Heaven, with course direct towards the earth.
 
 THE MESSIAH. 21 
 
 SomctiiECshe stop?, as if to breathe ; but the whole crea- 
 tion being at rest, no revolving star raises a refreshing 
 g;ile. Shall 1 describe his awful form, his habiliiucnls 
 of terror? The flames of the Lord blaze before him ; the 
 flutter of his wings has the Found of the rtaring storm, 
 and ethereal silence flies at his approach. Was his flaming 
 STioid to touch a world, the enkindled du5t would in- 
 stantly be dispers'd through the immensity of space. 
 Dreadful is his look— more dreadful than when on the 
 guilty earth he pour'd the ovenvhelmiiig deli^ge, and as 
 the minister of the general destruction, empty'd the oceans 
 of the celestial waters. Soon shall je see him, and at 
 the sight terror shall come upon you, as it did upon me. 
 Deep inexpressible sorrow is impress'd on his awful 
 countenance. Ah, he is sent to make known the death 
 of the Metliator between God and man, and to denounce 
 the judgments of the Almighty on yon guilty chy ! Uriel 
 then trembling, turn'd aside, and mingled with the angels. 
 
 Amazement, mute and motionless, seiz'd the souls of 
 tlie patriarchs, and this was follow'd by a dejection too 
 deep for words to express. Struck with the thought 
 that Christ, the Son of God, was in a few moments to 
 expire, the souls for whom he was to die, tho' redeem'd 
 from sin, seem'd to siiik back into their former earthly 
 lift;, and to feel sensations of guilt, which remembrance 
 cloth'd in all its dread array. 
 
 Enoch lean'd with his left hand on a tomb, and 
 rais'd his right to^.-ards Heaven . Though he had walk'd 
 with God; though he had not fallen by the hand of 
 Death, nor had ever moulder'd in the grave, yet in the 
 eye of infinite Wisdom, and spotless Purity, he was not 
 free from sin; but, by his faith and repentance, he 
 pleas'd Go<l, and was translated. Had the earth been 
 diäsolv'd.and the great lamp of heaven exiingiiish'd, still 
 would he have remain'd undismay'd : but at the near 
 approach of the Saviour's death, g» ief streain'd thro' his 
 inmost pov/er? ; and the angels, the patriarchs, the un- 
 born souls, and every mortal, vanish'd from lus sight. 
 Scarce could his eye discern the bloody cross.
 
 22 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 Near him Abel lay on a rock in silent prostration. 
 This son of Adam was adorn'd with the sweetest iiino- 
 cence that mortal know«, with fers'ent piety, and gentle 
 love, yet dy'd by a murderous brother'o hand. Hiscyeg 
 were now alternately lift up to Heaven, and cast on the 
 cross, while he lamented that ttie Saviour of the world, 
 the Son of Kightcousncss, should suffer a more cmel 
 death than he. 
 
 Setb, the worthy brother of the first dead, and an early 
 preacher of righteousness, had often, through the many 
 ccntmies of his long life, meditated on the promio'd Seed, 
 wlio should bniise the serpent's head; but had been 
 able to form no idea of the dreadful sufferings of the 
 mighty Victor, Now, with trembling heart, and stam- 
 mering tongue, he cry'd, O thou Judge of all ! — thou 
 Judge of whatever was, and is, and is to come ! — ^Thea 
 pausing, cast his looks to Heaven, to the cross, to the 
 redcem'd, and to the sepulchres of the dead. 
 
 Long had darkness covei'd the eyes of David: Long 
 had he trembled ; yet, since the coming of Uriel, he 
 ceas'd to trecible, and stood looking up to him, who 
 drew near to the grave, absoi b'd in llsat idea of the death 
 of Jesus, which God had graciously impress'd on his 
 soul. At length, recovering his speech, these broken 
 sentences flow'd from his lips: OGod! my Saviour's 
 God! Why hast thou forsaken him? He pours forth 
 his sighs before thee : but thou delayc^t to help him. 
 The basest of sinners have laugh'd him to scorn — 
 have derided his confidence in thee. He is pour'd 
 out like water : his heart is melted witliiu him : his 
 tongue cleaveth to the roof of his mouth, and soon wilt 
 thou, O Death .' l.iy him in the dust. Wijd beasts, and 
 not men, encompass him. ■ They stand and look upon 
 liim whom they have pierc'd — Ah, Low have they 
 pierc'd his liands and his feet! They have strctch'd him 
 on the cross, and all his bones may be nnniber'd ! O God, 
 most merciful and gracious, how unsearchable are all 
 
 thy ways! Soon will he leave his mortal frame soon 
 
 will he ascend on higli, tiiamph over tlie grave, and lead
 
 T1IE.MES.SIAII. ;:-3 
 
 Captivity captive. Then in<iy his death be dcclar'd to 
 the ends or the earth, that all the generations of men may 
 bow betöre liini ! 
 
 Job, made perlect by suflerings, the trials of his faith 
 and virtue, had been enconipassM by tlie terrors of the 
 Omnipotent : but, unable longer to think of the crncify'd 
 Savioui-'s death, lie soar'd from the depths of affliction, 
 crying, He will live ! — he will live, and shall stand, at 
 tue latter day, upon the earth, the Conqueror of Death 
 and of Hell. Then shall my eyes see him. — They shall 
 see thee iu thy glory, my Lord! my Redeemer! my 
 Saviour. 
 
 Thus were the faithful afifected by the expectation of 
 tile angel of Death. But the near ai)proach of the awful 
 moment, when the divine Mcssiali was to leave his 
 cartlily habitation, fill'd with still stronger sensations the 
 first parents of the human race; v.ho, when Uriel de- 
 scended, were standing close to each other, with their 
 eyes fasten'd on the Saviour, feeling through all their 
 vital powers, some resemblance of the tenor inspii-'d by 
 the angel who drove them out of Paradise. Thus, at the 
 last day, the bless'd, struck by the trumpet's powerful 
 clangor, the trembling earth teeming with resurrection, 
 and their own sensations of returning life, will be lost in 
 wonder and astonishment ; but at length, friends enrap- 
 tur'd, will know their friends, and brothers their bro- 
 thers, whom, while absorb'd in amazement, they had 
 not seen. So Eve, at length, took by the hand the father 
 of men, and, with words scarce rising to sound, ci^'d. 
 Say, O Adam! what we shall do? Shall we seek some 
 deep, some humble abyss ; and there prostrate ourselves, 
 imploring the Almighty to alleviate the pains of his 
 death? 
 
 Adam, with a look of love, reply'«!, O mother of the 
 human race ! much too mean are we to intercede for 
 him with his Almighty Father. Were Job, Noah, Da- 
 niel, and even Eloa, the most exalted of the cele.-tial 
 spirits, with ardent fervor to join with us, vain would 
 be our supplications. The dispensations of God iurc all
 
 24 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 conducted by unerring wisdom — by infinite goodues«. 
 He docs not see fit to interpose, and therefore, no com- 
 fort — no consolation will the Saviour receive amidst his 
 angui-h. Such are the decrees of the Almighty, whose 
 ways are inscrutable. Ah ! I am lill'd with a new idea, 
 which perhaps flows from God . Follow nie, and do what 
 thou seest mc perform. 
 
 Now, with mournful flight, they descended from the 
 mount of Olives to the hili of death, and slopp'd at the 
 sepulchre, where the gracious Saviour, like his brethren 
 of the dust, was to sleep. Before the entrance of this 
 house of death was roU'd a large and ponderous block of 
 stone, on one side of which stood the father, and on the 
 other the mother of the human race. The idea of the 
 near sepulchre of the crucify'd Jesus, piercing her soul, 
 lilte an arrow from the quiver of the Almighty, she sunk 
 on the stone. Adam raising his hands, thrice utter'd, in 
 silence, the name of the Redeemer; while, with au 
 attentive look of mingled love and grief, he view'd his 
 face, now more pale than that of death. Soon overcome 
 with the sight, he sunk in the dust, and placing his sor- 
 rowful brow on his folded bands, fix'd his eyes on the 
 ground, from which Go<l had form'd his mortal frame, 
 and in loud prayers rais'd his suppliant voice, while the 
 angels, and the exalted souls of his happy descendants, 
 heard his iinpassiori'd orisons. 
 
 Lord God, merciful and gracious, faithful and long« 
 suffering; who forgivost iniquity, transgression and sin, 
 hear the fervent pra}er we send up to thee from the 
 gloomy sepulchre of thy beloved Son, who dies for our 
 offences — who dies that man may triumph over death. 
 Thou wilt hear us; for long have we been permitted, 
 with rapturous joy, to see thy face, and to rejoice in thy 
 mercy 1 And, O thou loüg-promisM, thou dying Saviour ! 
 whom we too have beheld in tldne effulgent glory, ere 
 tliou condesceudest to put on that garment of flesh, and 
 here on earth to live — to die for man. On this solemn 
 day, in which thou restortst to the vision of the Father, 
 aH who resist not thy gracious purpose; reconcilest man
 
 THE MESSIAH. 25 
 
 to the obcditüce of the truth, and delivercst him from 
 the punishment of sin— from that king of terrors, eternal 
 Death, may I with humble sorrow recollect my sins f 
 May the first of men, O my dying Saviour! while thou 
 humblest thyself to the death of the cross, be allow'd to 
 contemplate his forgiven otfei.ce! 
 
 Here sacred melancholy and devout transport sup- 
 press'd his utterance. Eve, silent, with expressive coun- 
 tenance, had accompan3'd his prayer, and now added 
 with audible voice : O thou who art devoted to death ! 
 on this day of blood — on this day, when, O my belov'd 
 Redeemei" ! thy mortal frame is to lie down in the grave, 
 let Eve, the first of women, also mention her crime, with 
 such grace forgiven, and acknowledge it witii tears of 
 grateful love ! Here she ceas'd, and Adam thus resum'd : 
 
 Twas we began the fatal trespass ; we proceeded : we 
 completed the dire oSence. O deed of horror! slight 
 was the prohibition — bow casyjo perform ! We receiv'd 
 it frum God, the Fiist, the liest of Beings! our Creator! 
 who from the dust rais'd our human frame, and gave us 
 fouls to know, and tongues to praise his goodness: who, 
 while we were bless'd with innocence, fiU'd our minds 
 with inborn joy, and sweet .-ensations: who rewarded 
 our ardent prayers with pleasing rapture ; every new 
 resolution not to taste of the fair forbidden fruit, every 
 act of obedience before our wretched fall, with sublimest 
 delight: who continually reminded us of his presence 
 and sovereign wisdom, by ten thousand living creatures, 
 whose admirable texture incessantly rewarded specula- 
 tion with new discoveiies, and increasing wonder : who 
 gave to me the mother of mankind, and me'toher: 
 whose apparent glory bestow'd on us, rais'd us nearer to 
 him, than all the surrounding creation. — Yet, presurap. 
 tuous and ungrateful, we vainly strove, O thou Source of 
 Being! to seize thy power, thy glory, and to become 
 like thee divine. — But, gracious Father, thou hast foigiven 
 us. Thee let us forever adore with warmest gratitude 
 and awful love. And O thou divine Saviour of men, 
 the Eflluence of thy Father's splendor ! may these suffti- 
 VOL. II. C
 
 .2Ü IKE MEiSIAil. 
 
 iugä be repaid with g'ory, and iionour, aiid afiecüonatc 
 obedience ! May ail tlie wide creation bail tLy goodness, 
 and all mankind proclaim thy grace ! 
 
 Thus Adam gave vent to the strong sensations of his 
 mind, and v> it'll him cur ge-ueral mother : he v>ith loud 
 voice, and she iu eüciit tl'.oughK Then the countenance 
 of the djing lUdeemcr bcam"d on them divine mercy, 
 heavenly tranquillity, and that peace of God wliich 
 passjth knov'lcilgo. Emaptur'd, they felt these effuMons 
 of the Mediator's love, and tiie first of men fiJl'd \\ith 
 ecstatic ardor, stretching out his arms towards the cross, 
 thus cry'd : 
 
 O my Saviour, and the Saviour of mankind, my chil- 
 dren! thy love exceeds all thought : nor can words tx- 
 preas my tlianlcs ; for " eternity itself is too short to 
 utter ail thy praise." Here will I stay till thou bow'st 
 thy head iu death. Eut amidst the pain thou sufferest 
 for sinners, hear my supplications for my offspring — for 
 all who shall hereafter dwell on eaith. Iu tlie imperfect 
 dawn of infant tliought, may they feel thy love and lisp 
 thy praise! O guide their blooming yeais: cherish the 
 ttruder plants, that they may early bring forth fruit! Ir- 
 radiate those, with transcendent virtue and truth divine, 
 who, in riper age, are to enlighten the earth, and teach 
 the ways of God to man! May the traveller never slum- 
 ber in the cooling shade, or on the brink of the refresh- 
 ing stream, wl;ile he loses sight of the radiant crown 
 which God hoh!s out from afar; and, captivated by 
 grovelling present joys, forgets the glorious future rc- 
 compeucc ! And m;iy all who cease to attend to the soft 
 voice of love and grace, be call'd by affliction from the 
 error of their ways ! 
 
 O my children ! my children ! how inexpressible is 
 the condesccnsitii .snd grace of him who dies on the 
 cross for you ! May your stony hearts be touch'd by his 
 all-conquering love ! With contrite souls may ye hear the 
 voice of the blood which now flows from Calvary in 
 streams of mercy and of grace! — 
 
 P-ut what bliss pours in upou me I ^s hat joy pervades
 
 THE MESSIAH. !?7 
 
 my innicit powers! wliile I contum plate the glcrics that 
 await the ii;ihieous dead ! From them t'ic beatific vision 
 is before death conceal'd — They now enjoy it all — are 
 ravisli'd with incttable delight, and with triumph;uit joy 
 behold their Lord — theii Saviour! Oh, v.hen thou, after 
 the final judgment, shall free the earth from the curse 
 brought upon it by my sin, and slialt create it anew, 
 blooming like Eden, then, innumerable as the sands of 
 the sea, as the drops of the morning dew glittering in 
 the fields, and as the stars that shine in the firmament, be 
 the multitude of those who enter into thy glory ! 
 
 Eloa now call'd with a voice that shook the solid base 
 of Moriah, and made the courts of the temple tremble, 
 c) ying, He comes, lie comes. The Messenger of God 
 then dcscen-'etl on Sinai. Solitary he stood, while to 
 him the heavens and the earth seem'd to dissolve and 
 pass aAvay. The Eternal, who upholds all things by the 
 word of his power, then preseiv'd him from linking, 
 and from him terror withdrew her iron gripe : yet was 
 he fill'd with amazement and dejection. His right hand 
 siuik, while he, trembling, held his flaming sword, no 
 longer shining in pale splendor ; bnt glowing w ith fiery 
 blaze, like the red lightning sent by the Ahnighty as the 
 mesteiiger of destruction. Seiz'd with reverence and 
 av»"lul love, at a gracious look from the divine Redeemer, 
 he approach'd nearer, and, alighting on mount Calvary, 
 snnk prostrate. His voice of tiumdcr now melted into 
 sottest accents, yet was heard by the angelic circle, while 
 he thus address'd the dying Messiah. : T, a finite being, 
 am sent by the Sovereign Judge, to fulfil his great com- 
 mand. O thou, the radiant image of bis grace! thon 
 Savioar of men, who now dj'est that man may live lor- 
 everl strengthen me, a spirit of yesterday, united to a 
 body form'd of a midnigh.t cloud and liquid flione. Awe 
 and terror compass me around ; yet must I execute the 
 behests of thine Almighty Father. 
 
 He t!ien return'd to Sinai's lofty summit; where Jeho- 
 vah again array'd him in all his terrors. Dreadful he 
 stood, pointing his sword do^n towards Golgotha. Be-
 
 28 THE MESSIAH, 
 
 hiud him rose a storm, the vehicle of ihe imraoitals' 
 voice, which sliook the p?Jni grove?, sl;ook Jordan au'l 
 Genazereth. Xow the smoking blood of the evening 
 sacrifice stream'd on tlic altar, and the immortal oy'd, 
 Thon, O holy Saviour of men, who, condeirm'd by that 
 cruel city, hast freely cou=ented to sufier death for sin« 
 ners, thine cnemie?, the work of mercy and of love is 
 ciimpieted. The cry of thy blood is as-ended to the 
 Almighty, proclaimiug grace to man ; and in a few mo- 
 ments thou wilt beco;i;e the prey of Deilh, from whom 
 tl;ou slialt rise victorious ; but the oace-favour'd city of 
 the Lord, which hast «put thy blood, sli.ill be devoted to 
 misery, desolation and terror. Tlie angel of death then 
 rising in tlie clouds, brandish'd his flaming sword over 
 Jerusalem, crying, A little while and thy palaces shall 
 be overflow'd with blood, famine shall walk through 
 t'.iy streets, and Desolation and Terror reign in all thy 
 pleasant places. 
 
 Jlejinwhile the holy, the al! gracious Saviour, raising 
 his diooping eyes towards Heaven, cry'd in a loud and 
 pathetic voice, m.t like that of the dying, ,TIy God ! my 
 God! why ha-t thou forsaken me? — The cele;ti;ü spirits, 
 filld with a>toniihment, instantly veil'd their faces. 
 Now all the painful sensations of the holy, the.di\ine 
 Jesus were redoubled, and with parch'd tongue he cry'd, 
 I thirst. He thirsted, call'd and drank : llien trembled, 
 bled, and became still mure pale. Tlien again lifting up 
 his benevolent eyjs, he said, Father, into thy hands I 
 commend my spirit ! and adding, It is ünish'd, bow'd 
 Lis gracious head and dy'd.
 
 THE 
 
 MESSIAH, 
 
 BOOK XI.
 
 ^fje Srßument* 
 
 The glory of the Messiah soars froin Calvary fd 
 the Holy of Holies in the temple. The earth 
 shakes, and the veil of the temple is rent. Ga- 
 briel tells the souls of the Pat riarcJis that they 
 ■mvist retire to their graves. The Messiah leaves 
 the temple, and raises the bodies of the saints. 
 The resurrection of Adam, Eve, Abel, Seth, Enos, 
 Mehalecl, Jared, Kenan, Lamech, Methuselah, 
 Noah, Japheth, ahem, Abraham, Isaac, -'SaraJi, 
 Rebecca, Jacob, Rachel, Lea, Boijamin, Joseph, 
 Melchisedcc, Azuriah, Mishael, Hananiah, Ha- 
 bakkuk, Isaiah, Daniel, Jeremiah, Amos, and 
 Job. The C07ivcrted thief o?i the cross dies. The 
 resurrection of Moses, David, Asa, Jehoshaphat, 
 U-ziah, Jotham, Josiah, Hezekiah, Jonathan, 
 Gideon, Elisha, Deborah, Miriam, Ezckiel, As- 
 nath, Jepthas daughter, the mother, and her 
 seven martyt^d soiis, Heman, Chalcol, Durda, 
 and Ethan, Anna the prophetess, Bcnoni, Si- 
 meon, and John the Baptist,
 
 THE 
 
 MESSIAH. 
 
 IF in my religious fiig'ut I have not sunk too lew ; bat 
 have pour'cl sublime sensations into the hearts of the 
 rcdeenrd; guided by the Almiiihty, I have been borne 
 en eagle's wings! O Religion! I have iearnd from re- 
 velation a sense of thy dignity! He who waits not, ^vith 
 devout awe, by the pure crystal stream that from the 
 throne flows among the trees of life, may his applause, 
 disper&'d by the winds, not reach mine ear, or, if undis- 
 pcrs'd, not polliile my heart! Ah, am>.ng the dusth.ad 
 lain my song, had not yon living stream pour'd from the 
 New Jerusalem, the city of God, and thither turn'd back 
 its course. Lead me still farther, thou Guide invisible, 
 and direct my trembling steps. The Son's humiliation 
 already have I snng, and let me now ri;e to sing hii 
 glory. May I attempt to sing the Victor's triumph, the 
 hills and valleys yielding forth their dead, and his ex- 
 altation to the Heaven of Heavens, the throne of the 
 Eternal Fatl:er ? Ü thou to Heaven rais'd, hear me and 
 help — O help me to support the terrors of thy glory! 
 
 The Internal Picdeemcr now cast his eyes on the bodies 
 of the reconcil'd dead : thtn look'd up to the Father ; 
 but what creature can ever feel the di\ine transport, the 
 delight, the love, with which they vievv'd each other? 
 Then flew night from the eternal throne ; and from the 
 sun fled the covering star. The poles of every terres- 
 trial globe trembled, and hasted to pursue the coarse 
 mark'd out by God. In haste the sun revolvVl, and the
 
 32 THE MESSrAII. 
 
 earth follow'd till they agiin euter'd the track of their 
 first orbit. Christ, the Redeemer of tlie world, hovers 
 over the cross, looking down on Lis pale, bloody and 
 pendant corpse. The Conqueror of Death turns, the eaith 
 trembles: He moves to the temple, the rocks burst, and, 
 falling, spread noise and dust through the wide expanse. 
 Instantly the sacred rays of his glorj- fill the Holy of Holies, 
 and the mysteiy-conceaiuig veil is, from its loity hiight 
 to its lowest border, rent. Here Jesus conferrV! with the 
 Father, God with God, onthecon^plete accompüshment 
 of the gre;it redemption. But of their thoughts the soul 
 has no idea, language no words. The subject only, thou 
 sacred Muse of Sion, canst unfuld. Behold how night 
 brightens into eternal day ! Salvation shall be revcJÜ'd 
 to the nations, the forsaken temple shall perish, ai;d the 
 favourite people of the Most High be dispers'cl among 
 the nations. The issue of things pass'd before the eyes 
 of the Father and Son. Religion, through a course of 
 ages spreading amor.g innumer.ible nations, and often 
 obscnr'd by the crimes and folües of m.an, becomes in- 
 volv'd in the clouds of night, but is never totally extin- 
 guish'd. The resurrection of the redecm'd fi oni spiritual 
 dedtb, the conflicts <>f the church mi!it;>.nt, her victories, 
 and the distant autipast of Heaven. 
 
 While the Father and the Son thn? confen'd, a voice, 
 like the noise of many waters, roU'd through the listening 
 Heavens, s;iying. By the eternal Father, and by Urn 
 who w ill rise from the dead, and seat himself at the Fa- 
 ther's right hand, ye who are now mortals shall enjoy 
 salvatio;'. ! Fliss and rapture, thiou^-. a joyful eternity, 
 shall be y( urs. The* Eternal High Priest has redoeni'd 
 you from sin. On the altar of 1 is death is snsjifndcd 
 His sicied form, who has coniplet'd the sacrifice for 
 «in, and soon will ye si^ethe Conqueror surrounded with 
 the fctTulgencc of the golliead.on the tlironeof the Eter- 
 nal, covt-r'd with ra iiant wounds. Thus thronglj the 
 Heavens resounded FJoa's voice. From the er;rth with 
 joyful tremor, rose the voice of the first ofionder, saying. 
 The Promise of God, Christ Jesus the Faithful, the
 
 THE MESSIAH. 33 
 
 '.n^-siiffering, the Abundant in mercy, full of Loving- 
 kindness, has died for siaful man! Ü thou Shoot of 
 .\danrs btem, blossom and rise to eternal iite! Rejoice, 
 ') heavens, and be glad, O earth J the All-gracious has 
 vn his only begotten Son for you! Triumph, O my 
 ;!>, in your Redcemei-'s love, his sufferings arc ended, 
 .'la better, a more glorious life awaits you above. 
 Jüsus was still ill the sanctuary. To no angel, to no 
 j iUiarc!» h;id he yet reveal'd himself; but us he soarM 
 irom gloomy Golgotha to the temple, the roilting air 
 .:d trembling earth to ihcm aiiaounc'd his presence: 
 they s.iw not his glorj-, and ttill ador'd from the heights 
 of xMoriah. The idea of the Tileaiator's death lill'd the 
 ;-(H',ls of the patriarchs, and no angelic being felt their 
 ;;ia'.ion3. Joy, mix'd v^ith the tender tiionghtä of thy 
 ath. Heaven's most delightful solace, O thou divine 
 ivcdeemer! overflow'd tlieir souls. Soft repose, the 
 peace of God, and the love of Jesus, iiliimin'd all their 
 ilioughts, and inflam'd every sensation. While the souls 
 • ; the saints were absorb'd in these exquisite raptures, 
 ':<Av effulgent lustre gradually return';!, and the ce- 
 ; ;lial love they felt for each other rais'd them still 
 liigbor to the beatitude of loving the Redeemer! they 
 i:::l all one soul, which ia all was the temple of their 
 s iviour ! 
 
 Gabriel, now hasting fi-om the mount of death, ap- 
 ui-- ar'd amongst thcni. His speech w.is at first obstructed 
 ;y his Joy at beholding the eternally redcem'd, and their 
 \ oices were to him as sweet and melodious as the sounds 
 of the celestial harps. Brethren ! immortals ! he at 
 kngth cry'd, Scarce can I presume to call ye brethren ; 
 tor your father is the father of Christ! I brought ye from 
 the sun to this earth. Another command I have receiv'd, 
 llepair, ye redcem'd, to your graves. 
 
 The heavenly band now dispers'd, each hasting to his 
 tomb. By the altar, near which the earth had imbib'd 
 Abel's blood, was still remaining a moisy rock, in wiiicli 
 V. ere ii-terr'd Adam and many of his <lescendants. There 
 ' :ie .'iher of men with the devout of his race ajsembled. 
 C2
 
 34, THE MESSIAH. 
 
 On approachins: their sepulchres, each saw the blessed 
 spirit who, while he was ou earth, had been his guardiaa 
 angel, hovering round the ruins of his moulder'd tomb : 
 fcut on the nearer approach of these holy souls, they up- 
 wards took their triumphant flight, while the souls of the 
 dead were at a loss to conceive the cause of their thus 
 soaring with hymns of triumph. 
 
 Pvnoch and Elijah still remain'd on the hill of death, 
 looking with amazement at the saints who were descend- 
 ing to the receptacles of their mortal frames. 
 
 Noah, with Japheth and Shem, ascended to their 
 graves on that mount where rested the ark, which, pre- 
 served by divine mercy, triumph'd over all the rage of 
 the deluge. 
 
 Abraham, with his belovd, rctii^d to his sepulchre, 
 near which he saw the heavenly traveller, in human 
 form, whom, while unknowxi, he entertain'd in the 
 friendly shade. 
 
 Moses repair'd to his solitary grave on Nebo's lofty 
 summit, where God himself made the rock his tomb. 
 He died in the immediate presence of the Almighty ; 
 who, before he clos'd his eyes, gave him a view of Ca- 
 naan's then ferule land. The rocks at the presence of the 
 Omnipotent, rent under the lifeless body ; it sunk down ; 
 the trembling rock clos'd, and thus he lay Interr'd by the 
 hand of God. 
 
 Nearer to Golgotha came to their graves those disciples 
 of Moses who, arm'd with the thunder of eloquence, and 
 psalms prophetic of future salvation, rescu'd Abmham's 
 race from Idolatry's iron chains. 
 
 Honor encompass'd the fields of the sacred grave.«, 
 and affrighted back every mortal foot that presum'd to 
 approach ; but the angels, as if only desdn'd to converse 
 with spirits of the saints, return'd from the clouds. Adam 
 had enter'd his grave, with his belov'd, and addressing 
 her, thus gave vent to bis amazement: Thou, I saw, 
 didst observe the devout awe which 1 felt at the divine 
 commatifl ; but now, O Eve, rejoice w ith me, that we 
 iK-e esrttem'd worthy, wliilc the sacred body of the Lord
 
 THE MESSIAÖ. S3 
 
 of Life sleeps in death, to be, wiui him, humbled in the 
 grave. How transporting the thoug'it of being humbled 
 with the Eternal Son of the Father! L-.t ine also exult, 
 tliat in tlie day of juilginent, he will descend to EdeiJ, 
 aiid I shall here awake, and ye, niy children, with me! 
 Here from death wv shall awake! all that no.v slerp in 
 the silent grave, for all eternity stiall awake ! Ail my 
 numberless devout children shall receive bodies thai are 
 glorify'd — spiritualiz'd ! O the u;:utterable beatitude 
 which the great Jehovah has gra iously allotted for us! 
 How h.ist thou, O death of the Redeemer, exalted us ! 
 what blisi has it procui-'d! Thou Enoch, and tho-i Klijah, 
 shew how wordiy a resurrection from death is of the 
 longing desires of an immoital. Delay not then, thou last 
 of days, tliat for this bliss we may long no more! — Yet, 
 rather delay, that muitiludes may be added to the multi- 
 tudes that shall then rise from the grave to eternal life I 
 Thus spake Adam, iu blis-ful raptures, while hi- listen- 
 ing associate also dwelt on the gladdening thought of their 
 joint humiliation with the gracious Redeemer, and on 
 the earth's final day. 
 
 ]^ow from the foot of the mount to the temple's lofty 
 pinnacles, Moriah trembled. Clouds issuing from the 
 sinctuary, roU'd through the court of the temple, then 
 rose towards Heaven. Wlierever the awful clouds turn'd, 
 the earth shook, the rocks rent, and the rivers swell'd. 
 Tiie clouds becoming resplendent, spread over the graves, 
 and a lou<l v, ind rush'd from under the tombs ; but the 
 power of the Eternal Sou was not in the storm : the earth 
 arouml tiie graves shook; but the omnipotence of the 
 Redeemer was not in the trembling earth : flashes issu'd 
 fiom tlie clouds ; but the Lord was not in the flames : 
 then from the Heavens descended a soft and gentle 
 breeze, and in this gentle breeze was the omnipotence of 
 the Son. Beheld at his command, sweet insensihility 
 came like slumber in the cooling shade. The patriarchs 
 knew not what was to happen; but their sensations, 
 though dimm'd, perceiv'd the present Deity in the am- 
 bient breeze. Meanwhile, transported with fraternal
 
 36 THE I^IESSIAH. 
 
 joy, the angels Icok'd do->vn vic^.ving the fields cf ihe re- 
 
 surreetion. 
 
 Adam now cry'd, I sbail be Rgr.in created ! ciealed 
 anew ! and strove to ri^e, yet still he kneel'd in the dii't, 
 while the cherubims and seraphims, striking their basps, 
 th:is sa.ig ; Be Ihcu anew and forever created. Behold 
 on the darkest of thy days thou diedst. Oh, hail the first ! 
 awake, and live a life, O Adam, more sweet than thou 
 enjoyedst at thy tirst creation ; and now no more to die ! 
 Adam, with dimm'd sight, still kneel'd in tlie dust. Tl;c 
 ethereal form in which, since his death, his never-dying 
 Eoal had been cloth'd, became mix'd with his risen glc- 
 rify'd body, and swiftly rising, he stood erect, with his 
 arms stretch'd towards Heaven, cryi.'ig, O joy imiiftcr- 
 able ! thou hast call'd me out of the dust, a::d I know cf 
 a truth, that thou, O my Redeemer ! hast created me 
 more glorious than in Eden ! O that I coidd find thee, my 
 Hedeemer! that I could find the Almigltj! How would 
 I prostrate myself before him, and pour cut my adora- 
 tions I But thou art ever neai-, though unseen ! This ce- 
 lestial murmar is the voice of thy presence! Even those 
 around me now awake! Look down, ye angels, and see 
 around the father of men, bis holy children rise. 
 
 Eve now arose, and looking round, ci-y'd. Where have 
 I been 1 AVhere am I ? Am 1 in Edtn ? I agdn dwell 
 in my original mansion, once dissolv'd ! There, O there 
 is Adam ! how eixulgent ! — How efftdgent am I ! O thou 
 veliose wounds I have seen ! where art thou, O then Re- 
 storer of Innocence, that T may pour out my praises before 
 thee ! Adam hasted to her, and she to him. In a trans- 
 port they embrac'd, joy stopp'd their voice, and tl:ey 
 could only stannner forth the name of him who had 
 rais'd them from the dead. 
 
 Abel ! my son Abel ! cry'd Adam ; for Abel hover'tl 
 there like llie vernal morn, cloth'd in radiant purple. 
 O my son, added he, with what atfection, with what 
 grace and glory has the Redeemer bless'd us ! Those bo- 
 dies were earthy, when we laid them down in our kin- 
 <lrud dust ; but what are they now?
 
 THE MESSIAH. 57 
 
 Above all that we could think or ask, said Abtl, O 
 father, has he done for us, who has put away our sins, 
 and the s>ins of the worlil ! O celestial repose! all shall, 
 like us, at the last day, awake ! 
 
 Enos found himself by Setli, Mehaleel, Jared, Kenan, 
 and Noah's father, and with theui v,as Methuselah. He 
 found them encompass'd with glory, on their trembling 
 graves, fiU'd with new life, ia celestial bodies, more fit 
 companions of their immortal souls. These shining 
 frames seem'd almoit endn'd with thought, and full of 
 the presence of God. As after the creation the morning 
 stars sang together, so the sors of Adam hover'd, utter- 
 ing effusions of grateful praise and joy, and the field of 
 tiie resurrection resounded with the transports of the re- 
 viving dead. 
 
 Noah, the second father of mankind, felt his new cre- 
 ation, and was awak'd in the solt breeze of the evening 
 twilight. - A rosy cloud flov/'d frora the shoulders of the 
 immortal as he rose. Ye angels, he cry'd, O tell me, 
 has a body, like that of Adam in Paradise, been form'd 
 for me? Ah, where are we ? Say, where is he who has 
 thus created me, that I may prostrate myself -.vith you, 
 and join your adorations? Then seeing Japheth and 
 Shciii rise from their graves, he added, O my sons! 
 where is he who has rais'd our bodies from the dead, 
 that we may haste to prostrate ourselves before him, and 
 ponr ibrth our devout llianksgivings ? Tell me, ye other 
 sons of the resurrection, where, O where is he who Las 
 fili'd you with celestial fire, that wcmay kneel, and with 
 our feeble li 03 pour forth our imperfect praise ? 
 
 As the pious man, who in all things seeks and finds 
 God his Creator, on beholding through the breathing 
 grove, the sun rising in his beauty, is fdi'd with soft rap- 
 ture, frora its being a testim.ony of the glory of God ; so 
 Abraham's guardian angel beheld the father of the faith- 
 ful arl=e from his tomb, bless'd, glorify'd and immortal. 
 Abraham laying his hand on his mouth, and looking to- 
 wards Heaven, \vrapp'd in astonishment and self-consi- 
 deration, at length thus gave vent to his amazement :
 
 58 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 Am I agnia created? How wonderful, how gracious, O 
 my Saviour, are the consequences of thy death ! This 
 new life, to w hich thou hast rais'd us from dust, O bless'd 
 Redeemer ! flows from thy sufterings. This incorrupti- 
 ble body, the nobler consort of my soul, thou hast given 
 me before ihe dissolution of nature. Oh, who am I, 
 who am I, that thou conferrest on me such felicity ? Thus 
 he esclaimd and wept, fillVl with gratitude aiid joy. 
 
 Isaac came. Him Abraham tlionght a young seraph 
 adorn'd with ethereal radiance, and those smiling blushes 
 of the morning that cover the bright inhabitants of Hea- 
 ven, and cryil. Didst thou see me, O resplendent angel ! 
 raii'd from the dead, and at the divine command, my 
 consrmi'd bones reNive? 
 
 O Abraham, my father I he retnrn'd, once didst thou 
 ■believe that had I been corsuin'd by the altar, my ashes 
 ^ould revive, and I should again be restor'd to life. 
 My body, O best of fathers! is now restor'd. How 
 amazing is the Redeemer's goodness! His sacred body is 
 still suspended on the cross ; yet ours rise, and we enjoy 
 these raptures! I sunk as in sleep, a celestial breeze 
 blow'd around me, and 1 found myself wrapp'd in a re- 
 splendent cloud. 
 
 Enraptnr'd came Sarah and Bethuel's daughter to their 
 beloved. V,'ith eyes lift up to them, and then to Hea- 
 ven, stood the father and the son. Long stood they 
 speechless, while their souls glow'd with everlasting gra- 
 titude and triumphant praise. 
 
 Israel came exuUing, and wliile his full soul pour'd 
 forth giatciul tears from his now Lnmoitaleyes.heciy'd, 
 ll.ill; lujali to the Mediator, the Conqueror of Death ! Oh 
 thou hast bled — thou hast completed our redemption — 
 tliou hast callM us out of the valley of death ! 
 
 :\Ieanwhile the seraphs wcie not silent, their hymns 
 accompanjlng the joyful acclamations of the righteous 
 patriarchs: Praise and gloi-y, said they, be to him that 
 nvives the dead, to the divine Giver of this eternal life, 
 which now blo£s<ims from the tombs. Rejoice, O Hea« 
 veil ! at thy future inh.abitants I
 
 THE MESSIAH. 39 
 
 Israel now turning his eyes from them to Golgotha, 
 cry'U, I will join my thanksgivings with those of all the 
 c» lestiiil choirs, when thoa shall soar from thy tomb ; 
 when the belov'd shall see thee their Redeemer on the 
 throne of glory, in the lustre that was thine ere the earth 
 was fonn'd. Are you, ye angels, like me ? Ye are not. 
 You have not, Uke me, dy'd, believing in him. You 
 have not felt the joys of the resurrection. The lledeemer 
 1 lid down his hfe for man; and, like man, will revive. 
 Ye blessed spirit«, join with as in adoring him ; but we 
 will love him more! 
 
 He then, casting his eyes from Heaven to the earth, 
 saw his ijL'lov'd Joseph. An angel w^as at the tomb of 
 Rachel, standing idoft on the pendant rock. She look'd 
 up to hiin V. ith cordial afllction, while he smiling look'd 
 down on her, with a countenance of the sweetest friend- 
 ship. My tomb, O seraph! said she, is solitary — Rachel, 
 he answer'd, the sepulchre in which the divine Redeemer 
 will soon be laid, is also solitary — Alas, she return'd. 
 Low has he sufler'd, whose earthly form a tomb in 
 Golgotha will soon inclose ! Oh, what has his condescen- 
 sion and death obtain'd for us! The time will come 
 when my body shall awake from sleep, when my bones, 
 long moukler'd in the dust, shall rise. Even for me has 
 the Saxiour obtain'd a re-urrection. 
 
 While she was yet speaking a vapour arose round her 
 feet in the tomb, fine as the breath of the rose, or of the 
 vernal leaf dropping silver. Rachel's radiance tinges the 
 rising vapour w ilh gold, as the sun gilds the skirts of 
 an evening cloud, while her eye follows the undulating 
 vapour, which in various forms waves around her, rising, 
 falling, and drawing still nearer and more lucid. She 
 admires the deep wisdom sliewn in the ever-varying 
 creation, equally nnrathomablt^ in what is great, and 
 w hat is small, w ithont knowing the near athnity betweea 
 her and the bright curling cloud, or to what thine Al- 
 mighty voice, O thou Redeemer ! would soon reduce it. 
 She then, leading in the midst of the radiant dust, stood 
 musing with joyful look.
 
 40 TIIE JIESSl-AH. 
 
 With folded hands stood her augel, ^•iewing v.hat 
 pass'd V, ith transport too exquiiite tor speech . In o w v.as 
 heard the onunpot\;ut voice, and Rachel sinldng down, 
 seein'd to herseli as if dissolving in tears of joy, in some 
 shady vaie by a toiintHin siile ; then appear'd as it" lightly 
 rising to a f.ow ery plain refresh'd by a gentle breeze, 
 said tlien as if new created amidst the fragrance-breath- 
 ing flowers. Awaking from her short trance, she sud- 
 denly lises, she feels, she sees, she knows that she has a 
 new immortal body. Enraptnr'd she raises her eyes to 
 Heaven, and thanks him who call'd her forth from 
 death. O Jesus, my brother, my Lord, and my Savi- 
 our, siie cries, ever shall thy name be first on my lip?, 
 then yonr's, Israel, Joseph, Benjamin! — 'My Lord and 
 my God ! V.'here am II Lead me, O seraph, lead mc, 
 that I may see the Adorable, that I may see Israel and 
 my children! My seal pants after them ; with them will 
 1 rejoice in the giories of the resurrection. 
 
 Israel beheld her, and also Leah, with her son, wl.o 
 come from the b inks of the Is'ile. Benjamin was like- 
 wise there ; but Joseph still absent. The heavenly Jo- 
 seph still hover'd over his sepulchre at Sichern. Samed, 
 one of tlic children v> bom the IJediator had kiss'd and 
 bless'd, was with him ; he v. as Ir.teiy dead, and jnst knew 
 himself to be an heir of eternal Life. His guardian au- 
 gel had conducted hhn to Hainan's pastures, where he 
 perceiv'd Joseph hovering over his grave, and thus ad- 
 dress'd the angel: Who, my heavenly guide, is tlsat 
 radiant form, with looks so sweet and mild, and yet so 
 full of dignity ? 
 
 Joseph, with a smile of benignity and temper'd eflnl- 
 gcnce, thus began an endearing conversation. Thou 
 flower that now wilt grow in the shade of the tree of 
 life, and near the crystal streHm that Hows from the 
 throne, know that I was once, like thee, a happy child, 
 till injuries involv'd me in miseries that were succeeded 
 by great prosperity, and f became the father of nations. 
 Knowest thou, happy child, the sou of Israel and Rachel ? 
 
 O thou immortal, the sons of Jacob and Rachel ! oft
 
 THE MESSIAH. 41 
 
 have I wept wiih joy while 1 have heard my father tell 
 me the wouderful story of Joäeph. Yet alhiy thy splen- 
 dor, O Joicph ! allay thy lustre, then will I venture to 
 talk with thee. The joy of seeing thee is worth all the 
 pangs of death, and 1 would again bear those painful 
 struggles from which I am but just deliver'd, to see and 
 converse with thee. I sccm'd awhile ago to sink into 
 nothing; but from this dream of endless night my ar.gel 
 awuk'd nie, by telling me I liv'd, and should live forever. 
 
 O early blessed soul, how little hast thou suifer'd of 
 the calamities of life ! What a recompence hast thou rc- 
 cciv'd, in being so soon a companion of the heirs of 
 biiss, and of those that stand higher than I in the steps 
 of Sil V alien! 
 
 O Josepli! O son of Israel! scarce can I bear the ra- 
 diance thou hast so sweetly soften'd. 
 
 S<.)on wilt thou learn, O Samed ! soon wilt thou see 
 Abraham ! The bless'd disencumber'd from their house 
 of clay soon learn. 
 
 Gladly will I learn ; O teach me, thou son of Israel. 
 Even the earthly life I have just left is not without some 
 heavenly intervals. Uo.v was it with thee in that de- 
 light "ul moment, when, no longer able to conceal thine 
 aflfection, t!iou calledst out, so loud that the distant Egyp- 
 tians heard thee, I am Joseph! Is raj father still living ? 
 Then thy brothers — then the eyes of thj' younger brother 
 Benjamin gaz'd upon thee, and thou saidst, ]M;ikc known 
 to my father all the glory I enjoy in Egjpt; and throw- 
 in? thill'; alf -ctionate arms about thy <iear Benjamin's 
 neck, thou shpdst a flood of tears, and in tline embrace, 
 Benjamin's tears express'd his joy ! Oh in that hour wliat 
 didst thou feel! When thy father receiv'd th> new?, 
 the heart of the good old man struggled with difierent 
 thoughts, and ho doubted the trud), till he heard thy 
 words and saw the wjggous of Pharaoh. Then his trou- 
 bled soul reviv'd : It is enough, he cry'd, Joseph, n.y 
 son, still lives! l will haste and see him before I die! 
 Wlien he came near, how didst tLou rim to him, a;i<l long 
 continue in bis embraces ! O let me now die, said he ; 1
 
 42 THE :-.IESSL.\il. 
 
 have seen tLy face, :ind tliou art j'et alive! What, O Jo- 
 seph, divfjt tboit feci in those heavenly hours? 
 
 Come thou, who ait also Israel's son, and ray brother, 
 younger still than v. as my Benjamin, come and embrace 
 me. — Samed trembling embraced him, and lliey Ion» 
 wept cek'Stial tears. How it v.as with me, Samed, thou 
 thyself Celt, when thou recall'dst to me the joyful history 
 of those tea»s 1 shed on earth. By this remembrance 
 thou hast enhanc'd the joys of Heaven, and I sliail offer 
 the Giver of those blessings new tliaaks, and more ardent 
 praise than while confin'd to this eanh. 
 
 I will also, O Joseph! learn of thee to offer up my 
 ardent thanksgiviiigs. But why dost thou remain at this 
 tomb ? 
 
 Know'stthon, O immortal! that llie divine Jesus is 
 dead ? He commanded us v.ho were round the cross, to 
 repair to our graves. This is mine. We are to humble 
 or.rselves whh the gracious, the deceas'd Messiah ; and 
 in silent thought, amidst the spoils of mortality, meditate 
 ca the redemption he has procur'd ; for by his death and 
 resurrection, we shall be freed from death, and at th.e 
 last day oar bodies will awake. 
 
 Here then, \'vi!l Joseph avv'ake. O that my friends 
 would bring here my remains, then sliould I awake near 
 tl'.ee ! Let us desct^nd into the tomb, and see the vesture 
 that once cover'd thine immortal spirit, the dust that will 
 at length arise. 
 
 Come then, Samed, said Joseph, taking him by the 
 hand, and leading him to the darkest part of the tomb, 
 where they found Joseph's angel, in whose countenance 
 were blended expectation, joy and solicitude. 
 
 I see, O seraph ! that thou rcjoicest that he will soon 
 awake. 
 
 I rejoice at his exaltation, O Joseph ! who will ever 
 increase in glory, and who rewards the expectation witli 
 new and ne ver-ceasi ng raptures. If thou hast been pleas'd 
 with a field ccver'd with the vivid products of the spring, 
 and with the flowers continually rising under thy feet, 
 aini(:st those with which thou hast been most delighted,
 
 THE I.IESSTAII. 43 
 
 one still sleeps iu the g'.adsome field, which thoa wilt ex- 
 T€ct with solicitous joy. 
 
 What new felicity, O seraph ! dost thou meao 1 
 
 O thou immortal and still mortal, behold the t'uvour 
 bat awaits thee! — The e:ulh now spoctaueoiisly rose in 
 :Iouds, and iunk on the side of the sepulchral rock ; 
 where Joseph's guardian angel hovcr'd, reiii:nu'd a gen- 
 tle waving du«t, which rose and sunk in swirt succession, 
 the pregnlint dust shining resplendent. Dra.v near and 
 behold in the earth, said Joseph's angel, how gloricnsiy 
 the first sparks of Hfe begin. 
 
 A soft murmur now rose in the cloud-fill'd grave. 
 Samed's golden locks wav'd, and Israel's son, at the near 
 approach of the radiant dust which once form'd his 
 tbones, retarn'd the murmuring sound. Hastily pro- 
 «ceeded the new creation. The angel and Sauied saw 
 what was üovm ; but wliile it was doing the dust chang'd, 
 and Jcseph, with his risen body, stood before them, and 
 lilting up his voice, said, O thou angel of the covenant, 
 who in a flame by night, and in a cloud by day, led the 
 Isrdclites from Egyptian bondage through the Red Sea 
 to Canaan, while the tyrant perish'd, now perishes Death, 
 a greater tyrant. But Israel is in the field of Ephron, 
 and Rachel with him ; Abraham is also there. Thus he 
 spake, and darted with redoubled radiance from the 
 tomb, while the angel and Samed, speechless throiigh joy, 
 Ibllow'd Ills rapid flight. Soon he pass'd by Mamre's 
 sacred grove, and join'd his father and brethren. Oh 
 who is so skiil'd in the sounds of the celestial harps, as to 
 express the joy of this second meeting of the father and 
 the son, in v.hich the brothers knew the brother? or the 
 sweet sijnsations of the mother, at beholding her first-born ? 
 His dream reach'd even into the eternal life, and his 
 brethren, now free from envy, bow'd before his superior 
 splendor, adoring the Giver of more exa!te<l favours. 
 
 A traveller had found Melchisedek, Salem's priest and 
 king, lying on his face near the fountain of Phiala, and 
 witli respectful awe had burj'd hrni in the earth. Over 
 bis grave now hovcr'd Melchisedek. M bile iLe spring's
 
 44 THE JiIESSlAII. 
 
 soft melodious murmurs o vcraow'd his soul with pleayins 
 melody, and be secm'd to hear the voice or the Almighty 
 jointly 'v\ith the cryst.d stream that ruus tlirougii the liea- 
 venly Jerusalem, and p;isses by the tree of Life, he 
 sunk deep in the raptures of soft repose; the heaven; 
 and the earth appear'd to pass away ; but God a:.d him- 
 self remain'd. At length he rais'd hhnself from the 
 earth, but ag^iiin sunk down in silence, yet his eyes were 
 fill'd with quivering tears, and with folded hands Le in- 
 vok'd Jesus t!ie Mediator. 
 
 On a plain appuar'd, O sight terrific and execrable ; 
 those who at the sound of the loud cornet, the soft fiute, 
 the sweet sackbut, the melodious harp, and the rattling 
 cymbol, had fallen prostrate before the shining image. 
 In a rock on this plain, the devout Azariah, Mishael and 
 Ilanauiah, had hewn their tombs, and near the sepul- 
 chres of these pious and heroic believers, lay the vestiges 
 of the splendid image, a mass of niins. Once had that 
 king, whom the Lord cast down from the palaces of Ba- 
 bylon to feed among the beasts of the field, erected it in 
 height reacljhig to the clouriSj as he had seen it in his 
 dream, and near it realms overthrown lay in awftil rains. 
 Mishat-I and Ilananiah interr'd Azariah rejoicing. Thee, 
 ILananiah, the lonely ZMishael plac'd in his tomb, pleas'd 
 with the thought of his own approaching death. His 
 eye now seeks in their sepulchre tlie dust of the deceas'd ; 
 yet there, though immortal, he sought in vain. Then, 
 animated witli the most joyful hopes, he darted upwards, 
 and pour'd forth the joy of his soul, while the uiiiody of 
 bis voice descended to his belov'd fi lends, and rose up 
 to Heaven. 
 
 We shall at length, he sang, come forth from these 
 graves! How wide soever^ O Corruption ! thou scatterest 
 our dust, whether it floats, O Ocean! in t!iy roaring 
 abyss, or it hovers, O Sun! in thy rays! the Omnipo- 
 tent will assemble the dust once inhabited by immortal 
 souls. Over it will he stand, and order it to beinform'd 
 with new life. The Almiglity took tiie dust of the 
 ground, and to the trembling earth said. Become thow
 
 THE MESSIAH. 45 
 
 *he b(xly of man. He spake, aud it obey'd : thus be will 
 ake the dust of conuption, a id again command it to 
 orm a body. Ilallelujah! Then will our dust awake, 
 irhe streams \\ill roar, the storms rise, the sea bcil,. tlie 
 sarlh tremble, the I'.eavens thunder, and night be in- 
 ^volv'd in ten-fold darkness; but louder than the noise of 
 ill will the trumpet sound to awake l!ie doad! 
 
 He who saw thy steeds, O Chald.a ! swift as the leo- 
 pard, or as the eagle in quest of prey : he who beheld 
 thy hoi-semen afsemble captives as the sand, while thoy 
 iangh'd at princes, and made a mock of ki.igs; their 
 leader drunk with his own rage, which was as insatiable 
 as the g\-ave: He who saw the Avenger in the terrible 
 glory with which he came from Paian, when before him 
 walk'd the peMüence, and burning coals went forth at 
 his feet ; when he stood and measnr'd the earth, how far 
 the destroying angel should pass: the hills then sunk be- 
 fore him, the mountains weie scatter'd, and the rivers 
 hastily fled : the deeps sunk down, mid the heights iiited 
 up their hands. Ye sun and moon th; n stood still ; his 
 arrows flew glittering, and his spears as the blaze oi light- 
 ning. Habakkuk, who thus saw the great Helper in 
 Judah, the Rcwarder in his glory, now rais'd from the 
 grave, touch 'd his harp with the softest melody, while he 
 i»ang, The figtree blossoms! there is Iruit in the vine! 
 I the gladdening labour of the olive fills the vallies! the 
 immortal seed slicots up on high an eternal harvest, ri- 
 pening radiant in the smiling field ! Heaven, O Lord, is 
 full of thy praise, the earth of thy glory ! Thou didst think 
 on us, O thou who art most merciful, when we drank 
 the cup of death, and had seen corruption ; therefore will 
 I rejoice in thee my Delivercr,and through eternity, joy 
 in the G od of my salvaticin. 
 
 As when the whole expanse of the heavens is shronded 
 in clouds, and the intent eye of encreasing i xpectatiou is 
 fix'd upward, when tlie flame of the Lord darts at once 
 from the h> av.iis, and storms of thunder proclaim the 
 gloi7 of t!ie -ilmighty, t.hus Isaiah threw aside the night 
 of dealli, shone radiant over his grave, and pour'd forth
 
 46 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 his tijanks to his all-gracious Creator, who had raisd him 
 from the dnst. 
 
 Amidst the ruins of great Babylon, built by Neba 
 chadnezzar in ostentation of Lis grandeur, where the liolj 
 watchman with tremendous voice denouncM, Thy king 
 dom is departed from tliee, and thy dwelling shall be 
 among the beasts of the field ; among these solitary ruinr 
 lay the remains of Daniel,whom God had irradiated with 
 his illuininations, and who uo>v sought his grave, calliut 
 to a seraph to assist his search. He hover'd above, amidsi 
 tlie cry of night birch, the hiss of serpents, and the ruin- 
 of palaces, where the Arab had no cottage, nor his slave 
 a dwelling. Instantly the angel fomnd the grave encom- 
 pass'd with water and slhne, and a mossy tomb stone 
 rose among the waving reeds. The soul of Daniel here 
 recollected the fate of many who had long slept in death ; 
 of him whose front, like a lofty wide-spreading tree, rose 
 high toNvaids Heaven, an extensive shade to the weary; 
 but fell at the divine coimnand. Hew it dov.'n. He 
 learn'd wisdom from this chastisement ; but not so his 
 son ; he, of moie obdurate pride, consider'd not that 
 God has power over the nations; therefore was the 
 hand seen near the golden branch, writing the sentence 
 of death. Know, O kine! the years of thy power are 
 niunber'd and acconvplish'd : thoa art wcigh'd in the 
 balance, and art fon»id wanting: thy kingdom is di\ided, 
 and given to the Medes and Persians. — Tlien the proud 
 mountain and .its confederate hiils simk in the day of 
 desolation. The resplendent form of the holy Daniel 
 quick descended into the grave ; but soon arose, and as 
 tlie morning star beams through the heavens, darted his 
 rays on Babylon's solitary i-uins. 
 
 Hilldah's gentle son had sow'd in tears ; bat nov/ rcap'd 
 elevated joy. He stood on his grave, sensible of liis new 
 life, fillM Yvith rapturous thoughts of his complete and 
 perfect immortality. 
 
 The herdsman of Tekoa, who among tlie cottages of 
 simplicity, knew him who piac'd Arcliirus and Orion 
 high ill the heavci-.s, h.ad seen tlic plains a scene of cala-
 
 THE MESSIAH. 17 
 
 «sity, ;ind the top of Carmcl wither'd; U:e palaces of 
 Kiriclh devour'd by fue ; Moab and Kuiolh die with t-i- 
 mi'.lt, shouting, and the souiid of a irumpet. In the fields 
 of Judah lie had beheid coiilabion and death; the aitar 
 I of bethel, and the palaces of the mighty full : tJ;e rage of 
 I famine; tlie heavens yielding no rain : the sword devour 
 I the youth, and pestilence prey on the dead. Amos, 
 tfiU'd with sympathy, had removed from the sights of 
 '■ these mi-ehe» to the peaceiul gi-ave ; but now awak'd in 
 an immortal body, to behold the salvation acconipii&h'd 
 by the Kedeemcr, the heavens no longer iron, nor thirst 
 knov.n to those who had panted after the knowledge of 
 the Holy One of Israel. 
 
 Job's tomb was encompass'd with cool shades, and his 
 soul hover'd in the waving grove. !Now the rock in 
 wiiicli it was hewn sunk down before him, and from it 
 rtse clouds of undulating dust, that flash'd radiance ; a 
 dust and radiance he had never before seen. While lix'd 
 til deep attention, and rejoicing at this new appearance, 
 he sunk in raptures amidst the splendid dust. His ar.gel 
 tlion beholding him under the Almighty's forming hand, 
 pourd forth the fulness of his joy, with a lofty v^ ice that 
 shook the grove and the neighbouring rocks. ■ This Job 
 himself perceiv'd, who being now created anew, ecstatic 
 tcai-s of rapturous joy fiow'd from his eyes, and he cry'd, 
 with a voice that also shook the grove and rocks. Holy, 
 holy, holy is He that is, and was, and is to come ! 
 
 The sky about Golgothav/as still cover'd with gloom, 
 and round the cross the clouds of night shrouded the 
 eminences and vales, through the whole scene of the di- 
 vine sacrifice, as far as the human eye could reach. The 
 sacred corpse was now stiff, the head sunk, and the tem- 
 ples, press'd with the crown of insult, stain'd witii clotted 
 blood, which ceas'd to call on the Judge for pardon and 
 grace, and to raise its voice to the Heaven of Heavens, 
 cn.iDg to the Father for mercy I The body hung Iifeic:-s 
 on the lofty cross, without a teai-, wit'.out its trembling 
 voice. Around the cross the softest whisper of the rdr 
 was silent, and the hill became a solitude almost forsaken
 
 43 TIIE MESSIAH. 
 
 by man. So lies a field of battle, left bj^ the souls of the 
 dead. 
 
 The repentant thief now look'd \^ ith fix'd, though dim 
 eyes, on the body of the breathle:S Redee.r.ei : Tliou art 
 dead ! crj 'd he, with a low trenudous voice, thou a; t 
 dead! I am left alone in this tormenting death! Gladly 
 will 1 suflFer — gladly will I suffer all with patience ; but 
 do not Thou forsake mc! — Yet God forsook tliee! O 
 mystery profound ! I saw thee with thy face lift up to 
 Heaven, wheii with a loud voice thou cry'd'st, ]\Iy God, 
 my God, v.hy hast thou forsaken me ? and while I heard. 
 Heaven and Earth vanish'd from my sight, and a fresh 
 stream of warm blood issu'd fro:n my veins. 1 thouglit 
 myself dying. O my God, look down upon me with 
 pitj' ! Such were his thoughts when a divine illumination 
 pour'd into his soul. 
 
 The high priest had prevail'd on Pilate not to defer 
 putting Jesus to djath till the malefactors expir'd, lest 
 the passover should be defii'd by their hanging on the 
 cross. Accordingly a slave came in haste with orders 
 from Pilate to the centurion, who havii.g givei. llie word, 
 the next to him laid hold of a club, stain'd with the blood 
 of man}' of the crucity'd dead, and approach'd the cross, 
 follow'd by his companions, Tlien, with nervous arm, 
 he swung it over his head, and crying with a tenific 
 voice. Die, villain, struck the blow, which broke the 
 malefactor's bones, while the cross shook, and sent forth 
 a jarring sound. This the repentant criminal heard, and 
 joyfuUj- predicted his own approaching death. The Ro- 
 man then turn'd, and stood ojiposjte the middle cross, 
 when looking up, he trembled^ and fancy'd he saw the 
 vengeful gods hoverii;g round. Terrify'd he stepp'd to 
 the convert, who lo <k"d down upon him with pleas'd 
 eye. "^o put a speedy end to his torture the executioner 
 exerted all l.'is strength, striking !iis legs with sucli torcc, 
 that the bones were shatter'«!, and Golgotha trembled. 
 He now, once more, but \vit!i slow step, advancM to the 
 middle cross, and, standing still, vieu'd the peodant 
 body ; then call'd out to the ceutarion, This man is already
 
 THE MESSIAH. -19 
 
 dead. I know it, he ansvver'd, but take a spear and 
 pierce his heart ; then tiirn'd aside with his eyes ftx'd oa 
 the ground. Soon the executioner rais'd the glitterin;; 
 spear, and, drawing back, push'd it with redoubled force 
 into the satred corpse, and from the wound issu'd blood 
 and water. 
 
 How, as through a miit, the languishing eyes of the 
 dying convert beheld the blood and water trickling from 
 tiic Most Holy. His soul struggling to free itself from 
 his body, rais'd to Heaven thoughts inarticulate and iui- 
 pa>sioa"d — Ah, now — now be merciful even to me!— 
 O by thy blood — by thy death, which now for all — Ey 
 thy death on that cross, be merciful! — Thou, Golgotha, 
 my grave, wast his altar! — Ah, crush'd bones, exult ia 
 your corruption, here shall ye moulder. 
 
 Abdiel now drawing near, view'd him as he hover'd 
 round with gentle flight, and the countenance of the im- 
 mortal shone with brighter lustre, while he thus utter'd 
 Lis linal benediction : Source of Life, Giver of Mercies, 
 more exalted than the tongues of men or of angels are able 
 to express, oh be with him, and in this dtrk valley of 
 death pour into his mind the joys of the celestial life, a 
 delightful foretaste of the consummation of blessedness. 
 
 The departing sjul then ntter'd these impassion'd 
 thoughts : I'hou Love ! thou eternal Love I — O my freed 
 soul, cease thine efforts! in vain thou striv'st to express 
 thy thanks! O Lord God, merciful and gracious, who 
 'forgivest i.;iquity, transgression and sin, into thine hands 
 —Ah, ye bands of Paradise, how ye wave your palms ! 
 — O Lord, merciful and gracious, into thine hands I 
 commend — Ah, now no longer delay — no longer delay! 
 This reconcil'd, justify 'd, highly favour'd soul! O my 
 Saviour ! into thine hands I commend. 
 
 He then expir'd. Together with the soul, the finest 
 parts of the body left the corps*-, to bi-come the vesture 
 of the immortal spirit : Is this death ? said the transported 
 soul. O happy separation! what shall I call thee? Not 
 death; no more shalt thou be cill'd by that dreadful 
 naine ! and thou conuption, so feaiful to thought, how 
 
 VOL. U. D
 
 ÖO THE MESSIAH. 
 
 soon art tLoa become iiiy joy ! Slumber then, thou my 
 companion in the past life; lall to dust, as seed sown by 
 tLe hand ot God, to ripen for the general harvest ! O 
 corruption, whc-.t a difterent life do I now enjoy ! this has 
 no death! this can know no end ! 
 
 Kow no longer did Abdiel cor.ccal his radiant form. 
 He saw the soul of the new immortal cloth'd like him- 
 self in celestial splendor, and advanced towards him, 
 irr.'jdiatcd with the joy of the most intimate love, brigh- 
 lerAl by his seeing him now deliver'd. The repentant, 
 paidon'd soul, halted tometthim,cryine, Servant of the 
 Jlo&t High, for that thou ait one of the bless'd of God, 
 thy dignity and nnsiilJy'd brightness declar'd tomeJ^^hen 
 my fix'd eyes saw thee from afar ; then the melodious 
 sound otihy wings fill'd me with transport, and chasM 
 away dread and pain. Yet stil! do I tremble before 
 thee; but this trembling is ecstatic rapture. Abdiel an- 
 swer'd. Come thou first of tlie dead, tiie first recoucil'd 
 by the sacrifice of the blest Redeemer ; thou who turn'dst 
 late to God, and first pour'd out thy soul to hhn when 
 conCn'd in p.-ison ; thou the hope of future sinners, come, 
 oh com<- ; for now v. ill be accomplish'd the Mcdiatoi-'s 
 glorious promise : ccme, 1 will conduct thee to the joys 
 of Paradise ! He then w ing'd Lis lapid ilight, foUow'd by 
 the transported soul. 
 
 He whose face shone when he descended from the 
 presence of the Eternal, with such lustre that the people 
 were unable to view Lim till he covered it with a veil : 
 he who doubiii.g that the rock would not instantly pour 
 forth a spring of water, was permitted only to see Canaan 
 from Nebo's lofty summit, now hover'd aU)ne, absorb'd 
 in tliought, over his solitary grr.ve, no angel present ; 
 for none had he, in the life of probation, who, without 
 dyine, saw the glory of God pass by : but before him a 
 resplendent cloud hover'd over the oust in which he had 
 liv'd. O rharaoh, said he, long is it since thy bones, 
 and those of thy ilrow'd host, whitcn'd the sedgy shore. 
 Oh how the walls of the se:<. fell ! how the storm rusli'd 
 from, the fiery column! How Eg>pt sunk in death I Even
 
 THE MESSIAH. 51 
 
 there, on this side, beyond the hills, did the cloud and 
 fiery pillar lead ur. Ihere did God strike thee, O Ama- 
 lek, while my arms were extended towards Heaven, and 
 on their sinking Israel suiier'd. There tlie bush burnt, 
 the place to me was holy. — Oh rock ! why didst thou de- 
 Jay thy refreshmg streasn? — That is Sinai, the mount of 
 thunder, and the sound of a trumpet! — Great ait thou, 
 O V/ildern'SS, the spacious grave of all whom the 
 Almighty conducted through the Red Sea! — Nebo is 
 mine — but loity Gerizim and Golgotha's altar are not 
 there ! 
 
 Golgotha's bloody altar, pregnant with salvation, now 
 sang the ar.gels by whom the Eternal sent the covenant 
 of the law. They sang on Nebo's summit, w hich was 
 irradiated bj' their presence. They hover'd round the 
 grave of Moses, and touching their golden harps, chanted 
 with sweetest harmony : We immortals have not the 
 ble-fings of Gerizim ; but those of Calvary are ours ! 
 Closes, thou God of Aaron, why delays thy body ? O 
 dust, i-hake otf thy rest, and at the Redeemer's call rise 
 into life. Amidst the scothicg sounds of the celestial 
 harps, the dust of Moses continud sleeping; but at the 
 trumpet's death-awakening clangor, "Nebo and the open- 
 iug grave shook. The glorify'd INIoscs then arose, but 
 instantly sank down, and worshipp'd kneeling. Ix)ng 
 ascended his thanksgivings, long his praise, no angel nov/ 
 supporting his up-li;t arms. 
 
 Even the sepulchres of the kings trenibled. The dust 
 of David awak'd, as if satiated with bliss, in the glorio«3 
 image of the incorruptible, whose resurrection waited 
 for a more exalted triumph, as the first fruits among tiie 
 dead. Tlie bright spirit of Jesse's son descended into 
 the dark vault, and perceiv'd near his remains the soul 
 of Solomon. The son was astonish'd, and the unaw.iken'd 
 wonder'd at the risen. Then hasted the angels and the 
 ri?on to the sepulchre, crying. They rise from the dead ! 
 — Yes, we rise from the dead, said Abraham, in a trans- 
 port of joy. Our dry bones hear the voice of the Lord, 
 \Vq awake immortal, so Le himself shall awake. O
 
 52 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 David, the fr.ther of the holy Jesus, tlioa art chosen to 
 flourbh round the cedar of God, au ever-verdant tree in 
 Uie heavenly Paradise, and thy branches to wave ainiJst 
 celestial breeze?, wiili tiiy top pierciiig ti'c clouds. 
 
 Mourn not, thou soul of Solomon, said Gabriel ; monrn 
 not, thou highly favom-'d ; thou shalt not be cloiiid with 
 thy dust, whöu the cedoi-s of God shade the filmst fruits of 
 the spring. 
 
 Shall I monrn, he rttura'd, I whom Heaven crowns 
 with such exalted favours? I who have committed such 
 erroi-s, while I am permitted to see the glories of re- 
 dce!ni;ig love? Eest my crumbled bones till the great 
 day, when this vault shall no longer te able to coiitaiu 
 you. Rise as a vapour in the mild coolness of the even- 
 ing, under the shining moon, till the instant before it shall 
 cease to give light to mort-ds. 
 
 Gabriel and the risen, now leaving the sepulchres of 
 tlie kings, soar'd to Slamre's groves, and to the risen 
 within its shades. 
 
 Asa, who, by the terrors of the Lord, conquer'd the 
 innumerable host of Zerah, rose. He likewise, who 
 preaching to the people, travelled through Judea, attended 
 by his princes and the priests of the Lord; to him the 
 Almighty gave unparallel'd prosperity : for Jehoshaphat 
 led his aimy against the enemy in sacred attire, vAih 
 psalms and hjnnns and shouts of exultation : not to battle, 
 but to adore their Ahnighty Protector, who destroyed 
 their enemies, and covcr'd the plain vrith the dead. Uz- 
 ziah also awak'd in his solitarj' tomb, and in the royal 
 sepulchre, his son, with Josiah, devont youth, ever mild 
 and gracious, and the destroyer of idols : Him the men 
 and women singers bev.idrd! the Benjamites, whose 
 tears, like wine, tlow'd over Salem's ruins, bewail'd hiui 
 in plaintive song. They lamented him fallen by Ne h.o's 
 shafts. These all rose at once, and like resplendent rays 
 darted through the heavens. 
 
 Hezckiah was not yet risen. Nisroch, an angel of the 
 abyss tliat once animated an idol, now slowly mov'd 
 with the ghost of Stnoaciierib, from the siiminit of Lo
 
 THE HESSIAH. 53 
 
 banon. ^Nisroch Lad been ordcr'd to bring the conqueror 
 from He]l to the sepulchre? of the kings of Jndah. Wiio 
 compels ine, cry'd Sennacherib, with impetuous voice, 
 to visit the hated earth 1 
 
 O Sennacherib, said the infernal spirit, had not the 
 order been given by an angfl of death, I would have dis- 
 obey'd. Thou heardst him speak with tlie voice of thun- 
 der. Who can support the terrors of these irresistible 
 spi;it5? Thou, weak and pusillanimou?, on whose altar 
 victims have bled, must appear as a bleeding victim be- 
 fore this terrible angel of death. Thou, pusillanimous, 
 must fly at his command ! Thou pride-swell'd conqueror, 
 haite and bow thyself in the dust of the kings of Judah ! 
 Fly, thou reviler of the Mighty one, lest he put a bit in 
 thy mouth, and drag thee through the countries thou hast 
 ravag'd. 
 
 Sennacherib hasted, and the two spectres of the abyss 
 soon enter'd the tomb where the soul of Hezekiah aiul 
 his guardian angel continud hoveling. — Wherefore, O 
 arigel, said the bless'd spirit, are these accurs'd come to 
 profane my tomb ? — Thou will soon know, reply'rl the 
 angel. This is Sennacherib, with his idol deity! — Sen- 
 nacherib, know'st thoti this resplendent spirit? — How 
 sliould I, wretched that I am, know all the sons of feli- 
 city? — Wretched indeed, resum'd the angel, and more 
 wretched for thine impieties. This is he w ho humbly 
 prostrated himself in tlie dust hefore him whom thoii 
 blasphemedst, who made God his refuge and his confi- 
 dence, when thine ho>ts, as a mighly torrent, advanc'd 
 3gain?t him. Wiiat judgments smote thee on cai th thou 
 knowest, and now this follows; He, O Sennaclierib, 
 whom thou thought'st almost beneath thy contempt, and 
 didst insult the Omnipotent, on whose protection this 
 magnanimous prince rely'd, thou shalt behold in new 
 glory. 
 
 Poes his glory then increase? cry'd Sennacherib. O 
 let me fly to my abyss! Wh;it is Ilozekiah or everlasting 
 light to me. the companion of the darkest gloom 1 Let 
 me, O tyrant of Heaven, fly.
 
 bi THE MESSIAH. 
 
 Thou canst not escape the judgmenls of God. Hero 
 rests his dust, thine lies under the ruins oF Ninevah. It 
 shall also awake, but dark and wretclied. How differ- 
 ent wilt thou appear from him thou wilt now behold! 
 
 Terror and dismay seized the bloody conqueror of na- 
 tions, at seeing the grave of the exalted Ilezekiah trem- 
 ble, and at his being speedily array'd in new glory. Now, 
 curse, thou blasphemer, curse, thou scorner, the great 
 Awukener of the dead, cry'd Hezckiah, shining with 
 effulgent lustre. Why dost thou delay? Curse him in 
 thine infernal abyss. Sennacherib stood rooted in the 
 rocks of the tomb, rage himself impeding his flight. He- 
 zekiah then rising in the air, cali'd from above ; Behold 
 another kind of scorn than thy flight into the temple of 
 ISIisrotli, where thy sons waited for thee, with swords 
 prepar'd for unnatural murder ; Sion's celestial daughter 
 shews thee the golden crown of salvation, and the hea- 
 venly Jerusalem shakes her head at thee, thou humbled 
 destroyer. Ah, whom has thine impious presumption 
 despis'd? Against whom hast thou lifted up thine airo- 
 gant eyes and blasphemous voice? Here Semiacherib 
 fled, with his demon, to the infernal abyss. 
 
 David hasted to Kish, where was the tomb of Jona- 
 than, who viewing him with pleasure, cry'd, Is it thee, 
 my David ? With such splendor none have appear'd but 
 Enoch and Elijah. O thou father of the great Redeemer, 
 how gloriously art thou chang'd! — The dust in my sepul- 
 chre mov'd, and behold I arose! Thou likewise, ray 
 Jonathan, shalt arise. Even 1 have risen from the dead, 
 and hast thou sinn'd like me? No: but though I had 
 been as pious as David, I was not tlie father of the Mes- 
 siah. Alas ! how little do I deserve, and what thanks do 
 1 owe to the Giver of all good, for being thought worthy 
 to descend from Heaven to behold tlie blessed Jesus ! O 
 David, I have seen him die, and mine eyes shall also 
 behold his exaltation and tri-unph ! I am bless'd also, O 
 my David, in seeing thee! Sadness had hover'd round 
 me on this grave, wheie none of my fathers nor my 
 brothers were witii mc. D© uot Saul's remains re«t
 
 TilE -MESSIAH. 6.> 
 
 iicre ?— Yet do not thou, O my Jonathan, complaiu. — 
 ^;o, David, latlKT ^^onki I cease to be! ILis not God 
 made me aa hek of liijht ? Yet on my lather's ilust let 
 kiie, '.vithout complaining, drop one tear. Joaathan'.s 
 augel then call'd. Dry up that tear, which too late thoiL 
 shetl'st. Dry it up, and weep no more. Scarce ha«! 
 lie call'd, with a voice like the sound of the celestial 
 llallelujali, when Jonathan sunk into a sweet and rap- 
 turous slumber, and S'X)n awakmg, stood before Da\id 
 in absolute iniraortalily. He who hart heard David's 
 and Jonathan's lofty hymns ascend to the throne, then 
 heard their sublime discourse, and knew the thoughts 
 that surpass'd their utterance. 
 
 Gideon, who refus'd the crown oflfer'd him by Judab, 
 soar'd up in the lustre of immortality. Not so, when the 
 loud trump shall call the sous of God to judgment, shall 
 they shine, who ov e their blood-stain'd diadems to due- 
 ful coi;quest : or those who wantonly pollute their reigns 
 Willi slaughter, in which Lmocence and virtue bleed. 
 The cry of their blood will reach the ear of the mighty 
 Judge, and when he comes he will listen to the sound. 
 
 Jsow awak'd the dead bones of Elisha, himself the 
 awakeuer of the dead, and qnitthag his grave in crimson 
 radiance, issu'd forth like a vernal morn. 
 
 At Deborah's tomb the paLms wav'd their rustling 
 tops, above which suddenly rose the prophetess, pouring 
 forth prai&? to the Auüior of life. There Miriam came 
 forth from the dust of the earth triumphant, then lift up 
 her eyes, beaming joy, towards Heaven : and then ea- 
 gerly cast them over the spacious field ; but foimd not 
 the immortal who had rais'd her terrestrial name from 
 death to liic. Thou angel of the resurrection, cry'd she, 
 where shall 1 find thee ? What sacred shades cover thy 
 radiant head ? In w hat moimtain does that trumpet 
 sound, with wliich thou hast awak'd me from the sleep 
 of death ? Ah where lestesl thou after thy gloi ious work, 
 lost in astonishment that God should employ tliee in per- 
 forming such wonders? 
 
 Ezekiel now stood near his dust, and rcmember'd the
 
 56 THE BIESSIAH. 
 
 vision which, fiU'd with inspb-ation, at bis voice tie dry 
 bones that covei-'d the field mov'd, bone joiii'd to bone, 
 an ! over them grew sinews, flesh and the covering skin ; 
 and again spealdng, th.ey ai-ose a munerons iioat. Thr.s 
 Ezekiel stood, witli a vernal lustre shining round hin:. 
 His angel then ci-j'd, 1 hear a distant sound, as of the 
 divine presence ! Instantly the prophet's dust is in mo- 
 tion; he sinks down; but soon reanimated with the 
 breath of eternal life, he rises erect, fill'd with iinulter- 
 ab!e joy ; i-aises his grateful eyes to Heaven, and rushes 
 into the embraces of the angel. Then guided by the 
 sound of the divine presence, they move to the other 
 dead, to be spectators of their resurrection. 
 
 Asnath seem'd as if sinking into a gentle slumber, and 
 with dubious motion, hoveling, touch'd the dust of her 
 grave. So in the humid mead floats a vapour, wl.ich, 
 •enlighten'd by the moon, moves in silver Itistre. O n^y 
 guardian angel, said she, with what am I environ'd? 
 wliat appearances glide before me? AVhat new, wliat 
 nameless sensations do I fee! 1 Tell me, thou an'xel of 
 God, shall 1 again die? Methinks my voice trembles, I 
 faint, am ~« eak, I sink like the soft dying sounds of the 
 lute. I expire, O seiaph, amidst the gentle murmurs of 
 Eden's riils, amidst the sweet breezes in the shades of 
 Paradise. Thus Asnath sunk down, but encompass'd 
 with pleasing thoughts and tluilling sensations of joy, 
 soon arose the heiress of immortality. 
 
 As expands the first flowers of the spring, so awak'd 
 to life Jeptha's daughter, but never more to fade. Her 
 tremulous tips in silver sounds sent up ber praises, accom- 
 pany "d by her angel's golden harp, which on the v. ing» 
 of grateful harmoriy rais'd her adorations to Heaven. 
 
 Thirza, ihe mother of the seven sons, h.id been iti- 
 terr'd with those glorious martyrs near Jerusalem. In 
 their sepulchre the w eary traveller had often sought re- 
 pose, and o!t pour*«! forth tears. Witliin tins spacious 
 receptacle of the dead kneel'd the soul of the happy mo- 
 ther, witli those of her sons, otForing grateful thanks- 
 givings. While their orisons ascended to lit avcn^ there
 
 THE MESSIAH. 57 
 
 cauie across a stream which ran near the sepulchre, Sc- 
 luida aiid Jethro, a man of Eethkhom, ^^llo, guided by 
 angels, had seen thee, O thou adorable Redeemer ! in 
 the stable where thy üist infant crie3 were heard, and 
 now, spent with fatigue and sorrow, he and Semida sat 
 down at the entrance of the sepulchre, and thus gave 
 Yent to their thoughts : 
 
 Ü Semida, how shall I describe what I felt at the death 
 of the Friend of Man ! — But tell me, oh tell me, what 
 sensation is this which, since our approaching the sepul- 
 chre of the martyrs, has seiz'd my mind ? so it was at ihe 
 approach of the angels who proclaim'd His na'.ivity. 
 
 Holy, O Jethro, is this tomb ! What thou feelest, I 
 also feel. Let us retire; some angel or departed spirit, 
 now sanctities by his preience this sacred sepulchre, and 
 the sensations we feel are intimations that we should 
 depart. 
 
 They now arose, when Semida advancing into the 
 gloomy cavern, cry'd, O ye immortals, lament with ns 
 the dc;ith of our Lord! Holy he liv'dl holy he dy'd! 
 Jesus his name on earth — Jesus Lis name proclaim'd by 
 angels, cannot be to you unknown ! Though alarm'd at 
 your presence, we are also the cljildren of God, and our 
 souls, like you, immortal ! Permit us then to call you by 
 an endearing human name — to call you brethren. Be 
 this scpulclire of the martyrs a witness, wlicn hereafter 
 we come to you, that even on this unLallow'd earth, and 
 while in the veiUif flesh, we term'd you our brtthien? 
 I^t us remind yon, ye ang-ls, on our ascending to your 
 bright mansions, to receive us as your brethren ! Semida 
 then turn'd, and leaving the tomb, fullo.v'd Jethro. 
 
 Thirzaand her sons observ'd them, and while Semida 
 spoke, view'd them unseen, with surprise and pleasure. 
 Then turning to her sons, she said, 1 could have wish'd 
 tlicir longer stay : for candour and innocence are seated 
 on their amiable aspects. Depart ye in peace. The 
 Lord be your God, and bring you to our everlasting life. 
 — Yes, at your falling asleep, joyfully shall we descend 
 from Heaven to meet you, our brethren. 
 D2
 
 55 THE r.IESSIAII. 
 
 The idea of the two mortals was still present to Tliirza'3 
 inind, when it was suddenly iinpress'd with a more asto- 
 nishing view. Her sous, though bless'd with celestial 
 life, sunk as into a sweet slumber ; but two of them ap- 
 pear'd rather iutranc'd than asleepjlor their couuteuances 
 became more re>pleudent. Their minds overflow'd with 
 Tjoy, and iheir voices were sweet as the celestial harps. — 
 Do'st thou ri-e already, O most beautiful of mornings, 
 thou blest morning of his resurrection? cry'd Benoni. 
 Yes, joyful morning, thou art risen! The sepulchre 
 shakes — Calvary and the cross shakes ! Hail mornir.g, 
 pregnant with bliss ! He then sunk like his brothers into 
 a rapturous slumber. Instantly Jedidoth, the youngest 
 of his brothers, pour'd forth his joy. O ye angels, cry'd 
 be, has the Lord aheaiy ascended to the Fathei-'s throne 1 
 Here he sunk down, and lay like his brothers. 
 
 TLirza's astonishment contiuu'd: before her lay seven 
 immortals, like mortals wrapp'd iu sleep ; while she, 
 with a look of maternal ft ndne.-s, hung over them. Eut 
 loon her eyes clos'd ; she no longer saw them ; she sunk ; 
 ijut soon she awak'd, when perceiving her risen body ; 
 Praise, praise be to thee ! said she with tremulous voice ; 
 eternal praises be to thte! Thou hast given me joys sur- 
 passing all conception! They, O thou Giver of ineffable 
 joys, also awake. She then kneel'd, and witii folded 
 Lands, and cordial angelic tears, saw her sons awake 
 around her : saw them rise trom their moving dust, s^ift 
 as ascending flames. The bless'd mother beheld their 
 bright transfiguration; their first smiles; their joy-beara- 
 jng eyes raisVi towards Heaven, and heard their new 
 voices burst forth in praise and thanksgiving. 
 
 Within another cave, hewn out of the rock, lay four 
 ii lends. Their bright spirits were Iherc, and these see- 
 ing their mouldei'd dust, long'd for the resnrrction. 
 iJarda, who last surviv'd, and had attended the bodies of 
 his belov'd associates, Ethan, Chalcol and Heman, to 
 tiicir re?t, thus address'd them : How happy, my friends, 
 MO we! united in life, united in the tomb, and we shall 
 be united diuing the endless ages of eternity ! We saw
 
 THE MES5iIAII. 59 
 
 Ethan expire, and lanientefl his lienth. Wliitc are now 
 Ihy bouts, O Ethan ! I saw also Ileinan ami Chalcol 
 eater the vale of death. Chalcol fell asleep in mine 
 arms, and I remain'd less ripe lorimiiiortality. O Chal- 
 col ! what WIS iniue anguish, when I, lorlorn, attencied 
 thee to the grave! but God, by Ids gracious consolations, 
 enabled me to look up to licaveii! /\iler a few nights 
 the sleep of death fell on me ! Behold, there lie our 
 bones, waiting till they are call'd forth by the resiurec- 
 tion. — To rise from the dead, how transporting the 
 thought! how ravishing will be the reality! O ecstasy, 
 cry'd Ileman, with a voice of celestial harmony, we shall 
 awake to life! awake to days without end! Permit me, 
 O thou ^iaviour of men ! to utter a wish, which my ar- 
 dciit soul almost ripens into hope — that my body may 
 awake svitb thine! witii tliine, O Jes;;s! for corrapliori 
 has no part with thee. O grant that this sleeping dust 
 may arise under thy shade, to glory and immortality ! 
 All ! the bless'dtime is arriv'd! exclaim'd Chalcol. See 
 the dead awake! Behold their increas;r;g lustre! — -He 
 was then silent. He av/ak'd with these that roviv'd. 
 Ko time was left to thee, O Darda, for astonishment ! 
 nor for thee, O Ethan ! the dead bones mov'd ; they 
 arose vested in redoubled splendor, and these happy 
 friends soar'd hand in hand, witli intermLigled radiance, 
 praising the Redeemer. 
 
 Near Jerusalem slept Anna the propiieless, who bad 
 seen the babe of Bethlehem in die tL-mple, and knev/ him 
 to be the proinis'd shoot of Judah's stem. He was carry 'd 
 into Egypt, and she to her grave, whence she now awoke 
 to glory ; issu'd forth from her tomb, and opening her 
 immortal eyes, saw Jesus hanging lifeless on tlie cross. 
 Though thou art dead, said she, by thee am I awak'd 
 from deatli ! Thou hast given me a new and immortal 
 body before the great day of consnmniation ! Thy sacred 
 blood has flow'd, and loudly it calls for grace ! Here joy 
 stopp'd her voice. 
 
 Joel, Samma's first, and now only son, had left his 
 father and the hill of death, wandering with slow steps
 
 CO TUE MESSIAH, 
 
 into the valley of mount Olivet, towards his b: oti.ci's 
 tomb. The stone was already covei'd wiüi mos>, and 
 near it he stuik down, hi? ij es stiff and red with weeping 
 I'or Jesus and Benoni. — The months of b.tbes and suck- 
 litigs, said he, shall speak thy praise. ]\Iy grief for 
 Bene; ;i began to aba'.e, when now — But I s.hould not 
 mention the divine name with that of death. I will no 
 longer stifle my grief for poor Benoni, who is stiil dead 
 to me. How can I presume to lament the gieat Pro- 
 phet! he is the brother of atigels, and surely none but 
 angels shonld dare to weep for him : but tor thee I dare 
 — for thee I will ever grieve. 
 
 He then lean'd bis diooping head on a stone,, his eyes 
 languid, and his visage wan. His brother's guardian 
 angtl, and his brother hünsclf, view'd him Nnlh ii.ter- 
 mingled joy and compassion : for the sou! of Benoni, 
 and his angel, had descended to the sacred silence of the 
 tomb ; but this was unknown to Joel. So the pious man, 
 resign'd amidst his sufferings, know s not the hai:d which 
 supports Lim, though it is as near as the sweet whisper- 
 ing brce/-e. O seraph, said Benoni, I love him more 
 than he loves himself; butw^hy does Le lament my death, 
 and not think of my more exalted life? 
 
 Thou art gone, my Benoni, resum'd Joel, and hast left 
 me alone, like a Ilower in Sharon's vale, whose stalk is 
 broken in its early bloom. 
 
 If I am gone, my Joel, my dearest brother, it is to 
 »row high in Heaven, and spread a friendly shade near 
 the tree of life. 
 
 Our father is old. Thy death, O Benoni, will take 
 hiiii from mc, and sorrow bring his grey hairs to the 
 jrave! I, fatherless, and without a brother, shall pant 
 lor the cup of death, which, though to others hitter, to me 
 T\ill be sweet. 
 
 O seraph, how am T pierc'd by his anguish! Dry up 
 his tears ! — Ah, dry up his affecting tears ! — Ah, the tomb 
 »hakes, and from the moving stones around me rises a 
 flint light in gentle fluctuations? O my God, vvlicre am 
 ' ' O Iho» Giver of eternal life, support me ! Sure then
 
 THE MESSIAH. 61 
 
 V\ ill not ili.iöolve this spiritual substance ! Tlius lie spake 
 in H Aoice soft as the dying echo. >.'o\v glorily'd with 
 the resurrection body, he cry'd, Thou not only supportest 
 me, O thou most gracious, but clothest me with everlast- 
 ing bliss! All praise, blessing, and honour be ascrib'd to 
 thee, my Creator, who hnst loaded me with thy benefit?, 
 and given me this immortal lii'e ! Rejoice, O my brother, 
 and exult ; for wlien thy body shall be dissolv'd, it shall 
 be rais'd by thy Redeemer, who shall thus load thee 
 with his benefits! Here the blea Beuoni, seeing his fa- 
 ther, added, O tender parent, lament not over my tomb, 
 I ain in a state of bliss, and it no longer contains my 
 body ! 
 
 Samraa now approaching the tomb, cry'd, O Joel ! 
 long have I sought thee. Let us hasten from these 
 gloomy sepulchres. Is not that my dear Beiioni's? 
 Come, Joel, let us flee from hence. God ble^s thee, my 
 child! God vrill speedily bless thee, return'd Eenoni : 
 hs will bless thee, thou fender father, with eternal life. 
 
 Simeon, after pouring forüi the joy of his heart, on 
 his seeing the Saviour, whom God had appointed the 
 Light of nations, the glory of his people Israel, laid his 
 hoary head in the grave. His spirit then arose with re- 
 splendent lustre, and his corruptible part mouldcr'tl into 
 diist. The radiant soul of the prophet now hover^d over 
 liis grave, unknowing that his dust was soon to rise in 
 celestial beauty, to enjoy eternal life. In the path which 
 extends by the brook of Cedron from Jerusalem, to the 
 foot of mount Olivet, slowly mov'd towards Simeon's 
 sepulchre, one laden with years, and with him a boy. 
 These were Sbneon's brother and grandson. The eyts 
 of the old man were involv'd in darknes?, the too early 
 night of death, ere we enter that gloomy vale. Eoaz, 
 the youth, guided his uncertain steps, and olTering child- 
 like comfort, they tluis discours'd : 
 
 Dear father, wipe tliine eyes, and weep no more. 
 Long it is since mine eyes have seen ; they are only fit 
 to weep. I must lament the slow approach of death, 
 and from this darksome earth look np to fairer, brighter
 
 62 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 prospects. But tell nie, Boaz, are we far from my holy 
 brother's bones? 
 
 No, not fai-. The moss on the tomb, like ivy among 
 those lonely niias,says he has been long at rest. 
 
 Ah, child, he retuni'd, my heart is fiU'd ^^^th secret 
 pleasure at recollecting those ancient, those venerable 
 sepulchres. Has Simeon already lain so long in the 
 tomb 1 Long has mine been hewn in the rock, yet still 
 wants its inhabitant. 
 
 Thus spake Simeon's brother, leaning on Boaz, and 
 at length restun'd. Tell me, child, for to thee the sun is 
 not eiliiiguish'd, nor the mild light of the summer's eve ; 
 tell me, are the heavens serene ? I feel a gentle breeze 
 refreshing my weary limbs. 
 
 The air, said Boaz, is clear, and the wide fields look 
 like spring. 
 
 Ah, Boaz, were itinvolv'd in blackest clouds, and de- 
 foriii'd by tempests, yet shall the day on which I die be 
 torn;; serene. — He thirsts for death, said Simeon's soul to 
 the angel, and is unable to bear the thought that Ji sus is 
 dead. Thou dost not know then, s:\id the angsl, that the 
 dreadful news has been conceal'd from him, lest it should 
 shorten his days. 
 
 In the nieanwhile, Simeon's brother and Boaz sat 
 down in llie tomb. The angel now separated from the 
 common dust, that of Simeon's bones. It mov'd, visible 
 only to the angels, and arose about his soul, forming a 
 resplendent body. His mental pnweis were borne on 
 the wings of ecstatic melody ; but retnrn'd at the com- 
 pletion of his new created frame, and the idea of his re- 
 surrection till'd him with subliraest transports. 
 
 At this instant one who had come to the passovcr with 
 quick step, walk'd by in his way back to Bethlehem, 
 and Simeon's brother asking the meaning of his haste ; 
 Siiotdd 1 not haste, he answer'd, to cany the news of his 
 deatii to my family? Whose death? c;dl'd the brother of 
 the risen. Art thou, he return'd, the only one who has 
 not hiard of the crucifixion of the divine Jesus? The old 
 m;in sunk down speechless; but being at length brought
 
 THE MESSIAH. 63 
 
 to Limself, was with di/Ticulty led back by the traveller 
 and Boaz, to the gate yf Jerusalem. — Shall wc, O seraph ! 
 sai'l Simeon, shall we meet his spirit, wlic-n it quits its 
 present cncumbL-ring abode? for the ensuing morn will 
 surely set it free. No, my belov'd Simeon, the angel 
 return'd, he is not dying; even in this abject lite much 
 joy awaits him ; for thou art to appear to his enraptur'd 
 juiud, aud to converse with him on the Lord's resur- 
 rection. 
 
 Here lie and rest, said John, who stood by his cor- 
 rupted frame, tiii the great decisive day. I^Iy continu- 
 ance here v.ill be only while the rccdecmer's body is 
 w rapt in the shades of death. Then wilt thou, O Lamb 
 of God! arise as Victoi ! and gather us around thee, that 
 we may behold thy glor\". At kagth, at the Irmnpet's 
 joyful sound, the body with which I now willingly re- 
 main shall rise. O the transports of the resurrection! 
 How transcendent must they be, when only the hopes 
 of them are so ravishing ! How delightlul the wish, that 
 my body may soon revive! Such were his thoughts when 
 he beheld the bless'd Benoni advancing radiant thro' the 
 evening twilight. O seraph, said lie to his celestial 
 guardian, what angel is that wliich issues from those pen- 
 dant rocks ? Every charm of vernal beauty environs the 
 heavenly youth. He resembles Benoni. Is it not his 
 guardian augel? No ; it is no angel, it is no soul cloth'd 
 in a vesture of light ; yet it resembles Benoni. Is he 
 risen 1 O, heavcr.Iy youth, art thou risen from the dead ? 
 Come, whoever thou art, wiag thy way, and animate 
 thine harp. Perhaps Benoni, lately deceas'd, is risen, 
 and sent hither to declare some new wonder of the divine 
 goodness. 
 
 Here Benoni, striking his melodious harp, came with 
 graceful flight to John, and said. Greatest of thos;; born 
 of women, the Father of all eternally bless thee ! I bring 
 thee heavenly tidings. Behold the sacred dust awakes ! 
 Thou bnptizer of the great Emanuel, the whole plain is in 
 motion, and the dead in the Lord awake ! 
 
 "SVho, O celestial youth, said John, oh, who hast tbo"
 
 64 . THE MESSIAH. 
 
 feen ? I have seen, return'd Bcaoiii, the faliic-r of men ! 
 Enocli and Elijah stood astonish'd ! Abraliani shone like 
 tljc host of Heaven ! and Isaac came in a crimson cloud ! 
 I siw Moses and Job, with grateful eyes lift up in devout 
 adoration ! I saw the seven martyrs absorb'd in ecstasy ! 
 IMay God eternally bless thee — thee, one of the race of 
 Adam ! thou art novr to prepare for lliy resurrection. 
 
 John, with amazement, beheld his body rise : his sub- 
 lime soul animated the lucid form, and he stood erect, 
 tran^figur'd. Now was the beatific miracle complete, 
 and to the Redeemer the glority'd saint poui'd forth his 
 rapturous praise. 
 
 These names of the risen disthictly reach'd mine ear; 
 others the wa\ing palms dispers'd, till Sion's heavenly 
 muse, visiting my contemplative hours, convey "d thtni 
 to my thouglits.
 
 THE 
 
 MESSIAH. 
 
 BOOK XII.
 
 2r!)e arßument« 
 
 Josepfi obtains Pilate's permission to bury the body 
 of Jesics. He and Nicodcmus, having wrapt it 
 in spices, perjorm the intermcrit, wJiich is so- 
 lemniz'd by choirs of risen stints and angels. 
 The disciples, many of the seventy, and Mary, 
 with some devout women, meet in John's house, 
 and are join'd by Joseph and Nicodcmus ; the 
 latter bringing the crown of thorns, which he 
 had taken jyo/n the body at its interment. The 
 death of Mary, the sister of Lazarus, zcho, 
 xcith Natha7iitl and 3Iartha, sees her die. La- 
 zarus returns to the company of believers at 
 Jerusalem, and endeavours to comj^ort them, 
 Salem, John's angel, strengthens hi/n with a 
 vision.
 
 THE 
 MESSIAH. 
 
 BOOK XII. 
 
 DISTRESS'D and deeply plung'd in bitterest anguibh", 
 is the soul that fears her not being admilteil to her 
 divine inheritance : be-vvilder'd in thought, she is strnck 
 with the curses of Sinai and of Ebal, and witli the ter- 
 rors of ensangnin'd Golgollia. She no longer hopes to 
 wear the v hite robe and the victoi-'s crown ; but atüict- 
 cd, lies in the dust, till a ray of comfort, intermingled 
 with the blest idea tliat the divine Redeemer will be the 
 Deliverer, breaks in upon her mind, and fills her with 
 hope and joy, and humble subndssion : thus dejected, 
 thus of every hope bereft, were they who knew the Sa- 
 viour, when they saw his eyes clos'd, his body dead, and 
 all around silence and solitude. Joseph of Ariniathea 
 alone bore up against this depression. To inter thee, O 
 sacred corpse, said he, shall be his task who, fiUVl with 
 pusillaniniiiy, did not daie to oppose thy murderers. I 
 will, added he, calling aloud, so that the Roman olTicei-, 
 and those involv'd in silent grief, heard his voice — I \\ill 
 inter the divine Jesus in my own sepulchre. Here, Ki- 
 codemus, stay ar me at the cross, while I haste to the 
 Roman govei nor. 1 will brmg the funeral linen. 
 
 He hasted away : so hastes he who firmly resolv'd to 
 lead a new lite, despises the threats of man, tlie allure- 
 ments of vice, and ail its vain seducing chai trs. He 
 soon reach'd the palace, vhere he beheld Pilate, discom- 
 pos'd, and Portia, whose sorrowful look and humid eyes 
 express'd the anguish of her heart. Joseph having asktU
 
 68 THE MESSIAH, 
 
 for the body, Pilate bid him send for the commanding 
 officer at tlie cross, and on liis arrival, being assured that 
 Jesus «as really dead, ordcr'd him to deliver the body 
 to Joseph, who, returning hitn tliauks, withdicw, and, 
 having fetch'd the linen and spices, hasted back to the 
 hill of death. 
 
 The dLscousolate mother of Jesus first saw the f.iithful 
 disciple bringing the funeral linen for her sou's inter- 
 ment ; but, fill'd Tvith inv.ard giief, stoofl silent, while 
 Joliu, in vain, strove to give her consolation. As Joseph 
 ■was histing to the cross, he was met by ^Cicoflemas, and 
 to tliose of the faithful who drew near, they cheeriiilly 
 said. Wo are not afraid to inter the Holy Jesus. The 
 pious niouiuers then retreated, and stood at a distance ; 
 not so the celestial witnesses, the risen and the angels. 
 These reniov'd nearer, and now the harp, to tUe human 
 oar unheard, began to soimd : but had a mortal, ho-^'evcr 
 iu;m(jis\l in sorrow, heard its rapture-breatiiiug notes, 
 ecstasy would have rais'd him to the joys of heaven, or 
 the Ingubrious sounds have extinguish'd life. 
 
 Joseph and l^^icodemns, having spread out the linen 
 ra^d aromaiics, drew the nails ; took the corpse from tlie 
 cross, and gently lower'd it to the ground. They then 
 v.Tapp'd the body in the spices and linen, to preserve 
 thai from putPeiactioa, wliich was soon to rise from the 
 dead. 
 
 Eve, now hovermg over the bodj% bow'd down her 
 face to tliat of the breathlcts Messiah. Her golden 
 trcss'.'s wavM over bis wounds, and a celestial tear 
 dropp'd on his tianquil breast. How lovely, O uiy Son 
 and my Lord, said she, appear these wonuds, the tcsti- 
 Jiioraals of thy love ! from each vein flows salvation ! 
 Though the colour of death hasting'dthy face, yet thy 
 clos'd lips and fix'd eyes speak eternal life! thou still 
 smikst benign, and every lineament of thy divine coun- 
 tenance indicates love to man. 
 
 Thus spake the nicther of the human race, while Jo- 
 seph and Nicodemus were swathing the extended body. 
 The biuidl clothes being stain'd with bloo<l by the trem-
 
 THE IMESSIAH. 69 
 
 fcling hands of the disciples v. ho pevform'd tliis teralcr 
 office, the forefathers of the INIediator began a plaintive 
 song, a celestial tbrent dy. Or.e of the choirs began, and 
 the tears ol the blessVl flow'd, 
 
 \Vho is coming from Calvarj-, cloth'd in red ? Who, 
 Aviih blood-stain'd garments, comes from the altar? 
 Whose divine power is conceal'd, and whose salvation 
 is cvcilastiiig ? 
 
 To them answer'd another choir, m hilc 'heir tears also 
 flow'd, and to their voices \Aas johi'd the sound of the 
 trnmpet : I am he who teacheth righteousness ; a master 
 who biingeth salvation and counsel. 
 
 The first choir resum'd. Why is thy raiment stain'd 
 wiüi red, and thy vestiire like that of one v>ho treads 
 the grapes? 
 
 Did not I tread the grapes alone? and were any with 
 mc? Those who arose have I crash'd in my anger. In 
 my indignation T trod them nndcr foot, and nsy garments 
 Iiave been sprinkled with their blood . The day of \^Tath, 
 the year of the great redemption is come ! V.'hen I un- 
 dertook to redeem mankind, I look'd around, bat no 
 helper was near, none in Heaven or on Earth ! J.Iiue 
 anger prevail'd against thc^roud, I bniis'd the head of 
 the serpent ! Wine adversaries have I crush'd in my 
 wrath, and have trampled their po^\er in the dust. 
 
 Thus sang the choirs, joining with sadness triumphant 
 songs. Joseph, taking oti the crown of insult, cover'd 
 the Redeemei's sncrcd head. The celestial spectators 
 tlial hover'd over Golgotha, Avere not silent, like Maiy 
 and the disciples; but rencw'd their funeral hymns, 
 which were accompany'd with celestial tears. Hadst 
 ihon, O favourite disciple of the deceased son of the most 
 afflicted of mothers, now heard those harps, which, 
 though still a mortal, thoa heard'st in Patmcs.how rais'd 
 would liave been thine ecstasy ! The choii- of the risen, 
 with their eyes fix'd on the corpse, contmu'd : 
 
 Listen, ye angels, the brook of Cedron mnrmnrs! 
 Listen to tl>e mni-mnring of the brook ot Cedron ! Tiead 
 upon the proud— tread, O my sonl, on the vaiiqnisb'd
 
 rO THE MESSIAH. 
 
 serpent! The palms gi-oan'd ou Getlisemaue; for tlioi-e 
 he bt'gau to die. 
 
 Rom another choir issu'd sounds, hoarse as thunder : 
 Heard he not below the rt^aruigs of the iniernai floods, 
 the bellowuig^ of the tortur'd ? Did not Tdlwr's suminit 
 shake ainidbt the clouds ? Then Eloa, issuing from the 
 darkness that encompasses the Fathei^'s judgment seat, 
 sang triumphant! He then began to die! 
 
 They were silent, and then was heard in a soft voice 
 of complaint, He is dead ! ye angels, he is dead! 
 
 Joseph and Nicodeunis now rais'd the sacred body 
 from the gronnd, and, with slow steps, carry 'd it down 
 tlie hill. When one of the choirs sar.g, Ah, he thought 
 it no robbery to be like God ! yet Jesus, fairest among 
 men and angels, condescended to die the dealh of the 
 cross! The servants of sin, for his w.sture, cast lots I 
 When parch'd with thirst, gall and vinegai- they gave 
 him to drink, and his afflicted soul drank of the bitter 
 cup of insult! 
 
 Here a fervent choir lifted up their voices to Heaven ; 
 Ah, Jerusalem ! — Woe to thee, Jerusalem! Woe to thy 
 sons, O Jenisalem ! Thy dreaiUul voice, thy cry for the 
 üedeeraer's blood, has reuofa'd the highest Heavens! 
 
 Tlie harps of the fathers now fail'd ; even in the hand 
 of Moses, fail'd the melodious string?; on Eloa's high- 
 sounding trumpet proclaüiiüig woe, he withdrew from 
 the weening choirs, and, adv-inchig near the bloody 
 corpse, sang, accompany'd by tlie seraph's trump. Long 
 will the Eternal ch.tstise you who have mnrder'd tliis 
 Abel. Thou, Cain, I well know. Thy brother's blood 
 cry'd for inercy, not for • cvengc, aud its ardent voice 
 penctjated to the daikness \\ hich encompasses the Holy 
 of Holies! but ye spurn'd at mercy! — tlierefove, from 
 lofty Golgotlia to the lowest Hell, shall the Avenger's 
 voice resound through successive ages! Eloa's trumpet 
 now ceas'd, and silence broke off the glowing prophet's 
 song. 
 
 Their looks foUow'd the body, while the faithful dis- 
 ciples carry'd it down to the sepulchre, whicli was hcwB
 
 THE MESSIAH. 71 
 
 111 a lonely rock, bordering on the niouut, and overlniiig 
 Avith aged trees. The dis'i pies having roll'd away the 
 ponderous stone which clo&'d the entrance, Joseph, with 
 his cyes fill'd with tears, chose ilie spot wliere the s.icred 
 corpse should lie, saying. He whose life aiid death were 
 tiJl'd witli distress and pain, has at length a place to lay 
 his iicad ! They then gently laid the body down, and 
 liaving hung over it with stre.uiiing eyes, at length mov'd 
 back the massy stone, and Ictt the coipse ot the Mediator 
 in sepulchral darkness. 
 
 IN on the celestial choirs, perceiving through the sepul- 
 chral gloom the rcsurreclior.'s lucid dawn, re«icw'd their 
 hyinus — Jhoii, Lord, shalt not see conuption. Ko 
 sooner art thou involv'd in the shades of death, than new 
 life breaks ibrtli ajound ; for the trumpet o; t'ae chief of 
 angels will soon proclaim the revival of the gr-atcst 
 among tlie dead ! Ye harps, in soft sounds, shall hail the 
 most resplendent morn, when the Conqueror of Death 
 shall rise ! Lament him — lament ye, lii.» belov'd, who yet 
 mortal walk in the dust ! Soon will ye shed other tears ; 
 tears unknown to us, who never felt your woes! 
 
 Around tlie sepulchre all were now silent, for the an- 
 gels and men weie withdrawn. John then turning 
 towards the dejected Mary, said, with sympath.etic ten- 
 derness, O mother, tliy precious son being conceai'd 
 from our view, let us retire from this hill, and let me 
 lead thee to my dwelling. Her soul was now elevated 
 above itself, and she answei'd, with her eyes red with 
 weeping, My being thy mother, O Jesus, may be one 
 day the source of heavenly raptures, and I rejoice that 
 tliou, his belov'd disciple, art given to me as my son ; 
 but giief, and death, and the grave, dwell in the thought, 
 that lie, my son, is no more ! — Here, again sinking into 
 a solemn silence, she veil'd her face, and was slowly led 
 by her son, v.ith sympathizing sadness, down the solitary 
 hiil. 
 
 Amidst thickset palms, and within the temple's sba-Ie, 
 adjoirjng to the city wall, stood the house of the belov'd 
 disciple. Hither was he leading the disconsolate !Mary,
 
 72 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 himself weakeu'd and oppressed by grief, whfeH meeting 
 with soine of the tweU e, of the seveuty, and several of 
 the devout women, he entreated them to go v.iih hiiu, 
 and join theii- endcavourä to heal her ^\onuded niind. 
 
 Sing, O muse, the tears of the lovers for the bciov'd, 
 and the complaints of mourning friendship ! 
 
 In this house they soon assembled. 3Iary, with weep- 
 ing eyes, euter'd the hall where she had often seen the 
 Holy Jesus, and heard him speak with teaisof joy : hut 
 now, on seeii.g the seat empty where he used to opea 
 divine truths, and pronounce his affectionate benedic- 
 tions, she bui St into an agony of grief, and sunk down, 
 leaning her head on the seat. ^Vhile she was in this at- 
 titude of giicf, !Mary ilagd-ücn, the mother of the sons 
 of Z,jbedee, and Xatuaiiiel, M'ent up to her, and, at their 
 entreaties, slie p'.rniilted the women to raise her up; but 
 sat veil'd ; and all the company confrrm'dto her silence, 
 till Peter entering. Wept aloud, exclaiming, Heisbury'd! 
 — I hope, earnestly hope, that w. shall all be soon bu- 
 ry'd near him ! Joseph shall promise to lay my body 
 close to tlie rock which holds my dear Lord ! — And me 
 within the rock ! said I\Iaiy. 
 
 Arm ill arm came Simon the Canaaniteand ^Matthew, 
 with Philip and James, the sou of Alpheus. Lcbbeus 
 came by himself: concern supprest his speech, and co- 
 vering his face, he sat in the darkest place of the hall. 
 jS ext came J;uncs, from his ardent zeal styi'd the Son of 
 Thunder, who, with uplift hands and eyes rais'd towards 
 Heaven, cry'd, He is dead! he is dead! O what is all 
 human excellence, even the most exalted and sublime ! 
 for over him have the wicked triumiph'u ! So saying, he 
 witl;drew, and walk'd among the shidy palms. 
 
 Hither came Barüiolomew, and with him Andrew the 
 brother of Pet>r, with Cleophas, ^NlattLias, and Semida, 
 all sid and disconsolate, tlie affliction of eai h encreas'd 
 by that of his associates. Silence now reign'd in the hall, 
 and nothiig was heard but the dull murmurs of grief. 
 Maiy Maadaien ligLted the funeral lamp; after which 
 dt\eut womea brought linen and spices for lUc sacred
 
 THE MESSIAH. 73 
 
 corps?. Even the giiardian angels of the apoätles, and 
 other mouraers, enter'd the hall, and the all-seeing eye 
 of hlin whosj death they bewail'd, cast a compassionate 
 look on the assembly. Mary Magdalen's angel then 
 raising her from her depth of al^ction, enabled h:r thus 
 to give vent to her grief. 
 
 Alas ! how are all things chaiig'd since he— O mother ! 
 do not thou also die, for then what will become of us ! 
 — Now 1 first feel — now I join in his lamentation over 
 Jerusalem, the solitary widow, the queen among the na- 
 tions! \Vc liv'd in obscuiity, yet were happy; for he 
 who^e death we mourn was divine : but now, in wliat 
 nJsery are we involv'd! What nights of sorrow await 
 ns ! Oh may our nights of sorrow be few, and our last 
 sleep soon come! Our enemies triumph, and insult those 
 that love their Lord. — ^To him they offer'd the basest in- 
 sults — to him, when athirst, they gave gall and vinegar, 
 doubly imbitter'd with contumely — contumely cast upon 
 him in the midst of his tortnres ! O thou Judgj ! thou 
 just Avenger! pour out to them the full cup of thy 
 wrath ! 
 
 She ceas'd, and the motber of Jesus, in faint voice and 
 broken accents, said. Learn, O Magdalen, like my Son, 
 to forgive ! Did he not, w'hen bleeding on the cross, fiU'd 
 with divine philanthropy, cry out. Father, forgive them, 
 they know not what they do ? 
 
 Devout astonishment and inexpressible sorrow here 
 seiz'd every heart, and all felt a conflict between the most 
 elevated joy and bitterest giief ; but grief prevail'd, and 
 their souls were again involv'd in gloom. Yes, have mercy 
 on them, O thou Judge and Father ! said Lebbeus, have 
 mercy on us, and suffer us to die ! What have we to do oa 
 earth ? He is dead I In his Father's house, he told u?, are 
 many mansions! Ah, let us rather lie at the threshold of 
 thine house, than remain in the dwellings of misery ! No 
 other comfort can I receive but death ! for this I long : its 
 name I love to utter: it is more pleasing than the spring : 
 it is to me as the hymns of the temple! Be it our most 
 delightful employment to converse on the change those 
 VOL. II. E
 
 74 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 have felt wLo have CL'ter'd into the state of bus«, and, 
 like a:nve travellers, Itt Us stand ready %vilh our staff ia 
 our hand ! 1 love j od, my bi lovtd, as mj self, 1 üierc- 
 fore wish you the bliss of dyii.g! — Yes, said Peter, death 
 is most desirable, and O thou Most Merciful ! permit us 
 to make the sepulchres for each other. 
 
 Scare« had he utter 'd thise \Aords, when Thomas, 
 ■with dejected look, stopp'd at the eiitrance of the room. 
 How awful appeared the objects that struck hisconvuls'd 
 mi:.d ! to him the glimmerLng hall was as a tomb, and 
 the silent mouruers as the hiiages of the dead ! If ye be 
 they, said he, eDteriug the room, who heard tl;e loud 
 hcsamias, when tlie blessed Jesus enter'd into life, how 
 can ye avoid accompanying him in death ? I feel mine 
 approach, and thought I should have loond among jon 
 some who had aii iv'd at happiuesi?, to whom we might 
 have paid the funeral rites. He is buried who, when 
 livi u, walk'd on the waves of the sea, and restor"d the 
 dead to life! 
 
 Now, whh mournful look, Joseph of Arimathea, en- 
 tering, join'd the sighing assembly, saying, Your brother 
 in Ci;rist and mine, my friend Nicodemus, is come with 
 me, and, trcrtling, waitsyour permission to enter. He 
 brings — Ah, Joseph, thou best of men, snd the mother of 
 the Lord, what does he bring? Uhat, O Joseph! does 
 he bring? — Oh, 1 see ye sutler too much, retum'd he ; 
 alas! what will ye sutler! Let him return — let him fly 
 from hence, aud not add to your affliction ! VI at docs 
 he bring? \VhM, O Joseph! has he brought? — I will go, 
 and prevail on bira to fly from thence ! He brings — the 
 bloody crown — The bloody crown ! the Saviour's mo- 
 ther exclaim'd, w ith a cry that pierc'd the hearts of the 
 ■whole assembly. Instantly Nicodemns enter'd with the 
 crown of thcirns in his hand; when, breaking from those 
 who had supported her, she took oflF her veil, threw it 
 over the murderous wreath, and, wringing her hands, 
 sunk with it on the floor. Th-y rais'd her up, and she 
 «trrtcli'd out her suppliant arms for divine support. — Her 
 Son, over.1o-.\i!;g with tenderness, look'd down froai
 
 THE MESSIAH. 73 
 
 nbovc, and prcpnr'd fin- her sublime felicity : hut tliis 
 l)€ii)g yet concial'd, she, pak- and languid, continu'd her 
 la.neiitations, crying, Why, O why was it brought? Too 
 lor.g did I see it cucoinpass lus bleedii g head! — Hctliat 
 dwellcth in the Heaven ot Heavens, tho' all-wise and 
 all-gracioa«, hath lent his bow aiainst uie, and pierc'd 
 nic with his fiery arro^^s! Ah, never — never did mother 
 bear a son like him I saw expire on t!.'^ cross! 
 
 jMeauwhi'e tie devout Maiy.the sister o!' Lazarus, lay 
 at the poiül if di^ath. — Cold sweats, asul tli«' conflict of 
 her heat, denonnc'd her approaching dissoliiiion. She 
 aheaily tasted the leaden sitiniber, the harbinger o.'' sleep 
 in the b som of silent corruption: from this Mhargic 
 i.;>iMi«^ibi!ity she rai^'d her head, and, with inournfal 
 countenance, sought Martha's pynipa:hizi:.g*ycs, which, 
 exh.ansted by coi:t nual giief, shednotiars. She then 
 bcgnn the f(i|!ov.irgdi<c<Husc,in which ]N];nthaanswer'd 
 and sh.e reply'd : 1 can no longer, my dear ssister, con- 
 tinue sil.nt. Ail now forsake me, even Lazarus and 
 X:Uhaniel ! and «pe, I die! Ah, I livd with them, but 
 without them shall die! 
 
 Accuse not tlie faitirinl. Perhaps the divine Teaclier 
 has led tht-m into the wilderness, t; at they may learn by 
 experience, how he feeds the hungry, and refreshes the 
 Mcary soul. 
 
 1 do not accuse tliem, ?.Iartha. Those whom I love 
 n9\cr have I accus'd. If 1 have, O my dparest friends, 
 forgive mc — Forgive all nw ofienc:es. Alas! wli.t now 
 rises in my soul, covers it with sadness. — Shake off" the 
 snücitiuie with which tli« u art oppress'd. Does th.at 
 gloom which somerimes clouded the fciicify of thy life, 
 return in deat!:? — O call not the divine dispositiou 
 gloom! I conjure thee, by him who ju'igetb us, and is 
 now gatbcrit-g me to my fathers, cail not his disposition 
 gloom. If I have sofi'er'd, have I not also had mncli 
 joy, and friends like thee? have not T, in my pilgrimage 
 to tie eravcj seen Jesus, the delight of angels? seen his 
 miracles, and heard his v.^sdom 1 O let me bo llnnkful 
 for all my affiiclions ! for all the supports, all the reviving
 
 76 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 cordials I have roceiv'd ! And above all, I give thee 
 thanks, O thou ail-gracious Diäposer of my life, that I 
 has-e setn Jesus, the Friend of man, the Awakener of 
 the dead ! Leave me, Bl.utha : go and mate ready my 
 sepulchre, where Lazarus slept, there ^\ill I sleep. 
 
 Sleep, O Mary, where Laiarus slept, and rise at the 
 voice of him who raises the dead ! — Happy Maitha, 
 what sweet hopes flow into my soul! Withdraw, that I 
 may he alone with God. — How shall I leave thee in thy 
 last moments ! 1 cannot leave thee. Compose thyself, 
 dear sister, thou art alone \\ ith God ; and may the God 
 of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob I>e with thee ! — Stay tlien. 
 May he be with me who fills the Heavens, and whose 
 almighty voice calls the chihheu of men to return to life ! 
 "With me be the God of Abraliam, Isaac and Jacob! 
 
 Havmg thus spoke, she, from her inmost soul, thus 
 «upplicated the Forgiver of sins : Hear, oh hear- me, aud 
 enter not into judgment with a poor sbmer ! What mor- 
 tal can stand before thee ? O God, give rest to my dying 
 heart, and rejoice my soul, with the assurance of thy 
 salvation ! Thou Lord of death, cast me not off from thy 
 presence ! Give me again, O Father, thy consolations, 
 and restore to me the joys of thy spirit! Thou who 
 heard'st Job amidst the most pierchig afPictions, regard 
 my supplications, and be my support. 
 
 Thus she pray'd. Then turning to JMartha, said. Dost 
 thou, my dear sister, think that Jesi'.s now prays for me ? 
 He shed tears on his coming to the grave of Lazarus ; 
 w ill he not also pity me ? Oh, what hope da"A"ns into 
 my soul I The Omnipresent Lord of life and Death is 
 with me ! 
 
 Maiy now sank into a deep slumber, on which ]\rar- 
 tha rose and stood by the bed, to view her sleeping sister, 
 scarce breathing, for fear she should awake her who had 
 now enter'd far into the gloomy vale, w hile she was left 
 alone. Sadness pervertid her heart, and some tears 
 flow'd down her pallid cheek, till her agonies and palpi- 
 tations gradually subsided. Thus silent she stood, in th.e 
 gloomy chamber, enlighlen'd only by a dim h:i!f-cxLiü'
 
 THE MESSIAH. 77 
 
 giiisli'd lamp. A traveller, ^vho considers death as a 
 subject of joy, after p;issing through a parch'd and lonely 
 wilderness, enters the cavity of a hollow rock, where 
 little of the lowering day finds entrance, and where is 
 presented to his astonish'd sight a tomb, on which is 
 placed recumbent a statue of^the dead, with another of 
 marble, the friend of the deceas'd, who stands weeping. 
 The traveller views the torab, is struck at the image of 
 the deceas'd, and sympathizes in the grief of the mourn- 
 ful survivor. So, Mary, did thine angel, on approaching 
 thy bed, find JIartha with thee, and at thy feet stood the 
 celestial youth. 
 
 Of those angels who in the scale of spirits arc near to 
 the human soul, beauty is the portion, and those distin- 
 guish'd by the title of thrones are snpercminentin glory ; 
 yet how dim their splendor, when compar'd with that of 
 Him who ascended to the right hand of the Father ! O 
 thou who hast triumphantly risen to the Heaven of Hea- 
 ven?, my Intercessor! my Brother! grant that innume- 
 rable ho.-ts of the redeem'd may die the death of the 
 righteous. \Vhether our lives be clos'd amidst sufferings, 
 or whether we enjoy a foretaste of Heaven, O thou lie- 
 deemer ! thou Lamb of God ! let the death of the righ- 
 teous be our portion ! 
 
 Wln\e Chebai- stood at. the feet of Mary, he found his 
 resplendent beauty fade : from his face fled the rosy bhish 
 of the moiiiiug, and the rafiiant lustre of his eyes : his 
 wings flagg'd ; no harmony, no fragrant exhalations, ac- 
 conipanyM their languid motion ; no longer they glow'd 
 with celtslial azure, bedropp'd with gold. From his 
 htad he took his radiant crown, and held it in hischoop- 
 ing Iiand. He knew that, though her heart-strings were 
 ready to break, he could not assist her, before Lebbeu 
 Martha and ^"athaniel join'd their lamentations, and La- 
 zarus pour'd forth his prayers. 
 
 Lazanis was still at Jerusalem, in the dejected com 
 pany of the faithful, and, going to the mother of Jesu: 
 said, Behold, O Mary! midnight is now at hand, and 
 when I left Bethany, my sister seem'd near hei- dissola
 
 78 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 tion. T will go. to sea her. Perhaps, if the lireadfijl 
 news of ^^ hat has pa5s'd at Calvary ha? not rea:h'd h.cr 
 eaiF, she may be still alive. Lv;bbens, iastantly risins;, 
 said, I 'Ä ill accompany thee ; at wiiich Kafhaaie!, ein- 
 braci^ig him, aaswerM, Conie, thou most belo'/d among 
 the liviu«;, how ruy heart thaiiks thee I They were now 
 standins; reaJy to go, vsl ea Lazarus, addressing the mo- 
 ther of Jcs'js, said, O tliou mother of him whose n;inie 
 the angt;ls r.roclaira'd ! may he v.lio see« anil courts tby 
 tears, even the Father of hiui who is interr'd, be with 
 thee! Thoii hsirdst thy blessed sou pray. Father, into 
 thy ha:ids 1 commead ray spirit! 1 commend thy soal 
 and mine to his a-id our .ihni^hty Father. 
 
 Thus sayiu!^, tiiey hasted ty vards Bethany, and amidst 
 t}~e silence of the nii;l;t, rcaclj'dthe house w'scre liie de- 
 vout IMary lay, a»d stood by her sister near the bed. At 
 length Maty av.'aking from her lethargic slumber, ciy'd, 
 Thanlis be to thee, O thou Almighty Author of life and 
 death, they arc come, and with them Lebben^-. O Mary, 
 snid Lztzasus, how has the Giver of ev.rry mercy sup- 
 ported thee? V.'hatever he does, said she, how painful 
 soever it i nay appear, is the tftoct of mercy. Ah ! what 
 has my heart endiir'd ! Nuv/, behold I die. But where, 
 oh where is Jesus ? He knows — ^he knows what I suffer. 
 Has he pray'd for me? — What, O Mary! said Laxarus, 
 dost thou now suifer? 
 
 I^Iary answer'd, ISIy sufferiags spring not from the 
 dread of corruption, or from afflivitive thoughts of being 
 taken from these my dear friends, but from doubts 
 which wound my bleedirg soul. Ah, brother, how was 
 it v.ith thee? — But do^s Jesus pray for me? With the 
 prayers of the Holy Jesus will I compose myself for the 
 sleep of death. Will not this earthly ii'e soon be over? 
 O say, is it not near its end ? — They are silent, Martha, 
 IJathaiiiel is also silait. Jesus has not yet pray'd for 
 me I this uierces my soul. Here am 1 ; O Lord, thy 
 ■»vill be done! Thy will is best! 
 
 Here Lazarus, lifting high his folded hands, said. As 
 a motiici' pities hci' child, so, O Lord, is tby pity towards
 
 TIIE MESSIAH. 79 
 
 us : but though a mother may forget to pity her cLiid, yet 
 thy mercy never fails. 
 
 Lazarus then weepin», Mary rai^'d her langiud head, 
 and s.iid, Toll me, my heavenly b.-otlicr, whicii now be- 
 longs to m°, t!ie curse from Sinai, or t'l« mother's love? 
 Oh, if be luves me, what triumph! Wl.at ecst isy ! the 
 most lofty a:.d noble praiscs be otter 'd to tlie Giver of 
 eternal grace! to him %v:.05e mercy is r.ot li!:e that of 
 man! to the God of all grace ! Bat hovrcaal knowthat 
 be pities me with a mother's pity ? O'l speak; hiStbe 
 prayer of the Most Righteo;i3 sofieM'd my Judge, and 
 dots he look on me with the pityi:ig eye ot parental love ? 
 — O i'iio!!, who art most merci:ut, cry'd Nathaniel, look 
 down with an eye of compH3;ion, and no longer hide 
 thy cheerit:g smiles from the afflictt-'d. — Höre he ceas'd, 
 aad Lazarus ad' led,. Thine afflictions, O sister, will soon 
 end in comolete lelicity. Tt-.on kno.vst not what a pat- 
 tern we have had or patience aisd re.sigaalio:i to God, 
 and to wh )tii we h)Ok up in the i leaven of Heavens ! I 
 have been rais'd to ii.'e, yet wi-h, O ^I^ry, to fail asleep 
 with thee. The voice of death v.ouid ;o me be more 
 melo'üo'is than t!ie haiieliijahs of the crowded temple» 
 O Mary, our I'ivine Friend, our Help in ti:ne ol trouble, 
 the blessed Jesus, who remitted sins, who rais'd the dead 
 ■ — dy\l — on the ci-oss. 
 
 He crucify 'd! — ile dead on the cross! cry'd she, with 
 faltering accents. Ye angels! He cruci.y'd and dead! 
 — O Thou wht) hast permitted this, I bless and praise 
 thee for all my sutferings, and roUov my deceis'd I^)rd! 
 Here her tongue faii'd, and the coluur of death over- 
 sprcid her pla i I cousitcnancc. Lazarus, laying his 
 hand on her icy forehead, said, O thou who a^ t perfected 
 in thy Redeemer's love, may this sleep convey thee 
 among those who die in the Lord ! Ee thou now born 
 to the day of light ! to eternal life ! My heart cleaves to 
 thine, yet gla Uy do I see the nifsohition of this taber- 
 nacle, and thy departure to the heavenly Canaan. O 
 tliou Preserver of Israel ! support her through the drea- 
 ry^ valley, and bring her to the land cf felicity, where
 
 so THE MESSIAH. 
 
 fiiou cliyc:t lip cverj' tear, where no complaint, no la» 
 mentation, intenupls the gi-aterul Eoug of praise. To 
 Ixv be the sun of this earth extingnish'd. Thou death, 
 shed on her thy last slumber ; and may her mortal ira:r.e 
 rcitin peace ! Receive her, O c: nuption, that hev body 
 may grow up to life ; a seed sown by the Lord for the 
 great day of the haivest, when the reapers shall shout, 
 and the trumpets sound ; when the earth and the s:a 
 ^hali, \\ith a mighty noise, bring forth their dead; when 
 the whole expan-c of the heavens shall resound with the 
 praises of the supreme Lord and Judge. 
 
 Chebar, seeing the triumph of (!eath over Marj', was 
 so transported with joy, that gentle murmurs, as at a re. 
 mote (iistaiice, is-u'd from his tremulous wings. T!:ey 
 who weve present knew not what it was they heard, 
 foon the seraph, touching his sonl-animating harp, from 
 its ei;livening strings struck s':!ch sounds of celestial har- 
 mony, that Mary rais'd hei self and listeu'd in an ecstacy, 
 wliile Lazarus and Kathahiei supported her feeble frame. 
 The seraph now no longer trembled, but from the soft 
 tlirilliiig strings, in sounc'.s of inexpressible melody, pour'd 
 the peace of Gofi, which passeth knowledge. The at- 
 tentive soul of Mary was swell'd with sensations before 
 unknown : thoughts, new and sublime, in a soul ready 
 to leave its corruptible dust, and to enter into eternal 
 life. Thus was it with thee, holy Ezekiel, in thy vision 
 of the resniTection, m hen all around the convuls'd earth 
 teeni'd with llie awakening dea'i. The angelic haip still 
 contiimVl its powerful sounds, diffi'sing into the almost 
 «iiseir.body'd soul, a repose never t isted by any that re- 
 turn'd to life. Now the celestial herald burst ir.to louder 
 and sti'l louder strains, and tempests and earthquakes 
 scem'd to a compiuiy the notes; wliiie the immortal, in 
 the transports of inspiration, sang to the resounding harp. 
 Holy ! holy ! holy! is He who bled on Calvary! 
 
 Mai y, nnking under the rapmrcs which the celestial 
 voice pour'd into her labouring heart, expir'd. Her 
 brother sunk down by her, then graspirig Ler clay cold 
 Laud, and wiping away his teai s, said, Prai«e be to Iliui
 
 THE MESSIAH. 81 
 
 who has made death tlie way to life ! Glory be to the 
 Giver of immorUility ! Behold thou art now in the tents 
 of peace; yet thy soul sliall not forever remain alone; 
 for evi;u this cor; upiible shall put on incorruption : the 
 fair flower broken by the rude storm, shall, on the so- 
 lemn morn of the resuire. tion, rise in celestial lustre. 
 Let us now conmiit the sacred dust to its kindred eartli. 
 ]So, wc will for a moment forbear, and devoutly view 
 tliis dear body, that has just been cruah'd by the thunder 
 of death, and wiil rise at the sound ol' the last trumpet. 
 Jt v.ili lie ripe.iing through successive ag.s! How mys- 
 terioiis are the ways ol the Ktcrnal ! Thought is lost ia 
 astonishment ! When I would consider His ways, I can- 
 not perceive the darkness^ that hurrounds t!iem : yet, if 
 a glimpse of twilight breaks out, I weep with joy, while 
 conducted by thi; d iwn, the harbinger of the joyful 
 morn. With her it is now morning I Oh receive, my 
 dear sister! my last salutation, May he who now rests 
 in his sepulchre bless thee! 
 
 The divine Jesus had already blcss'd her. A celestial 
 body of radiant lusl.e hovei-'d round Mary's soni, guided 
 by thi- po vtrful hand of creation. Euvh-on'd with 
 streams of felicity, she first cast a thought on the corpse 
 she had lc:t, exulting in her being freed from her en- 
 cumbering clay; and then in complete glorification, was 
 fiU'd with a lively sense of her beatitude. With ex- 
 tended arms she cry'd, O thou sleep of death I thou sum- 
 r.iit of bkS'iugs ! Thou — Is it possible, ye angels, is it 
 possible, ye heirs of Heaven, that I am bless'd like you J 
 She was tiicn silent; but, soon closing her hands, she re- 
 snm'd, O thou first b'.»rn of iclichy! thou Sen of Eternal 
 Lig!;t ! tliou Holy One of God, is it possible that I am 
 thus bless'd 1 — O sw 'Ct forgctfulness of all my sufferings, 
 come and infuse sensations of thy dcujiluful repose! — 
 No, forbear ; for, to compare the sntTerings of the past 
 life with everlastmg joys, this plentitnde of bliss, is 
 ecstasy. Ye who never fell, hov.cver happy in your 
 persevering obedience and purity unstain'd, know uot 
 the felicity of comparing the wretchedness o» sia with 
 E3
 
 82 THE MESSIAH, 
 
 the jojs of this eterijal life. Ye never wept sncb tear» 
 as Jesus, the God of loving-kindness, now wipes from onr 
 eyes ! Ye prophetic sensations, with which I have oft been 
 seiz'd, I now, with grateful thanks, acknowledge; ye 
 pointed out to me hope in the Heaven of Heaven ! Ob, 
 I will rejoice in my past miserj ! I will thank thee for 
 all my sufferings ! Kow my hopes ai e fulfill'd ! lu the 
 days of my mortal life, evening succeeded evening till 
 the last, when came the night of death. How swiftly 
 tiiey pass'd away, and now I awake in the morning of 
 life. The dream which began w ith weeping, ended with 
 the tears of death ! the dream of life is now over, and I 
 am awak'd ! Once more shall I awake, when my moul- 
 dering clay shall become incorruptible, and a more wor- 
 thy habitation of its spiritu<d inhabitant, and be resplen- 
 dent, even as the body of him by whom it shall be rais'd, 
 who also dy'd, was burj'd, and will rise from the dead ! 
 Mary then ascended like the brightness of the morning, 
 light as air, swift as thought, and as she pass'd, saw the 
 wide creation opening to her view without end. 
 
 Lazarus, fiU'd with the niost elevated ideas of death, 
 hasted back, in order to return to tlie mourning disciples . 
 On his approaching the house, one of the seventy, ar- 
 dently embracing him, related •with ecstasy, the wonder» 
 of the Lord, which he himself had seen. 
 
 On Lazarns"s entering the gloomy hall, he found it still 
 fiU'd with sighs, on which, bursting into tears, and raising 
 his eyes and hands to Heaven, he crj-'d, O God of gotls, 
 reward him still farther, who, in obedience to thy will, 
 humbled himsL^lf, and submitted to the death of the cross ! 
 V.Tierc is the crown of the Conqueror of death conceal'd ? 
 Let me see it, blootly as it is ; it is more dear to me 
 than the angeU' shining crowns which I have seen from 
 afar. 
 
 O thou mother of the divine Jesns! hear, and raise 
 Ihyselffrom this abyss of grief: at his death the earth 
 trembled ! ]S;iglit cover'd the earth, and thou hast seen 
 its terrors ! "Put thou know'st not how the heavens bore 
 testimony to Lim. Behold, in the court of the temple..
 
 THE MESSIAH. 83 
 
 Ihe evening sacrifice awfully bla/'d in the midst of tlie 
 gloom : the sacrificei s who stood at the altar, trembled 
 at tlie tenoi s of the too early night : the priests kneel'd 
 facing the door of the sanctuary, and looking towards 
 the Holy of Holies, thank'd the Avenger, that Jesus had 
 been put to death; wiien, presuming to direct their 
 wrathful eyes to the most holy place, they beheld the 
 veil of the te.nple instantly rent from the lofty roof to its 
 lowest border ; the suppliants were overwhelni'd witli 
 the terrors of the grave, which arrested all thtir powers, 
 till fear and hon or dispelling their letiiargy , iiiduc'd them 
 to tly from death. Oh, what heavenly consolation flows 
 from the thought of the dear deceased, ^vho, while he 
 was expiring on tlie cross, wrapt the earth in darkness, 
 bade tlie rocks shake, and unvtil'd to the eyes of mortals 
 his tremendous glory ! 
 
 While he spake, the heareis sat in silent amazement, 
 yet little comfort penetrated their dejecteci hearts. Thus 
 the traveller, in descending a steep and lofty precipice, 
 beholds not the beauties of the clear smiling day in the 
 flowery vale. In vain does its radiancy spread through 
 the illuniin'd groves: in vain it roves in the meandering 
 streinn ; for liis fears extend a cloud over ail the beauties 
 of spring. 
 
 Lazarus still observing their fix'd sadness, thus affec- 
 tionately resum'd : Is it no consolation to you, that God 
 bears tt stimony to our dear deceas'd Lord by such signs 
 and wonders? O let tliis bo a powerful consolation ! Re- 
 joice too, that Mary, the taught of God, and whom you 
 Jov'd, v>iil weep no more! 
 
 Magdalen, now, w ith tearless eyes, hastily stepp'd up 
 to him, and said. Thy words, like the voice of an angel, 
 btir.g us comfort, and we will receive consolation from 
 them ; for they are as refreshing as the breeze in parch- 
 ing heat. Thy ci-kstial sister is then gone to Christ ? 
 Hast thou no more angelic words, no predictions of our 
 death 1 Thou wert once in the ;tate of the dead : O hadst 
 thou then no intimations, whether thy friends would 
 soon be discharg'd from this world of sorrow, scou be
 
 84 . THE MESSIAH. 
 
 atlmitted to cekslialjoy? O speak, ii' thou kno'.v'st, aiid 
 BO longer conceal iVom us, whether this wi]! mcu W oar 
 blisslul lot ? He continuing sileiit, she resauiM, Since cnr 
 lives are to be lcngJheii"d, O thou heavenly Jncl^c, whose 
 judgments arc a great deep, may we live to i>ee jaUgnieiUs 
 accumulated on those who slew thine innocent, t!iy 
 blameless Son! 
 
 Midtightbad for some time spi'cad its s?ib!e cmtain. 
 This, v.hr:u spent in prayev with Chri>I, had been as 
 gladdening to his followers as the vernal day; but,uiidi;r 
 tl;eir present distress, v> as fraught w ith images of terror ; 
 and now the more terrible, as the voice of the divine 
 Inteicessor was silcnc'd by death. Their lainci.tations 
 gradually subsided, and allevjating tears no longi'r v, et- ' 
 ting their now drj' eyes ; the weight of cold affliction 
 imiTioveably oppress'd their souls, while sjTnpathy for 
 their sufferings dimm'd tl:e eyes of the attending angels. 
 Meanwhile Saldni and Selilh, John and Mary's argeis, 
 thus convers'd : 
 
 Tliough we, O Salem, know the glorions conclui^ion 
 of what appears so sorro\süd, yet are we little Jess attlict- 
 ed than they. They are mortal, and caimot, rny celestial 
 brother, know (he joys that aw;iit them ; b'.:t wert thoa 
 to reveal thyself array'd in splendur, and to shew tliem 
 the happy issue of this maze of affliction, they wonld 
 esteem it an illuiive dream : their minds v.ould be still 
 fix'd on the gloomy labyrinth, which even overcomes 
 me. 
 
 I ^vish serenits-, O Selith, contemplate the divine plan, 
 and thou art too deeply atifected by compassion. — I now 
 acknowledge that thou siitfer'st like man ; for v. hen we 
 are solely penetrated with human sufferings, our thoughts 
 resemble those that arc human. The Most High afflicts 
 in order to improve them, and to render them more 
 happy than they could have been without drinking of 
 the cup of sorrow, when, at the time of rejoicing, the 
 blessed >hall be admitted to drir.k of the river of life. 
 
 Cek&ticd friend, return'd Selith, tlie griefs which rend 
 the heart of the tender mother, too much overcloud me ;
 
 THE MESSIAH. 83 
 
 but Salem will forgi^'c me. I saw her extreicc anguish 
 at the cvoss. Do thou kiucliy spread over lier a healing 
 sleep ; I v. ill hover rQund her with reviving visions, and 
 prevent the approa -h ot new sullerings. Rest from pain 
 has net yet been bestow"»! ou her. O tie raptures s!ie wiil 
 feel, when, instead of still contemplalingon death, s!e will 
 awake lo the jü>s which flow from Go i's right hand! 
 
 While they were thus co'iver-uig, ä short sleep alighted 
 on John's tearful eye, whi"h Salein perceivine;, by a 
 dream, pregnant with biis.s, fili'd his heai t ^^ith ecsta-y. 
 He scoin'd to remove him to Lebanon, whose cedars 
 wav'd their tops at his approach. The n.ornitig, more 
 beautifully airay'd in gold and pHrple than ever he had 
 seen, s'lone thro' the branches of the dewy grove, while 
 the puriiiig of the brock in the vale he'ow, wa^ as 
 sweet as ihe music of the temple. S jon in loader strains 
 resounded the ravishinpj h o moiiy of the cele.-tial harps 
 and voices, ciiai.ting — Happy son of the heavenly mo- 
 ther, dry up thy tears ! Dry up thy tears, thou happy soa 
 of the heavenly mother ! 
 
 The disciple seem'd not to dry up his tears ; the=e, the 
 vision, brought by the seraph, could not yet suppress ; 
 for, even in sleep, the briny stream ceas'd not to flow. 
 The radiant morn now appear'd overcast, and tlie joint 
 melo;iy of the celestial harps and voices dy'd away. 
 Meanwhile the i nmortal seem'd to convey hiiii s^viftly 
 to the grove, where tie astonishd disciple saw men, 
 with ragf; fiaming in their eyes, he.v down a cedar, so 
 large that Lebanon shook at its fall. The cedar was 
 form'd into a cross; awful sight! bnt, with plcas'd asto- 
 nishment, he saw it shoot forth palnjs. The s-enc of 
 the disciple's vision was now remov'd from Lebanon to 
 Eden, where he beheld a celestial glory, thit infinitely 
 exceeded the splendor of gold and purple. He now 
 heard more sublime choirs, aud his heait was Slid with 
 the sweetest sensations of joy.
 
 THE 
 
 MESSIAH, 
 
 BOOK XIII.
 
 Gabriel assembles^ the angels and the risen about 
 the sepulchre, uhere they zcait the MesslnKs re- 
 surrection. The emotions ofCncus, the Roman 
 officer on guard. The soul of Mary, Lazarus's 
 sister, conies into the assembly of the saints. 
 Obaddon, the angel of death, calls Sata?i and 
 Adramelcch, and orders them to leave the Dead 
 Sea, and either to repair to Hell, or to the Sc- 
 2Julchre. Satan dctcr?7nnes on the latter, and 
 Adramelcch on the former, but after changing 
 his 7'csolution, dares not jnct it in execution. 
 The angel of death leaves it to Abaddona cither 
 to come to the Scpulcfire or not, as he pleases. 
 The glory of the Messiah descends from Heaven. 
 Adam arul Ere pay their adoratio7is. The J/es- 
 siah rises from the dead. The acclamations of 
 the angeLs and the. risen. The seven martyrs, 
 the sons of Thirza, sing a hymn of triumph. 
 Some of the saints come doic?i to him f rem the 
 clouds, and at last Abraham and Adam. The 
 soul of a. Pagan brought befoj-e him, on zchich 
 he Judges the soul, and disappears. Gabriel or- 
 ders Satan to fly to Hell, Some of the soldiers 
 of the gunrd, and also Cneuf, enter the assem' 
 bly of the priests. Philo ptits an end to his life, 
 and Obaddon meeting his soul in Gehe7ina, con- 
 ducts it to Hell.
 
 THE 
 
 MESSIAH. 
 
 BOOK xiir. 
 
 rj■^IlE ancestors of tl'.c divine Jesus, rejoicing in their 
 -^ being i ais tt from the dead, rcmaiuM near the tombs 
 in which they had slept, while the angels songlit for those 
 who had been sanctiiy'd by the Redeemer : but often 
 w as thtir joy damp'd by grief, and oft they shook their 
 purple wings, dtfil'd by the terrestrial air, as by the dust 
 which rises from the foot of the traveller. 
 
 Gabriel still coutinu'd at the sepulchre, and Eloa on 
 one of the suns that revolve round in the heavens, wait- 
 ing the descent of Christ's glory. But now the angel of 
 the sepulchre soar'd upward thro' the creation, to behold 
 the celestial tigiis of the resurrection. Long had he fix'd 
 his eye on aa eflulgent star which, in its circular course, 
 fchot by another; at this sight, the expeclujg seraph's 
 eyes beani'd a brighter fire ; he turn'd ; his motion v/as 
 as a storm; his descent a» lightning; and, returning to 
 the scpulclire, he call'd, with a voice as lou<i as that of 
 the forest-bending tempest. Come, ye celestials, to the 
 grave! Thither the argels and patriarchs soon hasted, 
 and soon was the sepulchre of the Chief among the dead, 
 en\ iron'd by an august company of celestial beings. 
 Over the sepulchre, as in the centre of the circle, sat 
 Gabritl, on a golden cloud, introducing the sou!^ of the 
 redeem'd into eternal life. But the ai;gel of death, who, 
 in Jehovah's name, had announc'd to Jesus the separation 
 of his immortal essence from the body, now slowly 
 mov'd to the scpaidu-e, and sunk into Gabriel's arms.
 
 90 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 saying, All ai'onr.d me is night. The earth tremble?, 
 and the darkness oi the hill of death is deeper tiian the 
 blackness of the midniijLt gldom. Kevcr hnve my im- 
 mortal powers fail'd in performiug the ccrnmaiids of the 
 great Jehovaii, except iu tlie last, under which 1 still 
 faint. Renew iny strength, tboa ray of the Omnipoieiit, 
 that soon, iss'.iing from the giave, will rise to tiie right 
 Land of the Father! T!:e imiüortal then leaa'd on ihe 
 rock, wh.re re?tei1 the sacred body of Jesus. 
 
 Ah, what sweet iDngisgs do I experience ! cry'd Ab.a- 
 ham. Mow blisscjl the tnonght ! I shall see him ! I shall 
 see the Conqueror if death rise to iminorlal iiie! Halle- 
 lujah ! hallelujah ! hallelujah I I shall see him as he is ! 
 1 shall sec his bady rise from the dead. Hailelujih ! 
 
 My soul shall rejoice in the Lord ! cry'd David. I 
 shall rijoics on bis ascendiig from the sepulcl re! Ye 
 pious, whose bodies still are dust, and ye wlio can never 
 know corraption, you joy cannot eq la! ours! O what 
 vill Jcsns experience! He the Sou of the Eternal Fa- 
 ther ! He, who h.a« felt mure than the siifterii.gs of mor- 
 tality, and the terrors of death I O Asaph, added he, 
 embracing him, tlie 'Saviour who sulfcr'd the painful 
 death of the cross, will soon awake! 
 
 He then, with inward joy, fix'd his longing eyes on 
 his Redeemer's sepulchre : so a d\ ing saint looks up to 
 Heaven, and from theuce re "cives the rapt.uoas assur- 
 ance of the endless felicity that awaits hiin. Asaph, 
 steadily looking at the psalüiist, caught his holy tran- 
 sports. David's countenance beam'd increas'd radiance : 
 his breath was harmony : he soar'd aloft ; the air re- 
 sounded, and n.iw he ar.i nates the harp, and the speak- 
 ing instrument, though yet nnacconjpany'd with worfls, 
 difius'd triumph : then, fir'd with inspiration, both his 
 Toice and strings ponr'd ibrth a stream of rapture. So 
 the highly favour'd apostle, to whom the glories of the 
 apocalypse were display '.1, be! eld, standing on the hea- 
 venly Sion, a lamb, cöverM with radiant wounds, and 
 the rich blood of salva'ion ; round liim was a great mul- 
 titude rejoicing, with the Father's name written on their
 
 THE MESSIAH. 91 
 
 forehead. In their ünimaliiig hauris the harps resound- 
 ed like the v.iice of thunder; for they sang the Son 
 Vv hose r2'.;i:'.nt wounds beam'd eternal life into the souls 
 bei'jv,'. 
 
 Joseph, cloth'd with light, aptl bearing in his hand the 
 triumphalst p;»lm, sa:;g to bb brother; who, in his em- 
 brace?, had once pour'd forth a flood of joyful tears; O 
 tkarest Henjamiii! what raptures do I feel in recaliirg 
 the hour when the AliiiJi^hty Disposer of all events per- 
 mitted me, in my foi mvr statt', to nir.ke mystlf knowu 
 to thee ! Bat how izifiniidly supei ior is the celestial j'>y, 
 and pleasure, and triii.uph, for which we now, wi;h ea- 
 ger expectation, wait! O thou Brother of the redeem'd! 
 tlioa fir.-t aJiiong the heirs of light! throw oit t!^ veil of 
 blocd and dust t'lat covers tliy fact-, aii 1 a;;»!;*, shew thy- 
 self in giory ! We thirst, we pant to behuid thee with all 
 thy ra liant wounds, the Conqneror of death. The recon- 
 cili:!iion plann'd by the Fathir, and which thon hast 
 accotnplish'd, is of perpetual efficacy ; and Ht length \\ill 
 arrive t^e joyful hour onceal'd from the earth, con- 
 ceal'd even from the biess'd host of Heaven — that hour 
 when the fnllmss of the Gentiles shall coin«, a.';d the 
 children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, shall be broHg!it 
 to the gracious Redeemer, crntify'<l for them ! when the 
 Saviour, impatient ut any farther restraint, will exclaim, 
 I a.n J( sns! — The bclov'd, weeping, will hang about his 
 Deck, and He distribute to th.em crowns and the ft-stal 
 robe of innoct- nco. How will then the celestial messi^n- 
 ■gers proclaim, from star to star, the resplendeiit lights 
 that have issa'd from the d^^pths of wisdom ! How will 
 the uh^ritig angels then bow before the Eternal Father ! 
 O P; irriordeal Source of b< ir.g ! O King, who alone hast 
 immortality! praise, worship, and honour, be to Thy 
 name forever and ever! 
 
 The soft !.arp and sounding trumpet accompany'd the 
 joyful sorg, witli modulations, audible to the ears of the 
 biess'd alone. Not unanimated flow the heavenly hymns: 
 these are the rapturf^ns products of original inspiration, 
 the first fruits of bliss and gratefal triomphj to us oa-
 
 m THE MESSIAH. 
 
 known : jet they are sometimes heard by the dying, and 
 accompany them into eternal life. Isaiah, the propLei 
 of the silent Lamb, heard the seraphs, when, far from 
 the openijig grave, thej', covering their faces, sang — Holy, 
 holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts, the whole earth is full 
 of his glory ! while theii- fervent voices shook the g:ttes 
 of the temple. 
 
 Fill'd with the ravishing expectation of the Mediator's 
 resurrection, the bless'd contiau'd expressing their sensa- 
 tions in vocal and instramental harmony, sometimes in 
 separate, and sometimes in united, melody : for as jet 
 they felt aoithe silence of joy, nor the raptures of mute 
 felicity. 
 
 Ezekiel descended from the clouds to a tomb on mount 
 Olivtt, and saug, I once saw in a vision, dry bones scat- 
 tcr'd over the plain : at the command of the Lord of Life 
 and Death, 1 bade them revive ; they came together : a i 
 rapid wind diffiis'd life into the dead, and a host innu- 
 merable rose on their feet! Still is my heart fill'd \^'ith 
 transport at the idea of that wonderful s-iglt. I mjselfi 
 have just been rais'd from the dead ! bless'd — bless'd be ■ 
 he by whom I am raii'd ! His body is not, as ours was, . 
 subject to corruption, and it will soon rise triumphant, ■. 
 the Conqueror of Death. Hail Thou who art the Resur- 
 rection and the Life! Under thy shadow shall all in the 
 Heaven of Heavens assemble ! Death, the last of ene- 
 mies, shall be destroy'd, and Thou wilt resign up the 
 sovereignty to the Father, that God may be ail in all. 
 Hallelujah ! Joy glow'd in the countenance of the enrap- 
 tiir'd prophet, and Gabriel, turning as swift as thought 
 from the grave to the transported Ezekiel, cry'd, with a 
 voice like the roaring of the sea, Hallelujah ! God shall 
 be all in alt. 
 
 The sublime Isai^ih then leaving the assembly of the 
 bless'd, descende<l to Golgotlia, and stood at tlie cross of 
 the sacred dead. Daniel, the favourite of the Most High, 
 also quitte<l the assembly of the bless'd, and stood at the 
 cross, where, with a psaltery in their ban;1s, they alter* 
 uately sang :
 
 THE MESSIAH. P3 
 
 Here ! Here ! he was wounded for our tranfgrcssions, 
 and with his stripes are we heal'd ! 
 
 Ah, for our sakes was He wounded ! for our sakes was 
 He bruis'd ! He i^ubmittcd to chasii=emcnt that we niiglit 
 Lave pardou, aiid by his stripes are we heal'd ! 
 
 He was oppress'd and afiucted, j-ct he opcn'd not his 
 mouth ! As a lamb was he led to the slaughter ! 
 
 From anguish and from judgment is he taken ; but 
 soon will he awake to life, aud who, on Earth or in 
 Heaven, is able to make known the duration of his feli- 
 city! 
 
 He was cut oflf for the transgressions of his people, and 
 as a criminal was he put to death ! 
 
 Kow is finish'd the sacrifice for sin. His seed shall be 
 numerous as the drops of the morning dew, and shall 
 live forever ! 
 
 By his heavenly wisdom shall the righteous servants 
 of God make many i ighteous, aud the heirs of glory ; for 
 the sms of the world hath he done away ! 
 
 Who is he that came up from Cedron? In the power 
 of the divine strength he came to bear the sins of man ! 
 
 It was Christ, a teacher cf righteousness! Christ, 
 mighty to save ! whose wounds trickled on this hill of 
 death ! Whose blood, O Heaven of Heavens! rau down 
 on the altar of atonement ! His precious, his sacred blood, 
 before whom every knee shall bow, and every tongue 
 confess that He is Lord, to the glory of God the Father I 
 Now, now is transgression finish'd ! Rightoousuess and 
 salvation shall flourish ! Praise him the great Accom- 
 plisher! Traise him, for he is anointed ! On this hiii of 
 death was the Holy Ope-anoisted 1 Hallelujah! 
 
 Transported witlv these ideas of the rising Victim, the 
 saints repeated, wi^h a sound like that of breezes whis- 
 pering through the tree of life. Yes, on this hill of death 
 was the Holy One anointed ! Hallelujah ! 
 
 The guard at the sepulchre was now reliev'd by another 
 party, who had seen Christ expire, the hills shake, and 
 the rocks split. At the stone which clo» d the enü^nce. 
 Stood the Roman band, wi'di Cueus, their commander,
 
 94 THE MESSIAH.. 
 
 who sooa became absorb'd in ihi^wht. The silent night 
 and silver moon led him to bewii ler himsflf in an intri- 
 cate mnze of doubt?, while Be had no g;ii?ie to direct his 
 way. Leaning asjainst ihe rock, he said to himself, Is 
 he a son of God J— Of what Go;i? Of the G'jd of the 
 Israelites? — On, why do 1 dunbt the grtaln-ss of Jupi- 
 ter? — Why am 1 unv.illiiig to believe t^at he whom this 
 weak people call Jehovah, is worthy to be known? How 
 paä.lauimous is this learo! convicti: n ! Ho- v despicable 
 does Jupiter a*, pear ! Ko v great Jehovah, who styles 
 himsththe God of Gods, and by bis aciious, rcalii-es the 
 august tiile ! Yet the S.'n of the great Jehöval» ^^ as i aor- 
 tal! bat, if he was no more than man, how could he be 
 so £;rt-at ? 
 
 WTiiie he was tlms absorb'd in thought, a messenger 
 thus address'd him; Poriia sends me tt)hnow tVom tiiee, 
 whether all be quiet at the sepulchre, and whether any 
 have assembled near the corpte : she at fit st thought to 
 have come herself, but chang*d her mind, (^-neus de- 
 sir'd LLn to tell Poriia that all wa? q tist, and that nobody 
 Lad otier'd to c ime near the corpse. The messt- nger 
 was then goir.g, vv!;ea Cneus caüins; after him, desir'd 
 him to inform Poitia, that whether Jesus would, or 
 would not rise again to !i;e, was a subject that fili'd 
 him with the greatest perplexity. 
 
 Cneus, again giving way to thought, said to himself, 
 Tliis lady is no less nneas^' than 1, about the issue of the 
 mysterious history of this intomb'd sage. If he was 
 not the Son of thä Supreme God, it must be acknov.-- 
 ledg'd that he was a pions min. — ^The Supreme Go ! did 
 I say? tlifit is denyiüg Jupiter, and shall I place bim be- 
 neath JehovaJi, whom T know not? Jehovah"» miracle» 
 seem to bear a far greater sta-ip of truth than those attri- 
 Tjuted to Jupiter, or rather, have all tlie evidence of cer- 
 tainty. Had the cc^qneror of Israel invok'd Jupiter, the 
 image of that Gcd, like that of Dagon, would perhaps 
 have fallen to the ground, and from his impotent Iiand 
 would have dropp'd the useless thunder! Ah, what 
 thoughts arc these ! What conttraias me lo renounce bira
 
 . THE MESSIAH. 95 
 
 1 have worshipp'd, aiid to sacrifice liim to this tremend- 
 ous, this unknown God, whose voice I teel speaking 
 irresibt ably in the most setfret recesses of my heart? O 
 tliou whom 1 ardently pant to know, make lJ)yselt known 
 to me ! 
 
 Thus he mus'd, with uplift eyes, till his head sunk 
 down on his breast. Ah, wh} , added he, did not I sea 
 this pions man perform his miracles? Why did I neglect 
 tearing his in.stiuctions ? fie is now dead, and incapable 
 of conveying th-ni. O thou unknown! my soni bewil- 
 ders itself in quest of thte! O that I conld understand 
 the instructions of thy prophets! O that the veil that 
 hides tliem from mine ey^ s was remov'd ! A.i the very 
 cross I might have ask'd him some important questions : 
 but now he is silent. But will he continue so forever 2 
 Cm the dead revive? — The holy man liiniself assur'd 
 his followers that he would. This his eneir-ies s;iy, and 
 lience we are plac'd to guard his body. Should he not 
 return to life, instead of rev»'arding my inquiries with 
 divine knov»'ledg , will be all inei;piicabie darkness. 
 Thas Cnens bewildei^d himself in the dark path to the 
 Deily, no helping haud yet leading him to the heights of 
 wisdv^m. 
 
 Now, into the e^^altcd assembly of the risen, the angel 
 Chebar brought the lovely Eoid of Mary, who slid witli 
 -the silver sound tro;ri an eibeieal ciowl. Ecaoni re- 
 ceiv'd her, saying, O Marj', ihou didst not see the Re- 
 deemer die, but thou shall see him rise from the dead. 
 •By the blood of the Lam.b hast thou overcame ; taSe, 
 therefore, the psaltery, and be thou one of the celpslial 
 choir. M^.y I presume, said she, to ir.ir.gie v.ilh the 
 glorious host, on whom, for ages past, cro-.vns and palms 
 have been conferral ? O Eenoni, how happy am 1 ! 
 AVhat mercy has the gracious Anlhor of Life and Death 
 shewn in choosing the hour of my decease ! I shall, in 
 Ulis hless'd assembly sec the Redeemer rise from the 
 dead ! Admit me among you, ye saints of God! Ye bre- 
 thren! my brethren and my belcv'd, forever receive 
 mc ! for the Tather of Mercies, who h;i3 shewn favour
 
 96 THE MESSIAH, 
 
 both to you and rce. hath sent me ! O ye cekttiai ct.n> 
 munity, the triumpLaut bridegroom's bride, we here feel 
 a repose hitherto anknown : joys, of which we Lad not 
 before the most distant idea ! How freely do we here 
 drink of the river of life! Ob, with what transcendent 
 faculties, fitted fw tasting the bliss of salvation, hast thou 
 enrich'd the souls whom Thou hast caird to inherit Thy 
 glorj- ! A bliss of perpetual duration ! We shall be ever 
 with Thee, the object of our love ! What joyful Uianks, 
 what rapturous praise should we offer Thee, for this 
 ecstatic prospect ? I am lost in wonder, love, and grate- 
 ful transports ! Thy bounty knows no end ! it is infinite 
 and everlasting, like thyself. 
 
 Trembling she ceas'd, fill'd with unutterable joy. The 
 enraptnr'd circle of the heii-s of life then sung to their 
 accompaiiyiug harps. He is infinite ! Infinite is the Fa- 
 ther of existence and love ! Sooner ■will the Xew Earth 
 be involv'd in night, and the Kew Heavens in gloom, 
 than the overflowing stream of thy fnercics fail to refresh 
 the thirsty soul ! Behold its spring rises at the foot of the 
 throne, and falls from the empyrean Heaven, from earth 
 to earth, into regions luminous and obscure. The bless'd 
 hear the sound ; the sons of light hear it round the w orlds, 
 and flock to feed on raptures ! O ye redeeufd, ye bre- 
 thren of the deceas'd, delay not, but haste to the stream 
 cf felicity ! Ye who come with trembling feet have a 
 Helper to support j'ou, even he who, with broken heart- 
 strings, loudly cry'd, It is fiui&h'd. As the sp-int labourer, 
 after a toilsome day, resigns himself to sleep, so the 
 Mighty One slumber» in the sepulchre ; the Lion of Juda 
 glunibers in the shade ! Hadst thou, O Hell, drank leas 
 of the cup of vengeance, thou wouldst be silent, h st the 
 ISIighty One who sleeps should awake, and rise from the 
 concealing tomb : but he will rise even to the right hand 
 of the Father, and the incens'd Lamb shall tread thee 
 under his feet. Thy desarts shall become more dreaiy, 
 and thine abysses sink deeper under the terrible steps of 
 tlie iucensM Lamb. 
 
 At lhese«vords Obaddon, the angel of death, rose from
 
 THE MESSIAH. 97 
 
 Ihe sepulchre, and left the holy assembly, in order to 
 fulfil the orders he had receiv'd, which were, that when 
 the assembly of the saints should denounce the judgments 
 of Hell to be at hand, he should haste to" Satan and 
 Adramekch, who were confin'd in the Dead Sea. He 
 wrapp'd himself in thick darkness, and standin» on the 
 shore, call'd up the accurs'd. With the noise of a storm 
 they stood before him. The angel of death then threw 
 aside the darkness with which he was encompass'd, ex- 
 cept that on his front, which still retain'd the gloom of 
 athunder cloud, spreading before him to the Dca<i Sea. 
 Satan, now summoning up his enfeebled powers, thus 
 address'd Obaddon: Happy, almost almighty, slave, 
 what tidings hast thou brought? To thy foul slanders, for 
 ages past, said the angel of death, no answer have I 
 return'd. He who was dead and is alive, orders ye 
 instantly to fly into the abyss, or to attend me to the hill 
 •nhere he was crucify'd. 1> ear that hill of death he rises. 
 !No longer than I brandish this tianiiug sword shall ye 
 see him ! Then he shall wound thy head 1 abhorr'd sin- 
 ner, he demands not thy worship ! Thou art unwoithy ! 
 if ye follow not me, remain here, or fly to Hell, where 
 kissing, mockery, and the roar of loud laughter await 
 ye! for many of your followers saw how, at Eloa's first 
 command, ye fled. 
 
 Satan cast at him a furious look, yet stood aloof; for 
 fiom Obaddon's sword stream'd expanding flames. The 
 foe both to God and S.aan tore up the fragment of a 
 rock, and dashing it against hi» own forehead, stamp'rt 
 on the fallen shivers, and began to blaspheme the Eter- 
 Bal ; but soon his impious tongue was made to cease. 
 Ghoose, I say, exclaim'd the angel of death, sheathing 
 his flaming sword in clouds of smoke: but they still 
 hesitated. 
 
 Now Abbadona drew near, and as he pass'd along,, 
 cast his eyes on Adramelech and Satan, fearless of their 
 rage and vindictive pride. Then approaching nearer tO' 
 the augsl, thus spake: Though thou art a messenger of 
 vengeance, yet, angel of God ! thou art not insensible t« 
 
 VOL. H. E
 
 93 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 pity. Blay uot I, since it is permitted to ibcse rebellions, 
 see the divine Messiah rise.' lluw can I presnme that I 
 shall be allow'd the honour of worshipping him? No, 
 welcome, welcome shall be the iuvi.'ibie, the omnipotent 
 hand, that shall strike both me and theni to the dust, 
 might I but see the Iledeeraer, the Conqueror lise. 
 
 Satan indignant l)eard, and with stammering rage, 
 cry'd, Thoa slave of Hell and not of God ! thou, of slaves 
 tlie most wretched. — Him the angel of death, with rapid 
 speech, instantly interrupted. Satan, in my presence, be 
 thou silent. For thee, Abbadona, I have no orders. 
 How long thou art permitted to remain on earth I know 
 Bot; nor whether thou wilt be allowM to see the resur- 
 rection of the Lord of Life and Glory. 1 can only in- 
 form thee, that bis sepulchre is encompi?sd by hosts of 
 angel?, and by the righteous, by His power, call'd forth 
 from the grave. As to these accurs'd, they aie aliow'd 
 to see him, that his triumph over them may begin with 
 punishing their impious gnilt and obdurate pride. la 
 this, Abbadona, thou hast no concern: but deceive not' 
 thyself, thou canst not see him with my raptures. Thou 
 canst not view him with the joy of the rcdecni'd. — No, 
 not with transpoit, answer'd Abbado:ia; not with joy ; 
 yet let me sje liim, let me see him. 
 
 Abject slave as thou art, cry'd Adi au.elech to the an- 
 gel of death, thou mcntionedst the name of Eioa. Yes, 
 I go to neil, but v.oe be to him who tlicre presumptu- 
 ously dares to mock at me ! I'll bury him under rocks 
 heap'd on rocks. Then, turning to Abbadona, added. 
 Why dost thou net follow me, thou m.ost abject of angels? 
 now no longer an angel, but a serAile spirit. Thou fearest, 
 and art not deciiv'd, that I will bind thee with adaman- 
 tine chains, to the lowest step of my throne, on which I 
 will sit, resting my foot on thy neck. But first thou shalt; 
 fall a sacrifice on that hill to thine abject servility. 
 
 Abbadona, trembling with indignation, answer'd, with 
 a look of sadness, It is not thy storming words, thou 
 apostate, that terrify me; but that the righteous spirits, 
 the angels, and the great Jehovah are ipy foes, and thcar
 
 THE MESSIAH. 99 
 
 I fear. He then turn'd asi.le, and Atlramelech fied. 
 I follow thee, said Satan to the angel of death, stammer- 
 ing with rage, while the gloom on his forehtad, uiark'd 
 v.'ilh the scars of thunder, encreas'd «t.- he follow 'd. They 
 spread their wings, while Abbadona stijod wrapp'd in 
 perplexity- and suspense. Adrajnelech i.ow snddenly 
 turn'd, revolving in his obdurate heart a blasphemy as 
 black as Hell, which he resolv'd to pour forth with a loud 
 voice in the midst of the holy assenibls , and call'd out, I 
 follow thee, ai.gel. Turn back, call'd the destroyer, 
 with the voice of thunder, thou shalt not see the resur- 
 rection. Blindness shall stiike thisie eye«, blindness 
 prompt thy speed, and a hideous howling shall foUovy 
 thee. Al;-ea;iy blindne?« seiz'd his eye«, and behind him 
 g",eird the howling storm, inipciibig him reluctant. 
 Conxuls'd v.itb tren.ulous a£;onies, he fied. Quick, irre- 
 sistible and nameless tenors pursued him, v.hiie the in- 
 cessant howl, like the judicial trumpet, cailVl, Woe to 
 Ihee! woe, woe to thee ! The niountains in the ne.Tiest 
 stars seem'd to hici to shake, and torn from their roots, 
 to fall on him with riestrnclive cruslr 
 
 Meanwhile the patriarchs and the seraphiir.s heard, far 
 in the heavens, Jehovah proceeding along the solai- w ay. 
 The hariHony of the revolving worlds was s-ilent at the 
 vci e of thunder. Already had a stai- Lasted from its 
 orbit to the sun. Already the whole creation stood 
 still. The patriarchs heard the flying storm proceed- 
 ing from the Heaven of Heavens, and resounding from 
 star to star, as from hill to hill. It advanc'd to the earth 
 V. ith glo^^ ir.g front, and the ilame of the Lord approach'd 
 like the suns, when sent foith from God's creative hand, 
 to rule each earthly globe. Eloa then shot like a ray of 
 light into the assembly of the risen, prcclaiming, The 
 hour is come ! T!ie hour of glory is at hand ! With the 
 day-spring will tiie body of the Redeemer of sinners 
 awake from the dead! Ye hear the footsteps of the 
 Almighty ! 
 
 He then raov'd down to the sepulchre. The mighty 
 tempest, a witness throughout the heavens of Iiini wh«
 
 100 THE ME&SIAII. 
 
 liveth for ever, now abated its violence, lest the earth 
 should fly before it. Tne thunder was restrain'd, and 
 only the roaring winds were heard, before which the fo- 
 rests of Ju Jea bow'd to the sepulchre. The earth shook : 
 Mount Seir, Pisga, Arnon, and Ilernion, wiih cloud-capt 
 Lebanon, trembled ; the tops of Carniel and Lebanon 
 were afraid ; the waters of Egypt and meaiidring Jordan 
 fled back to their source, yet the sepulchre continu'd uii- 
 mov'd, and the ponderous stone still lay before the open 
 sepulchre. The inhabitants of heaven sank down, toge- 
 ther with the risen, on their faces before the present 
 Deity. Adam then sang aloud a triumphant hj'iim ; so 
 will sound throughout the earth the angelic trumpet, to 
 celebrate the mighty deeds of the Most Holy. O Incre» 
 ate! once a weeping babe! a child endow'd with wis- 
 dom ! the delight of God ! the joy of sinners 1 then a 
 heavenly teacher ! a compassionate, benevolent worker 
 of miracles ' Lhen a high priest, who offer'd himself, and 
 went into the sanctuary, in laehalf of sinners I then, ah f 
 then wascruclfy'd, and dy*d ! O Tliou incomprehensible! 
 Thou God of Love! how can we sufficiently praise theci 
 for what thon hast done for us? Under thy feet thou 
 hast brought death and sin, and receiv'd as to salvation. 
 With transport we shall see thee rise. Ah, we have 
 seen thee die! Awake, awake, death can no longer hold 
 the Son of God. Behold thou com'st in the divine eftulr 
 gence,aswhen thou call'dst forth the sun from darkness, 
 tlien thou cam'st encircled with thousands of thousands 
 of ministring spirits, preceded by the inspiring storm ! 
 Soon will the heavenly breeze, separating itself from the 
 storm, awaken thy body. Behold the outskirts of tlie 
 glory of the Ix)rd beams down among the stars, while 
 before it the ruddy morn tempers the effulgence of the 
 divinity! Before him let all creatures bow the knee. 
 Ye princ(S, lay down your crowns before him. He 
 comes to h ad captivity captive, and to give eternal life 
 to those he has rwleem'd ! Breathe, thou divine breath 
 and awaken tlie corpse, whose wounds, when he is rais'c 
 to the right hand of the Father, will outshine the stm
 
 THE MESSIAH. 10 i 
 
 and even the ligbts which illamine the Heaven of Hea- 
 vens. But kt me, with silent joy, lay my hand on my 
 mouth.— O my children, who are still the sons of dust, 
 especially ye few whom he has chosen to be the wit- 
 nesses of his resurrection : ye whose eyes still shed teari 
 of sorrow, from your knowing him in his humiliation 
 and death, but not in his glory, nor the glories with 
 which he rewards his followers, to all the divine, the 
 ineffable blessings of his resurrection, do I consecrate 
 you, my children ! Bless'd be your conflicts! every vic- 
 tory of the strengthen'd ! All your labours in the work 
 of tlie Lord ! In Heaven be they bless'd ! Earthly bless- 
 ings, which pass away, shall not be yours; but, when 
 your souls quit their houses of clay, ye shall receive the 
 victor's crown, and shall be set on the thrones of the 
 elders, to judge the generations of men. 
 
 Eve, who, like Adam, became more radiant while 
 looking on the resplendent glory as it descended through 
 the Heavens, hearing the blessing deliver'd by the father 
 of meuj extended her arms towards the holy sepulchre, 
 and thus gave vent to her emotions : Flow, flow, eternal 
 source of biiss! rend asunder the rock, gush forth, and 
 comfort the souls of all that thirst after thee ! O stream 
 that flows into the world of joy, receive into the refresh- 
 ing breezes of thy shore, and to thy coding shades, the 
 spiritual pilgrim, that he may be strtngthen'd in his 
 course, and animated by the blissful expectation of his 
 own resurrection ! Hope, celestial light, brighten the 
 eyes of the dying! thou hope of awaking and li\ing with 
 Christ, pour thy joys on those who are prepai^'d to sleep 
 in him ! then they shall not fear the horrors of corrup- 
 tion ! Bless'd hour, soon to break forth, pregnant with 
 bliss ! O hour of his awaknag, on which depend a num- 
 berless number of never-dying lives ! O what blessings 
 are prepar'd for you, my children ! Rend the rock, and 
 stieani forth, thou source of eternal life, thou shaltbe 
 enlarg'd to mighty rivers, even to the ocean of God! 
 
 The angel ot the sepulchre now wing'd his flight through, 
 the clondsj towards Christ's resplendent glory.
 
 102 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 As a thousand times a thoasand of those who dy'd in 
 God had lamented the fall, which was to extend to the 
 judgment day, but is no longer to be deplnr'd, let now 
 the cry of the new-born, and the groan of expiring age 
 ascend to Heaven, amidst the rapturous hymns of those 
 who are pnrify'd by deaih. They too shall be purify'd 
 by death, and at the dawn of the last day, forever will 
 cease the babes' mournful cries, and the groans of con- 
 flicting age. Overpowei-'d by amazement, joy, and feli- 
 city, tears of gratitude w ill then How from their uplifted 
 eyes, their triumphant hymns will contend with the sum- 
 moning trumpet, and even drown its mighty sound ; for 
 the righteous then %vill be a thousand tim; s a thousand. 
 ISTot less was the host which, at tlie sepulchre of the Lord, 
 panted with longing expectation of what was to come, 
 when Gabriel descended with the divine glory. Then 
 the earth shook ; Satan, like a mountain, and the guaids 
 of the sacred body, like little bills, were thrown down. 
 Then from the sepulchre the immortal roU'd the stone, 
 Jehovah himself rejoic'd, and Jesus arose. 
 
 How shall I utter what was now seen ! how at a dis- 
 tance faintly mention the joy of those that saw the Re- 
 deemer's resplendent face ! Too presumptuous is the 
 ardent wish, and fruitless the effort, to ascend with these 
 to Heaven ! 
 
 At first a short silence reign'd aromid the forsaken se- 
 pulchre; but soon the favour'd assembly, radiant with 
 salvation, sang ^^'ith triumphant joy, like the morning 
 stars at the birth of the creation. Tiiey sang thee, the 
 Son, after thy conquest over death, not, as on the cross, 
 with drooping head ! bat gloriously ascending over the 
 rock of the open sepulchre, ineffably divine, adorn'd 
 with victory, with victoiy ! Hallelujah ! with victory ! 
 gloriously triumphant over eternal death! Thou who art 
 mighty ! thou whose name is holy ! thou to whom all 
 knees shall bow, all in Heaven, in earth, and under 
 the earth! thou whose birth Bethlehem saw, at whose 
 death Calvary shook, and whom the giave has delivered 
 up !— Sink down, ye depths, before the Conqueror, and
 
 TIIE MESSIAH. 103 
 
 ye hills lisc before Lim, and clap your hands! To this 
 honour, ye archangels, strike your harps! ye first of 
 thrones in tlic Heaven of Heavens arise ! and ye human 
 voices proclaim from the dust your joy that he lives! 
 Before the eternal throne join to sing the incxpresjible 
 honours of the great M ssir.h ! To him, j e angL-ls, to him, 
 our brother, who was flesh and bone of Adam, be ever- 
 lasting praise. 
 
 O thou who art most mighty! cry'd the triumphant 
 spirits; thou to whom our knees lowly bend, nnd all our 
 powers bow with awful adoration I Thou great Beginner 
 and great Accomplisher of cur salvation, art uow^ awak'd 
 from death ! Shv>rt was thy slumber, and thy awaking 
 was sudden as the creatioij, when call'd into existence by 
 Ihine almighty voice ; when, at thy command, the suns 
 roll'd, and round them the obedient worlds! O thou 
 Alpha and Omega, tlie most gracious First and Last, iu 
 thee we live, a:id in thee are immortal ! 
 
 They ccas'd. The risen Messiah favour'd them with 
 the sig'it of Ills divine countenance ; wlien, overcome by 
 their ecstatic bliss, they fell down in sil;-nce. 
 
 The seven inartyr'd sons, with their mother, now 
 hasted to the celestial asrembly, shiging with holy tri- 
 umph, Arise and shout, O earth, for thou ha-=t been 
 esteera'd worthy to receivf into thy bosom, as into a 
 mother's arms, the sacred body of Chri?t, the Redeemer I 
 The first-born of the dead is risen, and all the heavens 
 saw him rise ! Earthquakes, from Golgntba to lofty Mo- 
 riah, attended the Conqueror ; with the mountain trem- 
 bled the cross, and the pinnacles of the temple. Arise, 
 O earth, in thy beauty ! the glory of Christ ariseth on 
 thee! Less celebrated wert thou in the heavens, when, 
 after thy birth, thy first morning rose on thee. Many 
 are thy sons, and many righieons shall be among them. 
 As the mother of immortil cliürlren, thou shalt tran-late 
 them into the Heavens, tb at, in the lucid robes of purity, 
 they may rbe victorious, singine the praises of the Re- 
 deemer. Shant, thou hill of death, loader than all the 
 Other hills of the eaith ! Rejoice, thou sepulchre, before
 
 101 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 4.1ie mouutain of God ! At the last day, O earth, shaU 
 thou, at the call of the omuipotent Son, deliver np the 
 dead confin'd in thy bosom ! Then shall be lorm'd a new 
 carih. Then shall the snn role no longer over thee, nor 
 -the moon, thy companion, accompany thee : on thee, as 
 the dwelling-place of the righteous, will the divine glory 
 shine ; and he, whose precious blood dropp'd on Golgo- 
 tha, will be thy ligl.t. 
 
 Thus sang the early martyrs, who already bore palm» 
 in their hands. Jedidoth, the last of martyrs, widi Be- 
 noni and Mary, leaving the assembly of the bles'd, and 
 each holding paliiis, descended from the clouds, and 
 knecl'd on the stone which now no longer shot up tlie 
 sepulchre. There, with a love above what man can feel 
 or express, Mary said to the partakers of her bliss. 
 Were I still in n^y former lit«, and my years in their 
 early bloom, yet would my most afF. ctionate love be 
 death, when compar'd with this exalted fervor. Benoni, 
 Jedidoth, see the King of Glory, how is his lustre altem- 
 pcr'd for you, ye lovt ly flowers of the heavenly Sharon ! 
 attemper'd for us! he likewise attempers himself for 
 that cedar Eloa, w horn he also created ! He is another 
 self of all tb.e glorious elect !— Another, cry'd Elvja, joy- 
 fully approaching them with downward flight: to every 
 one is he anoiherstlt! To yon, Daniel ! Moses! Abra- 
 ham! likewise to thet-, thou chietangel of death! to thee, 
 Salem ! for these had descended to them : to thee, Mary, 
 and to me ! to you, Benoni and Jedidoth ! to every one, 
 according to his desire, the overflcwiug, the inexhaustible 
 source of good! to each the most bounteous! to all the 
 most deserving 01 their lovt! This elevated, this trans- 
 porting idea, too exalted for human penetration, bears 
 your Fonls aloft, and the only, the bchv'd Son — through 
 all eternity belovM, and to all eternity the loving Son of 
 the Eternal Father— absorbs all our thoughts, and our 
 faculties are lost in tlie immensity of the divine gfX)dnef&! 
 
 While the spirits and angels convers'd, the bless'd, in 
 greater numbers, descending to the rock, surrounded 
 tiicir Mediator and Brother, rejoicing with other joy
 
 tflE MESSIAH. 105 
 
 than this world can give, or which they who walk in its 
 gloom caji conceive. 
 
 Abraham, with his hands lift up towards Heaven, said, 
 O thuu Son of Jthovah ! (accompany me, ye jubilant 
 harps of my children, in joyful notes : my harp shall lead 
 the consecrated sounds:) Thou quittedst thy throne! 
 from Heaven didst thou descend to this earth, and die! 
 In all the worlds, before or since created, no events like 
 these \\ ere ever seen ! We behold the actions of the di- 
 vine Redeemer irradiated by surrounding hosts! Ye 
 fellow-worshippers, join the seraphs' exalted joys, which, 
 Ü Eloa, beam down from Heaven. 
 
 Adam, at lenglh immerging from a sea of raptures, 
 and from the lumiaous streams in which lie had been 
 immers'd, thousands of thoughts, swift as the lightning's 
 rapid tlash,rusli'd into his agitated soul. With eager eyes 
 he ilew from the clouds to the hill of death, and alight- 
 ing at the cross, stretch'd out bis arms to Jesus the Con- 
 queror, crying, I swear by thee, who livest forever, that 
 on the great day of the completion of all things, those 
 who sleep shall awake, and death shall be no more ! 
 
 The exaltation of tlie Messiah began v.'ith his awaking 
 from tlie death of the cross, wlieace he ascended to the 
 throne, and sat down at the right hand of the Fathei-, 
 Nvhcre honour and praise awaited him, who willingly 
 humbled himself, and desctmded from the mansions of 
 uiory to the dust of Golgotha. In vain did Eloa himself 
 then strike the festive harp ; in vain the bless'd spirits 
 pourd themselves forth in psalms to his praise, too in- 
 adequate v.ere their clforts to the sublime, the sacred 
 theme : how much then is it too high for me ! Teach me, 
 thou sacred muse of Sion, something ofthat glorious tri- 
 umph, which, from its commencement in the abode of 
 mortal sinners, rose in continual gradations to inQnitude. 
 O enable me, with intent eye, to toUov.- him, who, in the 
 lucid path, soar'd to the throne ! 
 
 The Mediator affectionately look'd down on Adam, 
 
 then gave a sign to an angs;l, who brought a soul that 
 
 tlius discours'd with his conductor : Wlio, thou rcspleH- 
 
 F2
 
 106 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 dent being, is that awful and «ublirae fignre over that 
 rocky hill? — Percei\'tt thou not, O soul, said the augel, 
 the radiiiut bands around him?— Ah, I cannot turn my 
 ejes from him to whom thou ai t leading me ! He is the 
 chief of this divine assembly. Join thy worirhip, rc- 
 turn'd the angel, he is the Lord of ir.en and angels, and 
 thy Judge. — The soul then exclaim'd, O Jove, who rulest 
 in Olympus ! the greatest, the most glorious! O my con- 
 ductor ! ^^ith what terror« do thiue eyes fill me ! Am I 
 before the austere ^linos? Is there a passage from hence 
 to black Cocytus? and does the thunder of Jnpitei-'s oaths 
 roar along the baneful stixain ? O my inflexible leader ! 
 deign'st thou not to answer the questions I trembling 
 utter ? Now to the soul spake the Mediator, There are 
 no such beings as Jupiter and Minos. It is me whom 
 «he opprefs'd invoke as their Lord and Judge. Then to 
 Ihe angel he signify'd the future state of the deceas'd. 
 Thus in slow gradations advanc'd the Sou's exaltation. 
 To the witnes-ts Jesus said. Before I rise to my Father, 
 oft shall I be seen on Tabor ; tiiere shall ye meet me. 
 Jesus then disappeai'd, and they mov'd to Tabor. 
 
 Still motionless on the rock of the sepulchre, lay Satan, 
 struck by a look of the risen ^Mediator. He heard Ga- 
 briel coming toward him as a storm, and having, with 
 labouring eäbrts, rais'd himself, beheld the Redeemer*« 
 messenger, who cry'd. Cast thyself down into thine 
 abyss. Thon loiterest on earth. Wert thou capable of 
 instruction, thou must know that for Finite to contend 
 with Infinite, is to be forever subdu'd. But thou art 
 Lardtn'd against conviction. Avaunt! fly, with thy 
 plans of fresh rebellions, to the gloom of the regions of 
 <!espair. Bat I forbear denouncing the tliundering curse. 
 Avaunt. Satan stretch'd his wings, yet again iingf-r'd in 
 the wilderness, and, from a towering rock, fix'd his eye» 
 on the drvary prospect. Gabriel then, enconipass'd by 
 ire terrors of Go<l, pursu'd him in a tempest, when, 
 spurning away the rock, he rush'd through the wide cre- 
 stion down to Hell; but cnler'd not, til! after he had 
 »ptEt some irksome day? at tlie gate.
 
 THE MESSIAH. lOT 
 
 Already had the alarm'd assembly of the priests spent 
 two niglits at the house of Caiapha-, and still waking, 
 begin to see the returning morn. In silent anxiety they 
 sat, wailing the issue. The stone on which they had set 
 the seal, the Roman guard, and the salety of the body of 
 the deceas'd, eniploy'd their agitated minds, which la- 
 bour'd under the keenest pangs of perturbation. Now 
 came the third day, a day of fears and apprt- hensious. 
 
 The Roman gnaid ai the sepulchre began now I«- re- 
 cover from their fright, and to discourse with each other. 
 How was it with thee ? J felt the e irth shake, and was 
 thrown to the ground. So it was with me, said his com- 
 panion. Another, faintly leaniagon his comrade, cry 'd. 
 How terribly the e;irth shook ! It threw mt; agtinst the 
 rock. At the roaring blast, said ainther, t!ie stone be- 
 fore the sepulchre split ! ,1 thought the world was at an 
 end. No, another cry'd, the stone is not split, though it, 
 110 longer lies at the entrance of the s pulchrc. 
 
 The centurion now cail'd. If ye are able to speak, an- 
 swer to your names. They did so, Cneu? then going 
 near the sepulchre, observ'd that it was empty, and the 
 stone roU'd away. Fill'd with the greatest surprise, he 
 cail'd one of the soldiers aside, bade him haste to the 
 pontiff's palace, and bring him word whether a ciuncil 
 was sitting there, adding that he would follow him. The 
 othtrs eagerly ask'il the hasty messenger wliitl.er he was 
 going; he answer'd, to the high-priest's, and continu'd 
 his way, while they foUow'd at a distance. 
 
 As a sudden thought dai ts into the mind of one be- 
 wilder'd in mazy researches, so unexpected came the 
 niessengrr, with panting haste, and address'd the amaz'd 
 council, saying, To no purpose was your sending us to 
 keep guard at the sepulchre. This morning the earth 
 shook with great violence! the massy stone started from 
 the entrance of the tomb, and the body is not there ! 
 Then, turning his back, he leit them. Struck with the 
 tidings, they started from their seats, and stootl motion- 
 less monaments of astonishment and terror. Soon was 
 the messenger foUow'd by three other Romans, who.
 
 108 THE JiIESSIAII. 
 
 abruptlj' entering the hal), exclaim'd, as %vith one voire, 
 See ye to yourselves, for the great stone spontaneously 
 roll'd away; the earth shook, and there caine a terrible 
 v.hirlwind ; after which ve found the sepulchre empty. 
 We first fell, half dead, on the grcimd, and after\v;irds 
 saw the empty tomb. A rolling clap of thnnder then 
 confirm'd the report. Philo, struck with madness, now 
 bursts into a hideous laughter; his speech forsook him, 
 and the priests sank into a silence, as profound as that of 
 death. 
 
 Caiaphas, at lcr,gth recovering his spirits, sent for the 
 ciders, who soon came ; more of the guard likewise re- 
 sorted to the palace, and, observing the countenances of 
 the assembly, said. We see that ye are no strangers to 
 what has pass'd this morning. — Thanks to the gods that 
 we are yet alive ! Hov»' could yon, ye priests, impiously 
 put to death the son of the God of thunder ? His sepul- 
 chre was empty ; you may go and satisfy yourselves of 
 this truth. Here the high priest, addressing himself to 
 the guard, said, Go in to my servants, and %\arm your- 
 selves by the fire. Was your officer with you ? He was, 
 said tliey, and fell to tl-.e ground as well as we. He like- 
 wise saw the sepulchre open. Caiaphas then went out, 
 and gave orders that the guard should be liberally enter-» 
 tain'd with provisions and wine. 
 
 Caiaphas, with unsteady steps, retnm'd to his seat, 
 with his mind fili'd with painful agitation«. We must 
 buy over these Romans, said he, or all Jndea will be in 
 4 tumult. But what is life to me ? O Sadf^oc! I almost 
 question the truth of thy doctrine ! But is not this a de- 
 ception, occasional- by their apprehensions? Tliere was, 
 indeed, an earthquake! but that they actually saw the 
 sepulchre empty is not so certain. Here he was inter, 
 nipted by the entrance of tlie officer of the guard. They 
 iill arose, and respectfully stepp'd back ; on which he 
 »aid. Ye are at no loss, I am sure, to know me. I like- 
 >\ise saw him on the cross, and even then beiiev'd that 
 there dy'd the son of the gods. — ^Ye have hcanl what 
 pass'd at the sepulchre.
 
 THE MESSIAH. 109 
 
 In the meantime came Obaddcn, Piiilo's angel: his 
 pierciiig rjcs flam'd destruction : his raven hair, in large 
 locks, overspread his Shoulders, and he stood fix'd as a 
 rock. With fury he look'd on Philo, yet siippress'd Lis 
 terrific voice, deiiouncini; death. Hail, black ensanguin'd 
 hour! said Philo to hiir.self, Hail, hour of death, quickea 
 thy last aiivances! Thou vale of Benhinnon, likewise 
 hail! Wliiic these last words p:ls^"d siient through his 
 rtiiud, seven-fold terrors rush'd on Philo, who, with a 
 ghastly smile and aiiected composure, went up to Cneus, 
 and, recovering his speech, stamraer'd forth. How! the 
 grave open, and no corpse in it? No corpse at all, re- 
 turn'd the officer. Durtt thon, O Roman, swear to it by 
 Jupiter? Jupiter, said Cneus, is an empty name, when 
 conipar'd to the truth of what 1 say. Did I mean to 
 swear, 1 would assert th.is truth by Jehovah himself, 
 whom I row worship. But will not such wretches as 
 you credit me without an oath ? Here Philo, w ith roar- 
 ing voice, cry'd. Ah, mark him ! he saw it open, and no 
 corpse in it ; but will not swear to it. Yet know, O PvO- 
 man, tliat thou bast done more than swear. Then snatch- 
 ing the officer's suord from his side, and seizing it with 
 both his hands, he piung'd it deep into his breast, and, 
 throw ing it from him, fell weltering in his blool. With 
 horrid rage he then tore open the wound, and throwing 
 the blood towards Heaven, exclaira'd. Behold, thoa 
 Nazarene, I die ! and instantly expir'd. When Cneus, 
 taking up his sword, walk'd up to the corpse, and then 
 letting it fall, cry'd. To thee, to horror, to endless dark- 
 ness and despair, I devote this steel. After which he 
 abruptly left the assembly. 
 
 The convuls'd soul of the suicide foliow'd a phantom 
 which was to direct its gloomy path. The angel of death 
 was now in Benhinnon's murderous vale, and the soul 
 of Philo, turning about, perceiv'd him ; but words are as 
 Jiltle able to describe his tremendous figure, as the thun- 
 der of his voice, when he call'd out. My name is Ephod 
 Obaddon, or Sevenfold Revenge. I am now an angel 
 of destruction. It was I who destroy'd the first-born of
 
 llf) THE MESSIAIL 
 
 Egypt. Thou art now in Gehenna, and I shall conduct 
 
 thee to the infernal gulph. They then wing'd their 
 >Tay.
 
 THE 
 
 MESSIAH. 
 
 nooK xir.
 
 JesM^ appears to Mary Magdalen, tiine other de- 
 vout u-omcn, and Peter. This they relate to the 
 assembly. Thomas doubts the reality of his ap- 
 pearance. Jcsu<i discovers himself to Matthias 
 and Cleophas, at Em/nuus. Thomas goes into 
 a sepulchre on the mount of Olives, where he la- 
 ments his incredulity, and prays. One of the 
 rlsc7i, whom he knows not, converses with him, 
 Matthias and Cleophas return, Lebbeus, like- 
 Kisc, is not yet convinced» Jesus appears to the 
 f^tsembly.
 
 THE 
 
 MESSIAH. 
 
 BOOK XIV. 
 
 STILL plung'd iii distress, aud panting for consolation, 
 the mourntul assembly contiiiu'd in the house near 
 the temple. Thus saints on the verge of life, insensible 
 of thrir approaching felicity, walk lameuting by the vale 
 which precludes the future joys of Heaven. The devout 
 women now mingled oil, spices, and also their tears, to 
 anoint tlie Messiah's body. As the wise virgins watch'd 
 to feed their lamps, and kept themselves ready to meet 
 the bridegroom at his first appearance ; so ye, the devout 
 attendants of your Lord, with active sedulity, held your- 
 selves prepar'd by the early dawn. Scarce was the night 
 withdrawn, when Magdalen the wife of Cleopha?, i^Iary 
 the mother of James, and Joanna, with Salome the sister 
 of the mourning mother, and Mary the mother of the 
 sons of Zebetiee, left the disciples. At their departure 
 the mother of the Holy Deceaa'd, emhraciag them, said. 
 Ye, my belov'd, will see him again, which 1 shall not. 
 Go, in the name of the Lord, may he be with yon! 
 
 They departed in silence, in the cool dawn of the 
 rising day. On going along, a difficulty arose in their 
 minds, how they should rtiuove the stone from the se- 
 pulchre, yet this did not retard their walk. We, said 
 Mary Magda'en, will do all we can, and, as far as we 
 are able, will preserve the precious body from putrefac- 
 tion. Thus saying, they hasted forward with redoubled 
 »peed. 
 
 Gabriel now sat ou the stone which had beca roU'd
 
 114 THE MESSIAH, 
 
 iaway, and thus address'd Eloa and Abdiel, who were 
 near him. See the witnesses approach. That the splen- 
 dour of my seraphic glory may not overpower them, I 
 v,'ill assume the appearance of a youtli ; and do ye, till 
 they shall be mure able to bear the lustre of the immor- 
 tal«, appear to them as men. • 
 
 The Mediator now look'd down from the veil by 
 which he was conceal'd, on the angels and the devout 
 women Vv-iio approach'd, rejoicing witli that divine joy 
 purchas'd by his blood. Tiie inhabitant cf Magdal^, 
 drawn by love, came first to the sepulchre, and finding 
 it open and the body gone, turn'd amaz'd, and calling to 
 the others, hasted bacii towards Jerusalem. Not so 
 her companions: they advanc'd undismay'd, and soon 
 tlieir active eyes saw, en the stone which had been 
 roU'd away, a youth of a resplendent appeaiance, who 
 had a g^.rment white as snow, and with tlie voice of joy 
 reraov'd their solicitude. Fear not, said he; I know 
 you seek the crucify'd Jesus. He is not here, but is ri- 
 sen, as he hini;elf declar'd that he should. Draw near, 
 and see the place where the divino Jesus lay. Thussisy- 
 ing, he led them into the sepulchre, ;ind then added. Go, 
 and tell his disciples that he is ri?en irom the dead, 
 and behold, he goeth before ye into Galilee: there ye 
 shall see him. They still remaiiiM irresolute and treiu- 
 biing; on which two aigels appear'd in shining vestures. 
 The devout women, still more afraid, stood with down- 
 cast looks, till one of the angels said, Why seek ye the 
 living among the dead? Jesus is not here, but is risen. 
 Hemember ye not what he said, while he was ynt in 
 Galilee? The Son oC ^lan must be deliver'd into the 
 hands of sinners, and be crucify'd, and on the third day 
 rise again. They now no longer hesicsted, but, wing'd 
 ■with animating joy, flew to the disciples, as the messen- 
 gers of glad tidings. 
 
 Peter and John were now coming, and Mary Magda- 
 len was returning with them, when John said to his 
 companions. The lower way, by those bushes, i? the 
 shortest. As he led, the others foUow'd. These roads
 
 THE MESSIAH. 115 
 
 Vere separated by a hill, which intcncning, hindcr'd 
 the devout women and the disciples from seeing ( ach 
 other as they pass'd. Thus pilgrims to the New Jerusa- 
 lem, the afliflity of whose correspondent souls spcal: them 
 made for each other, are often near, yet never unite, 
 and their first interview is in that bless'd mansion, where 
 they arc mutually surpris'd that, in this state, they never 
 met. John now hasting before, Cephas ask'd his female 
 companion, if the body was taken away by the priests 1 
 and jshe answering that she could not tell, he observ'd, 
 that it was reported they had been so careful to preserve 
 , it, that they had put their seal to the stone which clos'd 
 the sepulchre, and that some WTetches m.nst therefore 
 have tnken it away, for the sake of the burial clothes. 
 
 John had by this tiine reach'd the sepulchre, and saw 
 the linen lying on the groiuid, but, chcck'd by timid re- 
 verence, avoided going in. Peter, soon coming up, 
 ctiter'd the sepulchre without hesitation ; the head-cloth 
 he saw lie apart, and not folded up with the other linen. 
 John, now prompted by Peter's example, enter'd the 
 tomb, and having also examin'd it, the two disciples left 
 Mary, who, being agitated with various tl-ouglits, stay'd 
 at the sepulchre, while they went av,'ay, silently medi- 
 tating on the important event. 
 
 Meanwhile I\Iary, standing by the grave, look'd in, 
 and hastily wio'd away her tears, which obstructed her 
 Eight. Many an eager look she, wiUi anxious heart, cast 
 ro'ond the sepulchi e, and, t)io' there were now angels in 
 the tomb, she scarce perceiv'd them ; for she only sought 
 for Jesus. Thus the panting roe seeks only the fluid 
 stream ; the shining sun attracts not its downcast eyes, 
 nor does it feel the forest's waving shade. Why, O wo- 
 man, weepist thou? said one of the messengers of joy. 
 Ah, said she, they have taken him away whom my son! 
 loveth, and I know not where they have laid him. Then 
 turning aside from the sepulchre, before her stood Jesus ; 
 but she knew him not. MTiy weepest thou ? said he. 
 Whom dost thou seek ? Put this he spake not widi the 
 voice with which he had utter'd the doctrines of eternal
 
 116 THE MESSIAH, 
 
 life; when, supposing him to be the gardener, she aa* 
 swer'd, [f thou hast taken hira away, tell me, I pray, 
 where thoa hast cany'd him ? Tell me in what gloomy 
 recess is he laid, that I may haste and find him ? Thus, 
 near ineflfable bliss, mourns a soul, dear to the L<jrd, 
 under the "last agonizing sense of the mortality of her 
 terrestrial frame! she lies struggling with death, and 
 thirsting after support, lamenting before her Saviour, and 
 so terrify'd at the approach of her last trial, that, instead 
 of the merciful Redeemer, she only sees an offended 
 Judge! But, O the bliss which succeeds these tears! 
 Mary, i» the bitterness of her anguish, turn'd her face 
 from him of whom she was inqnirijig of Jesus : from hira 
 she turn'd her face ; but, like the harps around the 
 throne, accompanying the songs of the bless'd, when they 
 sing the praises of the Lamb that was slain : but even 
 more sweet and affectionate than harps and triumphant 
 hymns, to the devout mourner, sounded the voice of Je- 
 sus, saying, Mary ! She heajd and knew the voice of her 
 Lord, and, in the sudden tumult of her joy, fell trem- 
 bling at his feet, and casting her fis'd eyes on him, vainly 
 strove to express her emotions, and scarce could she, 
 with languid breath, utter Rabbonil With trembling 
 hands she then grasp'd the feet of the Saviour, who, with 
 a look of benignity, said. Hold me not. Some time shall 
 I continue witli thee, and thou shalt see me again. I 
 have not yet ascended to my Father. Go to my bre- 
 thren, and tell them, I go to my Father and your Father ! 
 to my God and yoar God ! 
 
 Jesus disappearing, she hasted to communicate the 
 joyful message. Salome, with her companions, were 
 near the door ».f the house which contain'd the mournful 
 assembly, when He, who had disappear'd from Mary, 
 met them during the rising day. They all knew him 
 who was now no lor.ger among the dead, and Jesus say- 
 ing to them, All hail ! they trembling, fell at his feet. 
 Be not afraid, said he, but go and tell my brethren that 
 they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. He 
 theo vanish'd from their sight.
 
 THE MESSIAH. 117 
 
 These witnesse«, fill'd with unutterable joy, hasted for- 
 ward with the gladdening message. Peter and John 
 had before retiirn'd, anfi had spread a gloom over the 
 dejected assembly ; w hen lo ! the witnesses of l.ini that 
 liveth euter'd. Hear us, ye mourners, said they : listen 
 to what we have seen. We have behel<l him living, and 
 have seen his angels ; first, one at the sepulchre, and 
 then two others. What, O Salome, did they siy? for» 
 frighted at these celestial messengers, 1 did not perfectly 
 understand them. — Here Thomas, stepping forward, in- 
 terrupted them, sajing. Ye were, perhaps, too much 
 affrighted to know what you saw or heard. — Ah, thou 
 disciple of Jesus, said Salome, alarm us not with thy 
 doubts; we are ama/'d and fill'd with joy. He who 
 liveth said. Be not afraid; and yet thou, his disciple, en- 
 dcavonrest to renew our fears. 
 
 No, my belov'd, he retnrn'd, far be that from me ; but 
 allow me to ask you some questions, while 1 closely 
 search into the truth of so singular an event. Yon first 
 saw one angel ; what was his form ? what his appear- 
 ance? That of a young man, said Siilome ; but his face 
 •was radiant, and his vesture white as snow. That, cry'd 
 the mother of Jesus, was Gabriel. Thomas then ask'd 
 if the sun was risen, adding. Yon, Salome, forget that, 
 yesterday, Pilate, at the request of the implacable priests, 
 order'd a Roman officer, with a guard, to be plac'd at 
 the sepulchre ; now the armour, glittering in the sun, 
 might impose on you ; and, deceiv'd by fear, you might 
 imagine yon saw angelic forms. 
 
 But, Didymns, it was scarce dawn; the young man 
 was no Roman, nor was he dress'd in armour : besides, 
 it was his face that shone, and not Lis attire. 
 
 Well, what did this immoital say? 
 
 That we should not be afraid ; that he knew we were 
 seeking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was no longer there, 
 but was risen from the dead; addmg, Come in and see 
 the place where he lay. Then, leading us info the sepul- 
 chre, he said, do and make known to his disciph s and 
 to Peter, tliat he goeth before you into Galilee ; there
 
 118 THE :MES5IAir, 
 
 sliall ye sec him. Here Peter, with great emotion, tx« 
 claim'd, .My name only ineutioii'd! Ah, august messen- 
 ger of the Lord ! what heavenly consolation woiildst thou 
 have afforded me iu mi .e affliction, wert thine appear- 
 ance real! But his naming me, and neither Mary nor 
 John, fills me with perplswty, 
 
 Didyrnus, ait.-r a long pause, ask'd again, What did 
 the aiigels say ? She rcply'd, Jesus goes before you into 
 Galilee; there s; all ye see him. — Were the other angels 
 of the like form? — Their appearance was still mi re hea- 
 vecly, ci^'d two of the witne-ses; but we have also seen 
 Jesus himself. — Was he with the angels? — The angels 
 had disappear'd when we saw him coming to me^n us, 
 cloth'd as formerly ; but in his deportment there was 
 something celestial. Such, perhaps, was his appearance 
 on mount Tabor. All hail! said he. We instantly fell 
 trembling at his feet, and embr-ic'd t!iem. Be not afraid, 
 continu'd he, but go and inform my brethren of these 
 things, and that they gj into Galilee, and there they shall 
 see me. At these words he disappear'd. — So you have seea 
 him! Didaliofyouseehim? said ["homas, with an anxi- 
 ous, pensive brow. — You say it was the very form, cloth- 
 ing, and voice of Jesus I He ceas'd ; but, being carry'd a.vay 
 by the stream of doubts, he renew'd his discourse, and 
 added, The illusion of what ye have been relating is 
 uow too strong upon you. When ye are able to bear it, 
 I will plainly lay before you the several reasons which 
 move me to diflcr from yoa : bnt ye, the disciples of 
 Jesus, surely give no credit to these fables. Thus say- 
 ing, he rcturn'd to his seat. Now to the floods of joyful 
 tears, which had issu'd from the eyes of the devout wo- 
 men, succeeded gentle and silent drops of pity. 
 
 Faint v.-ith joy, with pallid cheek, trembling lips, and 
 faltering tongue, Warj- iSlagdaien now enter'd among 
 the weeping sisters, and, witli a voice oi mingled trans- 
 port and terror, erjclaim'd. He is risen ! He is risen ! 
 She then seeming ready to faint, John took hold of her, 
 and she stood leaning oa him. Lebbeus, soon recover- 
 ing from his amazement, said to her, Hast thou likewise
 
 THE MESSIAH. 119 
 
 seen the angels ? I have seen, said she, not only the an- 
 gels, but himself. Here every eye was rais'd towards 
 Heaven, except those of the incredulous Thomas, who, 
 with au.'tere coldness, said, They who can so far deceive 
 theinselves, as to think that they see angels, may ima- 
 gine ti:at they see him. — Ah, Didymus, ans.ver'd Marj', 
 blushing, what have wc — what has the bltss'd Jesus done 
 to thee ? These eyes saw hiui ! at his feet they wept. 
 Ja:nes, looking at har with equ.il respect and astonish- 
 ment, ask'd if he had a celestial lustre ? He approach'd, 
 said she, as a man, btit v/ith snch sweetness and dignity 
 in his countenance as 1 never sav/ before ; no, not even 
 in hiiiiself. 
 
 Peter, w'hoseniind was distracted by numerous doubts, 
 now drew near to her, and when the tumult of his inind 
 allo'.v'd him to give vent to his thoughts, he trembling 
 said, Didjt thoa likewise hear his voice ? Yes, Simon, 
 said she, 1 heard the divine voice of the risen Jesus. Ah, 
 what did he say ? retiirn'd Peter. — I feel, but a.n uisablc 
 to express the grace which acconipany'd the wvrds Le 
 utt>rM, reply'd Mary. His voice was affectionate as 
 v.hen, bleeding on the cross, he cry'd, Father, forgive 
 them, th^y know not what they do! Ah, Mny J were 
 the \vords he ut'ior'd. I knew him ! I was in Heaven .' 
 IlabI)onil was al! I could saj'. I fell down before him ; 
 with trembling hands I grasp'd his feet. Ob, what a 
 look of kindness accompany 'd his words, when he said. 
 Hold me not ! Thou shalt see me again. I have not yet 
 ascenrlt'd to my Father. Go to my brethren, and tell 
 thjm, I go to my Father and your Father ! to my God 
 and your God ! 
 
 Tiie mother of Christ, who had hitherto hung down 
 ■ her ho.id, i^.ow rais'd her brightening eyes, and looking 
 with amiable softness on Mary Magdalen, arose; Ihea, 
 leaning on some of the assembly, walk'd up to that be- 
 lov'd woman, and taking her by the iiand, with a bene- 
 volent look, and the softest voice, thus address'd her : 
 Hast thou also seen Christ, and heard his voice ? Thoa 
 hast seeu and heard my Son! — But may I, added she.
 
 120 TIIE MESSIAH, 
 
 casting her eyes aroand with heavenly meekness, may I 
 still call him my Son? Thine ejes, my dear Mary, tell 
 me I may : but had he still the marks of the nails 1 Here, 
 turning aside, she wept. Weep not, bless'd mother of 
 the di\ine Jesus, said Magdalen, pressing her hand ; he 
 is risen from the dead. Indeed I did not observe the 
 marks of the nails ; for, disorder'd with my joy, I saw 
 httle but his face. Mine eyes were fix'd on the grace, 
 the celtstial grace, which shone in his countenance, 
 while he stood before me, amidst the cool vapours of 
 the morning, and the dawn's encreasing light. The Sa- 
 \'iour's mother, ceasing to weep, now took Magdalen by 
 both her hands, and look'd up to Heaven, then dropping 
 them, stcpp'd backward, and viewing her with tender 
 admiration, said, O happy thou ! thou hast seen Christ, 
 and heard his voice ! 
 
 The more early witnesses, \\'ho at first went with her, 
 fiird with joy, now gather'd about her, and meutlon'd 
 their being tavour'ä first with the sight of the angels, and 
 then of the Lord himself. 
 
 Didymus then coming up, said. Hast thou also, IVIary 
 Magdalen, seen angels? My sight of the angels, said she, 
 was very imperfect, mine eyes being dimm'd with weep- 
 ing : but, suddenly turning about, 1 perceiv'd somebody, 
 whom 1 snppos'd to be the gardener, and whom I did 
 not know, till he call'd me by my name. — So yon scarce 
 saw him whom you term immoitil, said he; you did 
 not immediately know him, and at first took him for the 
 gardener? The others say he was cloth'dashe us"d to 
 be. So then the gardener's clothes were such as he us'd 
 to wear. And how many of these angels did yon see? 
 I saw two, she answer'd. The other?, he rcjoin'd, first 
 saw one, then two others. Here, turniiig from her, he 
 walk'd away. Magdalen, then raising her eyes to Hea- 
 ven, exclaim'd, O ihou tender mother, and ye, the dis- 
 ciples of the Lord, how great is his error! Leave me, 
 Thomas, in possession of my happiness. I will hereafter 
 answer thee. She then led away the mother of Jesus, in. 
 erda to hold some joyful converse with her.
 
 TIIE MESSIAH. 121 
 
 The heart of Cephas being still torn with doubts, and the 
 aff(ic(ingwords,Teltittoilicdisciplcs,ajQcltoPettr,souud- 
 ing perpetually in his ears, he left the assembly, and went 
 out to indulge Lis melancholy thoughts, resoh-Jng to v.aik 
 towards Galilee; but, restless and undeteriuin'd, he left 
 the road, and went to the sepulchre. The sight of the 
 empty tomb fill'd his inind with fresh agitations : Ex- 
 ecrable deed ! said he, to take him from this decent bu- 
 rial place, the gift of pious respect, and perhaps to bury 
 him amidst villains ! What unworthy treatment ! Ah, 
 infernal IMalice, thou hast gain'd thy end, and .1osei)h's 
 successful petition to Pilate has been frustrated ! The few 
 tears of joy, which mingled with our streams of sorrow, 
 were shed in vain: for how can I believe that he is risen 
 from the dead ? Deceiv'd by the illusions of grief, these 
 pious women imagine that they have seen him risen ! 
 and I have deuy'd myself the transporting joy of closing 
 with their raptures ! Awful cross ! added he, lifting his 
 eyes towards that saddening object ; too loudly dosttl.ou 
 bear witness to his death, and both Heaven and Earth 
 have heard thy testimony ! lie dy'd ! he dy'd on thee ! — 
 "We are told that thou, my Lord, liast been seen again ! 
 O that this were true, and tliat T might see thee rais'd 
 from the dead! I shall ; but it will not be till I see Ihee 
 on the throne of the Eternal. Vv'hy shrinkVt thou back, 
 Ü my soul ! at this only rest 1 Thy prayers and tears 
 have been heard, and thy J udge has cast a gracious eye 
 on thy heartfelt repentance; but thou darest not jet re- 
 juice ! Still st^!2 !s ihc cross, the dreadful witness of his 
 death! the hill, the reck, and the sepulchre, sliaken by 
 the divine power ! No, I cannot presume to hope that I 
 sh^U again see my Lord ! 
 
 Such was his impassion'd soliloquy, after v.hich he 
 again survey'd the open sepulchre. Soon he perceiv'd, 
 at a small distance from the tomb, Magdalen, prostrate 
 on the ground, and leaning on her right arm, Mary ! 
 Mary Magdalen! call'd the disconsolate disciple. On 
 hearing his voice she arose, and coming to him, they thus 
 coiivers'd: Ah, happy woman! dost thou still believe 
 VOL. II. G
 
 Ig2 TIIE MESS! AIL 
 
 that ihou hast setn hin;? — O Simon, ^vhcI•e thoii saw'tt 
 me kneel, ihere be stood! — Oh Mary, lift up tliine eyes 
 and be!;okl the cross on which lie dy'd ! — Yet, O Simon, 
 he is ) iicn ! — he is risen from the dead ! — Mary, i con- 
 jure thee by the living God, tell me, did those eyes 
 which now see me standing before ihcc — Whether mine 
 eyes saw him! cry'd she, inlen opting him : yes, I pro- 
 test, by the Eternal Source of Truth, tliat mine eyes have 
 seen the glory of Christ, that mine ears have heard the 
 voice of the Son of God, and that I fi It the joys of Hea- 
 ven ! Here a silent pause ensu'd, till Peter said. With- 
 draw, thou bless'd woman, and leave me to iiululge my 
 sorrow. O that a gladdening sight had caused such a 
 delusion in me, as it has in thee, atid thus quieltd mj' 
 toitur'dmind! Alas! 1 cannot believe thee. — Then dis- 
 believe, said she, thy l!a\irg seen him walk on the sea, cr 
 thy ha\i!!g beheld him on mount Tabor, encircled with 
 his Father's glory I 
 
 Here they patted. O that I could believe her! said 
 he to himself; for she was now retnrning.to the sepulchre. 
 Happy, happy woman! »he believes it fnm Lcr whole 
 soul, and it fills her with confidence and joy ! What a 
 composuie and dignity has her fixM cüit;iinly spread 
 around her ! nnaffrightfd by the gra\ c, she would laugh 
 at the storm.s which howl throiigh the gJoomy vale of 
 death ! Ah, why do I not believe her ? Cannot he awake 
 himself from death, \\ho walk'd on the liquid sea, and 
 even held me up aniidst the boisterous waves? Yes, thou 
 Dead in God, if thou hait really rcviv'd, forgive, forgive 
 my sorrow, and the anguish of my soul ! N\ hen trem- 
 bling I doubted, and was sinking before the impending 
 wave, thou supportedst mc — Oh, deliver me now ! Thou 
 knowest, O my Lord ! thtt I have been under greater 
 terrors than these, yet tliou now extcndest not tl.y sa\ing 
 right hand ! Oh, by thy com.passionate love, by that gra- 
 cious look thou diilst cast on me, after I had deny'd thee 
 O, by thy mercy, I i:iip!ore thee, pity, pity my anguish, 
 and if thou hast appear'd, shew thyself to me! — No, pre- 
 sumptuous, T ask loo much. The angel's -words were.
 
 TIIE MESSIAH. 123 
 
 Co and tell it to the disciples and to Rtor. Was not tliis 
 inexpressible kindness? Thoii, Lord, npi^ear to me, who 
 have repeatedly dtny'd thee! — to me, tlioagh thou has^t 
 neither nppear'd to Lebbeus, the belov'd John, nor to 
 the tenderest of mothers! 
 
 These were his thoughts, while, Vviih slow steps, he as- 
 cended the hill ; and then sinking on his knees, he, w ith 
 downcaft looks, ofier'd op his snppliralions. At length, 
 raising his eyes, he saw Christ just before him, What 
 amazement, what jc'y now pour'd ir.to his transported 
 sonl ! The divine Redeemer graciously stretch'd out his 
 right hand, when Peter, unable to rise, strove to seize it, 
 but fell prostrate in the dust: yet, soon rising, he stretch'd 
 out boUi his arms, and, trembling, seiAl tlie hand of his 
 Lord, which he eagerly press'd to his throbbing heart, 
 his forehead resting on his Saviour's arm. T!ie earth 
 and the heavens, with all the objects round hiin, secm'd 
 to pass away ; but soon becoming more compos'd, he litt 
 up hi? eyes to the divine countenance of Jesus, and with 
 trembling voice, strove to give vent to his unuttcra^!:; 
 joy, crying, O Lord God, merciful ar;d gracious! Lord 
 God, merciful and gracious! His trembling now ceas'd, 
 and h.e felt superabundant and ineffable consolations flow 
 
 I from the divine countenance. 
 
 ItLuiiel, his guardian angfl, villi Orion, hover'd 
 round Calvary, and Ithuriel, breaking silence, said, O 
 Ori.n, what a transporting scene! Oft shall we repeat 
 cr.i triumph.; in liononr of the T'.Iessiali ! Oft joyfully ex- 
 ali his name! T!;e risen Lord shews him.seif to ihe pnr- 
 don'd sinner! and Christ appears to Peter! O come aid 
 let us mingle our joy ! How dreadful is sin ! and yet the 
 Redeemer fills this favour'd disciple with unutterable 
 
 ■ transports ! 
 
 The risen Saviour tlen 1- ft the hill, and Pttcrfollow'd 
 him with folded hands, till he cscap'd from his .'i'^Lt. 
 Then extending his arms upward, he cryM in an ecttatic 
 transport. Thanks be to thee, the Son of God, my lisen 
 Lord ! O everlasting thanks be to thee, for thou hast re- 
 licv'd my soul, and fiU'd it with consolation? superior to 
 
 • all tl:at I could wish, or even conceis-t ! Tl.u=, O Itrtl,
 
 1S4 THE MESSIAH, 
 
 ■vvilt thou comfort me in the glocn.y hour of death ! O 
 who am n — Wind though I have griev'd for the dreadful 
 sin of denying thee ; yet, who am I, tiiou Son of God, 
 that thou shouldst shew such grace to nie? Mine eye has 
 seen the glory of Christ ! i\line eyes have seen him risen 
 from tiie dead ! O my soul, break forth in perpetual effu- 
 sions of ardent praise ! Pour forth the highest and most 
 Moble tlianksgivmgs I I now hope for all the graces of 
 Heaven, for the consummation of bUss, for the beatific 
 plenitude of thy loving-kindness! Biess'd Redeemer, 
 thou wilt rmveil to me the mystery of thy death ! — Xot 
 t!ie numerous host of Heaven ! Kot the powers, the 
 thrones, the archangels, can rejoice more, for I have seen 
 the Sou of the Eternal God ! Him who dy'd on the cross 
 have 1 seen alive! O thought, pregnant with solid bliss ! 
 Oh tell it to the eternal thrones — proclaim it through 
 the heavens, that he lives! Ye sons of light, let this be 
 the subject of your triumphant songs! 
 
 Here he ceas'd, and for some time stood silently look- 
 ing towards Heaven ; then starting, cry'd. Ye, my bre- 
 thren, shall also drink of this cup of consolation, and 
 then hasted away. Soon he reach'd Salemn's walls; 
 soon he return'd to the assembled brethren, who v.ere 
 expecting him. Witii folded hands he enter'd, crying, 
 Fiaise, glory, honour, worsl.ip and thanksgiving, be 
 ascrilicd to the Son of God, who, after dying a death ac- 
 company'd with many wonders, is already lisen I Even 
 to me Christ has appeai'd ! He stood near the cross, and 
 tliere with these eyes I saw his divine countenance! 
 
 "W'ith surprise and exultation they drew near him, and 
 pronounc'd hmi biess'd. The Lord's rising to life fiU'd 
 them with an astonishment too great for utterance, 
 and reverential silence for some moments chain'd their 
 tongues. At length, having all galhei^d round this new 
 witness of ttie resurrection, they embrac'd him \v ilh over- 
 flowing joy, press'd him to their hearts and wept. The 
 mother of the biess'd Saviour took him by the right 
 hand, and Magdalen by the left, saying, Now, O Simon, 
 thou hast also seen him ! While .Maiy the mother of Jesus, 
 added, Willi a heavenly smile, Thou hast seen him wfco
 
 THE MESSIAH. 125 
 
 is both the Son of God acd my son ! Lelbcus, tin ning 
 towards Mary, cry'd, O thou most respectable of all 11:0- 
 thers, it is not now from grief, but from the ecstasy I 
 fetl, that 1 can scarce believe ! O thou whom I Sii-.v with 
 so many dreadful wounds, and cover'd with blood, art thou 
 risen ? art thou reviv'd ? Here he sunk on the breast of 
 John, wlio, embracing him, s;dd, Yes,yes,Lebbcus,bc is 
 risen! Then, leaving Lebbeus, he addrcss'd himself lo 
 Mary, saying, Bless "d mother of the divine Jesus, rejoice, 
 rejoice ! No more ?hall a sword pierce thy maternal bo- 
 som ! — Oh i rejoice, «ad she, with celestial joy ! Jesus 
 is risen ! He is risen ! and to me too he will appear ! 
 Thou wilt shew thyself to me! The look thou gavest me 
 on the cross is a pledge of this ! Bartliolomew, tiikiug 
 Peter by the hand, with composM countenance said. Dear 
 fellow disciple, before my grey hairs go down to the 
 grave, mine eyes shall likewise sec our divine Master 
 rais'd from the dead. Cephas took him by the hand, 
 and with the cheerlulnessof confident cerlainty,answer'd. 
 Yes, my dear friend, to each of us will he be gracious. 
 
 Thomas, like a cloud that spreads darkness along a 
 serene sky, nov/ in gloomy agitations, approach'd Peter, 
 saying, Thou too, Sirnon, believ'st it. Were it possible, 
 I would believe it on thine account; nnd then abruptly 
 turn'd away his sorrowful face. Turn to us, Thomas, 
 said Peter, and join in our thanksgivings; for of a truth 
 the Lord is risen. Yes, honour, and biessing, and praise, 
 be to hini who dy'd, who is risen from death, and has 
 appear'd ! He will be gracious lo us all ! At these words 
 the mother of Christ sunk down on her knees before Pe- 
 ter, and spreading her joyful arms, with her eyes towards 
 Heaven, in the voice of gladness exclaini'd. My soul 
 doth magnify the Lord ! My spirit rcjoicelli in God my 
 Saviour ! From thy cross thou hast look'd down on thine 
 atKicted handmaid, en the tears of thy mother, and in 
 thy mercy hast numbcr'd them. ! Succeeding generations 
 shall proclaim me blcss'd! How wonderful is he ! how 
 great in all his doings ! more mighty than death ; and 
 «acred is his name ! Yes, holy and eternal is he who has
 
 Jiö THE MESSIAH. 
 
 sigualiz'd his mercy towards inc ! He casteth down the 
 pride of the blood thirsty, and exalteth the humble. He 
 relievcth the dislress'd ; but the proud he seudeth e.Tipty 
 away. Eternal is liis lo\ing-kiiidiicss. To those who 
 love him, he imparts the ra\äehing sweets of his grace. 
 Perpetual blessing, and praise, and honour, and thauks- 
 ginng be to Jesus, who livelli, and who is more mighty 
 than death ! 
 
 rsidymas had ascended to the lofty roof, to indulge his 
 thoughts in soliiude ; and the others, invited by the se- 
 rene sky, the refreshing breeze, and the extensive view 
 of the various work» of God, went up to praise him who 
 had reudei-'d them so bless'd. On their coming to Tho- 
 mas, tliey rouz'd hiia from the pensiveness ia which he 
 had been absorb'd. He at first started b ick, and when 
 looking up he saw the whole assembly about hitn, he 
 hastily turn'd to go down and leave them. O tly not, 
 thou belov'd ! fly not, said Peter.. The Lci-d will also 
 have mercy on thee. I, Thomas, doubled too ; yet how 
 gracious has he been to me ! But who are tliey t!iat are 
 v/alking at a distance ? 3Iy eyes deceive me, if they be 
 not iNlatthias and Cleophas. Stay with us, my friend, 
 and be a partaker of the ineffable joys that have been 
 imparled to u«. The same transcendent joys await thee. 
 But who is he that is joining them from yonder grove ? 
 I do not know him. What a noble appearance has that 
 stranger! Dost thou know hhn, Thomas? See wiUi what 
 veneration they salute him. He is now speaking. In- 
 deed, Peter, I know him not, said Thomas; but I have 
 scarce ever seen a man of such unafl'ccted dignity. Peter 
 reply'd, I wish they would come to us ; the path now 
 brings them nearer, but tliose pahns will soon deprive ua 
 of their sight. Behold with what majestic gravity, min- 
 gled with a manly sweetness, he seems to attend to what 
 they say. Periiaps they are giving him an account of 
 the crucifixion of our Lord. May not it be one of the 
 angels who was seen at the sepulchre ? 
 
 How art thou mistaken ! return'd Thomas. He is a 
 man, yet Lis appearance is nobler than that of other men.
 
 THE MESSIAH. li? 
 
 — O Thomas ! said Peter, Uion art a slraoger to llie sweet 
 conjectures of joy. What thou feelest, 1 have experi- 
 eiic'd. How little did I hope to sec Jesus, when in the 
 deepest anguish, I rais'd my languid eyes to the cross, 
 and instantly saw him standing alive before me. Thu3, 
 O Thomas! joy did not deceive me; but gnefdid, said 
 Thonrds, hastily.— Peter mildly answer'd. The Lord will 
 have mercy on thee!— God v.ill have mercy on me, he 
 retnrn'd ; but as for the divine Messiah, he, like most of 
 Itic prophets, has been put to death. Here he shed terns 
 and was silent. 
 
 Cleophas and Matthias had now reach'd the umbrage- 
 ous palm?. From their leaving Jerusalem, till their be- 
 ing juin'd by the stranger, they had convers'd on the 
 astonisliing subjc.t of Christ's not being found in the 
 sepulchre, and thu- continn'd their discourse. Thou c uist 
 not conceive, said Cleophas, the malice of the priests, or 
 their rage, at not being able to hinder Joseph's placing 
 him in his tomb. They, doubtless, gaiu'd the lloman 
 officer, and prevaiL'd on him to talce out the body, and 
 inter it among the remains of the wretches that lie buried 
 on the hill.— But, O Cleophas! what dost thou think of 
 the angels at the sepidchre ? — Has melancholy, Matthias, 
 deceivM all our friends? Why, Cleophas, should sorrow 
 make them see ang:ls ? Why should it not rather repre- 
 sent frightful forms, as the ghosl3 of executed malefactors, 
 or that of the unhappy Judas? 
 
 Cleophas, starting back, answer'd. My belov'd fellow 
 disciple, satisfy me only with respect to one doubt. How 
 is it that our Master himself does not appear? How 
 should I know an migel? and, should I know hhn, how 
 could I know that he was sent by the Eternal? Ah, my 
 dear friend, were he risen, would he not himself appear 
 to us ? for we knew him. — But, O Cleophas, consider. 
 Did not Mary believe Gabriel ? She consequently knew 
 au angel ; «ud what but truth can come from those ex- 
 alted spirits %vhij attend at the throne of God ? Do we 
 deserve that he himself shall appear to us ? Did not we, 
 when GetLsemane resounded with the tumults of his out-
 
 128 THE MESSIAH, 
 
 ragcous enemies, fly vath the rest of the apostles? and 
 where \vere we when his dreadful sentence was pro- 
 Kounc'd ? We A\erc far from him, and far from him loo, 
 V. hcii he was bleeding on tiie cross. — 1 lament, like thee, 
 Matthias, oxu- base ingratitude. Can we ever deserve 
 tliat he should ever appear to ns* If he is risen, and 
 should appear, it would be only from compassion, and 
 to bauish our sorrow. Yet still, O Cleophas! thou 
 doubtest. — Thou knowest, Matthias, that I conceal none 
 of my thoughts from thee; and when I attentively coc- 
 lemplute these things, I believe : but when the anjJety 
 of hope, and fear, and expectation ; and when the joy, 
 the heavenly joy of seeing him again agitate my soul, 
 then indeed I doubt. Matthias here giving him an affec- 
 tionate look, saiu, Thou dear friend, did we really ^ee 
 him, our rapturous joy %vould give us a foretaste of the 
 bliss of Heaven, a joy too great for utterance. A sight 
 of Jeais would carry with it a ftronger conviction than 
 the light of truth tiiscovei-'d by speculation. O that he 
 viouid appear, said Cleophas, and, by liis graceful pre- 
 sence, heal our torturing doubts ! 
 
 They had now pass'd through the shade of a projecting 
 precipice, and the winding road brought them to a side 
 view of a gentle slope, which led up to the summit of 
 the hill; and there they perceiv'd a person, of a noble 
 and most graceful appearance, advancing towards them, 
 with a slow pace, as deeply ccgag'd in serious thought. 
 Let us walk slower, said Cleophas ; for the stranger will 
 perhaps accompany us. His wis<lom a:)d knowledge 
 may a.Tord us consolation under our present perplexity. 
 Alas! of wh.1t advantage, said Matthias, will his wisdom 
 be to u^, if lie makes not Jesus the subject of his dis- 
 course ! 
 
 The stranger now coming up, gave them a kind salu- 
 tation, wiiich they respectfully returnVl. lie dcsir'd to 
 liuow wliiiher they were going ; and being «nswci-'d to 
 Eramaus, he ask'd if they would accept of his company ; 
 for lie also was going thither. They assur'd him that they 
 should receive the favour with pleasure. The stranger
 
 THE MESSIAH. 12Ö 
 
 then ask'J the subject of their discourse, obiei ving, that 
 he h ui taken notice of their being fill'd with grief, and 
 that tlieir thoughts seeni'd to be employ'd on some im- 
 portant subject. Alas ! what can we talk of? said Cleo- 
 phas. Art tbou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast 
 not known the things that have come to pass thtre? — 
 \V'ii;^t things? said the stranger. — Oh, hast tiiuu alone not 
 heard of JesUS of Nazareth, a prophet, niighty in deed 
 and word before God and all the people? Our priests, 
 intlam'd by the rage of Hell, seiz'd him and deli ver'd him 
 lip to PiUte, who, though a heathen, was unwilling to 
 condemn him. I scarcely dare to mention the dreadful 
 death he sufter'd— they crucify'd liini! Alas! we trusted 
 that it was he who dionld have redeem'd Israel. It is 
 now the third day »Uice these things came to pass, and 
 early this morning some devout women, who went to 
 the sepulchre, found not his body ; but came trembimg 
 to u?, saying that they had seen a vision of angels, who 
 told them that he is living. Some of those that vrere 
 with us also went to the sepulchre, and found it open, 
 and tlie body gone, even as the women had said. 
 
 They were now come among the shady palms, when 
 the traveller, looking upon t!:em with awful dignity, ad- 
 dress'd them in the majestic voice of truth : Ye simple 
 3:id slow of I'.eart, to believe all tliat the propliets have 
 fpoken! Ought not Christ to hive suffer'd these things, 
 and then to eater into his glory? 
 
 With astonishment they look'd at each otVcr, and then 
 npoj him. Their eyes, before him, now sparkled with 
 joy and eager expectation, yet he had only bognn to ma- 
 niie-t Lis power, and to shew tliem the triumph of trutl). 
 As a rising storm at first blows with restraia'd violence, 
 and sweeps not through the whole forest, the foliage still 
 rests on trtes, and the rays of the sun penetrate through 
 the gathering clouds. Thus began his snblim.e discourse, 
 and soon he led ihcm into the depths of revelation, jn 
 which the divine speaker explain'd the prophecies in re- 
 lation to the Messiali, with snch clearness and strength of 
 conviction, tliat they could no longer withhold their as- 
 G2
 
 130 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 sent. — ^Tiius through the forest ru-hcs the increasing 
 storm J the trees wave their heads, the thunders roar, the 
 coadens'd clouds successisely pour floods on floods düv;n 
 the mouiitaius. 
 
 At length the two (iisciples, spent with fatigue, slood 
 wiping the s%veat from iheir glowing faces, and said, O 
 ZVJan of God, though thou art usiknown to us, wc behold 
 thee with reverence, and acknowledge thee to be divine. 
 Let us stop here, and rest our weary limbs by the i^ide 
 of this cooling streani. They then seated theniseives on 
 the gr <ss, the two disciples racing the heavenly stranger, 
 whose speech now becim:e more sweet ; for he discours'd 
 of the love oi the Son of God to man, and the love of 
 man to him. Tliey now thought of the good Shepherd's 
 death, with minds more compos'd, cheer'd with lieaven- 
 ly comfort. As after the heat of the scorching sun, the 
 cool twihght iefrcshes the weary, so they were refresh'd 
 with elevated joy. Ke now ask'd them whether they 
 lov'd the Messiah? They both, as witli one moinh, an- 
 swer'd. How can we avoid loving him? Eut did you 
 always lo%'e him 1 Alas! we forsook the Lamb of God, 
 when he was led to the slaughter. Kow ye know that 
 for your sakes he willingly dy'd, vtould you die for his? 
 — We hope, O thou belov'd stranger, we hope that God 
 would enable us to die for him. Eut be not thou dis- 
 pleas'd with us; it is with reverence we speak. Is he 
 risen from the dead? Thou know'st all that relates to 
 liim : tell us then, O thou Man of God, may we rejoice 
 in the happiness of again seeing Christ our Lord ? The 
 stranger return'd, Joseph's brethren did not know him, 
 till, in the blissful hour of joy, unable longer to conceal 
 himself, he burst into tears. 
 
 So saying, he arose and tum'd from them. They fol- 
 Jow'd him with a mixture of joy and solicitude, ima- 
 gining that he might possibly be their Lord himself, or 
 ;tn angelT and coming up to him, said. Permit us, who 
 reverence and love thee more than we can express, to 
 mk, Who tliou art? Oh ! who art thou, our divine tctcher? 
 ^Vc dare not presume to cmbra';c thee; but tell us, Art
 
 THE MESSIAH. 131 
 
 tiioa one of the a:ige!s that were seen at the sepulchre! 
 —Come and embrace mc, he kindly rtliunM. They 
 long embraced him: long hung on his neck and wept. 
 Enmiaus bei:;g now in view, he said, Breiluen, I go to 
 my friends. My way lies through Emmaa.«.— Oh slay 
 with us. the day is far spent, and the evening is at hand, 
 said (liey, each holding one of his hands. Let me go, 
 lie rcturn'd ; my fricads live at a distance, and expect 
 me. — Witli them, O Man of God ! said they, thou art 
 always ; and thou canst not but perceive that oiu" hearts 
 are already thine. Oh remain with us, for why shouldst 
 thou expose tliyself to the perils of the night ? Tell as 
 something more of Jesus ! — O stay with us. — With a look 
 of the S'A'eetest benevolence, he answer'd, I will stay, 
 my brethren. Cleophas thaak'd him, not in words, but 
 by the joy whicli shone in his countenmce, and halted 
 beforcj to prepare son^e food for his reception. 
 
 Cleophas, for that is my companion's name, said Mat- 
 thias, has a cottage at Emmaus; before it is a clump of 
 trees, and a limpid brook v. inds amidst their refreshing 
 shade. lie hastes to prepare sonie food, that he may 
 cheer our hearts with his slender store. What a delightful 
 evening is this, after such days of anguL-h ! We return our 
 joyful thanks, that thou wilt stay with us, and condescend 
 to slulter thyself under the lowly roof of simplicity. 
 Jtsus, v.hen he liv'd, was, like thee, the friend of man. 
 I If; humbled himself in the dust, yet was rich in wisdom ; 
 bt!t of Jesus 1 will now be silent: He was above all; 
 for on ihn the angels attended ; yet the cause of his po- 
 verty appear'd to be more astonishing than his poverty 
 itself: b'lt thus was accomplish'd the pui-poses of infinite 
 wisdom. Oh that I might live \\ith thee, tliou Man of 
 Godl that from thy lips I might be taught how best to 
 serve the heavenly Redeemer ! for the most atfectionat-» 
 and noble thanksgivings are due to our gracious Lord, 
 who has redeem'd us from sin, and lov'd ns, even to the 
 death of the cross ! 
 
 They now drew near to the dwelling of Cleophas, 
 whom tliey saw fetching water for their drink, from tb?
 
 1J2 THE MESSIAH, 
 
 brook, aiid tLeu vrashing herbs in the cooling 5!rc?.n, ; 
 but seeing Matthias and the bclov'd straiigerapproai!:, 
 he ran up to t:!Cin. Welcome, dear Z\Ian of God ! faid 
 he, may the blessings with which thou art accompany'd, 
 enter wiih thee under my roof ! On their cntericg the 
 house, Cieophas speedily spread the table with all the 
 plenty his store afforded, milk, honey, O^s, bread, and a 
 iiitle wine. They now sat down to llie table, the strarger 
 facing the two disciples, when, viewing them v, iih a 
 look of solemn benigrjty, he took the bread, and litiip.g 
 np his eyts towards Heaven, gave thanks. His c.r.nte- 
 iiancc, his voice, his gesture, instantly resembled tl.ose 
 of Jesus. They look'd at him, they look'd at each oth.er 
 trembling, while he said, We thank thee, O Father, for 
 the gifts thou hast graciously bestowed on us. T!;oiic;li 
 to many they appear small, yet they are produc'd by the 
 5:\me paternal, almighty power that created the heavens. 
 Overcome with joj-, they sunk down adoring, while he 
 eontinu'd. Praise be to thee, thou gi acionsly sent forth 
 the sun to give us light, and the moon and stars for our 
 hours of rest ! and aoor'd be thy goodness, thou hast pro- 
 vided our daily bread I They now rose, and he breaking 
 «lie bread, gave it to them. They took It with s'iU 
 stronger emotions of joy, and looking at him, endeavoured 
 to speak ; but their he irts were too full to allow them to 
 5ivc utterance to their thoughts. INow again, turning 
 his eyes towards them, he bless'd them, and disappear'd 
 from their sight. — They started, and went out, searcliing 
 for him ; but, he being not to be found, they rtturn'd 
 *^ith their minds still fill'd with joy. 
 
 "NTow, O Cieophas, cry'd Matthias, we have seen liim ! 
 *e have seen him ! — He is risen! I am in Heaven, and 
 no longer belong to this earth ! Oh, I am in Heaven ! — 
 Cieophas sunk on his breast, then cry'd, O Matthias, did 
 not our hearts burn within us, when, as we pass'd along 
 the way, he spake of God, and reveal'd to us the Scrip- 
 f ures ? But let us haste back. They then both took their 
 -t nes and departed. 
 
 While th^y were on their Avay from Emraans, Peter
 
 THE MESSIAH. 333 
 
 and Thoiiijs wore in close conversation. Conceal, O 
 Tlioina«, said Peter, cone al thy doubts, and continue 
 not thus to disturb our I'ailh. Quench not the weak sparks 
 Mithin us : they would bliue up to Heaven, and thou 
 v.ouldst extinguish them. Then, Simon, an.swer'd Tho- 
 mas, I must no more mention my thoughts ; but must 
 conceal iny grief withiti my own bnast. What good 
 can tiiey receive from these dreams, since they wiil be 
 soon undeceiv'd, and these joyful elusions will only in- 
 crease their Sorrow] O brother! return'd Peter, call 
 them not elusions : 1 conjure thee, by Him who liveth 
 forever, call them not elusions — Give not that name to 
 an act of the divine Omnipotence. Jesus was dead, and 
 is now alive. Sacred sIjh'.I be the place where 1 saw 
 him. It was to me tiie burning bush ; for there did 1 
 see the divine glory ! To me it was the open g.tte of 
 Heaven ! Here thou art encompass'd with the witnesses, 
 all the nine ;u-e present. We have each of us seen the 
 divine Jesus, no longer dead, but risen. 
 
 My soul is griev'd, said Mary Magdalen, to see tliy 
 sorrow and painful doubts. O Jesus, have pity on thy 
 distrcss'd apostle! He doubts not from an evil heait ; 
 but from his anxiety and anguish of soul. Oh, break 
 not the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax! Pity 
 him, O Rabboni, as thou hast been pleasM to pity me ! 
 Ah, Thomas! be assur'd that not an angel from Heaven, 
 proclaiming eternal life, nor choirs of angels, joining in 
 ecstatic hymns, could equal the voice of the risen Jesus, 
 when he reliev'd my panting desire to see him ; when 
 the Risen, the Awaken'd from the dead, reliev'd my 
 longing desire to see him, and call'd me by my name. 
 
 Your intruding raptures, said Thomas, in a low and 
 inward voice, seem to sink me deeper in the abyss of 
 anguish in which I am involv'd. May not the vehe- 
 mence with which you speak raise a mist before you 1 
 Peter taking him by the hand, with more ardent speech, 
 return'd : The mist lies in the vehemence of thy doubts. 
 We have seen him, and is it strange that we should be 
 enraptur'd? Can we be in Heaven and not feel itstr^s-
 
 134 THE MESSL4II. 
 
 port«? Tl:oa Inst not seen, and therefore thou form'st 
 to thyself iJie images of graves and night, and with more 
 positivcness taik'st thou of thef«, tlian we of onr risen 
 Miister, whom we liave seen aud heard, and whose boc'y 
 our hands h.ave felt. He made himself known to m 
 with his usual compassion and loving-kindness, to which 
 tboa art no stranger. If thon art incapable of convic- 
 tion, return back to the Saddncees, and believe with 
 them, that tlicre a; e neither angels, nor spirits, nor the 
 resurrection of the dead. 
 
 Here Tliomas could no longer refrain from tears, and 
 turning to Peter, said. Ah, be not so cruel ! Like thee I 
 love the divine Jesus, our dear crucify 'd Lord ! Endea- 
 vour to assuage thy grief ! said Salome: O Didymus! is 
 not he, whom thou call'st our crucify'd Lord, able to re- 
 move thine increduhty, and to restore thy peace ? he to 
 whom immortality, aud the life of angels, to which he is 
 risen, beru- witness?— Yes, the life of angels, said all the 
 female witnesses. His immo! talitj- was manifor't, though 
 he had laid asi-ie the lustre which beaniVi in Gabriel, and 
 irradiated the angels who proclaimed his birth. 
 
 Has the Lord appear'd to all but me ? said Thomas. 
 No, he has not appear'd even to his disconsolate mother. 
 Not to her son John. Net to hün whom, when ex- 
 piring on the cross, he recommended to his mother, as 
 an atfectionr.te sou ! Not to her ^\ honi, at the same awful 
 moment, he recommended to that son, as a mother! 
 
 Tims they convers'cl, while the hearei-s were toss'd 
 amidst strong fluctuations of saddening doubt, and ex- 
 nlthig faith. Wien Peter, Mary Tilagdalen, and the 
 other women spoke, they waik'd on the sea ; but, at 
 tiie objections of Didymus, sank in the overwhelming 
 waves. 
 
 The doubting apostle here withdrew, and leaving Je- 
 rusalem, retir'd among Olivet's most lonely tombs, to 
 indulge his melancholy, or rather, in the midst of Soli- 
 tude's silent retreat, to strive to allay the anguish of 
 his mind. In Solitude's right hand is a goblet, her 
 left hand holds a threatening dagger. To the happy she
 
 THE MESSIAH. 135 
 
 presents t!io ciij"), and urg;'s the -«vretchcs to use the steel. 
 Thoina?, now within the gloom of a lon< ly sepulchre, 
 felt the load of his griefs become more heavy, and n:ore 
 cla* k his thoughts. His soul labour'«] to rise above his 
 g.ii-f ; but vain were IiLs etforts, auci had he not had re- 
 course to the Almighty, who gives rest to the weary soul, 
 he would have sank under his burthen. O thou Un- 
 searchable, said he, how davk are the depths of tliy 
 counsels ! Yet to thee alone can I have recourse in the 
 midst of my sorrows ! Oh look down on me, a wretched 
 worin, WTithing itself iu midnight darkness! Thou 
 knowest, O Jehovah ! my love to him who so lately bled 
 on the cross! O Father! in the overflowings of thy mer- 
 cy, and in the fulness of thy grace, didst thou send him ! 
 Yet thou hast permitted him to di^ — to die the death of 
 the cross! Alas^ he is dead ! — n'.ore dead to me than to 
 Lis otlicr disciples! O thou Omnipotent Father! where 
 loitei^d thy thunder? where slumbei-'d thy tempest, when 
 the loity cross was rais'd? The earth then shook with 
 horror ! the aerial expanse resounded, and the minds of 
 men were struck w ith terror ! Yet tlien was he put to 
 death, and no rock crush'd, no chasm ssvallow'd his mur- 
 derers ! O thou Father Almighty! ^ho, by a minittring 
 angel, slew the first-born of Egypt, yet pass'd over t!:ose 
 dwellings in Ramesis that were sprinkled with blood I 
 Thou who divided the sea, and suspended the river'» 
 course, to open a pass.ige for Israel ! Thou who, being 
 with thy Holy Son Jesus, en ib!ed him to calm the rage 
 of tempests; to walk on the boisterous waves ; to open 
 the eyes of the blind, that they might see the glories of 
 t!iy creation : to make the cripple leap with joy, and 
 even to raise the dead to life ! O thou God of mercy and 
 grace, where is thy Son ? Wilt thou — will he awaken 
 me from this dectii of affliction, and from these doubts'} 
 A!i I my dear Lord lies mouldering in the dust, and thou, 
 O God, kcepcst silence! O Thou \\ hose ways arc in- 
 scrutable, all thy floods pss.s over my soul ! 
 
 'Jhus he ulter'd his supplications asul complaints, then 
 iu silence wrung his chisp'd hands. At Icrtglh resuming.
 
 136 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 lie crjM, ,\li, were I to sleep in one of these sepulchre?, 
 he would not awake me, as be did Lazarus and Seinida ! 
 But why should 1 return to a lilc in which I cannot £ud 
 liiiTi? Ye happ5' dead who sleep here, is Jesus knoAvn 
 to you? If he is, happy are ye! If ye knew and lov'd 
 Lim, ah, ye are now with him ! Ye di-y'd buncs that are 
 here mouldering into dust, shall at the voice of God 
 awake, and in tl.at glorious day tI;ou, my Lord, «halt 
 also awake, and I with thee, re-animated with the breath 
 of life! Happy, ye ot!-.cr friends of the crucify 'd Je^us! 
 May ye still enjoy your happiness ! Ye fancy him risen, 
 and though it is a visionarj' delusion, rejoice in it no less 
 than if it were a reality. Blissful vision, like th.it which 
 fill'd Jacob's oppress'd mind : not, indeed, like his, real, 
 but filling you w iih joy and praise. O thou that made^t 
 the eye, and seest the grief of my oppresa'd heart, it is 
 not thy will that I should rejoice with them. Ah, could 
 I but fee him, what would bs life to the transport I 
 should then fee! ! With an impetuous shout of joy would 
 I call to him, then gladly sink in silence and death! O 
 my Lord ! if thou hast appeared, appear to me ! Wliat a 
 request ! Reject, O my soul, the illusive idea! — Yet the 
 renewal of life is in his power. He could, if he pleased, 
 come forth from the sh.adts of death I Rut how would 
 he be pUas'd to do tl.is ? How be plcas'd to die — only 
 for a few hours? Had he chose to live, he would have 
 come down in triumph from the cross! O Jesus, wert 
 thou cow living, wouklst thou not appear to me? fw 
 who languishes like me for convictioa? How delight- 
 fully arc my friends decciv'd ! I pity their too ea?y cre- 
 dulity; but, O my Lord, when 1 seo t! eo, when I put 
 my f:!iger into thy wounds, and my treaibling hand iiilo 
 thy side, I also will believe! tlien will I joyfully grnsp 
 tliy feet. But ala=I I ihall never believe! ?^ever shall 
 I put my linger into the "wounds of thy ban<ls! never 
 put ir.y hand into thy side! never grasp thy feet! for 
 Ihnu art dead! tin u hast already had a second grave ! 
 O thou Father of the b!< ss'd Jesus! do not utterly fcr- 
 j;dte uie.
 
 THE MESSIAH. 137 
 
 Till!?, in loud and broken sentences, he gave vent to 
 the tliougl.ls of his agitated mind, siippoiting bdmstlf by 
 JtasiiDg on the fiagineut of a rock which had laik-n from 
 the sepulchre, when the veil of the temple was rent. 
 Ti:e mouruing disciple was still leaning on tiie rock, 
 when the silence or the night was broke by the voice of 
 one gradually approaching, who call'd, ^\^lat dolcfnl la- 
 mentation proceeds iroui the sepulchres i Art thou 
 wounded ? Can 1, O stranger, help thee? Didynuis con- 
 tinn'd silent, and the voice aitded, fell n;e who thou ait ? 
 for hearing the voice of thine anguish, i am coming to 
 relieve thee. 1 heard thy complaints far in the valley, 
 and if man can give thee succour, I will, I rejoice, O 
 stranger, sidd Tiiomts, that thou hast a hutnane heart; 
 may the blessing of God be with thee ! but go whither 
 thy nightly way calls thee. A fond wife and tender 
 claidreu, perhaps, wait thy coming. Thou canst not 
 help me : for the wounds, of which I complain, are 
 those of the soul. Wounds of thy soul, brother 1 au- 
 swer'd the voice, which now approach'd nearer ; stretch 
 forth thine arm, that I may find and embrace thee. 
 Didyniiis stretch'd out his arm, aud the other seizing it, 
 embrac'd it. Thomas then began the discourse. 
 
 Alt thou, O traveller ! an Israelite ! Didst thou come 
 to Jerusalem at the late festival 1 What is thy name 1— 
 I am one of the sons of Jacob. I come from a far coun- 
 try, and my name is Joseph : what, brother, is thine ? — 
 My name is Thomas. — But why, Ü Tfaon^ is, dost thou 
 vent thy lamentations here at the sepulchres in the gloom 
 of night ? Come, let us leave this dreary place : silence 
 and dai-kness orily blacken the melancholy images w hich 
 overcloud thy soul. 
 
 This sikace, O Joseph! these melancholy images 
 which overcloud my soul, I am pleas'd with. I no'.v 
 luve nothing more than death and tiie grave. If the 
 earth would receive me into its peaceful ted, I shoidd 
 no longer be the son of misery, no longer lie Li the 
 depths of affliction. 
 
 O Thomas, my brother, raise thy head from the dust.
 
 158 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 look up to Heaven, and learn to coniphiin wiilifcar an J 
 tiembling ! As we shoald rejoice with (c^, so should 
 we complain. ^Vho is he that has permitted mi?er>- ? 
 Is it not he who has form'd us for eternal life ? Ought 
 thy vehement conipiaiats to reach the ears of the Iilost 
 Ili^^h, niiuglcd with the joyful effusions of the adorin'^ 
 dioirs, and their raj-turouä hallelujahs? Cannot God de- 
 liver ? Lecun, with fear I repeat it, le:irn withtieniblinsj 
 to mourn. Vv'hen he, who is worthy of all praise, sends 
 atBictiou, reveieuce, my brother, the heavcr.ly nu-s- 
 sci>gcr. 
 
 O Joseph ! thou art a man after my ov>u lieart. While 
 speaking of the Eternal, thy soul becomes iiiflain'd. 
 Thou hast feit holy joy, aad hast been bicss'd with sor- 
 row; but never felt sorrow like mine. Alas! if thou 
 hadst, thou wouldst have sunk under it like rae! Speak 
 then, O Thomas ! aud mention the bai then v. hich presses 
 thee down. — Yes^ Joseph, it indeed presses me down. 
 Eut where si.all I begia? Oh, didst thou kiiow tie di- 
 vine Jesus? How long hast thou dvveltiu Judta? — Only 
 a few days. But messengers v.ere c.onliunaily co.uiig 
 from Judta to the abodes of joy, where I dwell, and 
 have spoke much of Jesus, the Son of the Most High. 
 At last we came down t ) see Jesus die and rise from the 
 dead. — Rise from the dea<i! Who art thou, Joseph? 
 Who art thou? — Ah, Thomas, I bad a faithful friend in 
 Judca, from whom I was long spparated. He left me 
 in Eg} pt, and bim God was pkas'd to restore to me, 
 Eot, thou disciple, in the teiTors of an earthquake, the 
 darkness and tempest, but coming from Cclrou, amidst 
 the whispers of the cooling bree/e ; thus be rcstoWd to 
 me my ever faithful, long loit, but evei lasting friend. I 
 must now leave thee, brother, but will come back and 
 see thee again. 
 
 O Josf pb, stay ! Where art thou, O Joseph ? Where 
 art thou ? Have angels the sweet name of him who was 
 the belov'd of his lather, ar.d of God ? Let me once 
 morr, O Joseph ! hear the sound of iby celestial voice. 
 Eut thou ai t silent. May 1 call thee brother, as thou
 
 THE MESSIAH. iso 
 
 •allecLt nie ? Tbou art still silent. "WLerc goest thou 1 
 Art thou void ol' pity, or gone so far aa not to hear me I 
 He is no angel ; for no angel could ever be so cruel ! — 
 Eut he lives in the abodes of joy ! — The messengers from 
 J udea speak of the divine Jesus! — Who were the mes- 
 sengers from Judea? Were they sent from God 1 — Cer- 
 tainly God can send angels from Judea to lleriven. He 
 came down, that is from Heaven, to see Jesus die ! ?o 
 the messengers fioui Judea knew beiore what was to 
 happen. And rise from the dead ! But surely this could 
 not be. What could he mean ? He call'd me disciple ! 
 Then Jesus came from Cedron, not in an earthquake, 
 but in a gentle breeze, to restore to him a dear friend. 
 Eat when? Before he dyM? Why then in a gentle 
 breeze? Yes, there was a soft breeze, that sinooth'd the 
 sea. The caithquake was after his death. Did he then, 
 after liis death, restore to him his long lost and now 
 eternal friend, and thus, whih^ dead, perform that bene- 
 volent miracle ? — But why dead 1 Did not Joseph see 
 him risen? How mysterious! — The farther I search, the 
 more am I pcrplexd. — Eut was I awake? Perhaps, 
 while spent with sorrow and perturbation of soul, afti-r 
 ha\ing rested on the rock, 1 sank down and fell asleep, 
 and have only seen this stranger in a dream. It must 
 be so. He was all benevolence; but suddenly fled. 
 Thus do dreams; but never a friend, whether he be a 
 man or an angel. Nuw 1 know, by experience, the ef- 
 fects of fix'd grief; and thus the others have dectiv'd 
 themselves with their seeing apparitions. Happy illusions, 
 which have had such effects on l-iem ! I will now, how- 
 ever, resign myself to the w ill of the Almighty, and go 
 la the way which he directs. Thu^he resolv'd, and 
 listening tn hear the murmuring sound of Cedrou's stream, 
 as a guide to direct his steps, rtlurn'd, resolving to rest 
 at Gethsijmane. 
 
 Thomas had not long left the assembly when they 
 were alarm'd with soa.e hasty raps at the door, on w hich 
 James hasted dow u, and fonnd Matthias and Cleophas, 
 V hom he joyfully let in. They were out of breath and
 
 140 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 fatigu'd \xi\h their ba-tc. When they were a little re- 
 cover'd, James introduc'd them into the assembly. The 
 mother of Jesäis, Magdalen, and several others, hastily 
 gaiher'd round them, aad, \nlh eyes beaming joy, 
 cry'd. The Lord is risen, and h:is appear'd to Peter. 
 Cleophas, raising his ha^ids and voice towards He iven, 
 cxclabn'd. How blest are we ! He is risen ! He is risen! 
 "W'e also are witnesses of his resa; rection. To us Christ 
 h:iä likewise appeai-'d. Peter then hastily approach'd 
 them, on which Cleophas coatina'd, O brother in Christ, 
 and my brother, he call'd us Brethren ! Peter answer'd. 
 All about you, except Mary, have seen him appear since 
 his d„ath : but thee, his mother, he will likewise gratify 
 by his appe.trance. The first who saw him was Mag- 
 dnlcii, and she was alone : he next shew'd himselt to the 
 nine, and appeai-'d to me. No words can express the 
 raptmes with wliich our hearts were agitated. But be- 
 hold, so;ne of our brethren mourn, while we rejoice. 
 They were riispcs'd to credit us, v.hen Thomas, who is 
 miserable himself, perplex'd them : they wore beginning 
 to taste of ourjoy, when he drove it from them. Lord, 
 have pity on them ! Have pity on the unhai py Thomas ! 
 
 John, now coming up to them, said, I am not at all 
 pjrplex'd by the objections of Didymus, and am only 
 griev'd that Jesus has not appear'd to me. Why, my 
 dear Jolin, rebirn'd Peter, he has not yet appear'd to 
 Mary, bis and thy mother. But, brethren, relate in what 
 manner lie appear'd to joo. 
 
 Being filfd with grief, said Cleophas, we resolv'd to 
 ^alk to Emraaus, that we might find some alleviation 
 to our sorrow, by convf-rsing in the open air, and enjoy- 
 ing a view of the country. In the way we were join'd 
 by a stranger, for v,honi, at first sight, we conceiv'd an 
 extiaordinjry alfection, which increas'd as he spake. 
 He cxpldn'd to ns the books of the prophets, she^^ 'd us 
 that the Messiah was to siitfer, and the manner of his suf- 
 ferings. All he said to us 1 know, without being at pre- 
 sent able to relate it. Never man spake as he spake. 
 His speech was tiU'd with strength and fervour. \Vc had
 
 THE MESSIAH. Ill 
 
 now rcach'd Emmaus. M'e entreated him to stay with 
 u», and at length he consented. I hasted to set water 
 ;^!.cl provisions on the table. He then — Mtthinks I now 
 see him hold the bread, and hear him beg a blessing. 
 He had then the real voice of Jesus, and the same divine 
 countenance. He brake the bread, and gave to each ; 
 then, once more looking kindly on us,disappcar'd. "We 
 sought him, but finding it in vain, without farther delay 
 basted back to bring you the joyful tidings. 
 
 Lebbeu5, whose faith Tliomas had most shaken, sat 
 with down-cast eyes ; and though on other occasions he 
 was susceptible of the tender«st impressions, had listea'd 
 to the joyful relation with critical coldness; and now 
 gave vent to hi: thoughts. 1 believe you, brethren, said 
 i)e. Yes, I allovvr that some man of eminent wisdom, or 
 perhaps an augel, join'd you in your walk to Emmaus. 
 If you and the women have seen angels, the Lord in his 
 mercy sent them, to comfort us under our grief for the 
 Messiah's death : a sad addition to which is, his corpse 
 being taken away. In pity to our anguish, he sends us 
 angels as convincing evidences that the f oul of Jesus is in 
 the boiom of eternal repose. Thus am I far from deny- 
 ing that he who convers'd witli you, \-, as sent by Gcd to 
 comfort you. He saw farther into the depths of the di- 
 vine wisdom than we, and was better able to explain 
 what is foretold by the prophets. Eut that Jesus at last ap- 
 pear'd in his own person, %\ lien before he was unknown, 
 I cannot believe : lor, if it was he, how v as it possible 
 for you not to know him at first? Ye were certainly de- 
 ceived by your joy. While the stranger held the bread, 
 he stood in the graceful attitude of Jesus, who, when 
 at our meals, us'd to hold up the bread towards Heaven, 
 clferiDg up his thanksgivings. After being thus deceiv'd, 
 you might easily imagine that you heard the voice of Je- 
 sus, when the worthy stranger offer'd up his petitions. 
 
 At Lebbtus's words, trouble and gloomy doubt ilow'd 
 into the soul? of those who were fill'd with joy and won- 
 der. Cleophas gave hhn a look of commiseration, and 
 Matthias, embracing bim, said, O then disciple of the
 
 l-ig THE MESSIAH. 
 
 risen Jesns, before we knew him, we ask'd if Jvsus vva» 
 reallj' rnis'd from the dead, and whether we might hope 
 for the happiness of seeing hiin again : on which he said, 
 Joseph's brethren did nut kno>v liim, till in the blissfnl 
 hour of joy, he bnrsr into tears. O.Tesus! wert ihou 
 living, said Lebbens, covering his face, thou wouldst not 
 withstand our entreaties. Peter observ'd him without con- 
 cern ; for he was now incapable of grief, and sedately said. 
 As ye left the hanging rock, we saw you from the roof. 
 Was it there, as ye pasi'd near the piLns, that Jesus joind 
 yon ? Yes, said they, we had scarce pass'd the rock when 
 we were joiu'd by the divine Jesus. Here Peter, trans- 
 ported with joy, exclaim'd, My dear brethren, ye have 
 all St-en the ri=en Jesus! Do yon hear the witnesses'? 
 Already have ye seen Jesns! Ihomas too has seen him! 
 O that he were here ! Here the mother of Jesns, with 
 joyful amazement, cry'd, I too have seen my Son alive 
 — alive after his death ! 
 
 As a lonely survivor, just depriv'd by death of bis last 
 friend, half v, aking amidst melancholy dreams, in which 
 he sees the dear person alive, but finds himself unable to 
 touch him, continues to seek the illusive image, while 
 Lis impa&sion'd heart beat.-: strong, and joy thrills througU 
 his boaes ; such was the st^.te of the tearful assembly. 
 
 But the serapiiiins, the fathers, and the rejoicing an- 
 gels now hasted to them. Simon Peter, affectionately 
 looking on the a-^sembly, perceiv'd an unusual lusti-e 
 around them. His transport check'd a rising tear, and 
 in a silent aspiration he said, O thou who art unsearch- 
 able, yet e\''er gracious, wilt now liave pity on them. 
 
 Peter was continuing his silent devotions, wlien the 
 .adorable Messiah cnter'd tlic assembly. Struck with 
 astoiiLslmient, they all stood as motionless as a rock, v, ith 
 their eyes fix'd on him. Peace be with you ! said the 
 risen Jesns. They saw him, scarce believing that he was 
 present, and stood gazing on him in silence, Involv'd 
 in torrents of vaii'Xis thought«, they sunk in that sea of 
 light, in which the immortals tbcmselvcs sink, and un- 
 able to unravel their confus'J conceptions, ImRgln'd that
 
 THE MESSIAH. 143 
 
 they saw an angel. With the voice of love, with Lis own 
 endearing voice, he then ci^'cl, Why arc ye troubled 1 
 aud why do Ihoiighis a^i^^e in your hearts? Behold, my 
 belov'd, my hands and my feet ; ai.gclshave neither tlesh 
 nor bones, as j e sec 1 have. 
 
 Here they all trembled. Mary sunk down before 
 him, held tlie fe; t of her risen Son, and sav/ in them the 
 marks of his wounds. She then look'd up to his face, 
 and while slie gaz'd upon it, her own became like that 
 of an angel. Heie, mother, said Jesus, pointing to the 
 Djai k of the wound, from whicJf had issu'd water and 
 blood, after death had stopp'd its vit.d course : here likc- 
 v.ise was I pieic'J, Again an angelic lu-tre beam'd 
 from the moiher's face. Many now k::eerd about him, 
 look'd at the marks of his wounds, and strctch'd out their 
 arms towards him; and to the risen Jesus was utter'il 
 jubilant strains and broken accents, which drew a tear 
 fiom the eyes of him they ador'd. Tlie attectionate 
 John long held his light hand, long with joyful eyes 
 look'd up in his face, «lesii-ous of expressing his deep-felt 
 hearty thanks, and petitions; but did it not ! lie began, 
 but stopp'd and was silent. Then the great Emanuel, 
 addressing him, faid. Thou stood'st by the cro?s till I 
 expii'd : Rut where is Lebbeus? I^bbeus had lain prcs- 
 trate on the floor, kissing the border of the Tvedeemei's 
 g'irnient ; but al his calling hiin by name he arose, and 
 with a countenance pale as dealh, fiom his overpower- 
 ing joy, presented himself before his Lord, who, holding 
 out his right hand, said, Lebbeus, here is my hand ; 
 when, the disciple holding out his trcmWliug hand, 
 it sunk down. The merciful Saviour, llien stooping, 
 took hold of his hand, and long aftec^ ionately held it. 
 The joy-oppress'd disciple, now with a firm voice, cry'd. 
 Of thy grace, O Loni, there is no end! Shnon the Ca- 
 naanite, and James the son of Alpheus, embrac'd each 
 other, rejoicing in the Lord ; then look'd at one another, 
 and at the Holy Jesus. The whole assembly alternately 
 view'd their Lord and each other, joining in one gene- 
 nd joy, that he had blessed them with his presence.
 
 14-4 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 Isow begaa a Eecond hymu of (ritunph to the risen 
 Sdviom-, form'd of broken sentences, and the soft voice 
 of joyful weeping. Aronnd him kneel'd tise more enrly 
 witnesses, Peter, Mattliia?, Cieopbas, and the favoui^'d 
 women, whose noble souls follow'd the sufiering Jesus, 
 till he expird on the cross. Among them stood the Con- 
 queror of Deitli, with his eyes lift up, and his extended 
 arms rais'd towaids Heaven. Though the fulness of his 
 glorification did not yet beam forth, yet bis graceful as- 
 pect appear "(1 more divine than tliey had ever seen, and 
 no longer couk'. they keep their fix'd eyes on his face. 
 James cast l.is down to the floor, and with suppliant 
 voice, cry'd, O Lord — Lord, do not yet ascend to thy 
 Father ! O he; c— I shall still, said Jesus, ren;aiu with 
 you, my children. A flood of the most rapturous joy- 
 row pour'd into their souls. They scarcely knew w hat 
 they thought or said. O, is it possible — Ye angels, is it 
 possible that it can be Jesus hhnself ? cry'd one. ^\ se- 
 cond exchiim'd, Are we in Heaven, or still on earth? — 
 It is Jesus himself! — Ah! art thou he, whose blood was 
 shed on Golgotha? Do we now behold thee, our graci- 
 ous Lord, or are we deceiv'd by pleasing raptiu-ous vi- 
 sions ? 
 
 At this instant Jesus turn'd, and walking up to the 
 table, said, Have ye here any meat ? They all arose, and I 
 hasted to bring hira food, when John, eagerly pressing, 
 through the others, set before hira a piece of an lioney- 
 comb and some broil'd fish, and then, with awful silence, 
 drew back. The Saviour then, with mild condescension, 
 looking at the whole assembly, said. Come near, my dis- 
 ciples. Ye, my belov'd, dr.iw near, and place your« 
 Eelves at the table. Come thou, my mot'.icr, and seat 
 thyself by thy son. — She came, as did the others. He 
 ate. The sight of his condescending love in suffering 
 them to sit at the same table with himself, while he ate 
 ■with thein, at once allay'd the ebullitions of their trans- 
 ports. More tranquil joys, and a more settled faith now« 
 taking possession of their more compos'd minds, the 
 Redeemer Üu:s addrcss'd them :— Ye believ'd not the-
 
 TIIE MESSIAH. 145 
 
 witnesses who told you that I liv'd, tliough they had seen 
 me when rais'd from the dead. Oh, why did ye not be- 
 lieve their report? How stubborn, my bclov'd, were 
 your souls ! Did I not tell you that I was to be crucify 'd, 
 and to rise on the third day? and that all things mn>t 
 be fulfill'd which were written in the law of Moses, in 
 the Prophets, and In the Psitlms, concerning ine ? My 
 future witnesses, beginning at Jenisalem, shall preach to 
 sAl nations, repentance and remission of sins in my name. 
 Ye, my brethren, are those witnesses, and behold I send 
 the promise of my Father, and ye shall make me known 
 throughout the earth. Ilemain ye near Jerusakm till I 
 ascend to my Father, and till ye are endu d with power 
 from on High. Then go and preach to all nations, de- 
 claring that whoever believeth and is baptiz'd, shall be 
 siv'd ; but be that believeth not, shall be condemn'd. 
 M.my believers shall work miracles ; in my name they 
 shall cast out de\-ils: they shall speak with new tongues; 
 shall take up serpents, and drink the most deadly potion 
 without being hurt : they shall lay their hands on the sick, 
 and they shall be heal'd. 
 
 The Mediator then rising with a smile of complacency, 
 stepp'd from the table, and the assembly joyfully throng- 
 ing about him, he said, Come near, my apostles. At this 
 the others drew back, not through ensy, lor they re- 
 joiced at the superior bliss of the more highly favour'd, 
 as the just, made perfect, rejoice in Heaven at the supe- 
 rior bliss of those whom Jesus has first chosen. Around 
 the Saviour stood the apostles, who were to lay down 
 their lives for the truth : he in spirit saw them bleed, 
 and oveiHowing with cordiil love, said. Peace be unto, 
 you. Then, as from a soul surcharged with joy, he 
 breathed upon them, saying. Receive the Holy Ghost- 
 Soon shall ye receive him more abundantly. Whoseso- 
 ever sins ye remit, they are remitted, and whosesoever 
 »ins ye retain, they are retain'd. 
 
 Vv'ith astonishment and submission they heard the 
 great decree. Now, thinking that Jesus was about t» 
 Unve them, they gather'd round him, yet dar'd not rc- 
 
 VOL. II. H
 
 146 THE MESSIAH, 
 
 quest his long; r stay ; but their Icolcs and gestures jtroiigly 
 exprtts'd tl;ejr emotions. Peter, wrap'd up in thoughts, 
 which like a flame spre.ul through his soul, cast himself 
 at the feet of Jesus, then grasping and kissing tl.em, 
 cry'd. Lord, on eaith I cannot express my thanks, in 
 Heaven I will. I know I shall. It was said, Tel) it to 
 the disciples and to Peter I Tliou also appcar'st to me ! 
 To me dost thou appear ! I know, O thou Most ^ler- 
 cifi:l! tliou F.edt'emer from sin! thou, my Deliverer, 
 and the Deliverer of all Adam's fallen race ! that thou 
 hast forgiven my base denial of tbce ! Eut, O my graci- 
 ous Saviour ! permit me once more to acfcnowUd-e thee 
 — to acknowledge thee, my Lord, before thj- face, to 
 lament my guilt, and before I go to those whom thou 
 hast reconcil'd, and in thy name to forgive sinners, to 
 hear the voice of thy forgiving goodness, and thy divine 
 mouth pronounce my pardon, with the ravishing assur- 
 ance that thou wilt receive me into eternal life. 
 
 These words he utter'd with devout reverence, and 
 with his eyes fix'd on the countenance of the merciful 
 Redeemer, who rctui n'd this gracious answer : — Know, 
 Simon, that I have pi ay'd to my Father for thee, that 
 thy faith fail not, and my Father has heard me. Rise, 
 Simon, thy sins are forgiven thee. Thus spake the di- 
 vine Redeemer, with a voice that pierc'd tLiot:gh the 
 bones and marrow to the inmost soul. He then vanish'd 
 from their sight. Peter, trar>srorted with this favour, 
 cry'd. Lord, we follow thee into Galilee. The mgel of 
 the sepulchre then said, Ye shall once more see th.- Lord 
 at Jeru^alem, when he will inform you at what time y« 
 ihall see Lim in Galilee. The angel thus vanish'd, hifr 
 efTulgence »lowly disappearing.
 
 THE 
 
 M E S S I A H. 
 
 BOOK -vr.
 
 W0Z arsumettt» 
 
 'Severnl ofthose nho had hesnraUidfromthtdtall' 
 appear: particularly to Kephtkoa, one of the- 
 children 7chom Christ had plac'd before the 
 people: to Dilcan : to Tubithn, uhom Peter re- 
 stor'd to life: to Cidli: to Slcphen: to Barno' 
 bus, the son of Joses : to Portia : to Beor, blind, 
 from his birth, and brought to his sight by Je-, 
 ills. Abraham and Moses ziould appear to 
 Saul; but it U forbidden by Gabriel. Some oj 
 those raised from the dead also appear to Sam,' 
 ma, Joel, and Elkanan, Simeon's brother, and 
 to Boaz: to Mary, the mother of Jesus : to 
 Cidli, JatHus's daughter, and to Simida, the 
 young man of Nuin.
 
 TflE 
 
 MESSIAH. 
 
 BOOK XV. 
 
 ClO^IE thou who oft hast fill'd my soul with tranquil 
 * melancholy, and cheer'd it with views of its grand 
 expectations ! Conic contemplation of the future w orld ! 
 For when the event« I sing were perforni'd, the future 
 world was on earth : the dead appearing to the first 
 Chriilians, calling them to Heaven, and consecrating 
 them for eternal life. 
 
 Small was now the holy society ; but from its root rose 
 a tree, whose branches spread tlu-oughout the heavers ! 
 the hundred and forty thousand redcem'd ; the host with- 
 cut number on the stMof crystal ; the hundred and fortj-. 
 four thousand who sang a new song, which no one could 
 learn. These will be redeem'd from among men, and 
 follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. Behold ^ 
 Lost without number, composed of kindreds, tonguei 
 and nations, assembled round tlie throne in white robes, 
 and, with palms in their hands, ciying, with the voice 
 of joy. Salvation to our God who sitteth upon the throne 
 and to the Lamb ! Then the angels and the elders shall 
 fall on their face?, the sea shall roar, and the conqoerori 
 wave their palms; for after great tribulation, they shall 
 arrive in Pleaven, having wash'd their robes, and made 
 them w hite in the blood of the Lamb. 
 
 The smaller band, the root of the tree, had not ye! 
 been cail'd. They still slept under the veil of the law : 
 but for the first time will awake, as if risen from th^ 
 dead ; and then ihall Cephas, in one discourse, add t«
 
 150 THE MESSIAH, 
 
 the comimmity three thousand persons. Still slumber'd 
 cveu those who were to be the first fruits, and still ua« 
 known to them was the new everlasting hjmn of joy. 
 
 Behold the work of the risen begins.. From Tabor 
 the gloiiiyd just descend, to appear to the future Ciais- 
 tians. Before the shining troop came dov.n to Salem, 
 they gather'd lonnd the father of men, who thus address'd 
 them : Rejoice, my children ! Kow is arriv'd the hour 
 of salvation, in which ye shall begin to tbhst for the 
 stream of life. 
 
 Religion had penetrated tlie soul of the happy chiI4 
 whom Jesus had placed before his hearers, and dismiss'd 
 with a blessing. Xcphthoa, no longer fond of his child- 
 ish sports, was in love ^^ ith solitude, which was become 
 the joy of his eaiiy years. Eadu'd with understanding, 
 and fili"d with diviut; grace, he bore blossoms and fruit 
 in the very dawn of lite. Seven years hail pass'd with- 
 out fruit, and then he long'd for those precious seeds 
 that are unknown to those who are fond of trifling anuise- 
 Uients, and began to sow for the glorious harvest of the 
 resurrection. Kneeling in a secret corner of the house, 
 he thas offer'd up his evening devotions: O Lord! thoa 
 certainly hearest me, though I do not always find that I 
 am heard. Before thy bright throne, O Father! kneel 
 all the children of Heaven and of Earth. We on earth, 
 whose portion is tears, kneel in the dust. They whose 
 tears thou hast wip'd away, kneel on sbming clouds j 
 these, and the angels who never wept, supplicate thee 
 for an increase of bliss: but sweet are the requcs's of ! 
 those above, for they aie fill'd with joj'. Our prayers i 
 arc mix'd with tears, while we petition thee for deliver« 
 aace from sin and misery, and for the blessings of the : 
 life eternal. These petitions «ill be gi-anted; for this: 
 thy great Prophet prockdm'd, when, in the happiest hour 
 of my life, he plac'd me before the people. The bless- 
 ings of this life pass away like the withering flower : may 
 I have heavenly blessings bestow'd by him who was. 
 cent not only to heal the sick, but to heal the smner. 
 All ! I do not yet know him as the Guide to eternal life ;
 
 THE xMESSIAII. 351 
 
 I know not yet how he will lead me in the way of my 
 dnty ; yet on thee, O my God, will I rely ! Thy will, 
 not mine, be done. This poor, short, and fleeting life is 
 like a flower which blows but to fade, and is no sooner 
 faded than it is bury'd in the dust, and bid from the siäht. 
 Thus it will be wilh me. How I long to obtain know- 
 ledge and joy ! Let me obtain them, au 1, O my God ! 1 
 will wait thy time for my withering, till 1 sink down, 
 and thus become transplanted into the land of light and 
 repose. Here is no knowledge, no pei feet deliverance 
 from the gloom of that ignorance which surrounds us ; 
 but I shall be remov'd to the place where truth shines 
 iu all its brfghtnes«. Of innumerable things I am now 
 ignorant, aiid shall still be so, when my loul, borne on 
 the wings of mature years, shall lalvc a nobler flight. 
 Yet, O niy soul ! return to thy rest ; for he who has 
 created thee with this Uiii-st after a clear knowledge of 
 faim-elf, will certainly gratify it. Should'st thou who 
 hast fiii'd my soul with thoughts of a futni c life, permit 
 me to return to my playful companions, 1 should lose 
 this thirst for divme knowledg», and be again in the same 
 state a: that from which Jesus call'd uie,wi:euhesetme 
 before the people and bless'd me. 
 
 Thus pray'd Ncphthoa, while his angel, hovering 
 round him, heard his petitions, and wrote them in cha- 
 racters of flame in his book ; a bock of life, in which 
 was written the petitions acceptable to the infinite Giver 
 of all grace. While tlie immortal's hand w as flying along 
 the glittering scroll, Benoni came, and drew near to the 
 suppliant and the writer. V/ilt thou, Benoni, appear to 
 him? said the enraptur'd angel, handing liim the book. 
 The newly-risen read, and being unable to restrain his 
 joy, embrac'd the exulting seraph, w ho cry'd. May his 
 petitions be granted ! An anrvver will instantly descend 
 from the eternal throne. 
 
 Benoni dre >/ nearer to Nephlhoa, w ho was still kneel- 
 ing, and now began this second prayer. With joyfal 
 heart do I praise thee, O Father ! for the favours thou 
 hast bcstow'd upon me. How hast thou overshadow'd
 
 152 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 iiip \\itl! tby goodness! Thou it \va?, O eternal Father I 
 the Father of all the children of Heaven, and of all on 
 Earth, viho seut'st the greatest of thy prophets to bless 
 mc ! Where shall I, O Lord of Glory, to whom I lift 
 my teart'ul eyes! — where shall I begin, Nvherc conclude 
 thy praise? Even the months of babes and sucklings thou 
 hast taught to praise thee : therefore will I not be silent ; 
 for the mouths of children hast thou prepar'd to give thee 
 praise ! 
 
 Bcnoni at first resolv'd to appear before him as one 
 of the boys that came to the festival ; but seeing the tears 
 ©f joy and gratitude shed by one so young, he could not 
 suit the character, and therefore stood before Kephthoa 
 in hi« glorify "d form, array'd in a vernal cloud. Ncph- 
 thoa was not afraid; for oft had he seen celestial forms 
 present themselves to him in visions and light slumbers ; 
 he therefore said, with quick voice. Tell mc, O celestial 
 youth ! has the prophet sent thee to me 1 Thou art a 
 messenger of peace, blessing, and joy ; speak, sing it on 
 Ihy glittering harp, and tell mc why thou art come ! Re- 
 i.ite to me, thou son of light, divine things, and tell me 
 of my relations who have dy'd, for thou art pa i taker of 
 their felicity! Tell me of my sister, sweet innocence ! 
 who dy'd among tlie sweet breathing roses, herself a 
 lovely flower! Hast thou no salutations from Dimna 
 Kedemoth ? ^^ hat did she say to thee ? Perhaps it was. 
 Blessed be the Lord that I am here, and that my dear 
 IS^ephthoa will also die, and come to me! Pardon my 
 presumption, thou glorify'd inhabitant of Heaven, iu 
 daring to speak so long to thee ! Ah, divine m^essenger ! 
 thou art silent. 
 
 My silence, srdd Benoni, is owing to my seeing thee, _ 
 and my raptures at thy felicity. The Lord hast sent me 
 to thee. Jesus was dead, but is already risen from th.e 
 grave, and will soon ascend to glory! Then will his 
 apostles bear witness iu Jerusalem of liis death, his re- 
 surrection and ascension. To them attend. Tliey will 
 open to thee divine things, as far as it is given moi tali 
 to know. Slay lliy sister one day receive thee in the
 
 THE MESSIAH. 155 
 
 fiagiaut sliaile of the tree of life!— Nephthoa, I must 
 uow Ic ive thee. 
 
 O not yet, thou inhabitant of Heaven ! said Nephthoa. 
 Turn not away so soon thy r.idiani eyes, thy rosy blush, 
 thy gladdening smile. But Bcnoni disappear'd, while 
 iNephthoa stood as entrauc'd, with outstretch'd arms, to 
 embrace his celestial friend, cloth'd in light: but h.» 
 empty arms strove to hold a fleeting shadow. He then 
 looking up to Heaven pray'd. He was now less alone 
 than he iaiagind, for neither his angel, nor the unseen 
 Benoni hart left him. They still with complacency 
 heard him offering his tribute of praise to his gracious 
 Creator, fervently thanking him for this favour, and 
 for the hopes he had I'eceiv'd of obtaining divine know- 
 lecL'e. 
 
 Dilean had lost his only friend. To him was the pro- 
 phet of God known, and long had he wandti-'d about 
 Jerusalem, inquiring whether Jesus was risen, or was still 
 dead. His head was now wrap'd in night, and floods 
 of inquietude enter'd his soul. He sought repose, and 
 found it not, in a country that appear'd as luKnriaut as 
 the spring. As it was late, Le retir'd :imoiig the sepul- 
 chres on the mount of Olives, and, miileading Darkness 
 being his guide, he walkJ among them with watchful 
 eye and ear. Do those murmars, said he, proceed from 
 the brook of Cedron? Does that rustling proceed from 
 the palms of Gethsemane ? No ; the noise is in one of 
 the sepulchres. He uow perceiv'd a gliiumcring light, 
 which the wind had aim jst exliiaguish'd, and going up to 
 it, came to a sepulchre, out of which were carrying the 
 boiic? ; for a rich man had biiught the tomb of a poor 
 one, whose ancestors were to be reaiov'd. Dil,;an stood 
 at the entrance, and saw them with painful steps come 
 out and return with like tedions slowness, loaded with 
 bigs of bones. Happy are those ye carry! said he. 
 Give me the torch, and 1 wiii liglit you. They gave him 
 one, on which, entering the sepulchre, he held it in hiä 
 hand, and leaning against llie rock, thus indulg'd his 
 kiou2':t3 : Ye happv, happv dead ! — Tliey who have for- 
 H2
 
 154 THE MESSIAH, 
 
 «aken ine are now like you. ^Vhen their burial clothes 
 are grown oM like thtse, I shall be like tliem ! But now 
 —1, forsaken, have lost the great Prophet of God, my 
 happiness here — and my future happiness ! — Jesus ha« 
 fallen by the rage of the wicked; but does not the Al- 
 mighty give eternal felicity to the just, and provide that 
 the best of mankind shall not forever be a prey to tiie 
 vorst? Am I eternal ■? Is this body to moulder in the 
 dust? — Is Jesus risen from the deadi Is his body turn- 
 ing to corruption? Awful questions, not to be solv'd. 
 Where are ye, his departed associates? Do ye dwell in 
 the mansions of light and joy ? 
 
 The sepulchre was now clear'd of its mortal remains, 
 vhich \^•as scarce perceiv'd by the pensive Dilean, till 
 he was stiuck by the deep silence. 1 am now alone, 
 continu'dhe; but ye spirits that animated these bodies, 
 ■where are ye? Elisha's bones awak'd the dead — the soul 
 must then have been with the body ; for dust cannot 
 impart life. If but one soul be heie, oh let it come, and 
 inform me of n)y future lot ! Come, thou soul, I shall 
 not be terrify'd at thine appearance. Come, I conjure 
 thee, by thy last sigh, when struggling with death ! — by 
 thy hope of immortality, or thy dread of falling into 
 nought ! Tlius he call'd, looking into the sepulchre. 
 
 Thirza, the mother of the seven martyrs, with the souls 
 of Dilean's friends, and that of his dear spouse, were 
 already there. These had conducted him through the 
 vale of the sepulchres to the rock, by which he now 
 etoüd. Z\Iay I venture to appear to him? said hii once 
 faithful w ife ; perhaps he w ould be aSVighted at the sight : 
 of me. I will appear before him, answer'd Thirza. 
 
 Dilean, having no hopes of seeing what he so passion- 
 ately desir'd, endeavoui'd to forget his anxiety in sleep ; 
 but sought in vain the refreshment of a short balmy re- 
 pose, and sadness again invaded his heart. You, my 
 friend«, said he, I have lost, and thou, the dear compa- 
 nion of my life, hast left me. I alone rcmahi in thij 
 tumultuous world. — Ah! what's there? Who art thou 
 that approach« mc? added he, moving up to the $ha-
 
 THE MESSIAH. J55 
 
 (lowy form. Thirza sudcluily became invested with the 
 appearance of an immortal. lie trembled ; but instantly 
 recovering himself, \ie\vM the r.uU.int figure, crying. 
 Tell me, phantom, art thou an intellectual being, or an 
 inrtamM vapour of night 1 Perhaps thou art only a vi- 
 sionary creature of my own distempeiAl brain. Thirza 
 now gave him the sweetest smile, and animated her 
 eyes with such spirit, as banish'd eveiy idea of an ima- 
 ginary being. With the hasty voice of impatient won- 
 der, he cry'd. Thou bright appearance, «peak ! Who ait 
 thou ? 
 
 ^Vho I am, said she, thou shalt know hereafter. But, 
 happy man, think not thyself more perfect than others, 
 from thy being favoured with my appe.irance. The man 
 born biiiul to whom Jesus gave sight, was long involv'tl 
 in darkness, tliat he might become a witness of the glory 
 of the Lord, and that thou may'st bear witness of the 
 resurrection of Jesus, he has sent me. I appeal-, not be- 
 cause thou calledst, for 1 should have appear'd hadstthou 
 been silent. Thy doubts, indeed, deserve forgiveness ; 
 but not a reward. The whole race of fnortal sinners 
 may have their doubts in relation to the world to come ; 
 but they will know by experience, that life dwells be- 
 yond the grave. 
 
 Dilean, who stood pale and trembling before the rt- 
 splenilent form, answer'd, I presume not to ask thee any 
 farllier questions ; but, O radiant being ! I will bow my- 
 self in the dust before him who has sent thee. Then, 
 larning aside from Tliirza, he kneel'd, and, lifting up 
 his eyes, said, O Lord of Glory, forgive my doubts! for- 
 give my fears! To thee my fears are known, though they 
 should nut be underetood by the bright messenger thoa 
 liast graciously sent. O Lord ! enable me to obtain the 
 bliss pointed out to me by thy celestial messenger ; then, 
 with joy and triumph, shall I, on my leaving this house 
 of clay, ascend to thee, and to my friends in Heaven. 
 
 He now arose, and before him still stood the inmiortal, 
 who, in melodious accents, thus address'd him : Behold, 
 ii thou avoidest to ask, I will answer thee. I am Thirsa,
 
 156 THE MES5L\il. 
 
 the mother of the seven maifyrVl sons. E.v this rock is 
 the happy soul of tiiy bclov'di an;l some of the filcuds, 
 whom living thou kuewest, and they will expect Ihce in 
 the regions of joy. Kno-.v that, before the Messiah's as- 
 cension to his heavenly throne, he will shew hhuself in 
 Galilee to five hundied biethreii at once, and there shalt 
 thoa see him. 
 
 Here the exalted Thirza, soaring npward, disappear'd. 
 With tears of icy, Dilean left the sepulchres ; bntfii?t 
 poiir'd forth his tliai:ks to the Fountain of eternal liglt, 
 from whom he had rcceiv'd a foretaste of Heaven, and 
 »nch comfort and joy, as no man could btstow. 
 
 On acarpetofTyrian purple sat the inventive Tabit ha, 
 her imitating ha)id employ*d in silken embroidery of 
 various colours. The subject Mas the monument of 
 Eeujamin's molhcr, a flower early blighted. On the 
 tomb rested Rachel; by her kneel'd Benjamin, who, 
 with averted eyes, pUing'd a dagger in her heart ; and 
 the fainting Rachel was supported by Tabitha. While 
 the fair embroiderer was thus employ'd, an unknown 
 pei-son, dress'd in a funeral garb, enter'd the room with 
 a pale countenance, yet had not all the sufferings of 
 friendship been able to extinguish the charms of the 
 blooming Deborah, who resembled a cloady morning in 
 spring. I am come, said she, to rest myself after mj 
 weary walk. To thee, the best belov'd of all my friends, 
 1 wish everlasting jo}-. Continue at thy pleasing task, 
 w hile I repose myself. She then sat down, and gently 
 Jeaning against the harp, it sent forth a melancholy sound. 
 The skilful stianger then taking the harp, touch'd it with 
 »uch sweetness, that it sent forth sounds, soft as the mur- 
 murs of a distant stream, when, before the howhng of a 
 »torm, a dead cakn reigns through the silent grove. O 
 Cod of Gods, the stranger sang, thou hast rewarded her 
 who is made perfect by death. But can temporary suf- 
 ferings deserve the glory to which thou exaltest th« 
 bless'd? She was taken away in the bloom of life ; yet 
 what is the flower broken by the storm, to the Cedar of 
 Cod which fell on Golgotha, which a tempest of the
 
 TUE MESSIAH. loT 
 
 Lord crusliM with such violence, that llie rocks and tLe 
 sepulchres of the dead trembled? 
 
 Deborah ceas'd, and now only tlie strong vibrations of 
 the strings were heard, ti'.l the song was thus renew'd: 
 They who attended his funeral, were a small company 
 of the dejected; but the lustre of the heavenly inhabi- 
 tants vras dimm'd, and a funeral hynm was sung by the 
 invisible attendants. Their song was not heard by the 
 earth ; but the stars listen'd to the sound. It was heard 
 by Orion and the Judge's Balance. Then a rock rolling 
 with dull convulsive sound, clos'd his grave. There the 
 Saviour rested in death : but soon, ye stars of God, he 
 i^su'd forth ! To hini short was the sleep of death ! ^Vith 
 glory and with hallelujahs he awak'd ! — lie awak'd with 
 hallelujahs and with glory ! But a few degrees hadst thou, 
 Orion, and thou, the Balance of the Judge, ascended, 
 when he arose. Yc witnesses, throughout all the Hea- 
 vens, celebrate his resurrection ! She v.ho bled in the 
 lonely grove, and he who piung'd the poniard ia her 
 heart, saw the gladdening miracle! 
 
 Tabitha, with silent aaiazenient, look'd up to the pro- 
 phetess, who sat on the border of the carpet. In vain 
 she strove to rise, when Deboriili, resting on the harp, 
 thus address'd her : Learn, Tabitha ; for greatly it im- 
 ports thee to leain from the resurrection of the dead. 
 Much comfort thou need'st against death ; for twice art 
 thou appointed to die. The first born of the dead was, 
 and shall hereafter be, the omnipotent Awakener of 
 those who are fallen asleep. First, with gentle sorrow, 
 as returning to the earth, and cheering expectations of a 
 second creation from the dust, must thou lie down jnd 
 die. Neither the terrors of the open grave, nor the idea 
 of disfiguring corruption, appals those who know that 
 God will call them to the joys of angels, in his celestial 
 kingdom. Deborah then taking the harp, soft sounds 
 again issu'd from her rapid fingers, and not less charm- 
 ing was her voice, and her lovely countenance. 
 
 What inexpressible, what rapturous sensations, said 
 ihf, did I experience when aew life rais'd mt^ from tb«
 
 158 THE MESSIAH, 
 
 flowerj- grave ! When glorification descended to me from 
 the angelic choirs, and my dust became cloiJi'd ■»ith 
 immortality ! How I trembled ! (She trembled anew, 
 and her splendor broke out.) What a blissful ihivering 
 pervaded tlie most secret recesses of my soul ! How was 
 my lustre bi ighteu'd ! In what a light of gloiy was my 
 eternal spirit iuvolvVl ! I turu'd nsy face, and sought the 
 throne of him %■, ho had created me anew. He was in- 
 risible, yet gentle sounds, intimating the Alifiigbty's pre- 
 sence, breath'd around nie. Here her celestial voice 
 softly dy'd on the ear, and the splendid form disappear'd. 
 The thrilling harp was silent, and Tabitha continu'd 
 standing, pale with joy. 
 
 Gedor, a man of a tender heart, equally impressible 
 by joy and grief, was firmly resigu'd in his submission 
 to the divine dispensations, whether favourable or ad* 
 verse. He livVl in a happy retirement with his spouse, 
 his companion both in this and the future life. Their 
 love was known only to tberaselvos and a few friends. 
 Rais'd above this terrestrial state, they oft convers'd 
 about their celestial home, their approaching separation, 
 and their journey to the world of blifs. They fondly 
 wish'd, without presuming to hope, tliat they should dc- 
 pai t together ; and thine eye, O Lord ! was upon them, 
 to guide them to the entrance of the dark vale. She lay 
 at the point of death, and he seem'd equally near it. 
 Death now approach'd with more h.;sty steps. She rais'd 
 her eyes from Gedor to Heaven, then casttlicmon liim, 
 and then rais'd them again to Heaven ; but such looks oi" 
 heavenly comfort be had never feen, or heard describ'd. 
 1 die ! I leave thee, said she, to enter into nameless bliss ! 
 Gedor now felt himself powerfully drawn from earth, 
 and near the entrance to tliat glory wliich his dearest 
 Cidli was ready to enjoy. Going to her with more th.an 
 calm resignation, with joy he laid his hand on her paiu'd 
 forehead, and thus bless'd her : Depart thou, in the name 
 of the Loid, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob : in 
 the name of the Great Helper in Israel, whom wc liave 
 1 mplor'd ! Yes, his will, his gracious will be done !
 
 THE ZMESSIAH. 159 
 
 With the voice of reliance and joy she said, Yes, let 
 him do according to the purposes of his will ; for all hi» 
 purposes are foundetl in goodness. 
 
 Geclor, holding her hand, answer'd, As an angel hast 
 thou been resign'd. God has been with thee, God will 
 be with thee. Thanksgivings and praise to his glorious 
 name, he will succour thee ! Ah, liad I been so unhappy 
 as not to have serv'd him, this day would I fly to hiin. 
 Be thou my g«ardi;in angel. Tlion wast mine, ar.swer'd 
 Cidli. Around this happy paii- hover'd Rachel, the 
 spouse of Jacob, with a look of mingled pity and placid 
 joy. As yet, O Cidli, she was invisible to thee ; but 
 when thine head sunk down in death, ihou perceiv'dst 
 the immortal standing, and with joyful raptures went up 
 to salute her. 
 
 I\Iy hand is unable to conclude the affecting stoiy— 
 Late tears still flowing, run to waste with the other thou- 
 sands I have already shed ; but thou, my song of the 
 great Mediator rem:dn, and flow among the rocks, tri- 
 umphant over time, ;md in thy rapid stream, this chap- 
 let, which w ith tears I pUick'd from the funeral cypress, 
 convey to the lucid regions of futuj itj% 
 
 Under the shade of Moriah stood a Loose, famous for 
 its totv'ring height. On its silent roof was the son of the 
 wealthy inhabitant, a pious youth in the bloom of life, 
 the joy of his companions, the delight of Lis mother. 
 The moon was advancing its course in unclouded lustre 
 over lofty Jerusalem, and peaceful Moriah shed tranquil 
 thoughts on those whose powers were not suppress'd 
 by sleep, the nightly death, and chiefly on Stephen, pen- 
 sive youth ! Slowly he walk'd amidit tlie mazes, ia 
 which the history of Bethlehem's Prophet iuvolv'd his 
 mind. His auburn hair hung in graceful locks on his 
 shoulders ; he was wrapp'd m a light garment, and was 
 walking about musing, when a stranger, from whom 
 exhal'd the odours of Arabia, came up to him, and began 
 the discourse by observing, that the serenity of the even- 
 ing had invited him to repose, and added. Know, thou 
 only son of thy fond parent, that I am cotr.e from a far
 
 160 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 coiiDtrj-, and liave snfTer'd much. — A!io\v me, w^itliy 
 •tiai.ger, Steplieu rcturn'd, iiiteirupiing him, before thou 
 relatest t!iy distresses, to a.sk thee if thou hast heard of 
 the melancholy death of the great Prophet of Jerusalem 1 
 Jedidotli, with more hasty voice, ansvver'd, Ah, the cru- 
 cify'd Jesus? who dy'd for the trutli, for more exalted 
 truths than thofc which Moses ta-jght ! Jerusalem is fiU'd 
 with the report, that he is risen from tlie dead. 
 
 Stranger, tliy words fill me with astonishment ; thoa 
 say'st that he dy'd for the truth, yet thou a;t come from 
 a far country, how then didst thou learn his doctrines J 
 — -How I came to know what he taught, T sha'.i hereafter 
 inform thee. Didst thou know that he net only dy'd 
 and rose again as a witness of the truth, but that he dy'd 
 for thee in the higher chaiacter of the Redeemer of 
 man, would'st thou, who ait in the bloom of life, and so 
 rich in ble.-sings, think it too much to lay down thy life, 
 in vindication ot these great tjuths? Or wouldst tliou 
 cleave to this life, till Nature, at length, with gentle 
 hand, bov. 'd down thy hoary head to the grave, rather 
 than sooner resign it up for him who has led the way ? — ■ 
 WTiat 1 would do, God alone knows ; but what I most 
 passionatelj wish, is know n to me. — NVhat then, O noble 
 youth, doft thou wish I 
 
 Ah, pilgrim! why dost thou ask, whether I love the 
 Redeemer enough to die for him ? O wish, replete with 
 ecstasy! how my heait beat«, and all my powers soar 
 aloft! Were 1 to die as a witness for Je.-us, with joy 
 should my young blood flow from all the streams of 
 lifel 
 
 Jedidoth, the pilgrim, here related the affecting hi.-tory 
 of the heroic death of Epiphanins, the youngest of the 
 seven martyr'd fons. lie ceas'd ; his face glow'd, and 
 a lively radiance beam'd from his eyes, while the youtli 
 trembled and s-hed tears of sympatliy. Precious, O 
 youth, are tliy tears I said Jedidoth. I count them all ! 
 Precious arc the tears of the upright, sanctify 'd by the sa- 
 crifice of Jesus! Now the risen Saviour, looking down 
 from the heights of Tabor, saw the mortal standing in
 
 THE .MESSIAH. 161 
 
 the ligl.t of the moou, while the immortal shone with his 
 nativi- liistro. Stephen beiug now ready to faint, Jedi- 
 rtuth cry'd, soaring upward. Celestial brother, there I 
 Icirn'd what JesiKS taught me, and pursuing his rapid 
 i\i'j,ht, was conceal'd by the clouds. 
 
 Barnabas, the son of Joses, a Levite from Cyprus's 
 (li-tant coast, was going down towards the river Jordan, 
 to view a corn field, in order to observe what promises 
 it afforded of a future harvest. Soon was he join'd by 
 Ananias and Sapbira, wiiom their lands had likewise 
 drawn to visit Jordan's banks. Being come to the brook 
 of Cedron, the beautiful Saphira oft, w ith unsteady hand, 
 plac'd her staff on the smooth pebbles, w ash'd by the 
 shallow stream, before she veutur'd to wet her feet ; and 
 now seating herself on a stone by the brook, Ananias sat 
 (lo\vn by her, and Bainaba? stood before them. The place 
 they sat on was to be their future grave. Ah, little did they 
 think, too timorous pair, that the bearers of their bodies 
 would soon rest on those stones, and depart without wish« 
 ing tliem a joyful resuirtclion ! But this was known to 
 Elisha, who, together with the venerable Baptist, came 
 hovering round tiiem unseen. O had some breeze wafted 
 Elisha's warning voice, or had John denoimc'd to them 
 the great apostle's overwhelming words — (ye have ly'd 
 to God, and not to man) — this place might not have 
 been tlieir grave. But behold, tlie veil of futurity hangs 
 do^TJ, and is not to be drawn up till the judgment day. 
 
 Saphira, while thus resting, pluck'il i'rom her grave the 
 earliest flowers of spring, and gave them to Ananias, 
 who was taken up with the thoughts of a gainful harvest. 
 On their reaching their lands, Auauias's discourse turn'd 
 on the fulness of the ears, and the produce when sold. 
 Barnabas thought with pleasure on the cheerfulness of 
 the reapers, when the long wish'd-for evening, with its 
 refreshing coolness, cjime; when the sprightly circles, 
 crown'd with chapiets, the growth of the flowery field, 
 rejoice under the olive's shade, that they have pass'd 
 through the heat and burthen of the day. 
 
 I will appear, said John, to Barnabas, whose seed i«
 
 165 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 the hilly gi-onnd is crush'd by flints. Tell me, my be- 
 lov'd Eüsha, return'd the Baptist, is Anaiuas to be a 
 ( hiistian? If he be, let us appear to him; for if hi« 
 thoughts be too much fix'd on eailhly things, he stands 
 most in need of our guidance and instruction. Let m 
 then appear to him, said Elisha, but not as rais'd from 
 the dead. They then mov'd towards Salem. 
 
 Ananias and liis spouse return'd with Barnaba.« to Je- 
 rusalem. There they saw them sitting, blind and lame, 
 near the temple, begging relief, with devout fervour. 
 Barnabas gave them privately, and Ananias, though his 
 possessions were larger, gave them less, and the value of 
 that little was lessen'd by his throwing it grudgingly to- 
 wards them : on which the blmd and lame obseiv'd, that 
 he did not deserve their appearing before him. 
 
 Barnabas now left the company, and was hasting 
 home, when John meeting him, ask'd whence he came? 
 He answer'd from the banks of Jordan, where he had a 
 piece of land. They then enter d the house, where the 
 joyful children we!com'd their father with their em- 
 braces, wliich he affectionately return'd. Do you too 
 bless my little ones? said the fond parent to the stranger ; 
 and then order'd them to go to that good man, who, 
 turning to the children, with a dignity that greatly asto- 
 ntsh'd the pensive father, said. Ye children of Barnabas 
 shall likewise bear testimony to the Lord ; but from this 
 time fewer will be the sheaves of thy ground. — Mill the 
 Lord then forsake me and these helpless orphans? said 
 Barnabas. John answer'd. Far be it from God, on 
 whom we depend for more than life. Earthly things, 
 which last but for a moment, he gives and takes away ; 
 but the treasures of eternity shall be tliine. Thus spake 
 the Baptist, with increasing digniij' in his look, such a 
 dignity as Barnabas had never set-n ; nor did he ever 
 hear a voice which spoke of God with such solemn fer- 
 vour. He listen'd absorb'd in wonder, and being still 
 filent, John resum'd. He, whom thou well know'st; he, 
 at whose feet Jlarj , the sister of Lazarus, chose the bet- 
 ter part; he who restor'd to life Jairns's daughter, the
 
 THE MESSIAH. 165 
 
 j'onng mail of Nain, and Lazarns ; even he is rais'd from 
 ihe (lead. I am one of his witnesses, and soon shalt thou 
 be also one of them. Already liave 1 been his witness, 
 when the Divine Spirit descended on him in the river, 
 and ll:e Father's voice from the clouds proclaim'd him 
 {lis bclov'd Son. These words were spoke with a dig- 
 nity that seem'd to border on glorification. Swift he 
 tnrn'd, and ascended, w hile from his vesture issu'd radi- 
 ations which insensibly dccreas'd, till the prophet dis- 
 appear'd. 
 
 Now arose on Jadah's hill the fifth morn since the re- 
 surrection. Radiant it rose, the harbinger of the bright- 
 est day. Portia awoke, but rather from unquiet dreams 
 than refreshing sleep, and early walk'd in her garden ; 
 though lost to her was all its fragrance. 1 have liv'd, 
 said she, to see another morning, yet in my sad n>ind 
 still reigns perpetual night; for there, O thon GiA'er of 
 life! arises no lucid day. Perplex'd hy continual dreams, 
 I awoke, and lay panting to know Thee, and Him whom 
 Lis sepulchre no logger detains. Ah, when my last sun 
 declines, will it then also be night with me ? Oh, enlighten 
 me! I shall not be di^may'd by the terrors of death, 
 when thou euligLten';t me Avith thy light. Thy will, O 
 thou Supreme! be done. Ibis thought has oft compos'd 
 my troubled soul, and shall be my reftigein this distress. 
 Eepo?e thyself on the divine will, O my soul I and dis- 
 miss thine eager desires. — But why do I delay seeking 
 comfort where a faint glimmering froni afar seems to in- 
 timate that, at the sepulrlire, there may be some who 
 lament his death, and are able to resolve my doubts? 
 
 Portia, then beckoning to a servant to attend her, set 
 out for the sepulchre. In their w ay to it she was seen 
 by E achel and Jemima, the daughter of Job, who were 
 holding sweet converse. She whom we expected is 
 coming, said Jt-nima, and is stiiving to rise above the 
 clouds in which she is involv'd. I^t us give her our as- 
 sistance. Tlicy instar.tly assum'd the appearance of two 
 Creek female pilgi ims, wtio had come to the feast. They
 
 164 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 had slender staves in their hands, and their hair wa» 
 bound with a purple ribbon. 
 
 Portia walking slow, immersed in thought, they pass'd 
 by her ; on which the Roman lady said. Pray stay, pil- 
 grims; ye are hasting with melancholy looks to that 
 sepulchre; did you know him who lately lay there? 
 Who ait thou that thus questionest us? said one of them. 
 If thou art a Ronnin, leave us to ourselves, and do not 
 insult us. To insult innocence and piety, said the lady, 
 is to insult the Most High, who ds^ells in the heavens. 
 Though I am the wife of Pilate, I should think myself 
 base, could I insult j on, or ridicule your devotion. Has 
 the report rcach'd you, that he whom the sepulchie con» 
 taiii'<U is risen from the dead ? Jemima answer'd, Tliou 
 speak'st of Jesus in terms very diifereut from those of 
 any idolater; hence thou diserv'stto beinform'd, and 
 we shall converse with thee with the most open simpli- 
 city and candour. What we know is more than report. 
 Jly companion has seen one of the devout, to ■whom he 
 has appear'd since his resurrection. 
 
 Tell me, O happy woman! said Portia, what she saw ? 
 Is she still in this ^■^orld of trouble, or is she reraov'd to 
 abetter life? 
 
 Maiy Magdalen, for that is the name of the highly-fa- 
 vour'd woman, is still living, said Rachel: She had 
 sought him in the open sepulchre, and was weeping, till 
 the day beginning to break, she imaginM that she saw 
 the gardener. But how can I describe her joy, when, 
 turning towards him, she heard his well-known voice, 
 which call'd her by her na:iie ! She sunk down on the 
 earth, and trembling cry'd, Rabboiii ! Weeping she laj', 
 and kiss'd his leet.— Oh, forbear! said Portia; the joy I 
 feel will be too great. How hast thou relies'd my au- 
 gaish! He has appear'd, and call'd Mary by her name! 
 Oh most transcendent joy 1 Who c;tn conceive the blias 
 he imparted to her ? Bring her to me, that, amidst my 
 torrow, I may raise my languid liead, and weeping, ad- 
 niire her. For amidst the stieam of joy with whicJi »he
 
 Tim MESSIAH. 16a 
 
 is ovcrflow'd, perhaps not a drop will be my portion. 
 1 am not of Abraham's race, bat a E.om;m. The Con- 
 queror of Death will only appear to the favour'd daugh- 
 ters of Jerusalem. Oh, why is not a trininph decreed 
 for him ? a triumph with which Jeius.ilem slioukl re- 
 sound, and Sion and the lofty temple shake! Why are 
 not the statues of your ancestors carry'd before Jihn iu 
 august procession? Tliose of Abraham, Uanie!, Job, 
 Moses, and that of the intrepid David, who slew the gi- 
 ant, and from the neck of the suffering people shook 
 the yoke of Piiilistia'? Why do not the mullitudcs by him 
 vestor'd, the larae wliom he rjr.de to walk, the deaf 
 whom he made to hear, tlie bund on whose eyes he ponr'd 
 the day, and the dead whom he restor'd to life, march in 
 triumph ! — But how I forget myself! His kiugdom, I am 
 told, he himself said, is not of this world. 
 
 Here Portia was silent, and laying aside her wishes 
 for an empty tiiumph, like those that were the reuaids 
 of bloodshed and slaughter, her thoughts were rais'd to 
 the contemplation of his kingdom in the world to come, 
 Jemima now se :ii:g her serene gravity, while she con- 
 tinu'd intent on sublime meditations, was so affected as 
 almost to forget that the object of her adjiiiration was a 
 mortal. The beauty of the rosy evening glow'd on her 
 cheek, and a divine smile sat on her countenance : but, 
 on Portia's turning to her, she instantly rcsum'd the form 
 of a pilgrim, and looking at her with a gratulatory smile, 
 said. How do I rejoice at thy contemplations on the 
 •world to come, and on the vain triumphs of this perish- 
 ing earth, being too trifiing for the Lord of Olory ! Thou 
 «halt no more be the sport of error ; the dead is risen, 
 and the witnesses themselves v/ill, perhaps, assure thee, 
 that they have seen the Lord, the Conqueror of Death. 
 Assure me! softly brcath'd Portia, with joyful accent. 
 Ye doubts, vanish from her mind! resum'd Jemima, 
 laying her hand on the Jady's forehead. The Eternal 
 Sovereign, who from the beginning has been the buss of 
 the heavenly kingdom, be thy God ! May he who cre- 
 ated thee be thy lledeemer ! Tears Cow'd from the eye«
 
 166 THE MESSIAH, 
 
 of Portia, while the immortal thus bless'd her ; but soöh 
 recovering her speech, she return'd, lustract me who 
 thou art ? whether an Lighly-favoui 'd mortal, or one of 
 the heavenly race, who appear to men? Instruct me 
 what I shall do? Oh, lead me to God! Rachel, with 
 compos'd voice, said. Hast thou been inform'd, O Por- 
 tia! that many of the dead have risen with Jesus? that, 
 at his resurrection, they came forth from their graves, 
 aud appear'd to tlie pious, who were his disciples ? O let 
 me overcome my amazement, and recollect my thoughts I 
 return'd the lady. Is he risen ? and are others of the 
 dead raisd from their graves ? O that I might behold 
 such wonders! — We, Portia, will lead thee, resum'd 
 Rachel. Seek not those who have seen Christ, for whea 
 he pleases he will send them to thee. In Galilee he will 
 appear to otliers besides the first witnesses ; but in Jeru- 
 salem to the first alone. In all countries are these first 
 fruits to make known what he did aud tanglit, and joy- 
 fully shall these first witnesses confirm their testimony 
 with their blood. Then at tlic throne oT the great Re- 
 warder, shall their fidelity receive its eternal recompenco. 
 Do thou haste to Galilee, and if thou dost not there see 
 him, he will send to thee some of those whom he parti- 
 culaily favours. V/e now leave thee. These words 
 were softeu'd by a smile of cordial affection. 
 
 O, I intreat ye, in the name of the most Gracious 
 God, who has also shewn favour to me, cry'd Portia, not 
 yet to leave me. Bat say, oh say, who are ye ? A sen- 
 sation, such as I never felt before, elevates my concep- 
 tions, and powerfully intimates to rac, that ye aie im- 
 mortals; but f<da would I know it from yourselves ; for 
 then no cloud will darken tiie dawning day which rises 
 in my mind ; and may God reward you with celestial 
 knowledge ! 
 
 With transport they look'd at each other, and rcsolv'd 
 to stay, saying, We will farther teach thee to o.Tjr up 
 thy petitions to Iloaven» Then kneeling, they repeated 
 the Lord's prayer. Ko sooner had they concluded than, 
 lilting up her haajs to Heaven, rfie call'd out, Awl
 
 THE MESSIAH. 167 
 
 »hiiie, O God, is the glory ! wht-n instantly Ibey were 
 eocompass'd by a cele.Hial effulgence, and the pilgiiina 
 rose radiant iu the air aniong tlie shadowy palms, look- 
 ing back with affectionate smiles on Tortia, rejoicing ia 
 her silent joy. Siie reirain'd kneeling, and, unable to 
 rise, stretch'd niit her arms towards tbeni, Jemima soon 
 disappear'd, but Rachel awhile delay'd. Down Portia's 
 florid cheeks slream'd her lively joy, and, light as the 
 leaf mud by a cheeiiul gale, »he rose from the earth, 
 crjir.g. Father, thine is the kingdom, the power, and the 
 glury. Aiiicn ! 1 hns praying, she hasted back to the 
 gates of Jerusalem. 
 
 Beo»-, a person of a gloomy mind, had ■ etir'd from so- 
 ciety, and plung'd himself in solitude. The industrious 
 artizan starts cheerfully from his bed at the dawn ; but he 
 broke off his shoit sleep at unseasonable midnjgiit, and sat 
 iu his narrow mansion by a glimmering light, like that of 
 a sepulchral lamp. There must be misery, said he, aad 
 therefore some must be miserab'e. This is docrecd by 
 Heaven, and we »re oWig'd to bt:ar it. But why are 
 some excns'd from suffering this general lot, and others, 
 like me, rui'd with a rod of iron ? Was not I bot n blind ; 
 and did 1 not long live in blindut-s'- 1 'Tis true, JesuS 
 gave day to my eyes, and to my soul imparted a glim- 
 mering of himself, yet is this now turu'd to night, for he 
 is dead ! — Dreadful night ! What avails the eye's transient 
 day, when the soul winders in a gloom, dark as the val- 
 ley of death ! O my eyes, lose your sight ! ye can no 
 longer enjoy a view of the creation, nor rejoice in the 
 radiant beams which vivify Sharon's flowers, and the 
 cedars of God ! More dark is now my blind soul, than 
 before were these eyes; for, O ye angels, he is dead ! 
 
 While he was thus giving vent to his lamentations, a 
 man, bow'd down with age, came in, and thus discours'd 
 with him : O Beor ! hand me thy cup. INIore years 
 have pass'd over my head, and much greater have been 
 my sufferings. Greater snffierings than mine ! answer'd 
 Beor. Thou art indeed much older : take then my cup ;
 
 168 THE MESSLUT. 
 
 for I can more easily stoop to the brook. The stranger 
 then ask'd for food, and Beor, shewing hira bread, bade 
 him take and eat. O Beor ! said the old man, it gives 
 me pleasure to find thee kind to others, though thou 
 haideust thine heart against thyself. 1 know thee, 
 Beor ; for I was present when the creation was first ex- 
 posal to thj' view. 
 
 Itthcu know'st me, said Eeor, thou knoAv'st the most 
 soiTowful of men. The most sorrowful, as it is beyond 
 my power to remove the cause of my dejection. Alas ! 
 a wretchedness like mine should dispirit the most cheer- 
 ful. WdS not I born blind? and did I not thus continue 
 duiing the most valuable part of life ? Besides, is not 
 my mental blindness still greater, with respect to the 
 knowledge of hira whom God sent to perfo-.-m the gra- 
 cious miracle ? and will his death enlighten me with new 
 knowledge 1 Speak now, Didst thou ever know sorrow 
 like mine ? Have I not reason to fear that my being 
 wretched from my birth is a proof that I shall be per- 
 petually wretched"? for naremittiug pain is a presage of 
 that to come. 
 
 Did not he, said the stranger, when thou didst least 
 expect it, unveil to thee the porch of the sanctuary, this 
 splendid eaith, its fuhiess of blessings, with its irradiating 
 sun? Thus he gave thee greater joy than was ever felt 
 by any who had always enjoy'd their sight ; and will not 
 He, wlio is the Son of the Eternal, open to thee the fu- 
 ture world ? Would this, Beor, be likewise wretchedness 
 and the punishment of sin ? The Go i of Glory will poar 
 his beams on thee ; Jesus vdU display them to thy mind ; 
 for from thy birth thou wast chosen to be one of Lis 
 witnesses. Such have been the determinations of the 
 Eternal. 
 
 Beor exclaim'd. Thou Icad'st me into new depths of 
 inquietude. Leave me as I am, sunk deep in the abyss in 
 which I lie ! Wert thou even an angel of light, I would 
 ask tliee how thou, though an immortal, knowst the hid- 
 »leo s.crcts of the ?Jo5t High? Can any tiling more ex-
 
 THE MESSIAH. 169 
 
 ceed ihe verge of human inquiry, than thine assertion, 
 tliat the Almighty makes wretchedness a prelude to fe* 
 lidty? 
 
 Is there then, O thou doubter, said the stranger, no 
 everlasting reward? and has not this eternal reward suc- 
 cessive degrees rising to the Heaven of Heavens? Can- 
 not God, cannot the immense Giver of every good, amply 
 recompense sufferings undergone lor his sake? Thou 
 stand'st on the ocean, and one small drop, thou particle 
 of dust, can satiate thee ! 
 
 Venerable old man, sHi(V Beor, thou reviv'st my heart. 
 But, if such are God's dispensations, how dare I so far 
 presume, as to think myself one of the bless'd, whom 
 God loads with affiictions, that they may receive a glo- 
 rious and inconceivable reward? 
 
 Thou art one of tho:e! resnm'd the stranger, who was 
 the patriarch Job. This I know. Soon wilt thou kuow 
 it thyself. I already see the crimson blushes of the 
 morning bringing on an effulgent dsy. Let us ere it 
 comes, kneel, that the Lord may find us praying. They 
 sunk down, and Beor cry'd, O Lord God, merciful and 
 gracious ! if I am chosen to be afflicted, that thy mercy 
 to me may be more illustrious, with a thankful heart will 
 I raise my head — with thanks — with thanks to Heaven, 
 that thou hast cover'd my eyes with blindness, and my 
 Bottl with the gloom of night I For these mercies will £ 
 ^'give Ihee etcrisal thanks! Tiien shall my soul rise with 
 triumphant joy, that thou, O God, hast shewn such mer- 
 c> ! O thou Preserver of men ! shall the darkness of my 
 soul soon pass avay? — O hope! O new and heaven- 
 taught hope! dost thou spring from the Lord ? Prais'd, 
 O Father, prais'd be thy glorious name for this bounty, 
 so full of grace I O Lord God, merciful and gracious ! 
 eternally bless'd be thy glorious name ! thou mad'st me 
 blind from my birth, thou hast sent me sufferings and 
 tears, as divine messengers to instruct me ! Then hast 
 sent me perplexity, doubts, and meb.ncholy, that I might 
 have a more inward, a more humble sense of tliy help ! 
 — But shall not 1 also thank thee, O Jesus, the Stnt oi 
 
 VOL. 11. I
 
 170 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 God, tlie Hjlpcr in Judah! Alas! ackled he, loweiiag 
 his voice, he is dead — He lives I He lives ! exclaim'il 
 Job, hasliJy rising from his knees, cover'd with glor}-. 
 He lives! aud, as a witness that he lives, I, Job, am 
 raiä'd from tlie dead ! Dost thou u'-t believe that I Lave 
 undergone greater siLfferüigs than thee? and whom did 
 I find to piiy me? 
 
 Beor strove in vain to raise his folded hands to Hea- 
 ven. As Moses on the day of battle lift up his arms 
 while victoiy prevail'd, and defeat attended their sink- 
 ing, so Job kindly held up those of Beor, then joyfully 
 took leave of him, who silently view'd bim v. ith a look of 
 <'ccp amazement, Job ciying, Lo ! he was dead, but now 
 liveth for ever more, and soon shall he ascend into the 
 Heaven of Heavens! Here, with solenm gesture, he 
 poii;ted with bis radiai.t hand to Heaven, adding. He 
 himself has thus spoken of thee. He was not born blind 
 on pxconnt of his own future sins, nor the past sir.s of his 
 pai e:-tä ; but to shew forth the glory of God. Thus he 
 left Beor, who could scarce support his joy. 
 
 Abraham and ZMoses soar'd to the ronf of the temple, 
 aud lookh.t down with intent eye on these who had re- 
 sorted to the feast, to find one to vvlioni they should 
 appear, they observ'd Saul, a young man whose heart 
 was fiU'd Vvitti fervent devotion, standing by one of the 
 pillars. His eyes beain'd a fire sacred to Him who liveth 
 and reigncth forever. To this young man Jloses and 
 Abraham chose to appear, and the service of the temple 
 being ended, they mov'd to attend him, when Gabriel 
 hasted from Taboi^s cloud-capp'd summit, with efi"ulgent 
 flight, met them, and said, Ye fathers, forbear; for to 
 him the L-jrd himself will appear. Who, thou divine 
 messenger, said they, is that exalted mortal, with whom 
 we are forbid to converse? Yonder lies Damascus, said 
 Gabriel, and thither, O distiess"d church of God! will 
 he, thine euvag'd persecutor, hasten. About him will 
 he gather troops that will second his rage with unremit- 
 ting fury ; wlien !o ! a sudden light from Heaven wiU 
 encompass Lit.:. He will see the Lord whom he perse-
 
 THE MESSIAH. 171 
 
 cuted : he wiil be conviucM of his enorj and wiil become 
 a zea'.ons disciple of the Redeemer. 
 
 Gabriel ceasVl, and Abraham lifting up his hands, 
 cry'd, O thou Accomplisher of all things ! to thy name 
 all in Heaven, on Earlli, and under the earth shall bow, 
 and every tongue confess thee to be the Lord, to the 
 glory of God th.e Father ! Their inward ecstasy siip- 
 pressM thoir farther speech ; till at length Moses thus 
 bless'd the future disciple. The love of Christ and of the 
 brethren reign in tLec. Be thon tuabled to cast down 
 the powers that rise against the Lord. Be learned as 
 man : be learned a= an angel. Let love likewise dwell 
 in thee ; love like that of Christ, which is more valuable 
 than the knowledge of mysteries, dark and obstrurc. 
 The love of the brethren, which is mud, patient, and 
 kmd, without envy or pride; which no anjer disturbs; 
 which seekcth not her own; is not easily provok'd; 
 tliinketh no evil ; rejoices in the truth ; heareth all tilings, 
 belie veth all things, endureth all things, hopcth all things. 
 This love be thine, the last born of grace among the holy 
 niessengers, to whom Christ himself appeals. Those who 
 thus ove shall be the members of the chnrch above; the 
 spotless, the irreproachable church, which is the bride 
 of the Lamb, and wash'd in his blood ; in t^:at blood 
 . which cries louder than that of Abel, but not for ven- 
 "geancc; whicli calls louder than the hosts of chrrubiins 
 from Sinai, and all the thunders and trumpets of the 
 mount of tenor, but not for revenge. Tic patriarchs 
 tl'.en soai'd up to Tabor, 
 
 Elkanan, Simeon's brcther,togeUier with his child-like 
 guide, had, on tlic jnournful evening when they left the 
 mossy tomb, gone to Samma, who, though a gloomy 
 cloud hung over his agitated mind, receiv" ihem with 
 ccrdinl friendship, whicli, with liis pres;ing intreaties, 
 iiiduc'd them to stay. As yet tlie report of Christ's re- 
 surrection was not conSrm'd, which Elkanan, Eoa;^, and 
 Jorl lamented. They sat in Joel's fragrant arbour, in 
 the garden w Inch his father had given liini, and imagin'd 
 thnt the elfusions of their g^icf were only he aid by the
 
 172 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 moon in her nightly conrse ; bnt other hearers had as • 
 sembled iu a silver cloud : these were Simeon, Benoni, 
 and Mary the sister of Lazarus. The lamentations of the 
 afHicted being stopp'd by overpowering grief, Eenoni 
 said, I can no longer forbear making myself known to 
 my father and my brother. Have they not, said Simeon, 
 drank enough of the bitter cup of affliction ? Are they 
 not within the reach of the goal, and shall we not bring 
 them the crown? — Yes, we will, Eenoni. O Mary! 
 follow us unseen, and thus partake of the delight of be- 
 holding their joy. Do thou, Benoni, invest thyself in a 
 milder lustre, that they may not faint under the trans- 
 porting ^^siön. They then mov'd downward. 
 
 The afflicted Samma now said, I was at my son's se- 
 pulchre, thou at Simeon's : ah ! had we but been at the 
 sepulchre of Jesus, we might, perhaps, if he be risen, 
 have seen him rise — But, O most gracious God I \^ hat 
 lustie is that which at a distance shines with such splen- 
 dor ? O Lord God, merciful and gracious, continu'd he, 
 behold it is a messenger from Heaven! — What dost thou 
 gee? said Elkanan. What seest thou, Joel? Lead me, 
 that I may speak to the shinirg appearance. Tell me, 
 what dost thou seel The form of a beautiful youth, said 
 Boaz, walking under the trees, and smiling at us. — Thoa 
 bright appearance! ci-j'd Elkanan, who ai't thou? A 
 messenger of greater and more exalted salvation than 
 thou canst conceive, said the resplendent form. — Ah I 
 what voice is that '? and what face is that I see 1 It is 
 Benoni, crj'd Joel, sinking down. Benoni instantly 
 «tretch'd forth his helping hand, and rais'd him up, cry- 
 ing, ISIy brother I — Joel stammer'd forth his joy, crjing 
 out. My brother! my heavenly brother ! 
 
 Here Joel call'd cut, O Samma, my father! and in- 
 clining on the old man's breast, kept up the flame of the 
 \ital lamp, and presei-v'd him from fainting under his 
 tearless ecstasy. He then led the old man to a mossy 
 »eat. Eikanan seated himself by him, saying, Now shall 
 I go down in peace to the giave ; for though mine eyes 
 have not seen tl.ee, O thou blessed immortal ! mine ear»
 
 THE MESSIAH. 173 
 
 have heard thy voice. Speak, oh speak to us, thou mes- 
 senger of God? — One greater will teach thee, said Be- 
 noni, when tLou art more coniposM, and able to support 
 his presence. 
 
 While they were speaking, Joel silently approach'd, 
 and gathering flowers, strew'd them on his brother's 
 steps, when Eeuoni, looking at him with a pleas'd eye, 
 said, Art thou able to support thyself till Simeon appeals? 
 Does then Simeon's soul, crj'd Elkanau, hover near me ? 
 Be strong in the Lord, Boaz, Samma, and Joel. Soon 
 shall mine ear hear thee, my brother. Simeon, Simeon, 
 come ? Mine eyes, my *lear brother, cannot see thee : 
 but soon I shall, w hen having pass'd through the night of 
 death, I shall av.ake in light ! 
 
 lavested with celestial splendor came Simeon, ad- 
 vancing through the mild lustie of the moon. With less 
 tciror they beheld his radiant form, than Benoni's unex- 
 pected brightness, and with great astonishment heard 
 these miportimt words proceed from his lips. Jesus is 
 risen from the dead ! and by his almighty power, many 
 of the righteous have come forth from their graves ! He 
 appears, and we also appear; but to those only \i horn 
 he calls to work miracles, and to obtain tlie first celestial 
 crowns and palms ! Yet, before the Pvcdeemer ascends 
 to his Father's throne in triumph, and wi;h the sound of 
 a tiumpet, to no less than five hundred behevers will he 
 shew himself at once. May ye be among the number! 
 IMay the Lord bless you with this favour ! 
 
 Simeon, said Elkanan, art thou risen before the great 
 decisive day ? Ah, how my heart pants to see thee ! But 
 Jesus himself, O worse than blindness, I shall not sec. 
 But my sorrow be dumb, from the sacred hour in w hich 
 Simeon sees and converses with me on Jesus and his 
 glory, be all complainings banish'd. Five hundred at 
 once ! How should 1 rejoice were I present, and to hear 
 tlieir transports ! May'st thon, Simeon, discourse of thy 
 Heaven and its glories ? 
 
 Kot to tliose, said Sbneon, who dwell in the dust. 
 Such is the order of him who exalts and rewards accorti«
 
 171 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 ing to the trial : who has separated worlds from world», 
 and yet united thera : who, in his infinite phu of coa- 
 siuiiraale salvaJiOD, has united all the bounds of fciicitj' ; 
 bill, compai'd to the bright dis-play of the happiness of 
 spiiitSj the sensitive creation is but a shadow. The ZMost 
 Hi^li builds on wretchecujcss, towering joys — joys to the 
 very bless'd unknown. Yet learn that all eternity can- 
 not exhibit any thing more astonishing, more incon- 
 ceivable, than that one of the heights of the Mediator's 
 esaltaiioa has humiliation for its base ! But pry not into 
 the ünportant thought, which fills the angels with won- 
 der! Know the whole of that happiness which God at 
 pveseat gives you ; the pure soul of Mary is present, and 
 rejoices in your jo}% 
 
 Here all with one voice cry'd out. Is the sister of La- 
 zarus dead? aad does she rejoice in our joy 1 We,]Mary, 
 added Samma, also rejoice in thine. How have ye, 
 blessed messengers, dry'd up our tears ! O Almighty Fa- 
 ther ! thou sendest to me my Beaoni ! to Elkauan his 
 brother ! and to Joel his dear brother ! added that affec- 
 tionate youth. 
 
 O God ! cry'd Samma, what a conclusion hast thou 
 given to my grief! How could I ever presume to enter- 
 tain such hopes ! When my gloomy melancholy, that 
 "Woe of woes began, sensible of my wretchedness, all 
 around me was darkness, perplexity, and an unfathom- 
 al)le abyss. Futurity itself was a group of sable terrors ! 
 Now rouse thyself, O reason ! Thou, my dear child ! I 
 dasli'd against the rock, and stain'd it with thy blood ! 
 Till tliis happy morning I expected to mourn the unna- 
 tural deed, during my remaining life ! Yet this ends in 
 celestial joy — in the most blissful meeting ever known ! 
 O Benoni! my son Eenoni! who wast bruis'd by the 
 bloody rock, how great has been the mercy of our hea- 
 venly Father to thee ! How great his mercy to me, who, 
 tlirongh thee, has shewn me such favours ! I know that 
 thou art going to leave me ; yet thy going will not be a 
 departure ; for I shall ever have thee in mine eyes, ar- 
 ray'd as now, in celestial glory, an heir of Heaven. Bat
 
 THE MESSLill. 17.) 
 
 eae rcqn^st I have to make thee, O Bencni! give me 
 thy blessing. — I, Saraaia, bless thee ! said Etnoni, the 
 son, the father ! and thy youngest son I — My first-born 
 now, return'd Sanr.na, and elder t>:an I — elder in the 
 days of eternity! For thiue is real liie! This is but a 
 sleep, to which our last awakens ns ! 
 
 Eenoni tiian with upUite 1 hands, and his r.idiance in- 
 cica?ing as he spake, said. Ah, soon may iliy last day 
 come, juiJ gentle and soft as Simeon's dying day ! 
 
 Joel then added, I would likewise a^k thy bles^hig, 
 didst i not feai- that thou woiildst bless Rje with length 
 of days. 
 
 Th..t, O yonth, cr} 'd Eenoni, is fearhig a gi-eat reward. 
 The deeper a life of goodness strikes its root here, the 
 higher shoots iis top in Heaven, and the wider spreads 
 its l?afy branches. Say, shall I now, my Joel, my bro- 
 ther, bless Ihse? Joel kneeling, Beaoni laid his hand ou 
 his glowing forehead, saying. Receive the blessing of 
 blessing«. Eternal li;e be thine ! May God, w!io rais'd 
 Jesus ffoiix the dead, lead thee to him ! They then dis- 
 appear'd ; on which Boaz cry'd, O Elkauaa, they are 
 vanish 'd ! and Joel rising, thus cxprKs'd his grateful joy : 
 O, spotless spirit of Mary, shoaldst thou stiil remain on 
 earth, convey to Ihsm onr most lowly and most fervent 
 thanks, for then- gracious appearance to us, tlieir hea- 
 venly discourse, and inestimable blessings. Thus spake 
 the youth, and sunk into his father's arms. 
 
 The mother of Jesus was sitting on th*e lofty roof, wit'n 
 the sacred harp by her side. The snn was set, and the 
 evening star chcei-'d the serene firmament ; when behind 
 the brook she beheld the appearance of a female pil- 
 grim, who, soon assuming an etherial form, soar'd aloft, 
 and, in celestial lustre, alighted on the roof close by her. 
 Amazement had now no longer place in the mind of the 
 blessed Mary. She was sensible that it was either an 
 angel, or a person rais'd from the dead ; for she had seen 
 the risen body of her son — To thee, the mother of the 
 Lord, said the bright appearance, I do not veil myself: 
 fcr thou wilt soon shine with me before the throne! I
 
 Ifö THE MESSIAH, 
 
 too, Mary, am a mother — the rnother of the obedient 
 Abrabiim ; of the heavenly Enoch, who was exempted 
 from lying in the grave. I am even she who brought 
 furth the Restorer of Innocence. I am the mother of 
 jnaDkmd. And hither am I come to join with thee in 
 praise of thy Son, the great Emanuel. 
 
 Mary and Eve, with alternate answers and replies, 
 thus coniinu'd the discuuise: I see, O joy unutterable! 
 the mother of Abel and Cain ! But can I, O thou im 
 mortal ! — can I, who have not tasted of death, sing with 
 the mother of men ? But the Redeemer is the subjict of 
 our song. Begin then, O Eve ! and teach me to sing of 
 my exalted Son. 
 
 Twice was I created by his power ! He who was born 
 of thee, call'd me twice into lite ! He, O mother! v\as 
 born, who created both thee and me, and who form'd 
 the heavens ! 
 
 He who created the sun, the moon, and the stars, and 
 form'd even thee and me, O Eve ! was born. This was 
 tlie hymn sung by the angels of God, when he was born 
 in a stable. 
 
 \Vhen the procession, chanting hymns of praise, rc- 
 turn'd to Heaven, the top of the tree of life wav'd, and 
 cekstial spirits bow'd in reverence to the new-born 
 babe. 
 
 He cry'd in a manger at Bethlehem. Yet, before he 
 wept, the angels had proclaira'd his name, and call'd him 
 Jesus. The ce iars and palms heard the name of Jesus ! 
 Tabor, and thou bloody Golgotha, heard the name of 
 Jesus! 
 
 The throne from w!:ich the Lord's anointed descended, 
 and all the host of Heaven, kne 'ling, l.eard his name ! 
 
 O thou mother of men ! didst thou sf e my Holy Son 
 expire] Didst thou hear him cry, It is finish'd? Didst 
 thou hear him exclaim, O Father ! into thy hands I com- 
 mend niy spirit! 
 
 Ah, 1 l.eajd the words of eternal life! I heard the 
 players on the harps chanting forth the praises of the ex- 
 alted Redeemer, when, raising his head, he cry'd. It ia
 
 THE MESSIAH. 177 
 
 fmish'd ! and when lifting up his eyes to Heaven, he 
 added. Father, i-ito thine hands I commend my «pirit! 
 
 Praise be to my Son who g ive me to mourn ! Behold 
 the hours of anguish are now become the subject of my 
 joy! Blessd am I, who brouglit forth the lledeemer! 
 Jilpss'd art tUou, the mother of those he ha? redeeni'd ! 
 
 Bleäs'd am I, form'd in Para(Use from a bone of Adam ! 
 My duät has he aw/dt'd ! I am the mother of the redeeni'd, 
 and thy mother, O Mary ! 
 
 O thou first daughter of the creation, the risen daogli- 
 ter of the eternal life ! from thee is descended the Eter- 
 nal, whom Maiy, a mortal, brought forth in a stable ! 
 O thou parent of hi.5 mother! celestial joys flow iu upon 
 me! I sink ia a flood of light! He has bless'd me, and 
 made me the lieiress of heavenly felicity ! Before my 
 hymn for my belov'd benediction aäcends to the throne, 
 onne more shall I see him in these fields of death ! I have 
 seen the resplendent Gabriel, who has toki me that I 
 shall once more behold liim ! O mother of Abraham, 
 and my mother! sing thy Son's resurrection, when his 
 head no longer sunk down on the lofty cross; his eyes 
 were no longer clos'd ; his temples no longer press'd by 
 the bloody crown ! 
 
 When the thunder of Cod's omnipotent voice once 
 more proclaim'd. Let there be Ught, — and there was 
 light, thjn he arose ! Then snnk our harps: then sunk 
 our palms. We shouted hallelujahs to God the Mediator ! 
 cm- hallelujahs ascended like the roaring of the sea. Then 
 tiie heavens and the earth were silent, till the mirtyrs 
 sang triumphant hymns ; and soon Adam descending to 
 the Mediator, thus addre?s'd him, with an expre-sive 
 voice : I swear by thee who livcth forever, that, on the 
 great daj' of the completion of all things, thosa who sleep 
 shall awake, and death shall be no more ! 
 
 Ah, his joyful call shall penetrate the partner in his 
 inheritance ! Strew my grave with the flowers of the har- 
 vest. The seed sov.n by the Lord shall shoot forth and 
 flourish ! 
 Swn, O Ma-y! shalt thon lie down in the sleep of 
 12
 
 178 THE MESSIAH, 
 
 death, that I may receive the mother of the Lord in the 
 vale of peace ! In that blissful vale we may sing the 
 Son, who, now from his throne, dries up the tears of 
 Christians, and silences the soft complainings of sorrow ! 
 Behold, He who bore the sins of the world, is love ! 
 He w ho took on him tlie griefs of Adam, and hung on 
 Calvary, is love ! He is love, who, unknown and de- 
 spis'd, gave himself up to die as a sacrifice — as a sacrifice 
 for sin, while the archangels themselves were struck dumb 
 with wonder ! 
 
 Thus they sang. Eve then departed, and Mary'i 
 wondering eyes long foUow'd her etfuJgent flight towardi 
 Tabor. 
 
 The holy band now began to return to the mount of 
 Transfiguration, there to rejoice together in the joy they, 
 by their appearance, had infns'd into the hearts of mor- 
 tals. As when twilight gives place to approaching night, 
 the stars successively come forth from the immense cre- 
 ation, so assembled those resplendent beings, and gradu- 
 ally overspread the sacred mount. 
 
 Cidli, Jarius's daughter, sat in an arbour on the roof 
 of the house where she liv'd, observing the lustre of the 
 rosy dawn. She had not seen her belov'd Semida, since 
 he left her to visit his former grave. O guiltless love ! said 
 she, for so I dare call thee, when wilt thou leave me? If 
 I was rais'd from the dead, that I might solely consecrate 
 myself to God, O love, to me all pain, yet full of inno- 
 cence ! why dost Üiou stay ^ itli thy unremitting softness i 
 JBat if 1 am not rais'd to consecrate myself entirely to 
 my Maker, how shall I know it? "Who ^^ill deliver me 
 from the maze of doubt ? 
 
 Cidli was then joiu'd by one who appear'd to be a fe- 
 male pilgrim that came to the feast, and had been con- 
 ducted to the roof by her mother. The pilgrim began : 
 I have been seeking one of those who have testify'd the 
 glory of Jesus ; who, while in his state of abasement, 
 rais'd to life the brother of Mary, the young man of 
 Nain, and thyself. Thou ha^t heard of thine Awakcner'» 
 iriuBiph ovtr death ; but kas the report rcach'd thine
 
 THE MESSIAH. 179 
 
 ear, that many sänts arose after his expiring on the cross, 
 and appcar'd to the lighteons who love him ? I love him 
 —I love him, O pilgrim! cry VI Cidli, is this report 
 really true? It will not be long, returu'd the pilgrim, 
 before thou wilt be eouvinc'd by thine own experience, 
 'lis said, that the righteous who are risen will assemble 
 on the Mount ot Transfiguration, and I will join the sa- 
 cred assembly with thee, who hast been rais'd from the 
 dead. I, O pilgrim ! said Cidli, have been rais'd from 
 the dead ; but am still mortal. Yet will 1 go with thee. 
 Should we see any bright apparitions, thou wilt support 
 ir.y siukiug sphits. The mother, Cidli, and the pilgrim 
 then set out for Tabor. 
 
 Semida had, by his meditations and his assiduous in- 
 quiries after the lledecmer's resurrection, overcome his 
 doubts, and his heart rested in the firm belief of that 
 gloiious event, so rich in blessings. His love now re- 
 turn'd, and Cidli appearing created for him, his tender- 
 ness took possession of all his powers. I am in the 
 midst of darkness, cry'd he, and who will lead me 
 through it 1 How shall i be certain that my dearest Cidli, 
 whom I love with a celestial flame, returns my passion 1 
 Who will lilt me to the lucid sumndt of joj', or sink me 
 into the vale of sorrow? — ^But be still my grief. Yet 
 how strange is my fate ! In the bioom of active life, I 
 fell a victhn to death. On my being again permitted to 
 breathe the vital air, I iraagin'd rayt,eU immortal; but 
 how was 1 mistaken 1 I found myseif unhappy in not 
 Iiaving exerted the utmost ardour in l^jarning wisdom 
 from him ^^ho dy'd and rose again, that T might render 
 it a seed for a bless'd harvest, ^vhen time shall be no 
 more. O thou who art rais'd from the dead ! before 
 thou ascendest to the Father, call me to thee, that I may 
 learn more of what thou hast term'd the one thing neces- 
 sary. 
 
 Here a stranger ha-tiiy coming up, said, O young 
 man ! it is in thy power to assist me. Above the foot 
 of mount Tabor lies a man, who appears grievously 
 wounded by robbers. In the way sits one who seem»
 
 180 THE JIESSUII. 
 
 blind and perishing with thirst, while no ?priug is near. 
 In the way to him lies an old man, who, spent wich fa- 
 tigue, has fallen, and lies groaning on the rock. Pity 
 also my weakness and thirst. 
 
 Seniida, with generous warmth, cry'd. Here is some- 
 thing for thyseif, and the others. The rest of my store 
 I'll reserve for the old man, who shall be my care. Go 
 thou to the blind. 
 
 Semida, «idvancing to tlie old man, gave him bread, 
 and refreshing juice of the vijie. Then raising Imn up, 
 went to the pilgrim, to assist him in succouring the blind, 
 and promising to return and conduct him to Jerusalem, 
 hasted forward to ascend the mountain, light as the 
 breath of the early dawn : but had scarce pass'd its foot, 
 ■when he perceiv'd Cidli between her mother and the 
 pilgrim. A torrent of mingled joy aud timidity rnsh'd 
 upon his mind, yet he proceeded with his unknown 
 guiile, who brought him to the man who had been 
 wounded, and lay a dismal spectacle, pale and coverM 
 with blood. They were binding up las wounds, when 
 Semida turning, saw Cidli approach, and she, observhig 
 him employ 'd in affording relief to the wounded tra- 
 veller, with a mixture of joy and melancholy, tiembliitg 
 pass'd by. Scraida, with tremulous eagerness, ran after 
 her ; but, on his overtaking her, the passions that affected 
 their minds obstructed their speech, and thty stood 
 gazing at each other ia silence. When the female pil- 
 grim bidding her not to stay, Semida cry'd, JMust I again 
 so soon part with my Cidli? She then returning no other 
 answer but a flood of tears, followed her guide. 
 
 Semida, with his compiuiion, remaiu'd comforting the, 
 ■nfnmded traveller. :Meanwhile two men, his brothers, 
 came up, and all three expressing their warmest thaidcs 
 for Seniida's humanity, he, with the kindest wishes, took 
 his leave. 
 
 In proceeding up the mountain, said the stranger, we 
 will take a shorter way than they have chosen, and will 
 meet them at the summit. I will accompany thee, said 
 Scruida; but wilt thou return back with met The strau-
 
 THE MESSIAH. 181 
 
 ger ansT/cring that he should not,Seiiiida desir'd to kuow 
 where he liv'd ; on which the other return'd, that blissful 
 was his home, .ind that heavenly friends expected him 
 there. Talk not then ol' poverty, said Semida, since thou 
 hast valuable friends to gladden thy lire : let me know 
 their names. The stranger, with a look of complacency, 
 »aid, These are some oi my friends, and then mention'd 
 several of the patriarchs and worthies of Israel. Semida 
 vie^'d him with astonishment, and this was gieatly in- 
 creas'd when instant y he beheld his face glow with 
 ctkstial beauty, and become resplendent. The more 
 this increas'd, the more did a mixture of joy and fear 
 spread paleness on Semida's cheeks; but his immortal 
 friend supported hb trembling steps. 
 
 In the other path, the female pilgrim, who was cheer- 
 fully fcllow'd by the motlser of Cidü, suddenly stopping 
 and tmning to her, said. My worthy friend, follow ma 
 no farther; for they only who are risen from the dead 
 are allow'd to appear at the Messiah's triumph. Must I 
 then, s<'iici she, part from my Cidli, from whom I have 
 never yet been separated ? Oh, soon, my heavenly daugh- 
 ter, return, and rejoice thy mother, by relating what 
 thou shalt now see. God grant that the gloi ies thou wilt 
 behold may heel all thme inquietudes! Ileturn towards 
 Salem, said Megiddo, the pilgrim, to the mother ! for 
 thou wilt net see again the happy danghter. My dear, 
 said Cidli, may the Lord be thy guide ! Thou heavenly 
 friend, let me soon return to embrace my mother ! 
 
 They tenderly embrac'd, and then parting, the weep- 
 ing eyes of the afflicted mother long follow'd them. As 
 they drew near the summit of the mountain, Cidli, while 
 absorb'd in silent astonishment, saw at a distance in a 
 grove of cedars, Semida wiih his companion, who now 
 shone with all his splendor. Semida likewise perceiv'd 
 her. The tsvo mortals stopt, walk'd forward, trembled, 
 and stopp'd again, while on either side, radiant beings, 
 smiling, gathcr'd round them. Oh, how bright, though 
 yet miknown, shone the old man, the blind, and the 
 wounded traveller with bis brethren! The celestials
 
 182 THE MESSIAH, 
 
 aronnd them increas'd in number and effulgence. Ko 
 words can express the transports cf the loving pair. 
 They gaz'd around, fill'd with wonder, then downward 
 casting their humble eyes, strove to speak, bat their 
 trembling \^ords stopp'd in the midst of their broken ut- 
 terance. How gieat was their joy and fear, when envi- 
 rond by the ineffable splendor, and the soft sweetwound- 
 ing benedictions of the immortals near them! they 
 approach'd each other ; then express'd their thoughts ; 
 and, happy pair ! theii- glorification began, and was soon 
 complete. They then flew into each other's embraces, 
 now no longer liable to a sepiration. To meet again, 
 O thou loving ! to meet again, when with the dust of one, 
 the dust of the other rests! was C id li's thought; but it 
 was only a dream of Cidli's joy. She now shed other 
 teais ; but it was only for Semida's joy she wept.
 
 THE 
 
 MESSIAH, 
 
 BOOK xri.
 
 ^^e Argument» 
 
 The Messiah, as Judge and Ruler of eveiy craitid 
 tcorld, sits, for the first time, i/pon the Tabor, 
 surrounded by angels and patriarchs, to judge 
 the souls of those recently deceased, zcho, at his 
 command, appear before him. The guardian 
 uAgel of one of the planetary Tcorlds requests 
 the Mesüah to hasten the moment of its happy 
 transmutation. An inhabitant of anot/ier globe 
 is punislicd for his mur<nurs. The Messiah dc- 
 sceyids into hell. The xninishment zihich he 
 there inflicts upon the rebellious spirits.
 
 THE 
 MESSIAH. 
 
 BOOK XVI. 
 
 I SHOULD uot pay due !iomage to the Eternal Son, 
 tl'.e glorified of God, were 1 not to declare, that it 
 was by llim ;ind for liiiii, that the Eternal, from the 
 void of chaos, erected this and every other world ; and 
 that the host of people, whom he alone can number, 
 and whose natural intelligence, and his choice, render 
 capable of enjoying supreme felicity, are under his do- 
 minion, till the time, when forsaking the labyrinths of 
 the infinity of worlds, they shidl all unite in the straight 
 road, that they may all reach the goal v hieb is the sal- 
 vation of all. But if Jesus had not exclaim'd upon the 
 cross, It is finish'd! this innumerable host of beings, 
 whose future happiness was thus insur'd, would not 
 liave been able, in due process of time, also to proclaim 
 in their heavenly abodes. The great end is accom- 
 plish'd ! But the redemption had been promis'd, even 
 at the creation, 
 
 Jesus Christ, the di\ine Son of the Father Eternal, 
 having been made man, again ascended the summit of that 
 mount, destin'd to be his temple, till he should have 
 ascended to the right hand of the Father. ITiis, then, 
 was the earthly thiouc of Hmi who was tlie Euler of 
 every worlil ! The Tabcr trembled under his feet, and 
 shone with reflected light! He was surrounded by those 
 risen from the dead, who had previously appcar'd to 
 the faithful upon earth; and, at a distance, by the 
 cherubims of God. These awful circles were open to-
 
 186 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 •wavu? the Holj- of Holies. Cb.rist was iu the mid^t, 
 reclining upon a mossy xock : he was no longer in a 
 state of suSfering, since even the resplendent brightness 
 of the angels aud the patriaichs was cclips'd iu LLs pre- 
 sence, and the brilliant corniscations emanating from 
 Eioa, mere'y appear'd lil;e the first streaks of t!;c rcsy 
 dnwa after a summer's night. But whenever his eye, 
 l[)''»aming \vith the divinity, was tarn'd upon thein, th« y 
 felt the most exquisite raptme of whi' h their limited 
 being was susceptible : each was perfectly satisfied witli 
 the rank in which he was pl<ic a ; and all were, through 
 Lim, supremsiy bless"d. 
 
 A cherubim, wliose superior inteliigenre enabled him 
 to understand a look which he receiv'd from the Sa- 
 viour, directed his flight in conformity to his wishes ; 
 and soon returned, conducting a host of spirits who had 
 departed this life since the resurrection of the di%ine 
 Son, and whose afihcted relatives and friend« were slill 
 cmploy'd in committing their earthly bodies to the 
 giave, or in planting cj^iress rotmd their funereal urns : 
 ere the fioweis which tlieir friends were strewing upon 
 their gi-aves were faded, the beings, whom these fre^h- 
 blooming flov»'ery chapiets coacealM, were ripe for 
 judgment. The messenger of Christ summon'd these 
 sphits to accompany him to the Tabor : iheh- appeai- 
 ance, as tiiey drew near, resembled that of a siunmer- 
 shower, which, glittering in the beams of a v.-at-iy sun, 
 seems to descend from a serene sky ; but in those parts 
 where the thickest clouds ai-e uncnlighten'd by those 
 revivifjing beams, the darkness seems more opaque : 
 as when a debate arises in an aidcnt soul between its 
 passions and its rea«oa, it is ovei-\Nhelm'd by a torrent 
 of ideas, eitlier true or false ; since these latter assmne 
 the deceitful appearance of truth, when the magic wand 
 of inclmation gives them a seducing form. The fpirits 
 of mortals ihiis, for the first time, appear'd before the 
 judgment-scat: they hover'd before Christ, and ex- 
 prcss'd their raptiue and amaze by joyful and fearful 
 exclamations, when they perceiv'd a Supreme God ij»
 
 THE MESSIAH, 187 
 
 I'le centre, suirounded, <is they concciv'd, by other 
 <!i vinities (1). The Ruler of every \Torld thns que&tiün'd 
 thcin, Spirits, who are ye ? A confua'd ;md stifl'd mur- 
 mur indicated that they meant to reply. Some %vLis- 
 per'd a modest bat just report of theinselvcs, but the 
 greater number gave in a very proud report of their 
 deserts: now in face of the most resplendent of Gods, 
 they found it was in vain to hope to deceive him, or to 
 conceal their errors. Some of the inferior divinities 
 separated, uorn among the crowd, a certain number of 
 spirits, whom they led towards the superior God, who 
 liow sat iu judgment upon them. A few rapid woids, 
 and still m.ore rajüd signs, sulfic'd to instruct the angels 
 v.ho gave in their evidence, and who grasped scrolls in 
 their hands, trac'd in characters of fire : sometimes they 
 mysteriously roU'd the sheets together : sometimes they 
 display'd the awful brightness of others. Some spirits 
 spokü : others hovcr'd around in silence. The sentences 
 of their Judge came like the lightning's blast towards 
 the soub of evil — and to the good, as does the sudden 
 joyful burst of the blight orb of light and day on one 
 restor'd from blindness to his sight (C). 
 
 By one awful look he seai'd their doom — ^by one 
 bright glacce, poiiited to the sinronnding angels, tlieir 
 destia'd road. J.Iany roads lead towards the bottomless 
 gulpb, and many roads also lead to Heaven (3). Some 
 are thousands of centuries on their journey : others 
 complete theirs in a fsw hours. The reason -svhy some 
 are exalted even to the throne of God, and others are, 
 alas ! conderan'd to everlasting sufferings, are either es- 
 plain'd to them by the inhabitants of those worlds 
 in which they are at first plac'd, or they are left to the 
 stings of their own consciences, which never fail to e:;- 
 , lighten them. Among the spirits who were approaching 
 the Tabor, several feil pre.strate even unto the earth, 
 exclaiming, Jupiter ! God of thunder, have mercy on us ! 
 Erama! Tien ! (4) Father of all ! we have sttay'd from 
 thy ways, have been negligent of cur duties, and have 
 «un'd against thy laws ! Jupiter ! Saturn ! (5) Master of
 
 183 THE MESSL4II. 
 
 the Gods ! have mercy upon us ! But the Redeemer gat- 
 orders to the attentive cherubims conformable to th 
 actions of those who were plac'd before the judgmcni 
 »eat. 
 
 He who has follow'd the coarse of the Euphrates (6; 
 from the star which rises at the extremity of Moun 
 Ix;banon, even unto the seventh cedar of the grove, ha 
 g'-eatly sinu'd ; but, form'd with passions strong an( 
 impetuous, the temptations which led him astray wen 
 too powerful: when he shall approach the rays o 
 Phiala (7), the inhabitants of that planet may teach hia 
 to revere the name of his Sa\ iour. 
 
 This other spirit, who comes from the vicinity of th« 
 Ganges, was gloomy, flexible, and deficient in strength 
 of mind: it shall ascend towards Ilermon : never iei 
 him hear of me as his Judge ; but, sooner than to the 
 former, as soon as he first descries the light emanating 
 from Engeddi, mention me to him as his Redeemer. 
 
 Why dost thou humble thyself so profoundly, even 
 to the very dust ? The pride of this soul led him to be 
 cruel : lead him to hell, before I again set my foot upon 
 the mount of Olives. Oh, Jupiter ! listen to my prayer : 
 Calm thine anger — but he fell, dcpriv'd of motion, be- 
 fore his Judge. If thou hadst not betray 'd thy friend (3), 
 the Angel of Vengeance shoidd not have hurl'd thee 
 from my presence. The signs of the Älessiah told the 
 angels how and whither to lead these spirit?. 
 
 Soon as this faithful spirit hovers over the source of 
 Bethl;ihem, before his fellows give him a palm of re- 
 ward, thou hast had faith in the mercy and in the 
 reward of the Father of all (9;. Learn now, thon mau 
 of worth, that God is greater and more powerful than 
 thon didst suppose him lo be ! 
 
 This one never rose but to arm himself for war, and 
 even, when reposing, he was meditating npon fresh con- 
 quests. With respect to this blood-thirsty being, the look 
 of the Sovereign Judge might truly be compar'd to light- 
 ning ; and his will was promptly understood and obey'd. 
 
 ilay the toiigues of all tlie adders and blasphemer» of
 
 THE MESSIAH. 189 
 
 :"'^i lell hiss at tli» deceitful calumniator, when thou hast, 
 jh angel! plnng'd him into the bottomless guiph of 
 hell ! 
 
 Suddenly a cherubim, with floating hair, and whose 
 jheeks were sufius'd with the deep glow of fire, rnsh'd 
 vrom the Milky Way, and fell prostrate before Jesus 
 Christ, the Ruler of every world ! Holy Mediator, he 
 :ried, the planet of which I am the guardian approaches 
 he term of its transmutation: the inhabitants of the 
 iiigher star have ah'cady a certain prescience of their 
 «peedy flight towards the first source of light: it is 
 therefore with difficulty that they restrain their impa- 
 tience to enjoy the revivifying warmth proceeding from 
 ♦hose torrents of light : the hope which they now en- 
 tertain is certainly a foretaste of their final beatification : 
 nevertheless, you would giant them a very gieat fa- 
 vour, if you would forwaid the moment of their eleva- 
 tion. Might I venture to touch Gethsemane and its 
 olive trees? Tliis would give a rude shock to the poles 
 of my planet : the columns upon which its foundations 
 irest would be the sooner overthiowu, and also htr 
 •starry firmament» 
 
 Cherubhn, thou mayst touch Gethsemane and its 
 ipalm-trees! The cherubim hasten'd to avail himself of 
 ithe permission, that his planet might the sooner arrive 
 at her glorious end. 
 
 Ecfore Kennath (lO) came his guardian angel, who, 
 smiling aftecliouately on him, thus address'd him : Thy 
 thoughts were too noble, too elevated, my brave Ker- 
 math, for the men w ith whom thou wert doom'd to 
 live : therefore they misunderstood and hated thee. 
 Thou mayst now dry those tears, which the bitter grief 
 tlieir contempt occasioned thee, led thee to shed in pri- 
 vate. Come and receive the reward which tliou hast 
 acquir'd by thy patience, and by the extreme goodness 
 of thy heart. Raise thine eyes (lie pointed out a planet 
 to him) : thou ai t to be plnc'd there, w here thou wilt 
 enjoy the first dawn of felicity ; and from thence thou 
 wilt lise, by degrees, duiing the course of eternity, from.
 
 190 THE HIESSIAH. 
 
 the first tinge of cihcriHl brightness to the dazzling splen- 
 dor of its full glory, and from mere pleasure to excess 
 of joy. They then rose together towards this first degree 
 of happiness promis'd to lue just man. 
 
 One of the kings of India had departed this life, and 
 his soul, hardly as yet awaken'd from the last sleep of 
 its terrestrial body, fancied it was slowly wandering in 
 an endless labyrinth. But, soon recovering from this 
 Elate of apathy, though still vain glorious, since this feel- 
 ing did not desert him even in death, he thus e.vpress'd 
 his surprise : Where are the spirits of my slaves (1 ] ), 
 •who purposely termmated their existence that they 
 might be buried witb me, and con*^inue t> serve me es'ea 
 after death? why do they not proclaim tlie approach of 
 their master, the deceased monarch 1 But having at last 
 reach'd the termination of these gloomy vaults, he per- 
 c.eiv'd before him an immortal, who, by a gesUue of 
 his right hand, induc'd him to stop. The heavenly 
 yontb, then looking at the astonisa'd soul, with a 
 half smile, Follow at a distance, said the angel to the 
 sovereign ; the light that thou w ilt perceive extends it- 
 self behind me. The monarch was obliged to do so ; 
 and, having soon reach'd the accumulating crowd of 
 spirits, seiiteiice was speedily pass'd upon hmi. 
 
 Ah! cried the spirit of another mortal, jest awa'dng 
 from its dream of life, here I may certainly hope to be 
 freed from all my troubles and vexations, since those I 
 see here are Gods, and they must be just : but not so 
 men : they are envious, blind persecutors of innocence, 
 and they despise tliose who are more honest and better 
 than themselves. The expectations of this spirit were 
 not deceiv'd : he was rewarded. 
 
 Gclimar was extended upon the bed of death : L-e was 
 a young man of an ardent nii::d, aad in the brilliant 
 morning- of iiis age; his friend, who stood by his side, 
 endeavi.ur'd to assuage hiü burning t'.irst with the ]>;ire 
 element, drawn from a refreshing spring. For ever ! cx- 
 claim'd Gclimar. Didst thou (latter thyself with other 
 hopes ? No, we pat t for ever ! such is the lot of all nature,
 
 THE MESSIAH. VJl 
 
 l\om the slmdy oak to the meanest flower : it is that of 
 thy youtlilul friend, who is i.ow dying before thy eyes: 
 it will be thine, and that of every beir.g who now in- 
 liaics the vital air. All is over — all our vital functions 
 and faculties are suspended, when we fade, wither, and 
 die, and return to dust, as if we had never been ! What 
 mean those consoling, jet sad looks, young man? 
 Wuuidst thou undertake to console me ? To what pnr- 
 p.so, «iicc i die? — May thou be cjnsol'd, that thy span 
 ■ of life may be extended! — i have long dreaded this 
 av. .r,i monii nt ; but, while in the flower of my ago, 1 did 
 not wish to encourage such serious thoughts, to i:iterri:pt 
 my present enjoymei.ls. Alas ! my tinrj is com», and 
 1 n:u=l speed me hence ! But whither shall I go ? Will it 
 b.j to the giave ? Possibly I shall not go any where ; for 
 •when I am no moie, 1 shall be dissolv'd — annii iiateJ, 
 Thou wiit not beslovv upon this corrupted corpse the 
 name of the friend tlioii has-t lov'd'J I have Lither- 
 ito eurteavour'd to spare thy feelings, and to clieck 
 I thy tears : I can no longer dissimulate : t'ie iron arm of 
 'death is extended to seize me, and my dying soul will 
 pc; isli vv'ith my body. How terrific is this gloomy, this 
 I dro;;;', "ui i;'ea ! — 1 niust die ! and thus o'erthrown, I shall 
 I be reduc'd to dust ! — Listen to my last w ords, my bc- 
 I lov'd friend, and store them in thy memory, as a warrior 
 sets :tore by his shield. I do net complain to the Gods 
 bc:au3e they hf;ve doom'd i\ic to die, and to annihila« 
 itioii. Such weak mortals as we are, are too insignificant 
 to be deeni'd worthy of inuuortality. Go, hasten to 
 (haw me another draught of that refnshiug stream 
 wl ih so recently allay'd my parching thirst : though, 
 if 1 am to die, may my release be speedy! His fiieud 
 complijd with his wishes; but the grateful beverage 
 mer-, iy hastens Lis death. He turns pale, faints, shud- 
 ders, and dies ! 
 
 The spirit, separated from the body, as yet partakes 
 of the lethargy of tlie latter; biit suddenly awaking, as 
 fruui a trance, it scais aloft, and, by a vehement excla- 
 'B;ai ion of delight, expresses its astouiibnient : aheadjr
 
 392 THE MESSIAH, 
 
 its harmonious voice, in gentle accents, declares its ad- 
 miration and its raptm-e. Ye Gods! esclaiin'd the 
 sphit, ye immortal Gods ! is it possible? ye solar and 
 ye lunar Divinities, can it be possible? 1 yet live! He 
 liiat was dead, still lives! — Ye Gods of heaven and 
 earth, and of all the planels! — Ah ! I exist! — This is 
 not the last dream of my mortal body ! 1 really exist ! 
 I am no longer one of those beings who fade like a 
 flower! Holy Gods! most holy Go<ls! Disinities of 
 the sun, the moon, and the stars, which appear to me 
 more resplendent than ever, who are ye? where shall 
 I seek you ? where, ye mighty and eternal Gods, shall 
 I fall prostrate ? where shall 1 shed tears of gratitude 
 for my renewed existence, which is now mine to all 
 eternity? wheie now sighs my friend? 1 soar too much 
 above the earth ! Where is my suffering friend, w ho 
 giieves at the idea of quitting Ids earthly tenement as I 
 Lave done? Oh, best and tcnderest of friends! why 
 didst thou not resign thy breath when I did ] Thou be- 
 lievest that thou wilt be destroyed ! but these holy and 
 beneficent Gods — these Arbitrators of our life and death 
 —these eternal Gods have not dooni'd us to annihilation . 
 Dare I descend to shew myself to him in the giove, 
 M'here he is digging my grave, to take my last leave of 
 him, to fortify his mind against the horrors of death, 
 and to elevate his ideas towaids a blessed inmjoitality ? 
 
 At this moment he perceiv'd some beings like him- 
 self, w ho were descending towaids the Tabor : ha s sw 
 others who bore no resemblance to liLii, and wlio ap- 
 pcar'd to him to be of divine origm: he advaccd to- 
 wards these latter, and hiunbly ader'd them, ciying, I 
 exist ! accept my most sincere thanks : I honour, love, 
 and adore you, oh ye eternal Gods! for having bestow'd 
 upon me immortality! The angel he address'd thus 
 replied, We are also created beings. 
 
 Who have died as I have done? asked Gelimar : who 
 have risen from the dead as I have done? 
 
 There is but one God, was the answer. He also 
 created us : but we rank uiuong immortals. Follow our.
 
 THE IVIESSlAir. 193 
 
 steps. lie who form'd the suns, the chcntbims, and the 
 souls of mortiils like thee, will soon teach thee to know 
 hUn. 
 
 He was thus led towards the Picdeemer, to whom he 
 paid his first homage; aiul then loilow'd his guide along 
 the path which God had ordaiu'd he should pursue. 
 
 Many times did the snn rise and set duiingthe period 
 that the Saviour of mankind cominued to sit in judg- 
 ment upon the spirits of the deceas'd, who incessantly 
 appe ir'd before hinu Their approach might be com- 
 par'd to the showers proceeding from the effects of a 
 storm, which so.netimes fell in torrents, at others, fliop 
 by drop, which were lost in aiid desaits, or in the 
 nmrm'ring rivulets which water'd the cultivated plains : 
 and the spirits were either plung'd ia despair, or v/ere 
 dilated with rapture, according as the decisive scales of 
 Fate rose or fell. 
 
 Suffer a meand'ring sorp.ntine liuilet here to inter- 
 rupt my narrative, while 1 express my personal feelings 
 upon my rccovei-y to health. A hundred moons have 
 revolv'd round the globe during the intemiption (12) 
 of my fainf attempt to describe our Divine Mediator 
 sitting, for the first tune, in judgment upon the spirits 
 of mortals. The heavenly ray of hope, which my sin- 
 cere belief in him had imparted to my soul, which led me 
 to expect, that, through his mercies, 1 should enter the 
 bless'd abode of the Most Ilcly, was disturu'd by my 
 regret for not luviug bjen a more able labourer in his 
 vinej'aid. Thus, alternately a prey to hope, and the 
 victim of dread, I yet fi.lt tlie necessity of entire sub- 
 in!.<<ion to the will of the Most High. Those by whom 
 I was surrounded did not wish to deceive me : some- 
 times tht-y tanght me to expect that I should live: at 
 others tht-y desir'd me to prepare to die. 
 
 The solemn silence of some sufficiently denoted the 
 dinger of my situation ; but my strength of mind never 
 forsook me. I was not infected by their alarm, nor 
 would I suffer them to depress my spirits by their feais. I 
 :rcc<iver'd; and I still parsoe my teiTestrial career. Amt 
 
 VOL. TI. K
 
 IP-i THE MESSIAH. 
 
 I thus return n:y tb.aiiks to the Lord of Hosts, to whom 
 not only praiäe, but adoration is das : thauks I repeat 
 to the Most High, the Mediator and Fresei-ver of man- 
 kind! The being comfoilably situated in this world 
 rendei-s us less anxious to remove even into another, and 
 even a better : yet the hour of our death insensibly ap- 
 proaches, and each day we draw nearer the land of 
 promise: and, oh! what enjoyment have 1 then in 
 store ! Though by no means an able searcher of heaits, 
 ■when elevated amidst the superior spheres, I shall from 
 thence contemplate, ever>" succeeditig moment, the souls 
 of the mcredulous, of the atheists, and of Christians, 
 assembling in crowds beyond the boundaries of the 
 eai-th. Friends will then meet those friends, whose 
 teais, whkh have flow'd for their decease, aic hardly 
 dry. The \\ idow, who has long been resign'd to the 
 decrees of Heaven, will advance among the crowd, 
 borne upon the passmg clouds. Vheu the fate of all 
 will be known, some will be enlighten'd, and none will 
 be any longer conceal'd by an enigmatical state of ob- 
 scurity : when each atom will be wei^h'd according lo 
 its value, and ev'iy illusion will be dissipated. Eveiy 
 man, who is eager in the pursuit of knowk-dge, and of 
 a speculative turn of mind, must feel auKions, even here 
 below, to be speedily ti-anslated iiito a futjre world, 
 were it only that he might be initiütcd in the fate of 
 his fellow-creatures ; and thus penetrate into those (in 
 his present state) forbidden lab'rinths, without fear of 
 losing Ms road, which must alone prove a source of 
 never-failing felicitj'. 
 
 But now, rivailet, cease thy meanders : let thy mur- 
 mui-s be l.st amid the torrents of my song respecting 
 the new covenant. 
 
 The palace of a monarch had fallen in : the souls of 
 tliose who had been crush'd in tlie ruins were anaign'd 
 at the bar of Eternal Justice : they had all been either 
 tjrants or voluptuaries. One only amongst them could 
 boast of having had a good heart. The envious crowd 
 s'lrround and cci'.eavour to conceal him. He suffers
 
 THE MESSIAH. 195 
 
 Uiem to do so ; but, soon after, he alone remain'd in 
 sight of the angels : thus an honest man, whose rei)ula- 
 tiou is attack'd by calumniators, disdains to defend 
 liiniscii, convinc'd that the assertions of l»is enemies are 
 best refuted by ti.e even tenor of his life. 
 
 But this blood is sliii warm ! those eyes still roll .' 
 they are not yet absolutely fix'd ! those members still pal- 
 pitate ! but now he falls motionless upon the earthj and 
 expires I — This was a mortal who, in tlie lurj' of de?pair, 
 had directed his unsteady poniard against his own heart : 
 he had tbrown it fscin him, but hastily recoverir.g 
 it, he contemplated t!.e destructive v.capori with a fu- 
 rious smile. A gloomy foreboding icade him fancy he 
 saw blotd wherever he cast his eyes: Lis own SL-em'd 
 liowiag from his barniüg veins. He then tr;inqiii!ly 
 pointed his sword towards his heart, but foibore to 
 strike, till, g;ilairg !-trenglh from his incrcasir,-^ despair, he 
 plung'd it into his ulcerated bosom, which groan'd imdcr 
 the stroke, while the earth resounded with his weight as 
 he fell prostJ-ate in death. His soul now appears before 
 the Judge, ha\ing as yet but very imperfect ideas re- 
 specting those clouds which are enlightcn'd by the full 
 mcon ; or respecting those stais which eniigh.ten ether 
 cicf.Gs. But, oh !— The Gods (13) entirely awaken him ! 
 all the celestial beings tremble and fear for him : never- 
 theless, the Judge's smiles annonnce his pardcn ! such <i 
 SHiile was omnipotent, and changes his despair into 
 rnplui-e. 
 
 Elisama had at last laid Lis hoary head in the grave : 
 he was an indigent old man, who, supported by a cane, 
 dragg'd his feeble frame to the gates of the rich, to iiii- 
 plcre his daily bread : liis drink he drew from the 
 crystul stream. He possessed a feeling heart, and was 
 iin-r'd to hardsl}»ps. A hero, in every sense cf the 
 V. ord, be had not only pa'Jentlj- borne the grcatei^t mis- 
 fortunes, but had constantly biess'd the Crertor of all 
 i:.;i;gs, the Distributor of good and evil, for having 
 aff.icled him. Kings might have deriv'd honour and 
 profit from his society, and yet he was despis'd by the
 
 196 THE MESSIAH, 
 
 most contemptible among the people ! He was known 
 to be dead, and yet no one came forward to bury him : 
 his faithful dog alone mourns for him, licks his cold 
 hand for the last time, and dies of grief! Elisama now 
 appears before the Judge. A cherubim, beaming with 
 joy, presents him a crown of gloiy, by order of the 
 Supreme Arbitrator, A soft murmurof joy spread aloi-g 
 the extensive ciicle of angels, and of the risen, when 
 the cherubim thus rewarded this tried servant of God. 
 
 Zadech had strictly fulfiU'd the law, which he had 
 found the more easy, as no contrary desii-es had arisen 
 in his heart to lead him to infringe them ; and such 
 were his mistaken prejudices, that be prided himself 
 upon his small inheritance, and fancied he derivd great 
 merit from feeding upon mouldy bread, and from 
 flrinking out of a woo<len goblet the water of a stagnant 
 pool, and from inhabiting a ruinous mud cottage, and not 
 possessing more than a few copper coins. Woe be to 
 those who despise the poor! But may woe also be the 
 portion of the miserable wretch who makes a merit of 
 being wretched, who is even more blameable than the 
 rich miser, when he neglects to correct his own errors 
 in consequence of this foolish presumption, and who 
 fancies, that without practising humility he shall obtain 
 a crow n of glory when he dies, because he has chosen 
 to be miserable upon eaith ! His compauiops in misery 
 buiy the indigent Zadech, and his soul appeai-s before 
 Lis Judge. Descend with him ! was the order he gave 
 a cherubim,' who instantly prepar'd to obey. Zadech 
 excuses himself, tiuns from him, wishes to fly, but i* 
 unable, screams, is silent, «ind then speaks. Me ? who 
 have so exactly attended to the letter of the law ! Me 1 
 who expected a reward proportionate to my zeal ! Me ? 
 Who art thou, oh thou! whose rays are ting'd with 
 blood ? why dost thou lead me along this terrible road ? 
 didst tliou perfectly comprehend the order the Judg^ 
 gave thee ? Oh ! dp not be so angry : I tremble under 
 the n-;otion of tliy wings : 1 shrink from the lightning 
 which flashes from thine eyes — which seems ready to
 
 THE MESSIAH. 197 
 
 exteniiinatc me ! How unjust to conEtiaiu me tlms to 
 follow thee ! Oh that thoti wert but ir.gulph'd in utter 
 fiarkness, or consum'd by flames which would eclipse 
 thy rays ! Who ait then, 1 repeat? Leave me, I request. 
 
 "While speaking, he push'd a thick cloud against the 
 cherubim, which instantly became a mere transparent 
 mist ; and in another moment it dissolv'd in light va- 
 pours before the resplendent rays v.liich surrounded 
 I he cherubim, who still continued his flight: the soul 
 felt the power of the immortal, and yet continues to de- 
 fend itself, and to revolt against its angelic conductor ; 
 but all that it could do was to precipitate itself the depth 
 of tliree mountains. The cherubim, no longer inclin'd 
 to spare him, recallM him by a thimdcr-bolt. The soul 
 rose in trembling from the abyss in which it had sought 
 refuge, and submissivily follow'd its heavenly guide. 
 
 Two armies were engag'd : the chiefs on either side 
 were kill'd. The dead and the woimded lay extended 
 on every side of this now silent field of battle. The 
 shades of these dead warriors, with their innnortal 
 guides, rose in such numbers, that they could only 1)0 
 compar'd to the fast-falling drops of a sudden shower. 
 The Judge of the world raises his right hand : instantly 
 the most ticmendous tbimder-bolts are hnj I'd against the 
 tis'o guilty chiefs : the surrounding echoes long repeat the 
 dreadful sound which pursues the steps of these enemies 
 to humanity : the hollow murmur still continues, and 
 is heard even viitli horror amid the profundity of the 
 caverns of Gehenna (14), from \^henc€ there soon 
 ascended the voice of those who were cursing their 
 destiny, and the harsh sound of the whips employed in 
 flagellating the criminals. The soldier, who had just 
 fallen a victim to their sanguinary dispositions, ex- 
 claim'd while striking them, Here we also inflict the 
 suflferiiigs of death! and again he angiily raises his 
 arm to renew the strokes. The chains which now bind 
 the conquerors slov/ly clash, and emit a mournful sound ; 
 but the sardonic laugh vhich arose from the bottomless 
 gulph was stUl more appalling.
 
 198 TIIE MESSIAH. 
 
 But nov: v.ere heard the most heavenly sounds : angels, 
 striking their golden harps, chavmted foiih their joy 
 with sweettst harmony: they celebrate! the approach 
 of a crowd of iufant spirits, which, disengag'd from 
 their corporeal bodies, were advancing through the 
 cedars which grew upon the Tabor. They came fro:n 
 the borders of the Ganges, of the Rhine, of the Niger, 
 and the l\ile: as a numerous flock of sheep and of 
 young Iambs separate and graze upon the side of an 
 extensive hill, abounding viith spring grass, so did 
 these soids appear amid the gioves of Tabor. The 
 Judge did not pronounce sentence upon them : they 
 were led by gentle and imperceptible O-ansitions from 
 planet to phmct, till, having reached the term of celestial 
 adolescence, they were prepared to take a higher 
 flight. They saw and learnt much daring their journey, 
 and enjoy'd many hours of deUghtful recreation ; and 
 I thought, that during one of these seasons devoted to 
 joy and raptnre, I heard, accompanied by a fine-toned 
 harp, these sounds. The soul of an infant will be led 
 into one of these peaceful retreats ; and while sporting 
 amidst its flowery fields, it will meet with the soul of the 
 onl}' friend who remain'd faithful to Elisama, that of 
 his dc!T, who lick'd the hand of his dead master, and 
 expir'd of grief while so doing. The soul of this faithful 
 animal attaches itself to that of the child, follows it, and 
 will not leave it : nor is he inclin'd to drive Isim back : 
 nevertheless they must part when the child rises to a 
 higher degree of felicity; but other newly arriv'd 
 spirits will attract its regard, and with them it will con- 
 tinue to sport in these flowery meads. 
 
 The sou! of Geltor, awaken'd to raptnre, rises widi a 
 joyful exclamation, and stems the air with its guide. 
 When they had risen far above the moon, and could no 
 longer hear the impetuous thundering motion of the 
 longtail'd fiery comets, and they had reach'd a mere 
 serene firmament, those suns, whose powerful rays are 
 never intercepted by any of those opaque globes which 
 darken most of the planetary systems, several figure»
 
 THE MESSIAH. 199 
 
 appear'd unci surrounded Geltor: they neither re- 
 sembl'd those images of which a thinking miod forms 
 to itself an idea, nor those that Hit before tlie mind 
 during a deceitful dream : they brought before his eyes 
 all the good and pious actio'js which he had pJerfonn'd 
 during his c.ii thly career. He seems to revive at this 
 sight, as he does not perceive his errors iutenningl'd 
 with his virtaes. He is therefore imprcss'd with the 
 rapturous idea, that God thus reward» tlicm: he sees 
 around him many clasped hands, whi^h arc rais'd to- 
 wards Heaven in prayer for him — those of the neces- 
 sitous, whom he hail reliev'd — of the orphan?, whom he 
 had, by his care and attention, render'd useful members 
 of society — ^au<l those of the wives and friends, and of 
 the crowd of free men, to deliver whom he had shed 
 Lis blood ill batde : and he advanc'd in t!;e midst of 
 this host, biess'd by their cries of joy, and by the ex- 
 cess of gratitnde display'J upon their smiling counten- 
 ances. 
 
 Many times did the snn rise and set during tlie period 
 that the Saviour of mankind continued to sit in judg- 
 ment upon the spirits of the deceas'd, who incessantly 
 appear'd before him. Their approach miglit be com- 
 par'd to showers proceeding from the effects of a 
 storm, which sometimes pours down in torrents, at 
 others, fall drop by drop, and are lost amid arid 
 desarts, or in the murmuring rivulets which water the 
 cuUivated plains : and the spirits were either pluag'd 
 into despair, or were dilated with raptiu-e, acc;;rding as 
 the decisive scales of fate rose or fell (15). 
 
 Hagid and Syrmion had drawn then- swords against 
 each other : both are barii'd in blood : they stagger and 
 expire, reciprocally animated against each other. As 
 they ascend amidst the most opaque gloom, they hear 
 the dismal clashing of the chains of adamant, wliich a 
 cherubim had dispatch'd towards them by an infernal 
 spirit, who angrily assails them, and chains them toge- 
 gether ; and the caverns of hell resounded with their 
 fall 1
 
 200 THE IMESSIAH. 
 
 Toa, a youthful iuLabitaiit of one of tiiose globss 
 which were the resting-place of the Divinity, from 
 whence bin and Deafli were banish'd, regards wiüi 
 astonishment an angei who secni'd afflicted at leavir.g 
 him; but soon his agtuui^hment changes into terror, 
 Toa had coniplain'd of the Creator and of the Mediator, 
 for not having sparVl those who were destin'd to rise 
 from their graves, the siiflferings of their previous de- 
 cease. He had began b} murmuring, and had fini h'd 
 by rebelling. Ttnified at he knew n( t what, he cast a 
 hasty look arcuud hiru, and ptrceiv'd seveial solem- 
 nizing choirs, crown'd w ith early flowers, wl o, render'd 
 enthusiasts by the inspiration of cclt-stial harmony, and 
 animated by the enjoyment of a succession of delig'it=, 
 sang the giory cf God in tlie labyrinth of bliss, Toa 
 descended near them, that he might be able to converse 
 wi'.h them repecting his troubles; but a stop was 
 speedily put to his pngiess. Another angel made him 
 a sign, which obliges him to follow, and he is surpris'd 
 to find himself hovering in the rear. After a short in- 
 terval he discerns at a di-tance the luminous globe wliich 
 was his native country : it appears to lesemble the other 
 planets, and he sees it, with increasing astonishment, 
 disappear behind a sun, 
 
 Aj gel of the Lord, Whither art thou leading me ? he 
 excL'üm'd, 
 
 Tlie angel made no reply. — Angel of the Lord, of 
 what did I complain ? The angel continn'd silent ; and 
 the brilliant colour in his cheeks seems to fade. Angel 
 cf God, oh I deign to succour me ! — 1 am imable, was 
 the reply; and they continu'd their flight, as if carried 
 upon the wings of a whiilwind, both, for a length of 
 time, remaining silent. At last Toa exclaim'd — 
 
 Who order'd thee to cany me thus away ?— The Su- 
 preme Judge. 
 
 They now perceivVl the terrestrial globe ; and though 
 still at a distance, they remark'd its newly fiU'd graves. 
 Ail ! there aie the receptacles of the dead, cried Toa, — 
 It is there that the seed accuinnlates, replied llie angel.
 
 THE MESSIAH. 201 
 
 — And what is tbat eminence, near tiiose houses, upon 
 which are those bloody crosses? asked Toa. — It is Gol- 
 gotha. — Golgotha? Seraphim, I discern many mortals 
 there, but where is he who gave ti:e!n Life? — Thou 
 in.iyst perceive the refulgent light by which he is sur- 
 rou.ided : those who are near him thou already knowest 
 to be my fellows. 
 
 Ah ! I perceive amidst the host of cherubims, the 
 Rnl'.T of the heavens ! — Yes, you now see the Judge of , 
 every wond! — And, wretch that I am ! he is also mine ! 
 Is it towards him that you aie IcuUng me?— Make 
 ha?t>j! was the reply; and having descended towai-ds 
 Eaiih, they hoverd tovvards the Tabor. 
 
 Toa, sunounded by a host of spirits, at last reaches 
 the seat of judgment, and of the second transfignratioa 
 of the Mediator: thai, during the fury of a storm, the 
 already ripe fruit is shook from the tree, along '.vith the 
 faded bud and the fresher flowers. When Toa f>)u;id 
 himself among thc.=e spiiits, upon thisterrible mountain, 
 he would very fain have sought his safety in flight ; but 
 an imisible pov/cr detains his steps, and he appears 
 before the Judg". Several chenibinas advance : so this 
 holy as-embly might be compar'd to the streuiiy of a 
 summer's sky previous to tli° approach of a tempest ; 
 but as that c nries death and destnaction along with it, 
 so did tlie cherubims prefer their accusations against 
 Toa. When they had all spoken, the radiant Elva, 
 whose eyes were fix'd upon the Saviour, merely emitted 
 a feeble light. The angels, the lisen from the dead, 
 Toa, and the spii its, all tremi)le. Suddenly Toa is con- 
 vulsd : he turns pa'e, rends the air with liis screruus, 
 faints, and dies. The mighty arm of the All-powerful 
 soon crumbles his body into dust, which he i:.stantly 
 delivers to the wind, by whom it was iimnediately cUs- 
 persed far and near ; and, alas ! no etherial body was 
 created to shroud the spirit of the deceas'd. It re.aaia'd 
 alone, forsaken by every being in existence, and 
 b.mish'd from every sphere in the creation. It no 
 longer wanders either in this land of mariolity, nor is 
 K2
 
 202 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 it suffei'd to seek a refuge iu its own : it uo Icugcr dis- 
 cerns any immortals : plung'd iu the deepest sorrow, it 
 no longer hears any celestial voices. It had retain'd 
 the faculty of thinking, and it was not depriv'd of mo- 
 tion ; but in vain did it endeavour to extricate itself 
 from the immensity of void, sines its understanding and 
 knowledge seeai'd to have been annihilated. It was 
 merely sensible that it still existed to suffer, as it re- 
 tain'd a perfect recd'ection of the past. Depriv'd as it 
 »v.as of all friendly intercourse, no one replied to Lis 
 anxious inquiry, to leani when the Judge would mi- 
 tigate his dreadful punishment, though sometimes 
 (%nthcut his beir.g awaie of it) ideas and thoughts 
 crossed ids mind, which were either the eflect of hi- 
 fphation, or the consequence of his bitter recollections. 
 One of the proudest of souls was now led among 
 those who vi ere being judg'd by our Saviom-. Tliis 
 arrogant criminal had, \\ilh the cunning of a serpent, 
 and the claws oi" a lion, depriv'd his people of the sacred 
 rights of libeitj-. When the blood of the proscrib'd 
 had ceas'd to flow, and that he had obtaind entire do- 
 minion over the slaves whom he had loaded with 
 chains, he gave a free loose to his natural depravitj-, and 
 insulted theii- silent submission to liis tjnanny by the 
 most bitter raillery. Affecting to consider himself their 
 God, he hardly suficr'd them to enjoy ihe piivUcges of 
 being men. But at last, the worm which never dies 
 began to feast upon the corpse of this self-created divi- 
 nity. As they drew near the Judge, the conductor of 
 this soul, who was a yoimg immortal, again said iu an 
 authoritative tone. Follow me! but having rather rc- 
 cover'd from the terror of deatli, it stopp'd its flight. 
 The seraphim notic'd his action, aud his checks, suflFus'd 
 with a deeper glow of fire, sccm'd to emit rays similar 
 to those which proceed from Sirius, whil« we are under 
 his dominion. The deceas'd still linger'd behind. The 
 celestial lightly turning round, snfifer'd his breath to 
 reach die sinner, who now foJlow'd Limas chart" flies 
 before the wind, or as the waves, when agitated by a
 
 THE MESSIAH. 203 
 
 sloin, threw np a white froth ! As a ia't resonrce, the 
 criminal endeavour d to laugh as in derision ; but it 
 s)on beraiHc a mere convulsive movement; and iiis 
 Süriiphic guide threw him, in this state, in the dust, at 
 th»' loet of the Judge. 
 
 The Divine Saviour inquires, Sphit, w!io art thou ? 
 Tlie dercas'd rose, saying, If you are one of the Gods of 
 heaven, learn that I am one of the gods of the earlh,ar.d 
 that one God does not pay obedience to anotiier . The 
 ]\Iessiah tiirn'd towards the multitude who surrounds 
 him, and his eyes rested upon Samed (l6). Judge this 
 fO'il ! sail he. Instantly the countenance of Samed 
 beani'd ^\ith joy, as the first {Uv\n appears in a morning 
 ia spring. The soul of the adolescent is convinc"d that 
 he whom the Divine Redeemer has selected to pro* 
 nonnce jiulgmeut upon a fellow-creature, may pray 
 with onfidencc. fallir.g prostrate, he invokes the 
 Divine aid, and feels inspir'd : he then turns towards 
 the deceas'd, saying, I conde.nn thee, rebel, to serve 
 tlie vilest slave in hell : him, who ha%ing ssrviiely pro- 
 strated himself at the foi.t of tliy throne, privately with- 
 drew to "gratify his tyrannical disposition, by heaping 
 still gieater miseries upon the wretches thou hadst sub- 
 jug'.tcd, and by overwhelming the good with every 
 specie? of misery; may his signs, even when hardly 
 imderrfood, give thee wings, as he will soon accuse thee 
 uf i^egligence, so greatly will thy debasement increajo 
 M< presumption ! Suddenly the condemn'd tyrant grow«» 
 more lie^tvy ; and, bending under his own weight, he 
 .sinks into the yawning gulph, where the imperious ^i<rns 
 of his slave fix his future station, 
 
 Zoar and Seba had long been united by the strictest 
 ties of fdendship. Ey the decrees of Fate they died on the 
 same day, and their souls took flight together towards the 
 supreme tribunal. Seba already anticipated the reward 
 of a crown of glory, and felt the certain expectation of 
 a glorious salvation. Zoar's hope whs blended ^vith 
 fear, cbasterl'd by hutnility and sincere contrition, as
 
 S04 THE MESSIAH, 
 
 he ftlt as-ui'd that the scales of t!:eir Heavenly Jnt);^« 
 ^vere not regulated by the standard of nicu. During their 
 eight, -«hue under the guidance of an immoital, they 
 thus convers'd together. 
 
 Oh ! Thou -wJio hast blessVl us with f tevnal life ! How 
 favourable htist thou shewn thyself towards us! said Zoar. 
 Since we have been friends during our lives, and are 
 now united after death, these plea^ng ties will never 
 be broken asunder. The immortal heard what he said, 
 but remain'd silent. They arrive before the tiibnnal 
 upon the Tabor. The Judge, by sigcs, gives his orders 
 to their guide, who, in obedience to his will, retires 
 with the spirits of the friends. Shortly after an angel of 
 death descended from one of the deferted spheres. He 
 advanced slowly, but directly towards them : the ex- 
 terior and the proceedings of this terrible unknewn 
 were convincing proofs that it would be a vain attempt 
 to endeavour to elude liim ; though as yet there w as the 
 space of an ocean between the three newly aniv'd and 
 the angel of death. Zoar had remark'd the precipitation 
 with which their seraphic guide had remov'd them fi om 
 the august assembly, and from the presence of him who 
 seeni'd the superior of all. But •nhen he obscrv'd the 
 piercing regards of the angel of death fix'd upon tl.em, 
 he was seiz'd \^ itu terror : he stopp'd. The angel of 
 death, who had new aniv'd in front of diem, rais'd to- 
 wards heaven his flaming rod. 
 
 Thou art receiv'd into favour ! and thou ! he pro- 
 ceeded, in a tone of thunder, turning towards Scba, art 
 rejected. ^Vhen tliis last was sufficiently rccovci-'d from 
 the shock he had undergone to understand, tJie extermi- 
 nator thus proceeded : Ye must part! 
 
 Oh ! heaven ! earth ! and all that is sacred ! exchdm'd 
 Seba: men! angels! and all ye imm.ortal beings! re- 
 jected ! separated ! me rejected ! Hast thou, excommu- 
 nicafor, pronounc'd this dreadful sentence. Ye must 
 part ! Most powerful of the pov^erful, who art thou ? 
 Oh, Seba: mv well-beloved Seba! cried Zoar: mr
 
 THE MESSIAH. 10^ 
 
 dioson frioml, wliom I selected from among all ray 
 coinpanioiis! -who has long been deaiei- to me than my- 
 scU"! long my best aiid most approv'd friend ! 
 
 My (iear Zoar ! is the dreadtnl seiitence which thoa 
 hast proncimc'd, and which is above my comprehension, 
 ddinitive? 
 
 The angel of death, whom he addrcss'd, thus replied 
 (and the resplendent brightness of their guide seem'd 
 tu fade as he spoke) : Thon inquirest whether my sen- 
 tence is definitive? Oh ! do not interrogate me: put the 
 rjuestion to the seraphim who has been yoiur guide : he 
 comes from the Judge of heaven and earth ! 
 
 Was he, then, who shone far superior to all the an- 
 gels '? asked Seba, was he then the Judge of the world? 
 Did he order my reprobation, and this heart-rending 
 separadon? Angel ! oh thnu who hast been the guide of 
 my Zoar and me ! angel of God ! is our separation to 
 be eternal ? 
 
 The guide, veiling his effulgence in a thick mist, re- 
 plied, We merely obey the order of Him who directs 
 every thing ; do thou ako obey, by immediately sepa- 
 rating from thy friend ! 
 
 His orders! He! cried Seba, who did not even deign 
 to honour me with a regard ! He certainly decided the 
 fate of many o<hei s ; but he did not even look at me ! 
 
 Yes! he cast one look upon thee, replied Zoar, which 
 appear'd to me very severe. 
 
 Dost thou bear witness against me, thou my friend, 
 and at such a dreadful moment, upon the brink of 
 such a precipice ? 
 
 Alas ! I do not wish to add to thy affliction ; but thou 
 knowest I never could disgusic the truth: Seba, em- 
 brace thy faithful friend. 
 
 The angel of death had tnrn'd from them, and had 
 lov.'er'd his flaming hand towards the earlh, having 
 weaken'd its threatening fire : therefore Zoar was en- 
 abled to embrace Seba : both shed tears of blood. But 
 the moment that was to sepai-ate them waV arriv'd : that 
 terrible, grievous, and sad moment, when the destroying
 
 206 THE ^FESSIAH. 
 
 angel was to raise his tordi, and to ami it anew with 
 all its pristine terrors. He shook it into a blaze, cast a 
 look around, and cried, in an inexorable voice. Ye part 
 for ever ! and they obey'd liis orders. 
 
 Cerda, a young man who was very anxious in the 
 pursuit of knowledge, was upon his death-bed : he cn- 
 joy'd what might be term'd the favour of a double 
 blessing — the having retain'd his presence of mind, 
 and having the certainty of his approaching dissolution, 
 since the ardent hope he cntcrtaiu'd of becoming a par- 
 taker of the joys of heaven, inspir'd him with such in- 
 ward satisfaction, that he communicatetl it to all those 
 who approach'd him, either friends or enemies, by the 
 pressure of liis hand, and repeatedly embracing them. 
 "Wlien he w-as dead, Jiis angelic guide, before he led 
 hiiu towards his Judge and Me':!iator, ventui-'d to make 
 him acquainted with the height, the depth, and the 
 extent of the heavens. Oh death, thou gift of God ! he 
 cried, while he took his flight am.idst the circle of 
 worlds, and starts when he discovers the extent of what 
 liad once been chaos. He sees the stars of God at a 
 distance, and near at hand : he hears them move : he 
 also discerns the stars of the Milky Way, with their in- 
 habitants, which can neither be nani'd nor calculated. 
 But soon he is surrounded by hosts of celestials, who 
 were celebrating the feast of the creation. This con- 
 summation ot'bliss overpower'd him : he sunk,exhauste<l 
 by rapture, in a blissful swoon, upon a roseate cloud, 
 near a water-fall. He appear'd to slumber: his pale- 
 ness gave way to the most vivid brightness, and he 
 seem'd to expire a second time. 
 
 Cro%^'ds of spirits were now brought forward : these 
 cries resounded from amidst the immense muUiMde — ■ 
 God of thunder ! who, from the summit of Olympus, 
 do?t ihake this earth, even unto its foundations ! we had 
 led bulls, crown'd witJi the finest flowers to tliy altars! 
 v.'c have also brought thee rams, loaded with garlands ! 
 AVhat, therefore, have we poor mortals omitted to ob- 
 tain thy blessing? Do not be offended with us. Father
 
 THE MESSIAH. 207 
 
 of all the Gods I ueither do you, ye minor Divinities, 
 who surround his person ! Sutter us also to implore thy 
 clemency, oh Thou, who bearcst the fatal urn : thou 
 hast hidden it, conceal'd it somewhere amid the glooin : 
 do not, Minos, suffer any fatal lots to escape from it : 
 
 Hide it, oh hide it for ever! — Brania! we have 
 
 then— (17) — Minos ! ah ! keep back those fatal lots ! 
 Chain'd, lacerated, and exposM to the ardent raj s of the 
 sun, we have fainted, Bram-i, while displaying our 
 zeal ! Oh ! Divinity of the groves ! Woden I (18) why 
 should.^t thou be angry with u.-'? and thou. Father of 
 all ! thou requirest blood, ^lars ! and tlie blood of our 
 j-ouths Las f.ow'ü in battle in honour of thee ! — Chain'd, 
 lacerated, and wither'd in the sun, Brama ! — We did 
 Eot die the death of cowards, we fell in battle ! — Plide ! 
 oh hide that fatal urn, Minos ! break it, and scatter the 
 cruel lots in the void of chaos! — We died in battle of 
 dtep and iuilam'd wounds! we are — They were 
 crown'd with flowers, and the rams were decorated 
 with garlands! — Do not raise thy right hand, Jupiter! 
 do not call forth thy thunder! Jupiter! Saturn! have 
 mercy upon us! suffer thy thunderbolts to repose! 
 We died for our liberty, for our friends, and our w ives ! 
 Such were the exclamations of this crowd of spirits, 
 w!.o had all reason to bless the clemency of their Judge. 
 Jesus, now turning round, said. Angel of the eaiih, 
 follow me. F.loa obey'd his orders. Instantly the 
 whole extent of the creation open"d to afford them a 
 passage: tlie immensity of space re-echoes with the 
 sound : the stars shed a brilliant lustre around, as they 
 rise from the depth of the seas, and from behind the 
 mountains. The All-powerful, in his rapid course, 
 lightly touches the polts of heaven, which are gently 
 shaken. As soon as Abdiel heard them from afar, and 
 discover'd the Messiah, he rush'd joyfully through the 
 space between the created worlds, and, precipitately 
 approaching the gates of hell, he loudly announces him 
 to their second keeper (IQ): a vagne ramour succeeds, 
 vliich jars the bolts and hinges, even of the eternal
 
 208 TUE MESSIAH. 
 
 grave. The rejected conceiv'd the serapliiui to be en- 
 cnuipass'd by a wl:irl«inrt of fiames, aiid the noise ot 
 bis approach sceui'd to tliem like that of a thundering car, 
 plac'd upon a thousand whetls, which was rolling along 
 the descent with a tremendous noise. 
 
 Jesus descended into hell, whose gates had of r»i'd at 
 his approach. The keepers had fallen prostrate u|K)n 
 llie steps ; and, rising, ihry follow him with their eyes, 
 adoring the divinltj- of the Judge of the world : they 
 see him descend into the gulph of gidphs, add on every 
 side the demons, petrified, like unto the su:rouniUng 
 rocks. With an impetuous flight the first of the angeb 
 of death overtook the ^Messiah : his eflulgence, and that 
 of Ids flaming sword, falls behind him. The Supreme 
 Father had sent him to hell, that lie might relate to tlie 
 heavens whit he might witness there. Jesus approath"d 
 the tluone, wliich, rising above the temple, p.l'd up bj' 
 the (20) hated of God, and by Satan, casts a terrible 
 ^hadc over it. The countenance of the approaching 
 Mediator, novr '\ictorious over death and sin, w;ss irra- 
 diated by supreme majesty, and by that heavenly calm 
 which proclaim'd his celestial origin. An Eden grew 
 under his feet, which became again hell as he left it 
 behind Lim. Soon the mighty in arms has reach'd ll.e 
 highest bank of the river of deatli, bat he remaiiis 
 ^;lent. All the demons v.ish'd to fly ; but flight was 
 forbidden them. Ah ! let us die, said they ; but no 
 m. de of death presented itself as in pity to them. Eloa, 
 w ho was by the side of the Messiali, being rais'd to the 
 highest degree of expectation, cast his piercing looks 
 around. With a rapidity, wiih wi:icli the thoughts of 
 a:;gels can alone keep pace, the throne of Hell v.as 
 broken, and fell in luins : from t'.icse scaller'd luins 
 arose smoke and flames, which strike, rush forth, and 
 extend on every side of Pandemonimn : echo resounds, 
 thousands of thousand fhnes with the noise : the whole 
 temple sinks, and no ruins remain to mark where it 
 once stood. Eloa now remarks a look of the I^Iessiab'.^, 
 which induces him to fall prosti-ate at his side, being
 
 TH£ MESSIAH. 209 
 
 now fuily couvinc'd of liis very limited powers as a 
 being. The screams of the demons degenerate into a 
 lid low roaring : there rises with the waves of the sea, 
 even to the most exalted bank, a gloomy echo, whicli 
 repeats these words : Oh ! what lias befallen mo 1 what 
 lias befallen tiiee? and yet I exist! for my mitfortune 
 I still live! Art thou also alive? why does his thunder 
 paii5e ? it w ill soon overwhelm us. It will soon over- 
 whelm lis ; crush'd, and destroy'd, witli all hell, and 
 the weight of its mountains will soon — 
 
 Satan now imperfectly uttcr'd, in trembling Jiaste, 
 Oh ! tell me, roar it to me, what Las, oh ! what has 
 befallen you? I am o'erthrown, extended amid this 
 genei al desolation, and now lie beuumb'd in the deepest 
 gulph ! 
 
 In the now desert field, where the temple of the 
 golden table, now destroy'd, had once stood, Adrame- 
 lech remain'd : his voice overpowcr'd that of all the 
 rest: Here am I, overthrown! Oh! misery of miseries! 
 Oh thou. Judgment, before whom even the thunder 
 of God is husb'd ! I am benunib'd I a burthen even to 
 hell ! a skeleton ! 
 
 The angel of the earth drew back in trembling, upon 
 perceiving the dreadful delusion under which they la- 
 boui-'d. The spirits of the rejected, aiuong whom were 
 those of Philo and of Iscariot, reach'd the sea of death, 
 forc'd forwards, as clouds are driven before tlie wind?. 
 They have now lost sight of the Judge ; but on the oiher 
 bank, in all tie vast extent of a field of horror, they 
 perceiv'd a multitude of skeletons, of phantoms, of an- 
 gels, asd, amongst them, Abaddona, in his former 
 figure; though he, like them, only perceives skeletons 
 around him. The illusion had become general in hell. 
 The spirits and the rebellious angels had merely been 
 spared, more or less, the horrid sensation which must 
 have pervaded them, at the moment of their trans- 
 formation. A sparkling mass of heat, in its nrtridian 
 ardour, now shows itself above the sea of death, in a 
 much more hideous maricor-thaii it l.ad jormcrly done.
 
 2J0 THE aiESSIAlI. 
 
 This sea was swola by black globes, ■svliicii wtrc fonii'd 
 by its o',vn essence; and their explosion prodoc'd an 
 ardent blaze : whirlwinds of üames also exhaled from 
 these glebes ; and this field of horrors scem'd to emit a 
 paler light every succeeding minute. As tar as the 03 o 
 could discern tiiese s?pulclu-al figures, and even at the 
 lesser diitanoc, which separated some spirits from the 
 others, none of th':m coulJ be recognli'd, except by 
 their roaring. Then- hoarse voices still mingi'd, as 
 formerly, with the dismal breaking of the waves ; and 
 resembled the falling of rocks, though the sound had 
 acquir'd more shriiluc^s, owing to the pain, a::g:r, and 
 fright which interrupted these complaints. 
 
 Satan was the first among them to rise, and, being 
 plac'd much above the others, he struck his head with 
 his hand, with such frightful violence, tliat the ruins of 
 the throne resounded with the blow: his shriek re- 
 sem.b'ed the crash of a falling rock, which had long 
 totter'd in the bosom of the clouds, to the terror of the 
 flying pilgrim ; or it might be compni-'d to the bui s'ing 
 of a bank which had long restroin'd a foaming torrent, 
 when it resounds amid the echoes of a forest. 
 
 His cruel giief vents itself in these words : Ah ! I Imow 
 why you are thus transforra'd : it is because you have 
 assa-sinated him, nail'd him to a cross! that is the rea- 
 son, ye infamous wretches! that is the reason, ye 
 skeletons ! ye execrable beings, sprung from corruption 
 tir'd of its prey I .^lonsters ! may the thunder of God 
 disperse you ! and may the quaking of hell reunite you ! 
 May the te.mpest scatter you abroad ! and may the 
 raging sea drive you back with its waves towards the 
 jarring storm. Thus did he express his fury and his 
 suffering, as he wav'd the flames which encompass'd 
 his head. The sorrow of Belial exhales itself in groans, 
 amidst the desert of lamentations. Did you pttrceive, 
 (■aid he, (oh, cele?tial Eden ! 1 caught another transient 
 glimpse of you !) that flowers grew before him, which 
 faded and died as soon as he was gone by ? Ah ! we are 
 (or ever witber'd ! but we shall never die ! Oh ! must
 
 THE MESSIAH. 211 
 
 »we si v\viysf1:i]ä exist? \VT:jile speaking, he wish'd that 
 ffi'sh gulplis might open under him, and that they might 
 .become bis gras'e! 
 
 At l,ut Adramelcch also i-egain'd Lis upright posture, 
 'to the terror of all the proud; for his strength failing 
 him, in the first instance, he fell back so heavily, that 
 they he:ud his bones break, and a cloud of thick and 
 black cinders arose in coriSoquence of his fall. Kever- 
 thekss ;\Ioloch, the demon of war, strove to rise: he 
 "Seated hiniself, leaning upon his right hand, and said 
 •to Illagog, My skeleton is enervated by the storm : the 
 hurricane \vhistlcs in my ear; ; but I will — I ^^^ll raise 
 mysL'lf: may Adranielech remain extended ! He suc- 
 ceeds at last, and, grasping hold of IMagog with all his 
 strength, he also raises him. Tliey stop, and then walk 
 forw ard, while Magog exclauns, AVhat a hideous body ! 
 admitting it to be a body : lit us destroy each other : do 
 then break my bones, and 1 will break thine! these 
 tempestuous hiu-ricaiies will disperse our remains. They 
 instantly seize each other, and endeavour to break each 
 other's bones; but they vied, in point of substance, 
 with the hardest rocks of Orion : they cast themselves 
 from the summit of mountains, liigher than the highest 
 towers ; still their bones rcmain'd entire, and seem'd to 
 have been petrified in the caverns of the seven stars. 
 They v.'?re constrain'd to remain extended, motionless, 
 and dumb, at the bottom of tlie gaiph into which they 
 had thrown tiiemselves. As mountains, loaded with 
 vapours, spout foaming streams, so did Gog express his 
 rage, who, though his reason had convinced Iiim of 
 his error, he shut tlie eyes of his mind against convic- 
 tion ; and such was his insanity, that he still endeavonr'd 
 to deny the existence of Gt)d : he roars, and howls his 
 imprecations: annihilation is the end he has in view: 
 he thinks to seize it with his cadaverous claws, to 
 hasten it by his groans; and, nevertheless, he still 
 exists! 
 
 Thus was it prov'd in the very depths of hell, who 
 he was who had died upon Mount Calvary ; and the
 
 212 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 fresh pnnishment ttiey underwent was a terrible ^varti 
 ing to them not to accumulate revolt upon revolt agaim 
 the last judgment of the Messiah.
 
 M E S S I A H, 
 
 BOOK xrij.
 
 ^t)z ^tQummu 
 
 Tho)nas, who cojitinucs incredulous, again returns 
 to tht assembly of the apostles ; but he is soon 
 convinced of the truth of the resurrection, by 
 the appearance of Jesus amongst tlicm. Tht 
 Messiah descends uith the angel Gabriel, to the 
 abode uhcrc those sinners uere detained who pe- 
 risiied during the deluge : he delivers a great 
 number of them. Ncpthoa seeks the disciples 
 near the sepulchre of Jesus: he dances the sa- 
 cred round ziith other childreti. Others of the 
 newly risen Join in the dance, singing hymns. 
 Lazarus assembles at his house his friends, and 
 some pilgrims who were come to celebrate the 
 feast, to partake of a repast in his garden: at 
 which also appear as pilgrvns, some of the risen, 
 such as Dimnot, Kerdith, and Japhet. Laza- 
 rus holds converse with his guests, respecting the 
 sufferings of the Messiah. He then visits the 
 tomb of his sister ]\j[ary, wJw, from her blessed 
 abode, sees her brother, and several of her celes- 
 tial companions, amongst the mortals. The 
 centurion Cncus, the rich man who would not 
 abandon his wealth to follow Jesus Christ, a7id 
 the grateful leper, are gratified by the appear- 
 ance of some of the rise-n.
 
 THE 
 
 MESSIAH. 
 
 BOOK XVII. 
 
 A FTER a long separation from bis brclLrea, the 
 -^ apostle Didymus return'd to the house beneath the 
 t temple's shade. But his pace was slo« , aud he did not 
 • eiitcr, but walk'd to aud Iro before the door under the 
 ipalai trees. Having walk'd for sonic t'me, he lean'd 
 . against one of tlie trees : soon after he heard the sound 
 . of singing. This induc'd him to draw near, and to step 
 i before the door. The faithful were surging a hj-ir.n in 
 1 honour of the resmreclion ; one of those newlj' com- 
 pf s'd hymns which the souls of the martyrs sing before 
 ■ thf heavenly throne. 
 
 Jo?H5 Christ is risen from the dead ! He will reanimate 
 . all those who believe in him ! Hb children will not 
 alwHvs remain bary'd in the bosom of the earth, and 
 I'disfipiu'd by tlie hand of corruption! The voice 
 which pronounces this blessing will beheaid; and the 
 curse impos'd upon mortality will die away at the soard ! 
 The archangels will rejoice, and their beams will be 
 more resplendent ! Such will be their delightfjl sensa- 
 tion when they perceive the rcanimalion of the dead. — 
 Ah ! t!;cy vdii cry, the grave no longer devours ; the 
 emphe of corruption is destroy'J ; the worlhy compa- 
 nion of the soul is no longer in the giave, a prey to de- 
 struction! — Blow, ye easterly winds! aud bring with 
 you the dust of dissolution ; bring, ye troubled westerly 
 winds! the dismcmber'd dust ; roar, ye northern winds ! 
 and bring with you the bodies of the dcceas'd : Jesus
 
 216 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 Christ is risen ficm the dead ! — Oar return to tae life of 
 angels (1) vrill appear to us as the awakening from a 
 dream !— Ye winds from the south, blow tliose who dj 'd 
 b€lie\iiig ia God to the newly created Paradise, at the 
 gate of the never-fading Eden! No silent cherubim, 
 arm'd with a flaming sword, forbids oar eutiance ; we 
 shall be seated at the table of the Son, under tlie shade of 
 the frees of life, surrounded, dujing the feast, by that 
 gentle breeze which proclaims the presence of God! — 
 Such are the first fruits of the merits of him w ho is risen 
 from the dead : who dispiay'd his love for his people in 
 dying, and who expiated their sins upon the cross! 
 
 Thomas, having listen'd to this canticle, l:ad fall'n up- 
 on the step of the door, and cover'd his face. 'Ilie tears 
 flow'd from his eyes as the blood flows from the woimds 
 of hiui, who, without hopes of life, lies e?itended upon 
 the field of battle, when he hears the crj^ of victory, the 
 forerunner of that liberty for which he has been fight- 
 ing. Thomas canuot as yet rise from his humble pos- 
 ture ; the chilly dev.s of night fall upon his exhausted 
 frame; he was de;id to all sensation of corporeal incon- 
 venience, and could only weep and lament ; indeed, his 
 tears flow'd so rapidly that they almost overwhelm'd his 
 soul! Suddenly he resumes his former vigour, and hasti- 
 ly rising, he joins the assembly. They again see Tho- 
 uas their brother, whom they advance to meet, greeting 
 Lim with the happy assurance of everlasting lite. He 
 listen'd to them in silence ; but the cruel chill of sorrow 
 ag.iin. oppresses his soul with its heavy weight ; and he 
 exclaims — If I do not see the marks of the nails in his 
 hands, if I do not put my fingers ia his wounds, and if 
 I do not put my baud into his side, I cannot believe 
 what you assart. Those who heard him thus avow his 
 incredulity were pale and red by turns. But soon they 
 heard the waving «f the cherubims' (2) wings, under the 
 palm trees before the house ; soon di<l tears of joy stream 
 from their eyes; and soon the most merciful Redeemer 
 again extends his mercy to-.v.urds them, by appearing- 
 like a Divinity amongst them.
 
 THE MESSIAH. ß]7 
 
 Thas do Cbrislian?, after having; sunk under the pangs 
 of death, derive theii- felicity alter their decease, from 
 the first gl cat source of light. 
 
 Tlius (hd Thomas rush forward, and fall prostrate at the 
 feet of our Saviour. 
 
 The divine Son thus sslnted them, with that loving- 
 kiadness which is his particular attribute: 
 
 Peace be with you ! — Then turning towards Thomas 
 — Put thy finger htre, and look at my hands; place thy 
 hand upon my side, and, in ceasing to be an unbeliever, 
 becouie one of the faithful. 
 
 The fresh witness of the resurrection esclaim'd — ]My 
 Lord and my God ! 
 
 The eternal ISIediator then said to him, Thou dost be- 
 lieve, Thomts, because thou hast seen : happy those who 
 b.'lieve without having seen ! 
 
 The Lord and God of Lis faithful followers then dis- 
 appear'd from before the eyes of these liis first witnesses. 
 liio;iias coritiau'd to invoke him ; and when he rose, he 
 advanc'd towards the disciples, and his other brethren, 
 and solicits forgiveness of his fault. His friends had 
 long since forgiven it him ; and he, as the most fortunate, 
 discourses with them respecting niartyrrlom, as the most 
 felicitous termination of their career. They were no 
 less eager to seal their belief with tlieir blood, which 
 would insuj'e to them the crown of victory : but soon 
 th.dr discourse of Heaven insensibly became a hymn. 
 
 We salute you in the distiince of futurity, holy society 
 of the Mediator ! ;\fay yo be bles.-:ed, oh brethren 1 by 
 the blessing of his death and resurrection ! You who are 
 only fated to see the Divinity after your demise, and not 
 diuiüg this life of trial, and who shall neveitheless be- 
 lieve in iiim, walk in the road to Heaven, and form here 
 a society, who will incline to die a holy death, and be 
 thus fitted to appear in the presence of God ; may your 
 esanipie prepare many others for the enjoyment of eter- 
 nity ! Some of yon, alas! will pursue your ^vay amidst' 
 troubles and persecutions. But call upon your Saviour, 
 and he will fortify your minds, and enable you to wrestl» 
 
 vor^ ir. L
 
 218 THE MESSIAH, 
 
 i» the fight with due persrverance ; as for n?, the world 
 ■will despijc lis, and Mill deprive us ot our lives ; yon 
 ■will only be de?pis'd. But he, who from the bcgimiing 
 oöiei-'d himself a sacrifice for jou and for ns, and who 
 will continue to the end of the world whh those he loves, 
 will shorten for you, as for us, this hour of trial. 
 
 After the birth of Christ, the an£;pls descended into 
 the prison« (3), in which were detained the spiiits of those 
 who had not chosen to believe the threats that Avere held 
 out to them, respecting the promis'd inundation. They 
 had spoken much to these spirits, respecting the salvation 
 which was thus insm-'d to mankind by the birth of the 
 Messiali. Gabiitl had address'd them in these prophetic 
 terms: Ye spirits who formerly inhabited this earth be- 
 fore his birth, the Son of Man \nll himself descend into 
 your prisons bL-fore he ascends in all his majesty and 
 glory to Heaven. The moment of his coming will be 
 wl;e;i Gcthsemane, which is remote from Heaven, 
 «hall tremble, and its palm trees be shaken. Since the 
 birth, of Christ, these immortal eniissi; ies had, by this 
 mission, inspir'd a multitude of the spirits of this inferior 
 world with divers thoughts, which vary'd to infinity, till 
 they had arqcir'd the certainty of bflief. Some only 
 amongst them did not seem inc!in"(l to sive way to the 
 heavenly impulse; for the nnntber of those who wan- 
 rier'd in this labyrinth (but who were not lost to salva- 
 tion, except they were seduc'd by their own licarts) wa3 
 immense. The thoughts of these spii its were fully occu- 
 pied in meditating upon the future, which even the most 
 enlighten'd minds can only view through a gloomy veil, 
 and the more they endeavourM to seek to raise it, the 
 more dark it appears. Their hopes were of that ardent 
 nature wli h spirits, disengag'd from their bodies, aie 
 alone capible of feeling : sometimes their ardent vows 
 were borne even to Heaven ; at other times they fancy'd 
 they were rejected. Their hope was mingled with the 
 doubt, that it would never be fulfiU'd by their enjoying 
 perfect hapnin«ss, as tliey were not abs<jln{ely convinc'd 
 .that he, whom the angels anuounc'd to them as Laving
 
 TIIE MESSIAH. 219 
 
 become Ma«, was tbtir divine Ivedocmer. This occa- 
 »ion'd tlieso revolting efforts agaiii.-t fate or providt-nce, 
 and led to the afflictive doubt, that even this promis'd 
 deliverance might not extend to thorn (4), v.-hich gave a 
 more gloomy and bitter cast to their grief ; then their 
 pride induc'd theui to visL that they niisjht tai:e the ad- 
 vance of the elect upon earth, and be the first provided 
 with the finest palms; while their anE;er induc'd t!»em to 
 nuumur at not having an inheiitance in the kingdom 
 of the redeem'd, whore neither the clouds of <!arknt=3 
 nor of uncertainty ever arise. Snch were the torment- 
 iiig reflections which pro-scnted thtmselves to the minds 
 of these spirits of the inferior world, who had long b.-en 
 hy'd and punish'd. Troni their deepnesses they had ire- 
 qiieudy dispatch'd many from amoni;?t them, who were 
 to go and examine Gethscmane and her surrounding 
 palms, and to reiarn with their prop! etiral report of its 
 state. GelLseniai^e trembles, they cry ; some of the 
 .companions of this planet falter; several of them cry'd 
 fiom galph to gulph, The time approaches; and the 
 echoes of the deep repeat the crj' ! Some of the parlies 
 separated ; the one fili'd their cups to the brim, from the 
 bnrr>inv and troubled lake; they rose — sou;;ht to find a 
 road — ■mis.s'd their aim, till at last, finding an issue, they 
 rcturn'd, crying — ^The ]ilanet does not ytt tremble. 
 AnoUitr body, who had aho found an iss^ue, did not re- 
 turn : raising a clamour of joy, this b kly was foliow'd 
 by a multitude. Tins does the o;-eim heave during a 
 tenpcit : at first the waves merely experience a gentle 
 swell ; but soon, with a roaring noise, they become 
 mountainous billow?, which break upon the strand. Se- 
 veral of the party had return'd upon perceiving that the 
 stars held their accnstcrn'd course: nevertheless an infi- 
 nite number of the dei-eas'd remain'd stationary upon 
 the banks of the burning and troubled lake, anxioas to 
 draw consolation from a purer source: others arrive in 
 haste, to sec wh.eiher he, whom the angels announc'd, is 
 coming — whether the Mediator is ready to burst upon 
 tlieir dazzled iight.
 
 2-20 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 Jesus said to Gabriel, Precede nic. — The seraphirn, 
 having taken fligbt, was suddenly surioanded by rays 
 deriv'd from the suurce ox ali light ; and more resplen- 
 dent than he had ever before been, he desceiids into the 
 iiiferior pi isüns. 
 
 Gethsemaue was nov/ shaken with greater violence 
 every succeeding minute, till at last the observing multi- 
 tude perceives that the agitation of its pole forces the 
 pianet to quit its orbit ; and such is their anxiety to an- 
 nounce the news, th^it Ihey hardly see the serapliim, 
 though he stood before them in all his majesty. The 
 Saviour at last appears, and a brighter day succeeds the 
 arrival of the Divinity : it enlightens the deepest caverns ; 
 shines upon the declivi'y of those rocks wliich Liclo?e 
 the most stagnant streams, and even penetrates into the 
 lowest vaults beneath the steepest rocks, where several 
 of the deceas'd had hitlierto, in slow and sullen murmurs, 
 slaken their chains of adamant ; but which they now 
 hastily shook in a transport of joy and of impatience. 
 At first the snbierraneaii assdnibiy were lost in amaze ; 
 but tbis sensation soon gave way to their anxious desire, 
 to learn what would be their fate : to kcow what destiny 
 had in reserve for theio, form'd the only wish of some, 
 whatever might be the decree of the Supreme Judge, so 
 long as they were but rescu'd from the obscurity which 
 harl, till this moment, pervad'xl their abode. Gabriel 
 blew his trumpet ; and these words are distinctly heard : 
 V.'e have announc'd the coming of a Saviour to yoo, 
 from the moment of his birtli : he knows all things ; he 
 knows what have been your thoughts, from that day to 
 the present time, respecting God and him, net what 
 they are at this mon^ent, when you see him in all his 
 glory, but wiiat their and your desires were when his 
 coming was aunounc'd to you; and by them shall yoQ be 
 jndgVl by the Most Just and Must Merciful. 
 
 Now the angels who announc'd the coming of onr Sa- 
 viour to the spirits, surround the Messiah. They appear'd 
 more elfnlgenl than before, in the bright day v/hich had 
 risen for the Divinity. Thecherublius stood before them.
 
 THE MESSIAH. 221 
 
 They inspir'd some with terror ; but were viow'd wiih 
 rapture by the grcattr number. Thus, awful in tbeir 
 bi;aiUy, tlie angels raise their witigs to Äkini tbe air, aii<i 
 to exajuine tlie deccas'd : they extend t<^ a vast distance 
 in these lower regions : the decisive jnoment drew near, 
 and tlie dread ot overwhelming thunder seize3 the whole 
 assembly. The silciice becomes more profound ; bat 
 soon these mournfal abodes resound on every side ; here 
 a noisy crowd — there a general clamour, or an inter- 
 rnpted, but earncit, petition for salvation, was Leaid. 
 The Most Merciful and the Most Just hears in these 
 sounds what no other immortal does: he hears the 
 mental prayers of those souls whose humilily kept them 
 at a distance. 'J lie angels sent upon this mission bore 
 down among the crowd, and separated the fortunate 
 from the wretched. What a moment of rapture, and of 
 despair, but most of rapture ! Where is the haq) capable 
 of expressing such feelings? — Oh that I were but capa- 
 ble of touching its strings, admitting it only ponr'd forth 
 strains of sorrow; and why did not I learn from the an- 
 gel himself, who were sav'd among those that wept, or 
 amongst those who, overwhelmd with despair, mnr- 
 mnr'd aeainst pro\'idence for being, as they imagin'd, 
 DOW and forever depriv'd of all inheritance in the em- 
 pire of light? These who were thus a prey to despair, 
 and weary'd by the trmpest and hurricane in their 
 minds, \^ ere inclin'd to revolt against the orders of Pro- 
 videnre. At last the separation was completed : the 
 band of the absolv'd rise from the depths in their state of 
 glory, and follow the angels who were their guides. 
 These were provided for their pilgrimage amidst ti:e 
 worlds with light girdles, which seem'd wove by Aurora 
 at her dawn, and they bore in their hands golden w ands, 
 which they frequently pointed towards Heaven, as a 
 proof that the piigtims had greater joys in store than 
 they could meet with while journeying among the 
 planets. 
 
 When the last band who were emancipated from these 
 lower regions had quitted tlieir abode a feeble twilight
 
 222 THE .'\IESS1AIL 
 
 qnickly terminated the first day that had lisen for them-; 
 iiivolvM a5 before in continual dnrkness, the whole as- 
 sembly of spirits remain'd profoundly silent during the 
 space of three aruiual revolutions of the earth ; danng 
 the foajih, some few ca iie to themselves, and proceeded 
 towards the biiUiant stream of hope, from whence tliey, 
 in trembiing, drew some shadow of coasoladon, and 
 then sought their former companions in tliC caverns: 
 they found many of their abodes jorsaki^u ; tins iiiduc'd 
 them to turn from these uninhabited places, bitterly de- 
 ploring the being depriv'd of a brotcer, a friend, «r of 
 their companions. There is, even upon earth, certain 
 enjoyments, which are for those duom'd to die, a fore- 
 tafte of their future be.stifica'ion: but, ai.is! the most 
 forward flo-.vers are thosi; that the soonest lade. It was 
 ihoä, nevertheless, that the tree of lire Hourish'd in Eden. 
 
 A soft sleep had weigh'd down the eyelids of Nepthoa 
 after he had pray'd with the greatset confidence. Thus 
 does the dew moisten the buds of spring. Soon in a 
 dream he hears a voice, which thus addresses him ; What ! 
 dost thou still sleep, and dost not go to tell the faithful 
 tliat a messenger from Christ has appear'd to thee, au 
 envoy of the most glorious God, a denhteu of the ce- 
 lestial abodes ? 
 
 Isepihoa Listautly resolv'd to proceed to the tomb in 
 Golgotha : he conceives that those who belong to Christ 
 ought frequently to vi^it it. Cert;dnly, said he to him- 
 self, they go from Salem to this burying place, to reflect 
 upon it and to remark it, and then retrace their steps 
 frequently to return ihi'dier. I shall find some of the 
 faitiiful upon the road, in the garden, and around the 
 grave. This young and active mes-enger of Heaven, 
 though of mortal meuld, leaves Salem at break of day, 
 and takes the road to Golgotha ; and, as he expected, he 
 meets with some of the disciples of the Messiah, return- 
 ing from the tomb ; of whom he inquires. Have you left 
 any disciples in the g uden of the resurrection 1 Let me 
 hope you will soon return thither, and that you will 
 bring some more happy witnesses to repose theinstlves
 
 THE MESSIAH. 223 
 
 under the shade of tlie palm trees. I have blesäcl iklings 
 for you ami for them. 
 
 Some cliilcheii were diverting themselves near tlie in- 
 cl(»sjre o: th.e garden ; he selected nine; hve of them 
 had, with him, amidst the people, receiv'd the blessing of 
 Jaius, the divine lieiiefactor of children and infants; the 
 oihcri. were tie chosen of ^'spthoa, who v,.is guided by 
 the wisilora of Christ. It is thus that the angels, under 
 the supreaie direction, elect those inheritors of Heaven, 
 ■vvhoin they resolve to protect here bcloiv. The chil- 
 dren, having reacL'd the open tomb, were s'.ruck with 
 its ama/ing depth, and with ti.e weight and size of the 
 stone which had been remov'd. They shudder'd both 
 •widi joy ajid terror daring their examination, and thou 
 wandvi-'d about in the vicinity, either under the shade of 
 the thick groves, or upon the lawns, now enaraeli'd with 
 a variety of spring-tlowers. Opposite one of the en- 
 trances to the tomb, seated upon the S'ftest moss, enjoy- 
 ing tiie reviving morning brtcze, and invigorated by the 
 Oilorifcrcus herbs which grew around, Were several of 
 the holy men of GikI. Their countenances were saintly 
 and placid, and tears of rapmre stole down their cheeks. 
 These were a happy band (5), destin'd at a future period 
 to preach the resoirrection of the Messiah, which they 
 were now joyfully celebrating. Nepthoa consider'd them 
 vilh veneration, though he was also a celestial me-senger, 
 and had even been dispatch'd to them. Several of 
 these righteous men w^ere acquainted with Nepthoa and 
 his companions. This child had not as yet spoken ; yet 
 thoy perceiv'd that his lips were unclosing, to announce 
 the joyful tidings of salvation ; and he no longer hesitated 
 to disclose his mission, upon the arrival of another band, 
 who had join'd those he bad met on his way. Nepthoa 
 now imparts to him the apparition of Benoid: he relates 
 how he pUy'd with his golden ringlets, what Benoni 
 had said to him respeiiing Christ, the risen from the 
 dead, over whom death had no dominion. His auditors 
 felt their joy iucreas'd, and thcmsklves dra.va nearer 
 Heaven.
 
 5i'i TUE MESSIAH. 
 
 While nmler the influence of this holy enfhnsiasm, this 
 foretaste of the beatification they panted to enjoy, their 
 iseai ts overflow'd with rapture, in all those varied taucs 
 and modulations wliich language can convey, and they 
 sung the Conqueror ot the Serpent, -whose rage conld no 
 longer bruise the heel (6). 'While they join'd in chorus 
 in this hymn, the children danc'd the s;icred round (7) 
 to tlie songs of ti iuniph.— The glittering rainbow rose 
 amid the clouds after the terrible deluge ; but the cove- 
 nant of the resurrection will last to all eternity. While 
 tiiese words were repeated by all present, the children 
 danc'd to the triumphant sounds, and the mc>thers crown'd 
 their sons with the first flowers of spring. Our teai-s 
 have ceas'd to flow, since the sacrifice of the Lamb of 
 God has insur'd our salvation, and our everlasting life. — 
 The children, still treading the sacred round, now tum'd 
 towards Golgotha, and their mothers biought them 
 branches of pahn trees. 
 
 He who dy'd on the cross, but who is still alive, cr>-'d 
 in his own voice, Rlarj! — Instantly she fell at the feet 
 oi her divine Redeemer, crying, Rabboni ! 
 
 A new dance interrupted thishyir.n. Thomas cxclaitn'd 
 — My Lord and my God ! He had seen the marks of the 
 nails in his wounds ; had put his hand upon the side of him 
 who had risen from the dead. We shall aJso be rais'd 
 from the tomb, all of those who dy'd believing in God, 
 even to the utmost extremities of the earth. The chil- 
 dren now danc'd round ouc of the tombs, and threw 
 their crowns upon it ; when suddenly the palm bi anches 
 fell from their hands, and their songs of triumph ceas'd, 
 upon perceiving above the sepulchre some of t!;e risen. 
 
 Three of tLese beatifj'd saints presented themselves 
 to their view iu all their glory; they appear'd to be 
 borne upon moving clouds, towards these inhabitants of 
 earth : when sufiicicntly near, Asnath (8), effulgent with 
 light, descended from one of these silvery clouds; next 
 came Deborah, whose clasp'd hands and longing eye^ 
 ^■. ere turn'd towards Heaven. Je'lidoth (Q), who hover'd 
 at a distance, descended at the cxtreraily of the horizon,
 
 TUE MESSIAH. 'j-ij 
 
 and plac'd hi>u3clf near Deborah. fs.nc was accom- 
 paiiy'il by a bind ot angcls, who ariinii-'d in hini iJi« 
 hanilsonae.-t ot the lisen. The waving liair ot Rachel 
 tioatetl in the wind as she conducted Joseph amidst these 
 tempestuous vapours, w=th an appearance ot altectrovi 
 vvhicii ltd every motJier to recognize her as a mother. 
 Rapture and surprise were the pervading sentiments in 
 each mortal besom ; bat scarcely were they recoverd 
 troiu their astonishment, ere they were again io?t in 
 amaze. Isaiah, Abraham and Job presented thcmseive» 
 before them, and illumin'd every object by their citul- 
 gence. Tear agdn mingles with tlie delight the mortals 
 experienc'd, Huce next came John the Baptist, Seth and 
 Abel ; ne.\t Adau«, with Gabriel, appeard like the me- 
 teors oJ Heaven, illumina ingeveiy object wiih a b. ighter 
 stream oi Iigl:t. The mortals tell prostrate, and the icck 
 and the suiroundmg ground seem'd to give way under 
 their feet. 
 
 But their feai-s were all remov'd, from the moment 
 Eve appeaj'd, more beantilul thin ever, surrDundad by 
 the Javcurable light of the dawn, and by the ceiesUal 
 a7aire of the vault ot" Heaven : she ltd the yocng Bcnoni. 
 The witnesses now rose, and coasider'd these inheritors 
 of the kingdo.n of Heaven with the most heirtfe'.t sa- 
 tisfaction: soft, bat inoxpicssible, raptxne fiii'd their 
 souls, and they fell and appreciated the happiness they 
 csijoy'd. Nepthoa hastily approach'd the rock; he had 
 again sei//d his palm branch ; he bore it as he went to 
 meet ßenoni, and said. Ah! I know thee, but not thy 
 radiant companions, the me-sjngers of God ! He who 
 Las blessed thee with tlds splendor, with this eifnigent 
 glory, has also blesseii me. I am still, it is trne, ot ter- 
 restrial mould, and this body has still to undergo the 
 ordeal of corruption ; b;n, like you, I adoiebimwho 
 dy'd to save us. Ye were formerly mortals, like me; 
 and ye have, like me, borne the cur.-e of deat!', (ill hav- 
 ing reach'd yon, it cut you down. Suffer me, all ye 
 who are justly glorify *(t and beati;y'd, that, as one bless'd 
 by Chriit, 1 mav venture to approach ihia a-wfal rock, 
 L2
 
 C2o 'HIE MESSIAH. 
 
 that I may have a better view of ye, ye cele?!ia! 
 beings ! 
 
 Eve, turning towards Adam, sairl to him, With the 
 sincerest joy do I foresee that deatJi will soon mow dowu 
 this flo.ver ! — she then approach'd the child, and led hiia 
 towards Eenoui. jSeveitheks«, when Nepthoa fo-jna 
 himself in the midst of the celestial circle, and that his 
 eyes met the smiles of those around him, a fearful sh«d- 
 deiiiig seiz'd this courageous child. Deborah, vei ing 
 herself with a cloud, ti:us address'd him: Thon hast 
 heard the witnesses of Christ Mng; do thou sing us thtir 
 hymn. He began wi.h a feeble unsteady voice; the 
 harps of the blessed animated his spirits. 
 
 The assembly of mortals, whorcmain'd at a distance 
 from the rock, drew near in their enthusiasm — ray, ad- 
 vanc'd towards the glorify'd of God, and mixing in the 
 radiant circle, they sung: We shall all of ns, even from 
 the very extremities of the earth, be cne day awakend 
 from our last sleep ! Scon the beatityd, and the still liv- 
 ing Christians, join in one and the same chorus: all sing 
 the merits of the Son; (he celestials in a voice of re- 
 joicing, the mortals in a weaker tone — Praise and honour 
 to the Lord, to the Lion of the tribe of Judah, to the 
 Lamb of Sion, to the first fruits of Jesse ! He was cut 
 down at Golgotha ; but this first fruit of the harvest soou 
 rose again by the side of the bloody hill. It vrill one 
 day shade every nation, and c'>mfort them by its divine 
 influence, even unto eternity. No lor^eer were the cries 
 of the reapers heard ; the trumpets fell from the bands 
 of the chernbin.s when Jesns Christ rose from the dead! 
 The voice of the blessed of God was lost in their enthu- 
 siasm I their dazzling brightness became less distinct, till 
 they finally disappear'd! 
 
 The dwelliugs of Lazarus and of Martha were situated 
 in s'hady gardens, which were water'd by a clear stream, 
 v.liich ran, in a serpentine course, along the side of a 
 walk leaJina to t!ic tomb of Jliriam (10). It was from 
 f hi- same tomb thit her brother had been recall'd by 
 J;im who could awaken the dead ; but the heavenly
 
 TilE MESSIAH. 1'£I 
 
 sifter still iepo.s'<.l in the iron-bound sleep of death. The 
 survivors 110 longer giiev'd, since Jesus v.as risen, and 
 »hat the hiijjpy ;uitl Jieavenly Miriam was unly gone to 
 join liim. Every moiiiiug, at sun rise, Martha strew'd 
 the touib of the departed with the finest llowers, which 
 she wat'.rs from the streamlet, while her eyes are 
 luoisten'd by the soil tears of hope — by the hope of their 
 as;.ü:i meeting, %vhfen it shall please God that she shall re- 
 pose by the side of her sister — when her eyes are like 
 htr's, clos'd in the sleep of deatli, which will render her 
 blind to the beauties of the flowers, and deaf to the soft 
 murrnariiigs of the rivulet ; bat her soul will then be near 
 that of Miriam. She was returning from the tomb when 
 I^izarus met, and thus afldress'd her : 
 
 Martha, I have sent to invite some of our brethren, 
 some of the reccncil'd, and alsa so^iie pilgrims from the 
 banks of the river which branches off in seven directions, 
 and from the islands of Greece, with our well-belov'd, 
 the singers at the temple, that they may join iheir voices 
 iu these groves to the sound of harps, and partake of a 
 frugal repast under the shade of these trees, where they 
 may breathe the pure air which the zephyrs waft hither. 
 
 Martha departed, to make preparations for the feast. 
 Lazarus, having first water'd the sandy walks, strews 
 them wi'.h flowers, and bends llie branches of the grove«, 
 to render their shade more impervious to the rays of the 
 sun. While thus agreeably occnpj'd in embellishing 
 and watering these walks, lie had occ^ion to pass the 
 grave of his sister ; but hiä eyes are no longer moisten'd 
 by aiflictive recollections. I shall soon sec her again, 
 said he, continuing to gather flowers, even round her 
 grave. 
 
 Already were the early friends of Lazarus assembled 
 upon tlie banks of the rivulet beneath the palm trees, 
 with harps, psalters, cymbahof brass, comets, and trum- 
 pets ; but not the one which will on the last day soimd 
 like tlumder: these only produce the softest sounds. 
 They anticipated the satisfaction they should feel when 
 joining in a cbonis, which they hop'd would be heard
 
 '2L'8 THE MESSIAH, 
 
 in all (lie nti^^'hbouricg groves, when thf evening !>far 
 aurl the silvtr moon should appear iii the fnüiament. In 
 a short time all those who had been invltcfl nifwle their 
 appearance. Ttey seated themselve? in the shady groves, 
 and a soft joy fiU'd their bosoms, not of that nature whith 
 violently aflects the soul : the sensation they experienc*(l 
 stem'd to steal gently through eveiy vein. What hafl 
 tl.ty not heard related by the v.itnesses oftl-.e re^nrrec- 
 tioii <.f the Mesjiah! ^^hat had they not heard them- 
 selves! ar.d what vere tl'.ey not yet to hear and see, 
 tl esc s ms of that sublime covenant, which being fonnfled 
 npon the death and resurrection of oui' Saviour, was to 
 insuie them, even during this life, happy flay«, and a se- 
 rene evening at liie close ! Even the future did i^t pre- 
 sent itself to the minds of the generality a\ ith a sinister 
 aspect, as they were not ten irj-'d at the idea of the sleep 
 of death. Ko distressing doubts troubled their youls; 
 they v.ere no longer weigh'd down by that dread of uo- 
 ceitainty which, in the time of affiiction, is felt even Ly 
 the faithful; since, when they suifer'd their thonghts to 
 f :clend be3'ond the grave into the regions of eternity, 
 they might have cnv\'d their dcceas'd brethren, if a 
 Christian could en\y another the enjoyment of a greater 
 portion of the favour of the Sovereign Compensator. The 
 inocn bad now risen in all its lustre, and the star, its 
 constant companion, already glitter'd in the azine firma- 
 ment. The assen;biy of the faithful, having satisfy'd their 
 appetites, dispersed themselves amongst the neighbouring 
 i^oves, to enjoy the cool of the evening. 
 
 One subject of discourse was foUow'd by another, 
 Dimncth, a pilgrim from Samos, conversing ^\ith one 
 of the guests \vho:n he had selecled from among the 
 others, and towards whom he felt himself attracted in a 
 singular manner, said, in the overflowing of his noble 
 heart. Thou still thinkest that denth annihilates; but 
 i^ust not the seed swell before it can produce a produc- 
 tive short ? Must not the clouds be condens'd in ('arknoi^s 
 hcfore thty can display the forked lightnings, and resound 
 r.ith thfc voice of God in Lis thunder? Is our suHirae
 
 THE MESSIAH, •2'29 
 
 soul then always to inhabit this mortal bo'y, ahvays to 
 leinain ftxil iu this, its ürst state otexisteucc?— His dis- 
 coui-se uaä briei", und iiis action prompt: lor suddenly 
 be presenti-d tiimbell" radiant with glory bei^orc his 
 friend, and hy a shake, awakens him trom his uneasy 
 dream, respecting this dreaded annihilation. 
 
 Kerdith, a pilgrim from the Nile, talking with Inm 
 wlio see u'd to feel the gi eatcst regard for Liin, said iu tlie 
 o\ei flowing of his giatciul liwnt. Fortunate mortal, thoa 
 art ni)t yet aware of thy happiness ; art ili ju still nn ler the 
 do!nini -n of the idea, tliat there is m;>re evil than good 
 Li-re belo'.v 1 if so, rejoice ; for this afflicting thought 
 •will .-^oon vanish from my mind. Thou ibrtaaate being, 
 though thou dost not know how near thou art to the en- 
 joyment of what, even in this perishable state, will elevate 
 thee abovt the grave, the summons of death, so for- 
 midable to many, ^nll be to thee a heavenly sound ; the 
 certainty of approaching dissolution will merely present 
 to thee an anticipation of the glorious future, wh;;n from 
 thy dead body tliy soul will rise to life everlasting. — 
 As for me, brother, by Lim who created every thing, 
 and who has reconcil'd every thing, in me the resurrec- 
 tion has already taken place. — His joy reiider'd these 
 last words hardly intellii;ible, whi!e he appeard as radi- 
 ant as Aurora at her first dawn, before the astonish'd 
 mo! td ; nor does he hasten to turn away Lis luminous 
 countenance, as he remains for some time before him iu 
 the fulness of .uigelic beauty — nay, asks several questions 
 of his trembling and silent, though joyful auditor, who 
 stagger'd over the dowers that he crush'd under his feet. 
 Kevertheless, Kerdith, more radiant than ever, remain'd 
 near the fallen son of moitality. At last the eyes of the 
 latter, dimm'd by the tears which provd his excess of 
 joy, no longer distinguish his celestial friend. They 
 found him extended upon the ground, with pale aiid 
 livid cheek, and sunk and heavy cycs: they raise him, 
 an<l endeavour to restore him to animation. 
 
 Sebida, whose eyes, though pensive, were piercing, 
 was seated upon a stone cover'd with moss ; his forehead
 
 230 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 seeni'd to biir», so intense were liis reflections. Sie s>akl 
 lie, who Iiave so long refus'd to beüeve iu the cei tainly of 
 w J.atC'v er concerns our faiure state : who have long ailow'd 
 my heart ti> doubt, however great my siift'erktis may 
 have been in so doing, I ought to believe lliat io:nc of the 
 pilgrims, whom I have seen here under the appearance 
 oi mortals, arc risen from the dead, and have appear'd 
 to mortal eyes ; bnt ought not I sooner to suspect that 
 these credulous and inl'.am'd souls, whose thoughts mere- 
 ly dwell upon ilie resarreclion, are deceiv'd by an illa- 
 sion, which to ihc.n bears the stamp of conviction 1 — • 
 Appear, therefore, ye risen from the dead, to an able 
 searciiLr of hearts, who knows how to <listinguish the 
 being from his image ; shev/ yourselves, ye that are dead, 
 alive ; for I can distinguish reality, and what is life. 
 Eat I look round me, and inip'.cre in vain. 
 
 Japhet (11), a pilgrim from Tcnedos, approaches the 
 unbeliever. The moon, ur.obscui'd by clouds, shed its 
 full lustre npon him; he enter'd into conversation with 
 Sebida, respecting the illusion of imaginary belief, and 
 the illusion which led to tlie entertaining scrupulous 
 doubts, which both depend wholly upon the disposition 
 in which the sonl is, either fully open to conviction, or 
 resolv'd to disbelieve even the most self-evident truths. 
 The wisest men are those, said he, who salect proper 
 objects for tiicir meditations, and weigh m ell every cir- 
 cnmstance as they present themselvts to their minds, or 
 as they fall v.iihin their cogniMnce ; and if, amid the 
 extensive sphere of tl.eir k:i0v. ledge, his;her subjects 
 seem to demand their attention, they weigh them with 
 the greatest attention and the strictest impartiality, that 
 they may not consider serious matters in a mistaken nor 
 a superficial manner, nor yet snffer themselves to be de- 
 ceiv'd by their too scrupulous doubts. The quiet pil- 
 grim, having thus gravely dcliver'd his opinion, disap- 
 pear'd. Sebida instantly exclaim'd. He has disappeai-'d ! 
 ■ — Did he then only appear to me? — No doubt he did; 
 but not in his glory. My sia:ht is certainly as good as 
 ever : I see as well as ever I did, and yet he seems to
 
 THE MESSIAH. ÖSI 
 
 have (lisappcar'd. If so, he must have appearM lo me I 
 — Who i^eut Lim? di 1 he come of liis ovvu accord, or 
 was he sent by God { — Ad:ijit'.i::g he came o.' his own 
 accord, he must be one of those who knew how much I 
 requii'U inslnution, and he has told me some import;uit 
 truth?. But supposiug him to be a messenger from llie 
 Alurghty, I Lave escap'd from that sea of uccestainty 
 in which I was so near being ing;!pU'd : a tempeH Las 
 ca-t me on shore : 1 have rccovei^d my fet-t, and can 
 now look down from the height 1 have altaiu'd, with 
 real joy ; I hear the v.avcs roaring ■^^ itli the sound of 
 death, and I no longer dread their fury. 
 
 But Sebida whs still more gratify'd : the deceas'd, who 
 had disappeai'd, return'd in all his glory. He pcrceiv'd 
 Ids radiance beaming through the branches of the palm 
 trees, and saw Lim, while ski;aniii)g the air, djaw neai' 
 him; and at last, softening his effulgence, he itopp'd op- 
 posite him, and, as if wishing to rcp;)se himself, seated 
 himself upon a s;one. Free as the ambient air, and 
 deliver'd from the heavy chains of doubt, and from every 
 unpleasant sensation, Sebida now questioned the celestial 
 apparition ; he is delighted by the gentle accents in which 
 it rt-plies to Lis questions, respecting many objects con- 
 nected both with this and his future ^tate of existence, 
 and the siblime end which God had in view in all he 
 had done. At last i^ebida cxclaim'd — Rut who art thou, 
 celestial apparilian, who hast descended from Heaven, as 
 well as risen from the grave? — 1 am Joseph; thy aged 
 father still lives; go and tell him what has pass'd be- 
 tween us, that the worthy old man may slied tears of joy 
 ever his son, and that he may give him his blessing. 
 
 Meanwhile the Saviour stiil continu'd upon the sum- 
 mit oi the Tabor, pasting judgment upon the actions of 
 the deceased, and weighing their intentions in the scales 
 of jn-tice. Ke saw from thence the happiness which 
 tliose enjoy'd who were the guests of LaK'rus; who 
 discours'd with suitable gravity, but with the most 
 iiresistible eloquence, respecting the «lortrine of the 
 Me.~»iah,unfoUiing its mofon.ad wisdom, dwelling upoa
 
 232 THE MESS [Air, 
 
 its amiable siuipiieily, by which it aftbrdal noui iähnit-nt 
 and support even to the weakest iiiiiids, and gently teach- 
 ing upon that tnluvo, hidden as yet from mortal eyes. 
 But, saiti Luzirui, as soon as the piJgritr.s, who are aox* 
 ious ill thtir starch after kno\viede:e, have pass'd tlie 
 limits of the ?!ave, futurity is niiveil'd to the3i, and they 
 tiiere learn why they were sutfej-'d to remain in igno- 
 rance of what they had been so an-^aous to iathoar. 
 
 Lazarus was simoiuidert by tn;uiy people, who cor.ti- 
 nu'd to question him, auji he had in paj t reply'd to their 
 interro^tions. As for what respects tlie huniiiialicn 
 of our Meiii'tor, s;dd he to one of the pilgrims, \vho 
 v.as already immortal, it is a mysterious galph, into 
 which the mo?t piercing eye cannot penetrate, before 
 which the sreatest actions become imperceptible, as be- 
 in^ reraov'd to too great a distance from oiu- eyes. 
 Therefore let us ordy talk respecting divine matters, as 
 accorxls wiih our haraau capaciiy, and the depth of our 
 understanding. An honest man is influf nc'd by his prin- 
 ciples, and is often misunderstood ; his heart will deeply 
 feel and snfiertofind itself ihns mistaken. Well! and 
 what is he? Wliy, a v.euk mortal, rather bt^tter than his 
 fellow creatures, who laments, and v.ith dilficuify re- 
 strains, the bitter teare which he thinks have been justly 
 excited. But dare we speak of the sufferings of Christ? 
 i-. not that wading out of our depth ? Ix;t lis compare — ■ 
 but what comparison can be drawn ? — else I ought to 
 remain silent The Mediator is the Son of God, is God 
 himself. Here the image fades before the tnitlu Do 
 we spr^ak of actions ? all are in the shade by the side of 
 his. Has he been misunderstood? — Yes, in every re- 
 spect ; and hev.- many tenrs has the Saviour v.ith ditfi- 
 crMy restraiii'd ! Could any have been sbed with greater 
 justice? — Hut the most elevated deed that we mortals 
 c in form of his fe« lings are far beneath these with which 
 he endur'd hi- snlferings — far beneath the real sufferings 
 of the iVrost Holy. He was more than superficially mis- 
 understood : giltcd with far more levity and more acute 
 feelings than any men or ang»>ls ever wtre, he was ex-
 
 THE MESSIAH. i33 
 
 pos'd to Ihe most ioferual contempt. lie was clotli'd in 
 pnrplt; aiiiidst the hisses ot the moit veiioinous tongues; 
 a reed was pJacM i» liis right hand tor a scepti e, a crowr» 
 of thorns w.ts plac'd upon bis head ; thus was hu led to- 
 wards that igi.oniinious eminence, and tiiere uaii'd upon 
 the cross ! He askd tor a cordial, and they presented 
 him with gall and vinegar ; and thus he perish'd by a lin- 
 gering death ! 
 
 Having ccia'd speaking, Lazarus lett (he grove, and 
 as he walk'd forward alone, he soon rtach'd the grave of 
 the pious Mary. He seated Liniseli upon it, and leant 
 his head, now üll'd w ith the most pleasing and giatiiying 
 ideas, against it. Here! said he, 'tis here that slie is 
 ripening fur the resurrection ! Thou only heardst of the 
 death of the Messiah in thy dying moments, and not of 
 his having risen from the dead ; but now thou know'st 
 all, and thou art (or the angels have deceiv'd me) Ihou art 
 with him. Suffer my blessir.g to follow thee, oh thou who 
 art fall'a asleep in the bosom of the Lord! — ^The immor- 
 tal was near her grave, and thus mentally adchrcss'd him : 
 ■\Vliat sliould 1 not Lave to relate to yon, if, Uke thos^ 
 other saiuts, I was permitted to discover myself to thee ! 
 but perhaps, like his dear Semida and Cidii, he will un- 
 dergo a transformation. — Oh ! happy evening, exclaim'<l 
 Lazarus, which God has granletl me in this my second 
 life — oh, iiappy evening, how solemn do these pilgrims 
 of the Lord contribute to render it! How v.ould Mary 
 have enjny'd it, weie she still living I how she would 
 examhie which were the real pilgrims, and which the 
 immortals frotn the heavenly abodes! — Why cannot I 
 appear to thee ? mentally rejoin'd Mary. 1 would dis- 
 cover them all to thee, my dear friend, as well those 
 who still linger amidst this fragile dust, as those who are 
 only mortals in appearance. Tliere is a majesty about 
 the immortals, Lawirns, which they cannot always con- 
 ceal. They sometimes, like the angels, fis their eyes 
 open mortals : those who notice them, and to whom it 
 is permitted to know them, recognize them. But it 
 should seem that I am conversing with the rivulet and
 
 SSI THE MESSIAH, 
 
 the t^ra.e ; for T.azarns does not hear lae. Xevertheless, 
 my belov'cl b:oiher, 1 must yield nivösii up the pleasitig 
 illusion ot being able to c «jverse with you. That vec<;- 
 rable old mati, whose siivir lucks shade his open tore- 
 head, and who bea; s üiat red pilgrun's staSt, is Hushai 
 (12), That youiig mail wii>> is walkiug near the beud 
 of the rivnht, and who gra\eiy raises his «yes to Hea- 
 ven, is .Ictl'.ro (13), the i-he;)(ieid 01 Median, bee ho\v 
 the gentle ivle^jgi lo, Jeptiia's daughter, is coüCeai'd un- 
 der a veil which rt'semblts a uii.it, and tcarcciy sufiers 
 her gol.ie:i girdle to be se^'U. 
 
 But the eyes of the ntiw tilent atid immortal Mdry 
 were chiefly fv^d upon the IMediator. K.'.pt in a pioas- 
 iug a;id cominnal endianttneut, delighted «ith the new 
 world in which she iomid herself, .-iie is observant ot" 
 every thing, and she participates i:i the most trivial cir- 
 curnftances with the moH lively interest. lier attention 
 is now directed towards Korah (14), who wjs gently 
 placing a harp, richly ornamented with cords, agiinst an 
 olive tree; next she observes how his Jedithun (15) de- 
 corates the harf) with garlands of flowes s, 'vhich perfume 
 the air with tljelr delicious odour ; while, farther on. Ru- 
 che! twines the ivy round an elm. She also perceives 
 Jemiiiia(l6) approaching Rachel, and seeming anxious to 
 assist her, though she is meditating upon the propriety 
 of appearing to tite assembled mortals. The shepherd 
 Zahnona is also among the risen ; it was he who dy'd of 
 joy, at Bethlehem, while listening to the chorus of im- 
 mortals, singing hymns in honour of the babe in the 
 manger. Mary sees liiui walking by the side of an older 
 shepheril of Bethlehem, the son of David. They each 
 held staifs of reed, came from their ficiils, and were con- 
 sidering the revival of the faithful, and their appearance 
 among mortals ; reijuiriog each to tell them who they 
 were. Mary, now turning again towards Lazarus, Ah ! 
 she exclaim'd, see he is prepitring to appear to tliee ! 1 
 perceive in the animated eyes of Eiiphas (17, that he is 
 anxious to make himself known to thee. — Ah ! here he 
 it ; turn towards him ! — Ivow he draws near ns!— He is
 
 niE MilSSIAH. '^Z5 
 
 sitting down by thcc on llie side of the grave; but ala^! 
 the fye iKi loiig(;rdittinguiilicsl)iiii. How suddt-n was 
 Lis tiausiiiuiaiiuu when .he castoH his human figure ! He 
 vi^hcsto rise ag^in towaiiis the Tabor. — Stop, oh Hc- 
 mau ! (la; itop near us, and shew ihyücit to iny bcluv'd 
 Lazarus. — Oh ! sullcr me to enjoy his astonish;:)CL!t and 
 his tra.isports, uj^oii pcrceiving thy celestial figure ! Let 
 iiie \vitncss bis tears of joy. 
 
 To this invocation Heii.an reply'd, Our| Savio-Jr will 
 appear to Lirii ; and wLen the lledetmer shall ascend to 
 the right hand of Goti, U.y brother will be eloriiy'd. 
 
 What dost ihoii say, inimorta! being ? What ! will La« 
 jtar-js be gioiify'd ? Will he proceed with us towards the 
 eternal tabciüacks? — towards the bright inheritance, 
 with the thousands of thousamis o; the tirit lorn of the 
 creation, who will unite then-.sr.lves to ihc band of the 
 adorii.i; brethren? — but you ai e leaving me, brother ! — 
 Lazarus rose from the i^rave of Mary, and return'd to- 
 wards the groves. Cneus (10) was alon^, seated upon a 
 bank of refreshing moss ; such were his thoughts and 
 meditations. Oh ! ye foriunato beicgs, who have wit- 
 Bes^ed so many miracles, which wejc authenticated 
 by the appearance of many risen from the dead, ye 
 have been tolil, even by the messengei-s of God, of the 
 certainty of a future life; and I Lave myself participated 
 in yonr happiness, fince 1 have been permitted to hear 
 yonr recitals. It would therefore be madness still to 
 doubt mistaken and blind frenzy! — Bat 'vliat shall I s\k>1 
 Shall I condnue to serve the conqncrors ? Shall I continue 
 to present my otferings to the God of Olympus — to the 
 Tl»undercr ] Ought 1 still to swear by his eagles, to shed 
 the blood of the most worthy, and of the most innocent, 
 that of the subjugated? and after I have shed it, ought I 
 to join in the proud triumph of the general, and abandon 
 myself to debauchery with the Roman conquerors ? Shall 
 1 act thus when I entertain a far more enlighten'd opi- 
 rkm respecting tlie destiny of mortds, both during this 
 life and in their future stale? — Ah! no; I take s final
 
 236 THE aiESSIAH. 
 
 leave of yoa all, coiKjuerors, ti inmphs, and »ods ! I de- 
 vote mj-self henceloi wiird to him who instructs me by 
 his Irntb, tliat sublime aiid celestial tiTith whicli attords 
 men, even here below, a consoling glimpse of futurity, 
 \vhcn it will be fully unfolded to ilieir \'ievv: God of 
 gads protect me, and lead me still faither iu the njad to 
 salvation! 
 
 His prayer was instantly granted, as Elihu (20) ap- 
 pejir'd to him, and discom's'd with him respecting divine 
 salvation. The worthy Cueus v.as astonish'd at the good- 
 ness of God, in having been thus wonderfully merciful 
 towards him ; an:l long after the apparition had disap- 
 pear'd, and had relurn'd to the world of spirits, he 
 rcJnain'd confiJcring the piace where it had stood, and 
 fancy'd he still heaid the words of lile which it had 
 taught him. 
 
 Ecthoron (21) was affected even to the bottom of his 
 soul, since he had learn'd tiiat the di\'ine Mediator still 
 loved him, notwilh.'^tanding he had refus'd to become 
 his disciple. But he was become the sincere disciple of 
 the risen Saviour, who sent Ids faithful servants to his fa- 
 vourites, to give them a foretaste of celestial blis?. 
 
 Can 1 be still belov'd ? said he ; Dare i believe that I 
 am thus favour'd? May I flatter myself with being thus 
 bless'd ? — ^The doubts he still enteriain'd made his heart 
 bleed, sncb was his grief. Lazarus perceiv'd that he re* 
 quir'd consolation ; but he cannot succeed in tranquil- 
 lizing his mind; and Bethoron, quitting the arbour, 
 walk'd in the garden and in the groves, with ditferent 
 pilgrims whom he met, who were all unknowm to him, 
 and amongst whom he conceives there may be some ira- 
 mortals who have appcar'd, or who may yet appear, to 
 some favour'd mortals ; but, alas ! he fears it will not be 
 to him. He accosts some of them, then turns from them 
 in tears, and contents himself with listening to what they 
 s:iy to each other. At last he attaches himself to Ger- 
 son (22) of Faros, who was Elihu, the friend of Job. 
 Bethoron related, according to his desire, the varioi»
 
 THE MESSIAH. Z57 
 
 circnnistances relative to our Lord, while teaching his 
 divine doctiiiie during his litttinie, which he cuufirni'd 
 by the ir.i:aclts that he perlonn'd. 
 
 Suddeuiy Elihu exclaiin'd, Happy tlosc •whom he 
 selected to be his witnesses! — This exclamation pierces 
 (ha soul of Btlhoron, who bcgiüs to suspect that Gcrsou 
 is not of mortal mould ; who, having tur.-i'd tow;ards 
 his companions. What piercing looks, ment^!l y csclaiin'd 
 Bcthorou, and what a sonorous voice ! I never before 
 heard one so persuasive : then, what un-ti'-n and what 
 truth in his words! But why should I entertain such 
 thoughts, which merely oppress my heart ? — Oh, stran- 
 ger ! rather be a mortal than an immortal. Gerson, re- 
 turn to me. — lie does not come! — Poor forsaken wretch 
 that I am ! he will not appear to me ! 
 
 Wandering in this di.-tracttd ^tatc of mind, Bethoron 
 reach'd the stream w hich ran by the side of Mary's grave, 
 and, during his solitary walk, he mit another stranger, 
 who, taking his hand, assur'd him of his friendship. 
 This induc'd Eethorou to open his heart, and to repose 
 his afflictions in his bosom : he told him cf the call which 
 he had had from Christ, and which Le had refusVi to 
 obey, and related e%ery circumstance v.hich iio->¥ cp- 
 press'd his mind ; and asks him viietLer it was possible 
 that the Mediator couici stid love him, or rather that he 
 
 could forgive him? and, if he did forgive him But 
 
 who art tliou, stranger? If thou art a celestial being, one 
 of the blessed who have appeai'd to the witnesses of the 
 Mcfiiator, suflcr thyself to bo softeti'd in my behalf; do 
 not turn from me thy expressive couctcnnnce ; lake pity 
 CQ a miserable wretch; 1 do not require of thee a hea- 
 venly reward, I merely implore thy compassion. Take 
 pity, therefore, on me, messenger of God: sublime 
 ycui.g man, my friend ! for thou hast ihyseif a'-sur'd me 
 that thou art my friend ; yet 1 hardly dare to prefer my 
 request to thee. — Appear to me, messenger of him who 
 is risen, who had chosen me (wretch th.it I am) for hi3 
 jlisciple, and whom I rcfus'd to follow. 
 Jedidoth (23) was unable any longer to restrain him-
 
 238 THE MESSIAH, 
 
 self: he Ml upon t';e neck of Bethoron, and they niin- 
 s;lcd their tears together, tit! at last Bethoron sunk amidst 
 the beams of the immortal, and hr-aven and earth disap- 
 pear'd from before the eyes of this fortunate being, whose 
 prayer ha<l been so fuliy granted. 
 
 Semida and Cldli (C-i) now descended from the eycn- 
 ii.g star ; they were led by angels towards the flo^very 
 grave of Miriam, the deceased friend of Cidii, and to the 
 groves of her celtsiial brother. Several of the lisen and 
 of the pilgrims assembled niund them. 
 
 Sing ns, said one of the bles^'d, one of the songs of 
 the bridegroom to Lis well-belovd. Instantly was heard, 
 as from a distance, the soft sonnd of a late, and the gen- 
 tle breathings of a most harmonious flute. The guests of 
 Lazarus coald not conceive from whence the-e enchant- 
 ing sounds proceeded ; sometimes they seem'd to be re- 
 peated by the echo of the woods, sometimes by the soft 
 murmurs of the stream; they complain'd of being de- 
 ceiv'd by tlieir ears; they commanded silence; breath'd 
 more sotUy, and were only the more convinc'd of the 
 eiTor of their sense«. 
 
 How 1 enjoy tby bliss, Cidli ! said Semida ; as soon as 
 I was transfor.nd, as thou underwent the same, 1 fore- 
 saw a happy ftiturr. The universe is very fine ; but I 
 am the more sensible of its beauties, since you partake 
 of the same enjoyment. 
 
 To whom Cidli thus reply'd : The evening star is very 
 beautiful, but it« splendor u greatly increas'd in my eyes 
 when you dwell upon its enchanting beauties. These 
 suns,, which are never eclips'd by the darker globes, tlie 
 rosy da*Tj, a;id the soft grey ot t<viiight, al^rays appear 
 more deserving of my admiratinn when thou art near 
 mc. 
 
 I now begin to compreliend the harmony of the mo- 
 tion of the worlds ('25), rejain'd Semida ; but the melody 
 of the inimortals is tar more perfect : it creates and ex- 
 cites enthnsiasm •, it ha« transported, even to beatitude, 
 Semida and Cidii. To whom the latter — ^T!ie inhabitants 
 of the Ilcspei idt's are acqualatcd with the rapture cf
 
 THE MESSIAH. '^39 
 
 Wve, yet llicy do not know how to love likeSemiila and 
 Cidli. Seniid.i thus repl\ '<! : The lit spt-iidcs load a 
 very happy liie, though nature is slow in its progress; 
 the sensations of tlie S'Uil are there felt thionsh the nic 
 «iinin of the seven senses; onr sonls can bor.st of a more 
 extensive circle of en jrymeiit ; anri h«stli irs the strength 
 of our f<;;Uiinenis ? They scarcely distinguish a flower 
 at a distance, when we have long since difcovcj-'d it ; 
 uor can they, at the same distance, hear the soft mur- 
 murs of the rivulet, which rc'reshes the growing gi ass. 
 
 Cidli resum'd — WJien with my mortal eyes I siw 
 those llowery mea<ls, 1 was yet lamenting in that val- 
 ley of tears, the fragility of man — my own, aüd the 
 short-liv'd bi-auty of the flowers. But since Semi !n, 
 bright as the morning stir, has thrown herself into \»y 
 arms — — 
 
 Here Cidli intcrruited her song, npon peiceiving her 
 mother bow'd down with grief, lying at the foet of a de- 
 cay 'd palm tree. At this atlecting sight, her daughter, 
 unable to restrain her feelings, riails towartis the anthor 
 of her being, in all the <lazzling radiance ot I. er new slate 
 of existence. Her mother sinks under the excess of joy, 
 and expires in the arms of her child ! 
 
 I «hould also be very happy, said Semno, one o{ tlie 
 guests, if I could see any of these apparitiors of the de- 
 c< ts'd ; not that I require to r'.o so to convince me of the 
 itsiM reel ion of tlie Mediator; of that 1 am fully p. r- 
 suaded. 1 am well acquaiiiled, said an inhabitant of 
 heaven, (bat who only appe;u'd under the disauise of a 
 pjlk^iim) with the real strength of thy mi:id, an.l the 
 calnmess with which thoa examinest even those objectä 
 which excite the greatest emotions in the souls of other.«, 
 as tlie tempest excites the furj of th.e wave«. The im- 
 m.ortal ceas'd. No, said be to himself, alter a moment's 
 reflcrtion, 1 will not discover myself to him, noi^ith- 
 staudiijg I am well aware of the stieigth of his mind ; 
 such an apparition, in spite of the joy it would occasion 
 hini, might affect Lim too forcibly, and the ei;joymentl
 
 240 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 of a few delicious moments might destroy the repose of 
 Lis future life. 
 
 -Meanwhile IIjc Saviour still continn'd upon the snm- 
 mit of Tabor, pas.-ing judgment upon tlie actions cf the 
 deceasM, and weighing their intentions in the scales of 
 justice ; he also saw from tlieace the happiness which 
 those eiijoy'd '.vho were the guests of Lazains. 
 
 Berscbon, (2D) one of the ten lepers vho had been cqi W 
 by Jesus, and the only one whose gratitude had huJuc'd 
 him to return tb;mks, heaid, as he drew near the walks 
 shaded by pahu trees, the united sounds of the gethith, the 
 harp, the lute. Ho listens with rap'urc to the delightful 
 sounds, which bring the most lively agreeable imaL;e3 to 
 Lis mind. But soon he perceives beneath the palm trees, 
 many radiant human figures, who were nevertheless as 
 veil'd by light mists : the mere be coiisider'd them, the 
 more agreeable and heavenly seeni'd the so'.;nds of llic 
 harp. He was seiz'd with a tr;in£port of joy, when one 
 of these rnajeflic figures advanc'd towards him, took his 
 hand, and led him under the gieen shade of the bowers ; 
 from whence he perceiv'd an hnmensc field. The raoit 
 daz7.ii::g light seems to illuminate this delicious space, 
 and one of the hnmortals said to him. Go and gather a 
 brHUch of palm for each of us. He obey'd in trembling, 
 and soon brought to each a branch. One cf the immor- 
 tals gave him his, wliich agreeably moderated Ids exces- 
 sive joy, and embolden'd him to ask. Are you not de- 
 scended from heaven ? 
 
 We have newly risen from our graves, rcply'd the 
 immortal ; we have dy'd, and are reanimated. 
 
 Vv'iiS it him who deliver'd me from approaching death 
 who reanimated you in your graves 1 ask'<l Bersebon. 
 
 Christ in dying, recall'd us from the bosom of the 
 earth to immottal life. 
 
 Shall you remain long upon eaith'? Berscbon next 
 inquir'd. 
 
 No longer than he will who awoke us from the sleep 
 ef de.'Uh.
 
 TIIE MESSIAH. 241 
 
 Shall yen ascend with Christ to heaven ? 
 
 AVc shall ascend with Christ to heaven. 
 
 Will onr divine Saviour soon quit this earth, to ascend 
 to heaven ? 
 
 \V s do not know. 
 
 Oh! torgive me, thou blessed spirits, for iiill d-trin» to 
 q lestion you : i'hall I die soon ? 
 
 W'c do not know. 
 
 When you were recall'd to life, what were your feel- 
 ings? 
 
 The same as those of Adam were when he was created : 
 one day the last trumpet will also recall you to life. At 
 these words the apparition disappeiu'rl ; the awe-struck 
 Berseboarcmain'd for a length oftim^ where he hai left 
 him, his eyes still seeking those who had Ihas appeai-'d to 
 him. But he no longer sees the paim trees wave, aad 
 he no longer liears the sounds of tlie harp, nor of the 
 late, whose golden chords had express'd such moving 
 sounds. 
 
 Thus did the guests of La/arus celebrate in tliese gar- 
 dens, even with immortals, this friendly feast: they had 
 merely propos'd to divert their thoughts, and they had 
 been made partakers of tlieji^ys of heaven. When we 
 die, we sliall share the same pleasures : we only aspire 
 to be delivcrVl from our miseries, that we may take our 
 pait oi l!ic joys in reserve for the faithful. 
 
 VOL. II.
 
 THE 
 
 MESSIAH. 
 BOOK xriu.
 
 Adam implores the Messiah to make him ac' 
 quaintcd -with the Juturc co?iseqiie?ice of the 
 redemption. Our Saviour, in a zisiort, discloses 
 to him what will occur during the last Judg- 
 7)ient. Adam relates what he has thus seen to 
 the angels, and the risen from the dead ; chiefly 
 dwelling, during his narration, vpo7i the sen- 
 i cnces which were passed upon the persecutors 
 of the first Christians — upon those who despise 
 religio7i, who implacably pursue the virtuous — 
 and upon the fabricators of idols. And con- 
 cludes by relating the coiidenmation of bad 
 kings.
 
 MESSIAH. 
 
 BOOK XYlir. 
 
 ADA JI, casting himself at the feet of ihe Redeemer, 
 invok'd biin iu these vi-ords : If I have found favour 
 iu thy sight, grai.t ree, oh Messiah ! a glinip.'e iüto fu- 
 turity, that I may form some jnt'giuent of the conse- 
 quence of the rtdf mptiou. 
 
 Adam, replied the Messiah, every end will be accom- 
 pJish'd at the last judgment : retire under the shade of 
 those cedars, from whence, by a softcn'd light, tliou 
 Shalt behold a part of the j; icture which the la^t judg- 
 ment will present to every eye. 
 
 Adamretii'd under the shade of the cedais; and a 
 deep sleep, sin.ilar to tlie one he cnioy"d when in the 
 quiet enjoyment of the paiaciise o: Edtn, steep'd lis 
 senses in forgetfulness, <luriiig which he was favonr'd by 
 the promis'd vision. Slowly be arose ; and, burthen'd 
 with the weight of astonishment, he retnrn'd towards 
 the risen and the ar.gels. They surround the first father, 
 in the pleasing expectation of participating in the lino'.v- 
 iedge he had acqnir'd respecting the last day. Adam 
 seated himself upon a rising ground : the greater num- 
 ber plac'd themselve? round the bill, in front of the 
 highly favour'd of Cl-.rist. 
 
 During a day (1) that, under the blessing of the Lord, 
 I bad, even to the ensuing dawn, devoted to holy me- 
 ditation, as thc-se solitary, but delightful hours, fled with 
 unusual rapidity, the sacred muse of Sion presented iier- 
 gelf before me. Kever before had tie prophetess made
 
 246 THE I^IESSIAH. 
 
 so stroBg an impression upon me : never before diJ htv 
 countenance bear so strong a stamp of eternity. She 
 recited to me the vision of Adam ; bat she stopp'd short 
 several timeä during her song. At times the deepest 
 colour ting'd her cheeks; tbtn agam the paleness oi" 
 death came over her, and depriv'd her countenance of 
 all animation : her unclos'd lips emitted a sound similar 
 to the murmiri-m? of distant thunder, while her eye 
 ^va3 gravely us.' A on vacancy : her harp seeui'd ready 
 to escape from her palsied haad, and her crown fliUter'd 
 above her floating hair : sometimes she seem'd to reco- 
 ver from her oppression, then her countenance was 
 agrdn deck'd ia tlie smile which promis'd eternal life : 
 the eldest daughters of^the soul, the aspirations of 
 truth, wiug'd with a hundred wings, rose from her bo- 
 som, towards God, with the rushing of a tempest : thus 
 did she appear to my astonish'd eye, wLiie fix'd on 
 darkness. My left hand touch'd the earth, my grave, 
 and I rais'd my right hand towards heaven. Inhabitants 
 of the earth, and ye tenants of the grave, I will recite 
 unto ye, as nearly as I can, what I thus learnt from her, 
 though my bounded ündei-standing did not enable me 
 either to comprehend, or to seize the most briliiant 
 thoughts ; and 1 have neither her melodious voice, nor 
 her meilifluous accents, to give charms to my relation. 
 Adam, the first created, thus began : With the rapidity 
 of thought, of a cfcerubmi, I was conducted among nu- 
 merous legions of the de;id risen from their graves ; for 
 boundless «ere these fields of resurrection. They were 
 all my children. Oh thou Eternal Father of all crcate<l 
 beings, ^^ hat a sig'f.t was thb for me ! and how much 
 more v. as I gratiSod by the sight of Him who was seated 
 upon his throne, to pass judgment upon the children of 
 Adam! Ye ancestors of the Messiah! and ye angels I 
 ah! how fully did I then appreciate the inestimable 
 gift of immortality! I saw all these objects, and yet I 
 liv'd ! The day will arrive when you w ill sec this nu. 
 merous legion, as well as me ; after which eternity will 
 follow, and none of you will be able to explain v/hat
 
 THE MESSIAH. e-ir 
 
 j-ou have seen : for, oh! the Judge will thcu be upon 
 his throne ! 
 
 While pronouncing these word«, Adam fell upon his 
 knees, and, in the fervour of his enthusiasm, he olTci-'d 
 lip this pray t r : 
 
 Jlsus Christ! thou hast granted uiy praytr ; and I 
 have had a i;liinpse of that dreadlul, th;'.t decisive day : 
 I have heard tiie thunder of thy voice while pronouncing 
 judgment, thou Son of God ! 
 
 Rising from his humble posture, the father of mankind 
 thus proceeded : The epoch of tl-.c; fmai decision seem'd 
 to ine to have already Listed some time : maiiy had been 
 juilg'd before I drew near. This was not a day checr'd 
 by the light of the sun ; it was either exlinguishd or 
 cover'd in ; but the dazzling lu.-tre of the throne awfully 
 illuminated these boundless fields of resurrection, and 
 enabled me to discern Christians the persecatois of other 
 Christians, because they diflfer'd respecting the doctrine 
 of thu Friend to humanity thus saciiCc'd to prejudice — 
 bt others, who had murder'dthtir brethren, in obedience 
 <o tiie commands of charity. (I shudtler'd, and my glaz'd 
 eyes again saw Abel weltering in his blood, near the 
 altar of burnt-offerings, upon again seeing the good 
 becom-j the victims of the wicked.) These Christians 
 were at last cali'd upon to appear before God. The 
 cherubim who summoa'd them, descen'led from the 
 throne towards the boundless plain of justice. He stops 
 upon an eminence, and pom'd upon the earth two 
 o'erflov.liig bowls, the one containing tears, the other 
 blood. When the blood was mingl'd v.ith the tears, he 
 tnrn'd towards the throne, cryi;:g, God of pence, and 
 Protector of persecuted innocence, thou hast number'd 
 these tears! A sudden emotion communicates itself to 
 • the ang Is, and to all the souls of the '.aiihiid, when the 
 Judg.-, turning on that side, atfectionatcly regarded these 
 victims: neither psalms, nor prayers of thanksgiving, 
 can describe the < xpressive look lie gave them. 
 
 "Nevertheless the band of victims remaiu'd silent, their 
 hearts still ^jiowing wiih the same s-^ntiments of charity
 
 5^13- THE MESSIAH. 
 
 in wliicli they had departed tliü life : their eyes, btfoi e 
 they v.eie cics'd ia the sliunber ct" death, had been 
 rai&'d toward heaven, to ask forgivefitss for their mur- 
 derers ; but neither mercy ncr compassion any longer 
 appear'd upon tl.c countenance of the Most Holy, v.Lcn 
 he rose to revenge the athcs of the mardor'd, 
 
 Ble&sings and enjoymeDts, pronoucc'd the friend of 
 hnmani!}-, the argel who had pour'd out tlie bowls, be 
 the pcrtion of thi se who oSerM themseives upon the 
 altar of the divine victim, as marfyrs tor his sake, and 
 wlicse bodies are leanimated, after Laving repos'd iu 
 peace for the short period of some centiirie?! Bui h'^r- 
 ror, torment, and desclaiion, shall be the portion of ail 
 those blasphemers of God vt bo Lave drawn the swcrd 
 against the Mitiiesses of the Eternal, to strike these 
 victims, or who have converted into ashes thexe tor- 
 tur'd bodies (2). Why did that superb banner, in honour 
 of the holy cro-s (3), tliat solemn witness of the dixine 
 love, wave near the spot where you mnrder'd yonr 
 brethren ? And you also dar'd to profane the name of 
 Him whose immensiiy admits of no extension, and 
 whose infii.itnde requires no nnmerical addition — the 
 name of Him, who extended his mercies towards alt 
 men, w horn he confider'd as his brethren : yf t ye have 
 dai-'d to name Him — Himself! tliere, v.here the rearing 
 thunder wouli have descended upon your gniltj- heads, 
 where the earth would have opeu'd to engnlph yon, if 
 he had not suffer'd his vengeance to accumulate against 
 this hour of retributive justice. Look back to the pas! : 
 let your ejcs revert from these plaii.s of death, to tl e 
 tiiiiC when you were living, v hen you fancied, in your 
 wild delirium, tlmt you already touch'd t!ie cro%vn of 
 gloiy with your blocd-st.iin'd hands. Observe the faces 
 of those whom you saw discolönr'd in death : recollect 
 the convuhive shuddering which pervaded every mem- 
 ber of these Christians, in consequence of the sti-nggles 
 which human nature, in it> prime, makes against ap- 
 pi oaching di?3c>lution ; while their heroic tranquillity 
 prov'd that their minds rose superior lo their snffejii'gs, -
 
 TUE MESSIAH. 21<) 
 
 and that tlity no longer car'd aboiit their bodies, the dust 
 ot which tliey abandou'd, without regret, to the \virids, 
 well aware that they would reqiirc it of them again at 
 poiiie future period. You heard those songs of triuinp!i 
 ia which they coutinu'd to join, atiudst the Hirr. iiudiag; 
 flames, till their inc! easing fury prevented them from 
 raising their voices in praise ut God : bat yo;i considit'd 
 this sight widi the most inhuman iaditfercuce ; and 
 wiiit is now the result of your barbarity ? Praise and 
 »lory to God Almighty, and to Jesus Christ, the Brother 
 of these mar;yi s, who has prov'd victorious over death ; 
 and, instead of iho;:^ tcrriiying shudders which precede 
 (lissolution, a soft and p;>werfnl emotion steals over 
 those rise» froim the grave, when the winds, and every 
 si.^urce of corrnpiion, return the dust of their deccas'd 
 bodie', and the new creation extends over all nature ; 
 wJien the hymn, begin in fear and trembling, rises to 
 the Allelnjab, and, instead of an invocation to mercy, 
 the heaven resonnis with their Holy, holy, lioly is the 
 Lord of Hosts, who was, and is, and is to come ! 
 Thus di<i die powerful accuser (4) speak. Another 
 ' soon rose to follow his example : be preseiited himself 
 with a most formidable aspect, and said. Those who 
 were depiiv'd of life, andtho«; who depriv'd them of 
 it, are alike condemn'd. Their wish to render religion 
 subservient to their ambition, has led to their con- 
 demnation, notwstbstmding tlie pains thoy took to 
 conceal their red motives and tiieir proud thoughts in 
 tlie deepest rc?c?ses of their hearts ; and though their 
 tombs were fonn'd of the most precitms marble'. He 
 • who sees every tiling, had, from his abode ia heaven, 
 read what was passing in their hearts : their criminality 
 was couce il'd from men ; and even had they discover'd 
 their turpitude, it was not reij'ur'd of theni to sucritice 
 all those who have err'd : but I shall unveil the rcjl 
 motives of Uieir actions. 
 
 No one was requir'd to sit ia judgment upon holy 
 
 things, but the Judge who is eternal. If the Christians 
 
 pru:'an'd tlie p'liity at' tlicir faith ; if some sinners luve 
 
 M '2
 
 250 THE MES31A1I. 
 
 approach'd too near ihe Son without paj irg him a snf- 
 ficiently profound acJoralion; if, placi; g too biind a 
 confidence in a ^vrong interpretation of his worJ, ai;d 
 lörgejtid c!" their own unworthiness, they vainly fancied 
 they sasv him fare to face, and their fascinated eyes 
 iuriuc'd tl.eni to form a deceitlul EOtim of him, aid to 
 mistake an illusion for the reality ; if this idfa, too 
 stroEgly iiiipress'd upon an ardent bi ain, render'd them 
 gniliy, the honour oi liie sanctuary too nearly conccrn'd 
 Ilini, '.vho, to serve us, enter'd into the Holy of the 
 Most Hoi), not to induce him to be himself the Judge 
 of these sinners, v uhuut reqinricg that the monieritary 
 possessor of mortal power should assist him to crush 
 them with l;is tliunder : yet this is what ye have daj-'d 
 to do, instead of working out, with fear and trembiirg, 
 your own salvation: ye have rais'd your brazen fore- 
 head above the other insects : ye have stolen the tor- 
 ments of hell to torture your brethren ; and, with a de- 
 liberation worthy of your gloomy barbarity, ye have 
 instituted a bio.'dy tribunal. 
 
 Who shall number the atllictiocs — who shall describe 
 the Vehemence of the torments •which h.ang suspended 
 over your devoted heads ? I appeal to the blood you have 
 shed, which rises in judgment agaiast you, and which 
 loudly accuses you of murder! — He who is seated npcn 
 the throne is an attentive listener, and is ready to re- 
 venge every wound from which it flow'd, and, at the 
 same time, the murder of the innocent ! 
 
 V.hen this accusing spirit had ccas'd to speak, one cf 
 the eldeis(5) among those who were nearest the throne, 
 stepp'd without the ra'liact circle, apparently w rapt in 
 profound meditation. You have heard of the most 
 feeling of the di?i-.ip:es ; his name, before he re^'.rn■d to 
 the bosom of God, wasi Thaddens: his present name is 
 Elim, which was that of his guardian angel while upon 
 earth. He thus spoke : I tnrii my eyes from (he life 
 w hioh you have led : it was mark'd by blood : this 
 frightful load leads to where the innocent peri^h'd. 
 \\\re «o; ;? call'd ii.to existence to experience such
 
 THE MESSIAH. 251 
 
 sciititnents ? Surely they were created in a gloomy 
 awfii! r» >:nc:it, wiiich 1 am at a loss to describe. Had 
 they aircridy witness'd the judgment ot God, when ih* 
 divUiü malediction was proisouncd ii» Eden; when the 
 first death, the rtrst groan of nature fulfiU'd the sentenc« 
 of God I and did they only return upon earth, loaded 
 witli cu'S'.«, t) be, alas! the heralds of the iastday? 
 Time! thoii hast brought towards eternity, souls in- 
 c.ipable of chaiitible actio.-.s: yet ibey were not such at 
 their creation : they have disfignr'd themselves: do not 
 publish before the throne, nor in the tabernacles, the 
 abode of the bless'd, that they have thus, for their mis- 
 fortune, dcgi^nerated. 
 
 Shall 1 ttill shed tears over thr^se souU? Not over 
 t'lsm, but over the worth of tliose bein^^ who have thus 
 stray "d, alas! from the end for which they were created. 
 The groans of the unfortunate, even daring their last 
 r.jomeuts, did not excite yoi'.r pity : no distress was 
 capable of affecting your tender and delicate nei-ves, 
 while others could not witness an imploring tear, with- 
 out being mov'd to the very bottom of their hearts. I 
 did not expect thu yon would experience that soft and 
 sacred emotion, at the a^ht of suffering virtue, the sure 
 proof i.f excessive sensibility ; this svouid have been too 
 coR'OÜng for the righteous : yet sareiy immortal sonl> 
 oiuht not to be wholly devoid of humanity, they sureiy 
 Ought to be acquainted with such a feeling : but may 
 mi.-ery be your portion, j'e inhuman wretches! who 
 could not see an insect u[>on earth, without admiring, in 
 the existt;nce of the animal, t!ie effect of the universal 
 prot<!Clion of the Creator : nor could you raise your 
 eyes to i.ea.-en, without perceiving, in the starry firma- 
 ment, the work of the Supreme llulcr of the universe: 
 bnt you never did raise then» with fervor — ^j'ou never 
 shed a tear oser the miseries of your fellow.creatures — 
 you never listen d to the voice of pity in their behalf : 
 well ! t!ien listen to the voice of vengeance, which will 
 now be a? prompt as it has heretofore been tardy. The
 
 252 THE JIESSL41I. 
 
 Jadee of tl.c world is not inciiu'd to shew you aiiy 
 nierc3-. 
 
 Elim ■was still speaking, when, -nhiie sitting on his 
 throne, the Judge snddenly liirnVi towartis one cf the 
 deitroyicg ar.gois, a look v.hich c?JTiod terror in its 
 expression. Kow csn I describe this look? how can 
 I find words to express tfee arger which sparkl'd in bis 
 eyes ? how convey to you an idea of the voice in wlidi 
 be gave this order to the seraphim? — Descend! and 
 with thy tench, shed over their seises the most terrifving 
 -visions : let them anticipate the misery to which tL<'y 
 ftre d. om'd, as tho beginning of their pnnishment. T};is 
 ser.tence was terrific in the extreme. The de?t)oy;ng 
 angel darted forward, quick as thought ; and having si c ! 
 a thick gloom around the band of persecntors, he drev,' 
 near them, spying, in a voice of thmrider, Remark, ard 
 follow me! Instantly taking the advance of them, he 
 tnrn'd towards thcra with menacing looks, and plong'd 
 into the snrrounding gloom. The interna! gulph yawr.M 
 and opon'd beneath the feet of the seraphim ; and ii y 
 ryes were open'd (6), that I might also see what they 
 saw. They wish'd to withdraw their eyes, bot the all- 
 mighty power of the Son oblig'd tbem to stand as firm 
 as rocks, and to look before them. 
 
 A boandless and desolate space was ccver'd vriih 
 bones and skulls; the north wind rag'd fnrionsly; it 
 scatter'd these relics of mortality, and seem'd to give 
 to each a con%nilsive shudder : each seem'd to have the 
 gift of speech, which they merely employ'«! to cnr?e 
 their destiny. Turning my eyes from this scene of 
 horrors, I rais'd them in supplication to Him who is 
 merciful to those who shew mercy unto others. "While I 
 yet pray'd, there came out, fi-om among the multitude 
 who had been murder'd, a hundred yonr.g men, cloth'd 
 in white garments: each one was as beaut ifnl as the 
 spring in Eden, or as the dawn of the glorious day of 
 liie resurrection : the rapidity of their fliglit produc'd a 
 Bieiodifus sound I IJow gentle, and how interesting
 
 THE JIESSIAir. 253 
 
 v,c:e the li/üks of these brothers of Ab:I i Tiicy laid 
 th«Mr crowiH at the loot of the throm-, and King the 
 pr;iiiC3 or Him who sat in jndi;ment. He was the sub- 
 ject of tl-.L-ir hymns — Who is tliat who rises from the 
 mo'Kit of Cellars iu a swent of blood { Hosanaa!— Wlio 
 is th^it vtho IS cover'd with wounds upon tlie mountain 
 of Sidem ? How beaatuid do these wounds make hun 
 appear !— It is I wlio L.tve been sacritic'd for the salva- 
 tion of mc:i! 
 
 Whence comes it that your lijubs are bin theri'd by 
 the weight of that cro-s ? wiiy does the blood flow from 
 thy forehead, as from ths forehead of a fighting man ? 
 why does this blood cry aloiul, X'eiigeanoc ? 
 
 I f.ave alone fought the baUle : none of the sons of 
 earth have come to ray assistance. 
 
 Amen! amen! Thou ait the Author and the Fhäsher 
 of oui- faith; the Beginning and the End — liosanna! 
 Thou didst quickly withdraw thy foot from the grave — 
 Thou didst ascend thy throne, npon which thon no w 
 sitttit as Sovereign Judge, to judge both the quick and 
 the dead ! 
 
 ' For thou hast reanmiated those who have fought the 
 good fight : thou didsi decree that we should be pierc'd 
 with ^rounds, that we might die martyrs to thy cause ; 
 for the enemies of God were also ours, when they im- 
 prisou'd us in dungeons, and loaded us with heavy 
 chains, and when they coademn'd us to the stake, or to 
 die by the sword, according to their despotic will : 
 cursed be the murderers! but may the bones of the 
 good repose in peace ! 
 
 When we receiv'd the spirit of prophecy, and were 
 endn'd with courage to die; when, thanks to the Fi- 
 nisher, we at last expii-'d — then our race was run. We 
 had aUaui'd our celestial goal, and we obtain'd our re- 
 compcnce, and all our past sorrows were banisli'd from 
 our recollection. Lifeappear'd to have had tiie brevity 
 vf a discourse, to have disappear'd as dust is cairied be- 
 fore the wind ! 
 Thou ti'ansitory life ! thou mere vision in ti;e creation f
 
 ^54 THE MESSIAH, 
 
 art tliou thus rewarded in the day of dnys ? art tbon 
 judg'd worthy ot such crowns, and oH büco.ning the 
 co;npanion of eteniitj'? 
 
 Oh, prabes! may ye resjund without ctasing! divir.c 
 inspiration! raise thy «drigs, pursue thy tlight, and pro- 
 clrtim oar happiness! let thy voice btcome th.it of joy 
 and exultation ; and may it, by mingling iu the chorus 
 before the thrones, be expressive of praise, adoration, 
 glory, and honour, to thee, the Sovereii^n of heaveo, 
 and the consoler ci" all the afflicted: belore this clay 
 was form'd — before the sonl l!iat was to animate it 
 fxisted, thou wert, and ihon had-t even then resoiv'd to 
 endure tliy sufferings as the Restorer of innocence ! 
 
 The fi.st of the angtls of death now drew nearer the 
 throne by a thousand steps : his approach resembl'd tliat 
 of an army. At his coming the trumpet sounded : it 
 ceas'd when he thus express'u himself: Let Qiose wlio 
 nijck'd Him who rose from t'le dead advance towards 
 the throne; let tl-.era consider liiin viho was crac:f\'d, 
 •■md learn to know what they have been themselves I 
 They obej 'd tlie samnious. It was no longer in their 
 power to conceal the innate cruelty of their s .uls under 
 deceivii^g smiles. Their heaits were pourtray'd in their 
 faces, and all the wickedness which had hit!:erto been 
 conced'd in their bosoms: thus they appeat'd in all 
 their native deformity before thtir judges. These, 
 through the circle of gilded clouds, turn'd their eyes 
 upon each other, arÄious to discover who was to judge 
 these enemies of God. 
 
 In the midst of the circle of the beatified was a youth, 
 whose countenance, beaming v.ith joy, resembl'd the 
 rosy dawn of the skies: the paleness of death, which 
 had overtaken him before he had risen to manhood, 
 and the regret he had fell to perceive himself cut oJt, 
 as it were, in the flower of his youth, had been amply 
 compeasited by the gii't of angelic beauty, f;u- supericr 
 to that he had display 'd as a mortal : his whole soul was 
 disclos'd ill his speaking features. Stephen, the first 
 uartyr, who, while smiles dcck'd his countenance,
 
 THE MESSfAir. £55 
 
 clüsM liis eyes in deaih, even in (he very flower of his 
 ;\^e, acivanc'd towards !iim. This notice cncoiuagVl 
 iiiia modestly to caft 1 is eyes around : at first he 
 t! cmbi'd, but feeling encom ag'd by the bright radiance 
 ot oterna! life, and inspir'd by the joy of if.nocence, aa 
 Lanncnious sound is«ird from liis lips. 
 
 Affliction \vill no longer, as formerly, said he (7), 
 shed its baneful clouds over my life : yes, I will now 
 name fliee without any hesitation. Oh ! sacred name of 
 father ! for, oh ! my father and my brother arc also in 
 that crowd ! But you are no lorrgf r my father, nor you 
 my brother! Wl;at had he doi:e to you? speak: what 
 had he done to you, your pi.tient on, though immoveable 
 in his principles? ."My deathlike ^ilerice, and my dis- 
 colour'd chceUs, ought to haveexciled ycur pity, instead 
 of which, by the malignity of your artful discourse, you 
 Ciuelly endeavour'd to deprive me, even in death, of 
 my only hope, that of etermi salvation, to shake my 
 faith in him w)io was cjucify'd, whose blood was shed 
 •to obtain the forgiveness of our sins: yon wish'd to 
 deprive mo of the hope I entertain'd of one day v.aking 
 to an eternity of bii-s, the most powerful consolation tf 
 the struggling soul, when ready to quit its m.ortal tene- 
 ment. This great day has also awaken'd you, but not 
 vviih that exultation, those revi\'ifyhig sentiments, which 
 ijKiuce us to address hymns of praise to Ilim who died 
 to save us all. The pious spirit of your stsn, superior iu 
 instinct to your own, \vas too well aware of its worth, 
 to suffer iUtlf to be depriv'd of its crown of glory, by 
 tlie seduction of the enemies to immortality. This spirit 
 quitted its terrestrial dust with the most satisfactory 
 hope, even with the certainty that it was nc^t perishable, 
 but of a price superior to heaven nnd earth. Consider 
 the looks and the victoiy of the immortals: jou saw 
 Ihuir eyes clos'd in '"cath, their breath forsaking their 
 bodies: but look at tlem now, and remark if their 
 triumph is not to you the forerunner of eternal death! 
 
 As he spoke these words, the darzling beauty of the 
 young mac became superior to what the most briüiaut
 
 £jü THE ME&3IAIL 
 
 f-tucy can coiiciive : it more than tf-quaU'd that or tho 
 first rank of angels. Upon percciviiig his incrcast; of 
 glory, the victors saluted liim by a new mine. 
 
 After him rose a sage, who, irom examining the se- 
 cret labyrinths of nature, had raisVI his ideas towards 
 the conteinplation of the heavens. The stars of Oi ion 
 had gradually asibted his progress ; but he bad acqinr'd 
 a still gre.ater degree of perfection by his proiouud 
 kuowledge of men, whose actions led him to scrutini/.c 
 their consciences, though they conslatitly endeavour to 
 mislead the freqnentiy mistaken judgments of t' c 
 world, by öjäng to appear in a favourable ligl-t, and 
 even to raise themselves in the unerring scales of tJic 
 So\'ereign Judge. As a stream wl;ich falls from any 
 height soon forms a torrent, such was the eloquence of 
 the sage ; a solemn countenance gave strength to bis 
 words:— 
 
 I was an np; ight searcher of heart«, who Iwre slowly, 
 and by various eüorts, rcach'd the road which leads to 
 the eternal Son. You A'ccre more fortunate, you more 
 en'ighten'd and sublime souls (8) ; you have long been 
 able to say to the Light of the world, Thou art the 
 Light! and to the blood of Ilim that was sacrific'd. 
 Thou art consecrated blood ! and when he bow'd his 
 head in deatlr, Tliou art eternal ! My steps were long 
 arrested amidst the shadows of the creation, while 
 seeking God : nevertheless, even the shadow of tlic 
 Divinity inspir'd me with a holy tremor : vvhon 1 met 
 w jth any object likely to guide me in my researches 
 after traih, 1 sciiipulousiy exaniin'd whether it was of 
 flivine origin ; and even then I o:dy, after long refieclioii, 
 siifier'd myself to pronounce. This is trnth ! and when, 
 in the labyrinth of knowledge, I tliought I dis'over'd 
 the track of the road towards God, I saidalondin my 
 pi-ayer, This is sacred ground (9) ; this is the gate of 
 heaven. Kevcrthckss, one day, while I was nt prayet s, 
 it opon'd for me : my eyes were dazzl'd by tlie glorious 
 jf'jht, and I rcnder'd homage unto the Son in all his 
 glory : I then modestly fulfill'd the destiny which was
 
 THE MESSIAH. 'J67 
 
 assign'd me, and from that momeixt the sliadcs of tlie 
 «titiion wert withdrawn tiom before my eyes. I dis- 
 cover'd in this image the dibtinguisl.ina; feature of the 
 Creator of all things; 1 again, with increasing inteicst, 
 SH-.v upon the cross, hiin whom I had belore seen in the 
 stii ry heavens, because I knew that he «ho had rcciiu'd 
 his head ixi the sleep of death, had also commanded the 
 graves to deliver up their dead. Were such the fruits 
 of your researches? di<i you walk in my steps, when you 
 proudly declar'd that you were seekini; truth, that 
 divine otispricg of God ; Ah\ do not any longer pro- 
 fane the iiajuo you were never worthy to mention ; this 
 soltiiiu adjuratiou niij^ht sudflenly reanimate the divine 
 ■wrath, and you would be annihilated by one of his all- 
 powerful looks. Mistaken and guilty heroes have de- 
 stroy 'd ihe human race; mistaken and cruel priests have 
 sacrific'd Chri*lians, even before theii- altar.s : they were 
 certainly deserving of puüishment; but tlicse bloody 
 altars, those murderouä fields of battle, those wounds, 
 merely caus'd the destniction of their bodies ; but you 
 have, by your treacherous assertions, occasioned the mi- 
 sery ol their immortal souls. The wounds which you 
 thus inflicted, did not, I a^rce, occasion them that sort of 
 «leath which merely leads them to the grave, to orepare 
 them for another and a bitter w orld ; but you have 
 dra« n upon them eternal «leath ; for yon have distri- 
 buted among the people the foaming cnps, overflowing 
 with the poison of voluptuousness, and with the satiric 
 laugh of insult ; and still ortner have you distributed them 
 in tha'c palaces where the tyrants, when druiik with this 
 seducing beverage, easily forgets his charity towards his 
 fellow-creatureS — that he is doom'd like them to die — 
 nay, he even affects to shake otf the terrors of the future 
 day of judgment ; though bis words and actions are all 
 noted, and the tears of the faithful, as they rise towards 
 heaven, bear witness against him, evcu at tlie feet of 
 Jcs'is, our divine Mediator. 
 
 Profound silence now reigned in heaven ; but soon 
 the patri:irchs of the chosen race (10) assembled ia a lu
 
 2bn THE MESSIAH, 
 
 miaous circle, as v;ell as several other Hebrews, who, 
 belore the day of judgment, had been led to believe ia 
 the San of God: ttiey resembled an army, l:ove;ir:g iri 
 the clouds, bearing in their bosoms au ardeat torch, to 
 euijghteü the forciidable \vitaesses who were to appear 
 against the siunmon'd culprits. One oi those witntsscä 
 riiis'd hirnieU" above the otheic, wiio all approve and 
 agree v/ith hini in poiut oi sentiment, and who all joia 
 with him in pronomxing sentence of death. He who 
 was spokcstn^in thus aidress'd the culpvi'.s : 
 
 While He (11) yet sojourr/d upon eanh, he suffimon'd 
 tlie dead from the graves, to be witnesses of his di\ ii.ity. 
 Tlien the most distinguish'd among the revilers (12) of 
 bis doctrine, resciv'd to de«roy those witnejscs ; bat the 
 never-to-be-dcEtroy'd people of Abraham (who, during 
 the delirium of their furioBs rage, had brought upon 
 themselves the blood of the eternal Soa, by solemnly 
 de'ivcnng themclves up as victims before the gloomy 
 altars of judgment, to expiate the blood which they had 
 shad) were disperi'd amons/; all the people of the earth, 
 that they might bear witnoss of having spiU'd the biocd 
 of the Judge. And here we arc, and here are our con- 
 deran'd brethren. We have a!! livVl upon earth : Can 
 the heavens, with their numerous sons — c:in the rartb, 
 and its innumerable offspring, which grow amidst the 
 variety of its annual productions, prociü;'.r more loudly 
 the existence of our divine Mediator, than does this im- 
 mense body of people ? But as you have plac'd no f.dth 
 in these witnesses, the restoration of the dead tj life 
 would not to you have been more convincing, so much 
 have yea lower'd the human mind, wliich is t!ie image 
 of God, and your presumption lias fis'd yoa in your own 
 sphere, without confidence in the Supreuie Being. The 
 veriest slaves of idolatry may therefore tarn away in 
 scorn from such Christians, far more guilty than them- 
 selves ; may their consciences be severely rous'd from 
 tiie stupefactioii in which they have bound it, that it may 
 render unequivocal witness of the existence of him 
 whom our race alone proclaim to have been 1
 
 THE MESSIAH. 259 
 
 How s'laH I name hun (1.3) whom you at fust saw 
 puisui«^ witli vengeance the society of the faithiiil, and 
 who atterwarcis became o;ie of iLc golden coluiTiiis oi Ihc 
 temple (1-i), who is the most holy, and who has ascended 
 even unto heaven ? — Oh ! how shall I name him 1 1 he 
 new name that he boars cannot be express'd. Thou 
 wert al^o of my race, holy man ! 1 still bless the clay 
 from whence 1 sririmg. 
 
 For ever, reply'd St. Paul, will my eyes dwell upon 
 the suflerlngs by which 1 was so loudly c.ili'd to heaven, 
 eve« by him whom I pejsecnted, that I might bear w it- 
 ne=^s respecting him to these innumerable bands of con- 
 querors — respecting him whose name, ye angels, is Sal- 
 vation, ami whose voice is Hcsanna in tiic highest of 
 heavens. 1 hold my peace, an<l veil the si lern nity of 
 oar ettrnity, before the reprobated, of whom the name 
 is rioath. As soon as a martyr my blood was also shed, 
 1 no longer shed tears over the enemies of the cross; but 
 I became their jnri!:e— -I foresaw their end. This it was : 
 these spiritswhowould not acknowledge tlie splendor of 
 tlie Father in the preseccc of the Son, became misera- 
 ble ; they w ere hnmlied, sunk, and ovcrwhclni'd in the 
 obi;t:nri!y of their false wisdom ; they were tormented 
 by their pride. My soul absolctely despises ye; ye 
 hardly deserve to be judg'd bf tore the assensbled human 
 race. Yv'hat a picspect was that of ascending even unto 
 God! how subiime and bcautiiid! it leads from one 
 perspective to another — always towa.'-ds eternity; it is 
 like gradually ascending towards a temple, built above 
 the snns, nearer the throne, nevertheless leaning upon 
 nature. His offering was hi.s blood, shed for the pardon 
 of sinners ; his hymn was all joy ; and the accompli jh- 
 ment of his end was (he eternal salvation of tlic .wul : 
 thus fulfilling in all his thoughts and affections the pleni- 
 tude of all hi3 vov/F. This is what was religion, ye 
 madmen, who have so fatally inistaken its purpoit, or 
 rather who would not '.mderstand its real meaning, since 
 j'ou rejected its consolations with the most bitter scorn ; 
 aod were not even mov'd by the last exclamation of
 
 260 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 Jesus upon the cross. I\Iany centuries have elaps'd iitire 
 Lis eyes again open'd, and since his then silent nioulli 
 has pronounc'd the decisions of the Judge of the world. 
 Proclaim it in the inclo^ure of death ; teil it at tiie gatt;s 
 of hell, how the n.ighty who menac'd Heaven are fall'«. 
 Scon will these condemnM threateners gi-oan in the bot- 
 tomless gulph ; they will only again raise their heads to 
 SL^y one to ti.e other, L -t us lament with tears that we 
 were ever born, and over the hour of fiie creation, whicli 
 form'd us for eternity ; for the Crucified is seated upon his 
 tJirone.to jurige the wicked. Thus spoke St. Paul. Next 
 the Judge, with cum majesty, thus express'd himself: 
 
 After the hours of morning granted to the earth, the 
 eveuir.g hour, which is that of judgment, is aniv'd ; you 
 believ'd it to be imaginary ; nevertheless the ti.'ne is 
 come : it was as if the insect, who had been since yes- 
 terday an inhahltatit of the mud, had fancy'd that ii:e 
 tlmuder coaid not roai- in the heavens above. Thus did 
 5"0U warp your mind in your terrestrial nook ; but lf.e 
 moment is an iv'd when all the enemies of austere virtue 
 are weigh'd, and have been found wanting in the scales 
 oijufticc. Oh! you siimers, who mistook the breath 
 of hie for the soul (15), who think it merely heir to the 
 grave, y(.u now perceixe it does not die, and that he 
 \sho became extinct upon the cross m so cruel a man- 
 ner, is eternal. He %vas so before thou meanly dar'd to 
 insult the deceas'd Reconcil'd. Most gracious and most 
 patient Jehosah, who look'd with pity upon the Son of 
 man in his last moments, and who was well acquainted 
 V, ith all his worth, efface, ol» Father ! from thy book of 
 life the names of these blasphemers ; they are no longer 
 my brethren ; they have dishonoui-'d the Mediator of 
 thy covenant, his blood, his mortal agonies, his glaz'd 
 eyes while expiring upon the cross, his resurrection, his 
 ascension, all his joys, and all his sorrows. Yes, 
 by my sufiferiugs (l6), by my humanity, by my patient 
 death, my resurrection from death, my exaltation to 
 the throne, by my glorification, disappear from before 
 my eye.«, and become what you have made younelves.
 
 THE ÄIESSL\II. 261 
 
 Thus dkl he piouonnce their sentence of death. It 
 pierc'd even to the verj- bottom of thtir soul?, and arm'd 
 their con?ciencc vvilli flamci^: they \sish'd to look at 
 liini, but being unable, they sunk devoid of strength ; 
 for the blood no longer flow'd from the wounds of the 
 eternal Son ; the awful throne was not upon the hill 
 of Golgotha, and the voice proceeding from the throne 
 Mas no longer the cry of mf;rcy. Kevevtheless ine of 
 the condcmn'd arose from the dust, and dar'd to turn his 
 eyes towards the Judge, when, having with an effort 
 opeu'd his arras, he cried, in a voice w hich penetrated 
 the heaven?, and the earthly fields arouad — 
 
 If mercy is thus bounded, may the almig'.ty power 
 be less confin'd! seize thy thunier, oh Avenger, and 
 annihilate me at once ! It thy thunder can also destroy 
 souls, may mine be set on fiie — be consum'd to ashes, 
 and expire ! but may 1 nevcitheless be enabled, though 
 with a faltering hand, to seize in my fury some of the 
 ashes, and to throw them towards Heaven.' and may 
 my soul perish in the midft of these interrupte:] ihoiiglits ! 
 May the remains of this mortal carcase be abandon'd to 
 the winds, and by them be wafted into theimpeuetiable 
 depths and extent of void ! 
 
 During his exclaniations, all of as who heard him 
 rais'd our clasp'd hands towards the tirmament, upon 
 perceiving the trumpet or judgment fall frojn the hands 
 of the angel of death, and £loa covering hi3 face. We 
 saw the Judge turn round, extend his arm, and dart a 
 flaming thunder-bolt, which le-cchoed amidst the heights, 
 and in the deeps, even to the vaults of hell. A hundred 
 hills sunk u])on the suinmit of the supreme seat oi jus- 
 tice; the ruins shook, smok'J, and still craclded, as if, 
 though already redac'd to aslies by the flaming thunder, 
 the dismal rumbling noise of an earthquake still agitated 
 the mountain, preparatory to fresh devastations. 
 
 My eyes (17) sought the blasphemer amidst the wreck 
 of nature. I saw him shuddering as he reascsnded ; the 
 avenging thunder had reanimated him in the warmth of 
 life, tlrd his sensations might be the more violent ; th«
 
 S62 THE MESSIAH, 
 
 sensibility of his lieart was become more keen; hi^ 
 v.tgtie thoughts were subjected by the oppression of in- 
 defir.ite subtihies: the voice of his despair resounded 
 thiooghout the field of terror, even tili itreach'diur 
 ears. — Cease, he Cry'd, thou messenger of vengeauce • 
 thunder of the Judge, cease. Alas ! thou -wilt forever 
 ring ia my ears — to ail eteniity wiil tiiese smoking hills 
 fall upon me. Ye overwhelming rock?, why did not 
 ye become my tomb, that 1 might have been faiiher rc- 
 mov'd from his eternal summons ? Curs'd be the mouth 
 which open'd to reclaim his justice, in a manner to irri- 
 tate him still more! — May curses ligft upon both life 
 and death, and upon all who, from the bosoms of iheir 
 mothers, or from the grave, arrive at either terrestrial 
 or immortal life ! 
 
 My vision no»v presented before my eyes various ob- 
 scure figures, who rapidly flitted before me, and disaii« 
 peru'd iu the same manner ; sometimes I heard the 
 sound of thunder, sometimes that of harps; at others, 
 the awful summons M-hich brought spirits before the 
 throne. But I could not seize the expression of the 
 voices; I merely caught some im>x?rfcct sounds; the 
 rest escap'd my ear, amid the rolling of the thunder, as 
 the voice of lameniariou is lost amid the ge:ieral v. reck of 
 nature, in a town o\ erwhelm'd with an earthquake. A 
 varietj' of successive objects incessaütly and indistinctly 
 flitted before my eyes : sometimes time fled with rapid 
 strides ; sometimes it mov'd heavily forwards. 1 fancy'd 
 that ye:u-s elaps'd ".N bile these apparitions pass'd before 
 me in my vision ; but one scene was fully reveal'd to 
 my perception. 1 saw Cain, under a gigantic figure, 
 and mary heroes, under similar forms. Cain was fas- 
 tening them together with hea%y chains, the clashing 
 noise of which drown'd that of the thnnder. At last, the 
 indiätiüct apparitions having ^11 vauish'd from before my 
 eyes, I had a fresh \ision. 
 
 Profound silence roign'd among all the dcrcas'd 
 around ; when E!oa, v.'ith the greatest marks of joy, 
 advaiic'd to fulfil a supreme order. If an anwl could
 
 THE MESSIAH. C'Ö3 
 
 ai Ue from death, it would be with such enthusinsm, with 
 such exalted joy, with such a triumphant countenance: 
 Eloa departed to bring a band of the elect to the divine 
 Redeemer. I percciv'd, as 1 sjiwthem advance, tliat they 
 were the best amongst men, the glory of my race. I 
 rose or.t of rc.-pcct to their merit, and in my excess of 
 jny at llieir glory, 1 excldim'd — Ah ! I v%ilt strew palms 
 upon your road ; because you liave liv'd and died wor- 
 thy of j'our existence, and of your lioly end. During 
 this exclamation, adinir'd even by the scraphims, they 
 arriv'd in all their splendor at the foot of the throne of 
 the Supreme ; and tue next moment the trumpet thus 
 resounded : 
 
 Appear, ye wlio are the disgrace of humanity ; whe- 
 ther ye liave dwcll'd under roofs of thatch, or in gikitd 
 palaces, appear, ye contemptible wretclics! ye who ig- 
 nominicnsly defani'd the modest merit of tlie best of the 
 human race. In consequt-nce of this peremf.40!y fcum- 
 mong, a multitude appear'd: they ascended, burthen'd 
 with their own weight, and were judged. 
 
 It was Hcman (18)who judg'd them: tlte holy man 
 of God thus address'd them : The Image of the Divinity 
 ha^, it is true, been impair'd by sinners, and the traces 
 of tiie Creator are no longer disiiuguishable among the 
 inhabitants of the eaith; yet, in every ag-r-, God has ne- 
 ver faild to scad men whose more sublime souls have 
 rec(;gniz'd the end of creation : most estimable men, sa- 
 crc.i renmants of paradise, who ought, by a powerful 
 and manifest voice, to have recall'd to your recollcciion 
 the d:iy of the creation of Etien, and the value of your 
 being, which God has not disdain'd to render immortal ; 
 they recall'd the judgment of God to your recollcciion — • 
 to you I w hose views did not extend beyond the grave. 
 Such were the messengei"s of God, whom ye rejected ; 
 but they, too firm to be shaken by those who misunder- 
 stood them, chose to distinguish themselves by their pri- 
 vate principles. These principles consisted in forming 
 to themselves very high ideas of the Ehst of Ecings, and 
 ia measuring themselves by the uieasarc suitable to mor-
 
 264 THE ÄfESSIAH. 
 
 tals; in devoting their time to prayer and adoration, 
 without seeking to make a merit of so doing, before tlie 
 Sviprcme Being ; in not contenting ihemselves with dis- 
 playing an appearance of sen-ibility, but in employing 
 them.-elve8 in tiie active and coustmt practice of hu- 
 manity ; in set-king that inward peace, which induc'd 
 them to render God alone the witness of their privaie 
 sa:rili=es, and of their good actions; while their wise 
 discretion taught them to hold tlieir peace, even wlien 
 they were uüsuaderstood by virtuous men ; and these 
 principles led them, even while enjoying the comforts 
 of this iiCe, to look forward with the most enthuäiastic 
 satisfaction to^^ards the future, and prepar'd them to 
 greet the approach of death with smiles. 
 
 It was beings endowd with these vhtues whom ye 
 rejected! instead of humbling yourselves before their 
 superior merit, and leaniing from them that the plea- 
 Eires of this life were far beneath those of immortality, 
 and that a soal which knows how to appreciate the value 
 of its origin, ought, when it is committed to its own 
 guidance, to aspire, thougli with due humility, to attain 
 the purest \ ii tnes, and the most solid basis for inward 
 peace. But. instead of endtavouiiag to emulate these 
 virtuous mortals, you became their persecutors; you felt 
 liaticd for these best of inen ; you o'erspread their ac- 
 tions with the slimey mud of your dark caluinnies; you 
 viliiyM angels ! lie who judges is holy : I swear by his 
 name, ll.at he has alto bent his eyes up^u tlie vvickcd 
 who have tormented Lis elect ; but with the look which 
 now pierces your souls, and as ilh its all-powerful fire, 
 fixes you in these gulphs, into which yon willbeplung'd 
 forever. He ceas'd, and one of thc^e youtlis who had 
 fadetl before he reach'd maturity — one of those who 
 would have been a martyr to virtue, had men been still 
 worthy to possess any, this young man said ; 
 
 When I s.iw suffering virtue fieeing to the remotest 
 solitudes, shedding tears, which merely excited contempt, 
 my conscience led me to guess what sentence would be 
 prouOTuc'd against its persecutoi-s. I turo'd my eyes
 
 THE MESSIAH. eo.J 
 
 from liich' ways ; I curs'd those who cu:s\l ; and, sci/.'d 
 with the fire of youth, I tore luyseit ironi their hands, 
 and struck with my feet that earth which was iiihal)itei 
 by these blasphemjrs, and prepaiM myself for my end, 
 in the full expectation of their being jndg'd and con- 
 demn'd. lam now acqnaintcd with the diviue sentence, 
 which luus thus : 
 
 lie who will never cease to be, has bcstowM upon 
 those who have invincibly borne up ai^ainst persecution, 
 a blessed smile : lie who di;;d, and rose a^ain from iho 
 dead, has seen the road they traveU'd strewn with p dms 
 and misery : lie will reward theai. 
 
 The Jndge q-.ickly decided the fate of the oppressojs: 
 the tlatni-'g words of his decision resounded in the air, 
 and they fled from the field of justice. They were still 
 flying, wlien a cherubim hastily advanc'd across the 
 clouds, whicl» v.'Cie driven before him, animated by the 
 terror ot' his anger. Each stride he took occa<ioiiM tl:e 
 roaring of a tempest : at last, he stopp'd : he did not 
 *j»euk, but rais'd his arm with a thrcatenin;; gc.-ture, and 
 receiv'd from heaven a censor, fill'd with tire ; the sha- 
 dow of his uprais'd arm extended over a multitude of 
 th.ose who stood before the throne. Qjir.kly reversing 
 the resounding cup, he shed the flames; the cup still n.- 
 sounded ; the fire still fell upon the field of justice, wheu 
 the destroying angt 1 pronoanc'd this oUh, which wa« 
 heard in the whole exti;nt of heaven:— 
 
 Ey name, he is call'd Jehovah, and he is also caliM 
 the Avenger, and the adoration of t!ie faithinl. It is l.e 
 who was ;he founder of t'lat religion which he t.iii<'ht 
 men ; and he alone was acqiaintcd with the es-eni'e of 
 God. Appenr, ye proud chiMl?; appear, ye fabricafurs 
 of false gods; ye who disfigur'd the Mi).-t iiigh in hea- 
 ven, and the well-belov'd of men, or who have had the 
 presumption to place beside him objects, which ye 
 liken'd nnto the Divinity. 
 
 They appear'd, and were jndg'd by the louador, ua- 
 der the divinity of religion, who first foretold the coming 
 of tbeS.m, and who will remdn an undeniable wilnrj* 
 
 vor-. If. N
 
 265 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 i-espectuig him, even to the end of tlic day of jadgmtDt. 
 Moses, V, ho, while a mortal man, was accubtcni'd to stand 
 at the vight of the thunder, near the sound ot the trum- 
 pets, said : 
 
 I sec all the misty fields of ihe earth ; I see it coveiVl 
 with imagts of a singular invention : they were to you 
 as gods ; they were to represt-nt to you Him, that even 
 the inhabitauis of heaveu cannot delineate : they did not 
 afford yon the faintest idea of him; you posse:s"d too 
 much understanding not to comprehend, even during 
 your abasement (It)), that the worm which crawls can- 
 not issue its commands to the clouds ; that the inhabitant 
 of the waves cannot relieve the wretched; nor could you 
 believe that the r;sLig sun could soften the hearts, nor 
 sanctify the minds of those who aspire to the peace of 
 innocence, admitting even that the perfumes and the sa- 
 cred fire were constautly burning upon the altars of such 
 gods, and thaitlie hymns to their praise resounded with- 
 ©ut ceasing. Yes, > ou were aware of the insufliciency 
 of snch objects, and yet your self-love prevented you 
 from falling prostrate before the I\Iost High, before 
 whom you were only as dust. If you were sufficiently 
 debas'd to give into sucli errors, how could you be vain 
 or being the founders of such sects, of being tiie propa- 
 ;;ators of such opinions ? How could you teach inimor- 
 lal souls to pay divine honours to an animal, which 
 inerely crawls on earth for a few days? Learn also, that 
 he who from the heavens above hears and sees eveiy 
 thinw, has remarked the pomp of your offerings, and the 
 noise you often made, when the idol of the grove, or 
 Orion, were deaf to jour petitions, and when tlie latter 
 did not, at your bidding, rmi in his coursers. Ye who 
 have led mortals on to the greatest abasement of the 
 mind, by deceiving fliem with false gods, knew that he 
 was aware of these abominations, and of the licentious- 
 ness of your dissolute temples, in which ye Ecdac'd the 
 minds of the people ; he has heard the groans of the 
 chjilren in the aim» of your devouring idol.«, while the 
 »; lili sound of the clariouHs i;j vain tri>'-.i to dea;^on the
 
 THE MESSIAH. ^67 
 
 agonizing screams of these infants ; they were only the 
 more distinctly heard, the more the maternal heart en- 
 deavoured to stille its natural feelings ; as yon inhumanly 
 forc'd them to be spectators of these bloody scenes, with- 
 out £,'raut!iig them permission to cover their faces with 
 a tliick veil, as you obiig'd them to smile at the death of 
 thffir chiUhen. Now the Lord requires zl your hands 
 thii innocent blood ; the sins which you have committed 
 with your gods are going to be avcr-ged, as well as the 
 omiiSion of every good and useful actic^n that others 
 then might l-.ave perforn.'d, had ye not sednc'd them 
 even to delhiun), and debas'dthein below human nature. 
 While he was speaking, his counteaance grew more ra- 
 diant, and the dead saw i(s effulgence unveird. 
 
 After him Enoch arose, and with him a new dawn. 
 Tiie sacred prophet said, While I yet sojonrn'd upon 
 earth, as the lime when I hop'd for increasing glory but 
 slowly approach'd, I often sought retiremeut and soli« 
 tnde under the siiade of the cedars of the grove. The 
 winds f:om every region murmur'd, and mstled amid its 
 branches; every lurronnding object seem'd to feel that 
 it exiilci ; while I felt that I was heir to immortality. 
 Then, oh ! even then, during those blessed moments, I 
 enjoy'd the inexpits>ible and always novel pkasure of 
 meditHting npon the First of Beings; and such was my 
 profound admiration of the object of my contemplations, 
 that my soul recurr'd to it i.icesjantly, and always with 
 fresh enthusiasm. My trembling lips were dumb, and 
 tr.y voice was extinct; I could hardly breathe; the 
 functions of life were arrested. Nevertheless, in a men- 
 tal ejaculation, proceeding from the very bottom of my 
 fOul, I thus cxpress'd my supplications : V/ho art Tiiou ! 
 Being of Beings? "Who art Thou? an Infinite God, the 
 First before all existence. Being without an orizin, who 
 v.ouldst not always remain alone? Oh, sacred love I — 
 Ilavhig thus unburthen'd my soul, my voice retnrn'd ; 
 my tears flowM. My Creator! and my God! I was 
 lost in an ecstasyof joy, v. hen I reflected that thou shed'st 
 the fulness of thy presence around mc. One day (to
 
 Q63 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 which I shall never refer but with increasing joj), I re- 
 turn'd to him thnt had created me, but not through the 
 vale of death, but by rising above the grave, even unto 
 God. It is he who has sent me hitherto-day, to judge 
 you, ye imaginary wise men, who, proud of your re- 
 »»marches, vidn of an understanding, which you would not 
 ennoble by consecrating it to God, you have presura'd 
 sutficieutiy upon your o*vn rfrength to fancy ycutSv.'h'es 
 capable of rising by your own eflorts to innmoitalit>' • 
 You were puÖM up with the mistaken idea of your own 
 merit, when you had in your »nighty wistlom been able, 
 as von thought, to unveil ihe Being of Beings : when thus 
 wafied npou the wings of illusion, ye even endeavour'd to 
 raise you r thoughts towards the most awful mysteries, and 
 fancy'd, that to you it was given entirely to unfold the 
 nature of (he divine essence, to adjudge perfections to 
 him who is eternal ; measuring him by the human stand- 
 ard, ye pretended to know the God of eternity. Ah ! 
 ye w ould have been wiser, had yon remain'd humbly in 
 the dust til!, after death, the angt;l of God had led ye to- 
 wards the divine mysteries; ye would have done better 
 to have ador'd with pious admiration. Him who, far 
 remov'd above yonr presumption, was not to be reco;- 
 riiz'd in the shadow that you tracd of such a Being; 
 when, taking advantage of many noble souls, ye Led them 
 from the paths of virtue, and prevented them from at- 
 taining the great and promis'd reM'ard. 
 
 Thus spoke Enoch, the man who walk'd with Gocl (CI). 
 
 Among those w!:o were summon'd before the seat of 
 judgment 1 2C) were other founders or inventors of sects ; 
 tijey were mis'd among the f ibiiciJors of idol.-, and yet 
 they had been Christians. The elders round the tlirone 
 examin'd them in silence: not f-.w from them, and the 
 first-born to the celestial inheni?.nce, stood the mother 
 of the Mes:i:di. A floating drape: y, spotted with bhx>d, 
 wav'd around her ; her mo<iest countenance wasemblema- 
 tical of her gentleness and of her virtues. I'ollow'd by 
 the silent band, she advanc'd towards the throne. T?ie 
 majestic beauty o! hvr f .-.Uiu r=, anim.itci by the fi-licity
 
 THE MESSIAH. S69 
 
 of beatiluvle, encbnntcd and astonish'd my sonl (23). Be- 
 ing ai liv'd before ttic Judg'.-, sbe rais'd her tcndtr, but 
 supplicatiig, eyos towards liiui,and fell prostrate, wliile 
 placing her crown at his feet. The martyrs who accoiu- 
 pauy'd ber follow'd her exajnple, by kacelirg before 
 hiiu who chose to die, though eternal. A melodious 
 lialieiujah of solemn hymns was heard, aod the Ke- 
 deen:er thus express'd himself: — 
 
 Arise, my children, and love me as I di?p!ay'd my 
 love for you, when the blood llow'd from my wounds, 
 before the eyes of Mary — 
 
 Who now lightly hovering in all her glory, wiib arms 
 extended tuwaids the throne of her Sou, thus sui.g, in a 
 voice which enchanted all iheiisen, and every inhabitant 
 of Heaven: 
 
 To Thee, anil to Thee only, be ttcrnaliy sunghoEanna! 
 for thou hast died unto sin, and thou hast struck death 
 even to its extinction. The sacred tears ■which 1 have 
 often shed, even while enjoying eternal repose, upon 
 finding myself misunderstotd by Christians who paid 
 me the same homage which tlicy did to the Son of God! 
 ye ajc now dried, as ye were slied in pity for then' er- 
 rors ; since my highly.adoru'd images are now crumbled 
 to du.«t, ami<l the general wreck of nature ; and that 1 
 now see those profusely ornamented altars overtlirown, 
 from whence arose misguided invocations, which never 
 reach'ii my ears, but which were beat d by hira who, al- 
 ways present everywhere, lias fix'd upon this decisive 
 day to point out to each tlstir respective places, to sepa- 
 rate the souls of the most sublime minds, and t!ie created 
 from the uncreated. May all honour and adoration 
 therefore be paid to thee alone, Sovereign Restorer! 
 May all the crowns be laid, and all the palnrsbestrew'd 
 at the feet of the God who was man ! Before the forma- 
 tion of the body, and of the vivify ing souls. Thou who 
 didst always exist. Then did.-t even then meditate the 
 redemption of those tliat thou didst consecrate martyrs to 
 thy cause ; and also of her who bore thee, w horn tJiou 
 fcadst diofcn to hear thy last words upon toe cross, and
 
 270 THE MESSIAH, 
 
 to-day thy divine voice, which is that of the Couqueior, 
 pronouacing our salvation, and separating us from the 
 rejected. Hosanna to the Babe of Belhlehein, to the 
 Suhcrer, and to the dying Man, who humbly clos'd 
 iiis eyes in sleep, the first time ia a manger, and the last 
 in the sleep of deatii upon the cross! All homage to the 
 exalted Supreme, to the Author of oar salvation, and of 
 our eternal life! Hosanna to the Most Holy, to the Son 
 of God, wlio was born of wonvm ! 
 
 My vision now presented before my eyes various ob- 
 scure form?, which rapidly flitted before my eyes, and 
 disnppeur'd in the same manner, Somelimes 1 heard 
 the sound of tlumdt r, sometimes that of harps ; at others 
 the avful summons, which brought spirits before the 
 throne; but I could not seize the expression -of the 
 voices ; I merely cauglit some imperfect sounds ; the rest 
 escap'J my ears, amid the rolling of the thunder, as 
 the voice of lamentation is lost amid the general wicck 
 of nature, in a town ovcrwhel.n'd by an earthquake. A 
 successive variety of objects incessantly and indistinctly 
 flitted before my sight. Sometimes time fled with rapid 
 sirides; sometimes it mov"d heavily forward, I fancy "i I 
 ttiat years had elaps'd while these apparitions were pass- 
 ing before me in my vision. 
 
 But one scene appear'd very distinctly before me : I 
 very plainly pcrceiv'd many of those who had been 
 wretched upon earth, receive the rewarvl of their past 
 sufferings; led up by angels, their brows were orna- 
 mented with crow us, whose radiance proceeded from 
 the source of all light. These were great and innocent 
 men, noble sufferers, who had patiently endui-'d the 
 Weight of accumulated misfortunes. 
 
 At last, all the=eind!stmct apparitions entirely vanish'd, 
 an;l my former vision v\"as renew'd. 
 
 Suddenly a most terrific phantom rose before me : 
 this was Eternal Death. Never was an immortal spirit, 
 in the full capacity of bis thoughts, and ia the still greater 
 extent of his feelings, so agitated as my heart was at his 
 lionible aspect. The most dishonour'd sinnas, the
 
 TUE MESSIAH. 5:71 
 
 shame and reproach of hamaniiy, to whom God swore 
 iu his wiath that they were only dust, the bad kings, ap- 
 pt'^i;*«!, t:> I'.car pronounc'd their seiitencc of death. 
 Neither the (hnndtr liom the throne, nor the sound o» 
 the last trnmpvt, suaunor.'d them before the tribunal. It 
 WHS the iairieiitahle sound of the rat'les in the throat, 
 \v! ich seeni'd to proceed from a field of batllr, and the 
 j;»iis and groans of those exj)iriiig sinners whom they 
 had plung'd i..to miii-ry, by indacing tliem to acts of 
 criminality. Tix;se numerous voices forc'd them to appear 
 be.'ore God ; their coiuing resembled the approach ot 
 lempestuons clouds. 
 
 Aa uni'ortunate bei.-g, vho, without ha\iDg deviated 
 from th'j i>at!;s of virtue, had, during Lis lifetime, been 
 rodnc'd ta the greatest inis-ry by one of tl\C3e tyranf^, 
 rose as a sworn evidence agaiiialthein, and turrajig to- 
 wards tlie Judge, he thus spoke : 
 
 i^nrii in a pnvate station, I was undisturb'd and hap- 
 py. Heaven had given me three sons : l"his barbarou» 
 and wicked man approathM my dwelling witli dcceitftil 
 iiiniles, laden with gohl, to corrupt my chihhen, whom 
 fortune had ill treated, that he might render them as 
 abandon'd as himself. 1 died sixm after, and thou didst 
 pass fcntence upon them. Most Supreme Judge, do 
 thou now drive their corruptor from ihy presence. lie 
 l.;is dcstroy'd my b!ood, he has beguil'd ray children of 
 tiicir innoceiic2, that thty rhight asämilate with him. 
 Do Ihon, the most Innocent of Men, judge him in his 
 fun ; miy all the torments of the rejected whom he ha* 
 sednc'd, be his portion ! 
 
 Seven martyrs, cover'd with wounds, whirh cry'd 
 vengeance against their murderers, now rose in all tl»e 
 d:i7//ling brightn<ss of their glory. — 
 
 We belong to the handrcd and foi ty and five tliousand ; 
 yonr ferocity expe; ience'd a barbarous pleasure, while 
 enjoyirgthe spectacle of our death, and yet we had done 
 110 evil. The feather'd chorister of the groves dard to 
 raise his voice in honour of his Creator, but we were 
 Hot permitted to enjoy that satisfaction. The satellite?
 
 272 TIIE MESSIAH. 
 
 of your c;uel rage pnrsii'd u«, eve« to tie deseitM 
 caverns of the moonfiins:, even to the graves of tlie 
 deceas'd; there, where, cover'd \vit!i flowers» water'(! 
 by our tears, repos'rl the bones of our biellircn, rc- 
 pioing agnir.st the day of days, year barbarous cxe- 
 cationers never ccas'd staining their s.vords with the 
 blood of Christiisr.s, till surrouiukd on al! sides by the 
 frightful silence of death; u otwilhstanding tiie martyrs, 
 even when expiring under Iheir strokes, forgave their 
 murderers. Terrify 'd by the e siiiiiter objects, lhc?c in- 
 human wretches 'fled, fancying that tlie foliage of ihc 
 forest, rustling and quivering before tlie bree-ze, v.as a 
 dre-.tdful tempest; and that they saw amid the gloon^, 
 Tvandering and terrific shades. But as for ye, ye great 
 men of the earth '. the rtcollecticn of these mnrders did 
 not destroy the voiuplnons repose «hich you eujoy'd 
 upon yonr flowVy couches, whiiedrinik with ti:eiu4:t;i;se 
 ■Vfliich your ciuel flatterers continually ponr'd into your 
 cars. But now raise yonr ejes ! here are all those whom 
 you have mun'er'd; tarn yosr eyes also, (if you can 
 sustain the sight of the all-powerful terror of the Divi- 
 nity) — turn your eyes upon the first-born of the martyrs — 
 his name is Jesus. You have heard him thus nani'd 
 upon earth ; yen mi^Lt then, when he did not as ytt 
 hold the thunder in his hand, listen to tl.is beneficent 
 name, now repeated with terror in the vast extent of 
 Heaven. 
 
 Thus spoke these witnesses, cover'd with gloriouF 
 woaads. 
 
 After them came a good king, whose eyes sparkled 
 with a pleasing sensation of joy; turning towards the 
 righteous who surrounded him, he said — 
 
 How can I express tlie holy peace and the felicity 
 which now fills my heart? How an I give you an idea 
 of the value of that solenm reward which I have ob 
 t.'.in'd, for having given the reins to njy humanity, and 
 fur not having suflfer'd myself to be blinded by the daz- 
 ■Aixig lustre of my greatness ? nor did I ever forget that I 
 was merely oust, and as snbject to death as were those
 
 TITE MESSL4II. 273 
 
 I govcrn'd. Blessed be those sweet and fortunate mo- 
 mejits when my heart, which always melted at the sight 
 of the miseiy of my fellow-creatares, prompted me to 
 exercise my charity tov/ai'ds them, by relieving their 
 wants, and lessening ihcir misery : how gratifying to 
 read their thanks in their moisten'd eyes ! this was of 
 itself a sufiicicnt reward ; but their prayers have obtaiii'd 
 nie a never-fading crown, and my Sovereign Lord, as 
 boundless in his gifts as in his essence, still increases my 
 liappiness, to which he has plac'd no bounds, since 1 look 
 forward to eternity. 
 
 At this moment, one of the rejected rais'd his head 
 from tlie dust in which he had been overthrown by his 
 sentence, and extending his hand towards the kings, he 
 thus depos'd against them: — My life was a tissue of 
 crimes, and now 1 am a condemn'd sinner. I have dc- 
 ny'd the .nipciiority of the soal, which has rais'd these 
 righteous men above the slime of the earth; but I now 
 fmd that ye were the most abject of the human race, the 
 most impious of all the sons of men, while sin reign'd 
 upon the earth, while conscience only held her tribunal 
 in your hearts, and while ye were deaf to her voice ; bnt 
 in this day of vengeance, slie can no longer be stifled. 
 Thus spoke the rejected soul. 
 
 Already had the seraphim Eloa arm'd himself with 
 exterminating terrors ; vci5geance inHam'd his eyes : he 
 unravell'd an open scroll, the sheets of which lloated in 
 the highest hi'aven. Ilie roaring of the tempest is next 
 heard, and Eloa s»id. There is no standard by which to 
 fix the weight of your &i!amitie3, no figures by which 
 they can bo calculated, no v.ords by which they can be 
 exprcäi'd. It hr-.s b'^en y-iur misfortune to have been 
 created, since mi«ry and perdition will henceforth be 
 the portion of your souls ! You have basely profan'd the 
 most august dignity upon earth ; angels were, after your 
 demise, to have welcom'd you, in the name of the King 
 of kings, with acclamations of joy, and with tears of 
 gratitude ; for you were plac'd in veiy elevated situa- 
 tions ; nations were assembled round your thrones ; yonr 
 N2.
 
 iJ74 THE JIESSIAir. 
 
 theatre was very extensive ; aiid had you acted noblj 
 and huuiaucly, you would have render'd it great and 
 glorious. The Heavens had their ej es upon you ; but 
 they turn'd them away in disgust, when they saw your 
 actions ; v hen tliey saw 4hose bloody wars, the re- 
 proach of human nature in every age, and which ex- 
 cite the insulting and ferocious mirth of Hell; when 
 they saw those insolent favourites cringing round yon, 
 who merely wish'd to lull your better faculties to sleep, 
 and to render you incapable of eitiier drying the tears of 
 t'le wretched, or of rcw arding the virtuous. 
 
 Go then, thou (24) whose eai^ were forever tickled by 
 the flattering promises of immortality, well you have ob- 
 t.:in'd it ; but it is not of that species that yon expectefl ; 
 your names will be immcrfaliz'd, 'tis true, because they 
 will be continually repeated, coupled with the most sa- 
 v.ige imprecations which the vilest among the souls plur.g'd 
 in the lowest gulphs of hell can devise ; your actions 
 will be engrav'd in strokes of fire, upon the immense 
 circumference of the brazen mountains of hell, that ye 
 may all recognize yourselves, to your eternal shame : 
 there, where no temple of memory exist«, «here no 
 laurels grow to crown your heads, \\ here no songs of 
 triumph will be sung by those who, with the basest adu- 
 lation, overwhelmed you with unmerited honours, and 
 who, to celebrate every delusion of your pride, rais'd 
 arches of triumph to your honour; but there you will 
 hear the cry of lamentation, and terrible and mourning 
 voices, arising from the blood v.i.ich you have shed, and 
 the imprecaiicns of those \\hom you doom'd to more 
 novel and more cruel tortines, which will resound among 
 the bis(liest mountains, and amidst the stupendous ridge 
 Ol rocks, which will hang suspended, like the tottering 
 siperstructnre of a bridge, whose arches are in a mool- 
 dering, ruinous state, in the most threatening posture, 
 over your heads, which will be shrouded in everlasting 
 night : thus will you always be devoted to fresh punisli- 
 menl«. Rlay the clouds which surround the throne be 
 arni'd >^ith their destructive thunder! may the angel» of
 
 THE MESSIAH. £75 
 
 death descend -with pitiless steps !— and let all the con. 
 denuj'd raise their eyes towards the tiirone, for tlie di- 
 vine hand has seiz'd the scales ; and soon, very soon, the 
 one will rise to Heaven, while the other will sink even 
 to Ilell : thus «poke Eloa. A ten ific and general silence 
 now extended itsclt" over all the nniverse. 
 
 The arraigning look of the Judge was holy, majestic, 
 anii teirible ; it beam'd wah hi» mighty power, and with 
 his indignation ; he lower'd his eyes upon the kings, then 
 turn'd them away in silence. At the moment he turn'd 
 from them, the earth trembled from af.ir, under the feet 
 of these monarchs: a frightful tempest arose from the 
 throne, and from amidst the most opaque gloom, the an- 
 gels of death came forth. The kings fled in terror, but 
 not even an earthquake in pity conceals them from the 
 piercing loolcs and hasty approachof the angels of death. 
 Quick as thought we saw the place vacant where the 
 criminals lia.l been condenm'd ; we heard the gates of 
 hell open and reclose, and instantly the angels of death 
 re-appear'd upon the tirmament, surrounding the field of 
 jiistice, bearing heavy thunderbolts, and singing hyinn* 
 of joy.
 
 THE 
 
 M E S S I A II. 
 
 BOOK XIX.
 
 ^^z aröutncnt» 
 
 Tiie mine, of Sion relates how Adam is inter- 
 Tuptcd in his 7iarrutio7i rcspecii/ig the la->t 
 jtidqment, by the emotioti he fecis at the sight 
 of Eve, inrploring pardon of the Judge for her 
 posterity. The sentence of those priests uho were 
 the proud dcprcciatoj-s of the actions of ?nc?r. 
 Abbadona, having comider'd the effect of di- 
 zinc justice, requests annihilation from the 
 hands of the Judge : at the moment ichcji he be- 
 lieves that his fatal prayer has been grunted, 
 the Saviour calls him to salvation. The righ- 
 teous of our globe, who have been declared in a 
 state of grace, and those of the interior aorlds, 
 ascend to Heaven. Adam concliules the recital 
 of his vision, at the tranformation of the earth 
 into another Eden, Jesus appears upon the 
 baiiks oftliesea of Tiberias, more than fivehun- 
 dred miles from Galilee, nherelhey ai'e celebra- 
 ting the last supper, and singing hymns. Jesus 
 apj^ears to James alone ; and then to the other 
 eleven apostles; and to the seventy-tuo disciples, 
 iti the Forest of Palms. John sees in a dreatti 
 the effect of the descent of the Holy Ghost. 
 Thaddeus displays the greatest sensibility, as 
 the moment of his separation from Jesus draus 
 ■near, ulio is prcj^aringfor his ascension. Jesus 
 fjgain Joins his disciples at Gethsemane, and 
 leads them to the Mount of Olives, uherc the ce- 
 lestial train are assembled. Lazarus, who is 
 norv glorified, is conducted thither by his angel. 
 Jesus blesses his disciples, and ascends to Heaven,.
 
 THE 
 
 MESSIAH. 
 
 BOOK XIX, 
 
 rriHE father of the Imman race wa.« silent, respecting 
 -*- one of the scenes which had beiu iinfuhkd to him 
 during his vision of the awful day of juj;gp.iciit. In the 
 midst of the numerous and thick ranks of an anisy of 
 risen, which extended further than tlie eye could rcadi, 
 he percfciv'd Eve standing upon an eminence, whose 
 hair wav'd over her shouhlcis, whose arms ^A■ere vs.- 
 tended, and whose countenance was all auimaion ; 
 w Idle siie ci ied in the most meliing and nn ,>-t atfcction- 
 ate tone that had ever reacli'd the ears of either men or 
 angel*. Pardon I she smil'd through lur tears, wldle she 
 implor'd forgiveness for lier children — the p;u-il(>n of 
 their judge ! But this aft'ecting scene soon disappear'd ; 
 and he merely continued to hear the sj;"t, but ir.tcr- 
 ra^.ted sounds of the celestial lyrts, whicli seem'd to 
 liim to be sometimes expressive of pily, sometimes cf 
 joy ; but these also ceas'd, and his vision continued. 
 
 Appearing to rouse himself from his abstraction, Adam 
 thus proceede<l with his narrative ; — I next saw th;- mow- 
 ers (l) v,'uh their scythes, ascend and descend amidst the 
 ranks of the hosts whicbthej' slo\^ ly travers'd, severely 
 ani a'.tcntively examining each individual : they then 
 cried. Come! and led those whom they had call'd to- 
 w.u-ds the throne of justice. They were iuterraix'd 
 like the confused thoughts of man, and as dumb as the 
 statues which grac'd the mausoleums of the great, wliile 
 there were yet monuUiCcts: a seraphim v. as scDt to-
 
 280 THE J1ESSI.UI. 
 
 •wards tbem ; he gravely advanc'd to meet Ihcm, and 
 issu'd this order of the Supreme Behig. 
 
 Tall prostrate with all due humiliation, and listen to 
 yo'.ir sentence; it v.ill be similar to that vil.ich was 
 meiitally, and in trembling, prouounc'd upon yon by the 
 righteous, during yom- sliort span of life, when they, 
 corapardyouto themselves.^ — I now^, alas! perceiv'd 
 many of these miserable wTetches turn pale, and sink to 
 tiie earth, where they clung to the ruins of the recks. 
 Ihe seraphim retir'd in silence; then rose with all the 
 dazzling brightness of the purest virtue, and with all the 
 majesty of tliat sublime religion, whose holiness he had 
 fei vently ackuowledged, even before his decease, the 
 best of the disciples, the most worthy to be bcIov'd,the 
 pious St. John. The elders immediately sorrouuded 
 him ; w hue he advanc'd to unmask the proud, now mi- 
 serably extended upon the field of justice, and to dis- 
 close their most secret actions : he entei-'d into no de- 
 tails; neither did he dwell upon the number, or the 
 greatness of their crimes : he merely display'd to them 
 the fate which tliey have provok'd by their iniquities; 
 or silenced the tlirealeniug cloud, which is ready to 
 overwhelm them. Thus spoke St. John. 
 
 You have created for yourselves virtues of your own, 
 and you have plac'd tliese idols above the throne of the 
 law of the judge, and the voice of your conscience was 
 deaf to the divine precepts. The Iioly men who al- 
 ways trod the path prescribed to them by the Eternal, 
 novertheles3 found it necess:iry continually to implore 
 the divine mercy, because tliey knew and acknow- 
 ledg'd the power of God, and never thought themselves 
 sufficiently pure; but yon fancied you were perfect, and 
 were not requir'd to adopt tlie belief of the great re- 
 demption. 
 
 The noble ambition which led you to seek the road 
 to honour, you «legradcd by suffering it to degenerate 
 into pride. Yon dared to judge with severity those 
 who were better than yourselves: the simple of heart; 
 tbe Nvise who penetrated further than you did into tlie
 
 lliL .MI,'>^1AII. 231 
 
 lahyfiiith Oi titUics the luoit paiuful to luüil, iLosc wKo 
 ^^c•re anbnatt.l by a zealous i egaid for virtue, v liich 
 uouiish'd tlu'ir fl.•l•^■üUl•; it '.va» they wliom, ia yccr dc- 
 lirinin, ye j'ldg'd sevcrt-'y: you dar'd, profauc as you 
 veic, to appreciate iu the siune degree llie virtue which 
 deliglils in luinibling itself, ami that which ia juerely 
 humble in appearance, which aisimus its daz:'.iii:g lus- 
 tre, and its uauie in the palace of kings, or in the high- 
 est slatjons of ideal greatness upon earth : you vierc the 
 architects of your own felicity, as of temples suited to 
 yx>ur ta.-te, \^hich rested upon very fleceitful fi^unda- 
 lions, and not upon sacred diiiies: yon £omcii::ies, it is 
 true, nieutiun'd a Providence; but you plac'd more 
 faith in the ways of men, a:;d in your own actions: you 
 led away from the purpose for which yt-u were forni'd, 
 the very superior minds by which you were b) nature 
 gifted : you often confounded the tones of the i uJcst 
 austerity w ilh the harmony of those which are inspir'd 
 by the noble, gcnile, and pious feelings of humanity : 
 your actions often btt:;!y'd jour most secret thoughts; 
 but in your own heart all \v.;s darkness : peace was never 
 found an abiding place in your sonls, in consequence of 
 your havi;)g entirely forgiven your enemies, and of 
 your having tccretly blessed them : how then conld they 
 who were not pure in the eyes of God expect the crown 
 of immortality ? they who, in their moments of terror 
 or reflection, were not pnre even i i the opinion of their 
 own conscienc.', when the convincii.g certainty of their 
 ovvii weakness was uppermost in their minds, which 
 they conld not (however they might impoa- upon others) 
 conceal from themselves; yet they did not have recourse 
 to the Supreme Redeemer ; they trusted to the vain hope, 
 the delirium of their own merit, and hoped to be sav'd 
 by their own virtue. Unfortunate, tranquil smners I it 
 was thus that they became criminal ! Could the last day 
 alone, arm'd witli all its terrors, recall ye to ycnr recol- 
 lection ? Eveiy succec<ling moment, during your short 
 life, ought to have conviuc'd you, that beyond t!ie tomb 
 there was another Judge bcäde? yourselves. .Arise, and
 
 ^S2 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 remark the happy repose vvLkh those whom yr.n here- 
 tofore coiidcinii'd now etijoy. Consider tfie re^vard 
 which you Isave forfeited, since another road th;tn the 
 one you pursu'd led towards it; bamiiiij', h\i!iiani'j% 
 and fervent prayer, have brün;jht these cou(|uerors to the 
 goal : never did you, like tbcni, devote j our nights to the 
 rapturous employment of addre^fing your vows to Hea- 
 ven ; never did you, like thcni, exert yourselves for the 
 beneät of the uiifortuaate : you have disdniiiM to parti- 
 cipate in one of the gixatest pleasures which either men 
 or angels ever euioy, that of having only the eye of 
 Heaven to witness our good actions; that of feeling om-- 
 selves better and more happy, because the multitude re- 
 main'd iu igr.orancc of tlic meritorious actions we had 
 perforni'd. Your thoughts were never sufficiently em- 
 ploy'd upon God, upon the first of Beings, npon the most 
 High ; that is why you slept smiling in false security, 
 without ever attaining that real pt^ace which arises fi-cm 
 the tears of rcpent.incf, and which flow to obiain that 
 inestimable favour, for^^hi-Ju we are i'.vlcbted to the 
 blood and teas s of our McJi.'.tor. — "When St. John ceas'd 
 speaking, the scales of justice resounded ; the lightest did 
 not absolutely touch the beam: a mi^tvcil'd the destiny 
 of these who were judg'd ; but utter darkness did not 
 reign amongst them (2). Possibly some day a joyful 
 light may shine upon them. 
 
 The host to the left of the Judge were in the greatest 
 coniternatl( n : the angel« of death were descending from 
 the Ihione, to con'.uct the njected to the abot^e of eter- 
 nal darkness ; they carried with them the terror of the 
 look with which the Heavenly Jud^e pronounc'd their 
 sentence : a thousand stormy clouds roH'd bthind them, 
 and follow'd their rapid t^ight. 
 
 Silent, like one forsaken, with half-clos'd eyes fixM 
 upon the gulphs below, stood Abbadona: one of the 
 angels of death drew nearer him, every succeeding mo- 
 ment: he saw and rerogniz'd the cherubim, and prf- 
 par'd himself to die : he nevertheless rais'd his hagga«! 
 ryes towards the Sovereign Judgft, whom he now involcis
 
 THE MESSIAH. ti^S 
 
 w ilh all the fenour of which Lis soiii is capable: the 
 Jddgefrom his throne, and all the sons of the eHith, con- 
 sider him. Since all is fii)i?h'd, exflaim'cl the suppliant 
 seraphim, and since lo this last of days is to succeed the 
 night of eterniiy, deign to siifiVr me, oh ! thou who art 
 seated upon thy throne, to dare once move to raise to- 
 wards thee my eyes, sntius'd in tears, which ha\ e llow'd 
 since the creation of the earth ! thou who didst thyself 
 sufier, dtign from thy throne, upon which tlioii rtposest, 
 to cast thine eyes upon us, mii-crable, c 'ndenm'd 
 wretches! the most forsaken and abamioii'd of all 
 created beiugs ! 1 do not i\Tiplorc thee to forgive me ; 1 
 merely ask for death at thy hands: most merciful God, 
 once man, see me clasp this rock ; here wiil I remain, 
 when the angels of death drag the condtmn'd fro:i! the 
 presence of God ! Seize, oh ! Son of God, one ot those 
 thousand all-powerful thunderbolts which suiround thee, 
 and by thy loving mercy, which is to-day manifested 
 towards such a nuinbcr of sinners, strike me dead ! I 
 was created by thee with the righteous; suffer me now 
 to die : expunge from the creation the spectacle of my 
 horrible desolation : sutier Abbadona to be for ever for- 
 gotten: may tlie creation cease for me! sutfer me to 
 leave void the s()ace occupy 'd by the most wTCtched, and 
 the most abandon'd of all created beings! But thy bolt 
 delays to fall; thou dost not listen to my prayer. Ah ! 
 if I must live, let me be separated frt>m the rejected: 
 sutler me to remain alone upon this dark fiokl of juilice, 
 since it will afiord mc gieat consolation, to be able, while 
 profoundly meditating, to extend my eyes on every side, 
 and to say to myself. There, upon that throne, sat the 
 Son, cover'd with glorious wounds ; there, upon the most 
 dazzling clouds, were plac'd the righteous; and here I 
 v>as tried. While speaking these words, Abbadona sunk 
 pon the rock. 
 
 The acgels of death were disposing themselves for a 
 rapid flight, while turning their eyes towards the Judge. 
 The human race maiutain'd a profound silence; the 
 tliunder, which so lately hoaiäcly mnrraurVl around the
 
 £5-i THE MESSIAH, 
 
 throne, catircly ccas'd. Abbadona suJJculy a-.voke 
 from his lethargic ti-ance, «iih amore poignant secsatioa 
 of iaunortality : the voice of the Jmigc re>ouiiis tno'igh 
 the attentive Heavens, and reaches eveu Waj, w ho list- 
 ened in awfui si!en:e to these words : — 
 
 Abbadona, 1 didst create thee ; I ain well acquainted 
 uith all my creatures ; I s. e tbe worm before it crawls ; 
 the seraphim before Le experiences any feeling; 1 c^.a 
 penetrate into all thy thoughts, and into eveiy secret 
 fold of thy heart ; but thou duist rebel against mc, and 
 these condemn'd wretches, whom liiou didst concur in 
 Ecdocina, bear witness ag-iinst thee, as they are immor- 
 tal. 
 
 Abbadona rose, snd eslonding towards Heaven his 
 clasped hands, he exclaiin'd, Oh ! if thcu dost know mo, 
 if thou hast de ;in"il to besto»v the slightest degree of 
 commiseration u;.on the most wretched of all the an- 
 geis, if thou hast deign'd to consider the eternal duration 
 of my sufferings, oh! siüfer thy thunder to strike me I 
 may thy pity induce thee to put t\>rth the strength of 
 thy arm to annihilate me at the foot of thy throne ! 
 Holy Mediator, whenever I reflect that 1 am indebted 
 to thee for an existence, of which I was so unworthy. I 
 sink conrounded into the most horrid gnlphs or the 
 dreadful abyss, acd my trembling and discoiirag'd soul 
 calls upon death, and flies thi prospect of eternity. 
 From the height of thy tribunal, cast a merciful look 
 upon my deplorable situation ! once more, only once 
 more before I am entiieiy extenniuated from the cre- 
 ation, suffer me to dwell upon the consoling, the grand 
 idea of ha%-ing been the work of the hands of the be?t of 
 Bciiigs. Before 1 for ever lose the faculty of thinking, 
 I salute thee as my God and my Creator. When tl;e 
 I leaven«, being completed, mov'd in the immensity of 
 space, amidst the h;trmoDy of their first rejoicings of- 
 fered up to their C.-eatoi-,when after their formation the 
 angels found themselves ail inspir'd by the grandest sen. 
 timeuts, the knowledge of the Author of ibeir being ; 
 i\henlhe Divinity, till then solitary and a'.one, disc«-
 
 THE MESSIAH. 28j 
 
 \'er'd liiinse'f to myriads of his cieuturcs, mrh as lie 
 had been to all eternity ; then m as I created by my 
 Judge. In my first happy state of existence, I was a 
 stranger to misfortune; no sorrows blunted tlie perfec- 
 tion ot my mind. Amongst all those whom 1 chose for 
 the objects of my love, God appeal 'd to me the most 
 worthy to be belov'd : eternal salvation then covcr'd me 
 with its protecting wings ; each Eucceeding view which 
 open'd to my mind, seem'd the forerunner of my fntm c 
 beatiScation. In my enthusiasm, I could only rej-'ice 
 to think that I existed ; I liv'd to be belo\ 'd by the most 
 excellent of beings ; I mcasur'd the duration of my life 
 by the standard of eternity, and reckon'd my happy days 
 by the innumerable instances of divine mercy, of which 
 1 was the object ; and now I must pcrisli ! — m.nst cease 
 to be! Never again sljall I with profound adnvaation 
 contemplate God! never again sha'l I sing hallelujah 
 before the throne of die Son ! — Well then, immortal 
 soul, thou wilt be annihilated ; the end of thy creation is 
 fultiU'd.— For the last time, I again adore thee, oh Thou 
 who, before the people of innumerable ages, has plac'd 
 me upon this obscure, but dreadful eminence, that I 
 might appear from thence as a witness, first of yonr 
 mercy, lliea of your inexorable vengeance. 
 
 As he pi onounc'd these words, Abbadonaftll prostrate 
 before the Judge, in expectation of death. A profcnnd and 
 solenm silence reign'd, both in heaven and upon earth, 
 I rais'd my eyes towards the highest heavens, ar.d I saw 
 the sair.ts trembling upon their golden tiirones, in awful 
 expectation of what was to follow. The angels of death, 
 in front of the rejected, sin rounded Abbadona, with in- 
 flam'd countenances, though motionless, and veii'd by 
 opaque clouds; but turning from him, they fix'd their 
 eyes upon the throne of the Judge. 
 
 Here the father of mankind paus'd ; when he again 
 resum'd his narrative, lie appear'd to the saints as it' he 
 liad awoke a second time from the sleep of death, while 
 he said— At last, a voice, issuing from the throne, mild 
 and benignant, like uctoihe voice of aa aaeclior.ate pa-
 
 286 THE ÄIESSIAH. 
 
 reat, and which resemble<l ia sound the rejoiciog of the 
 biess jd, cry'd — 
 
 Abbadoaa, cocie unto thy Savianr. 
 Adaju agtia pausd ; when his voice retnin'd, these 
 words escap'd him, wiili the promptitude of flame when 
 driven before the wind : 
 
 Witf» the rapidity viith which pious thoui;hts ascend to 
 heaven, when carried upon the wings of the wind which 
 bears the Etf rnal on his way, so darted Abbadona across 
 Ihe heavens towards the throi.e ; the beauty of his lioly 
 youth reappear'd in his suppiicatiug eyes, now fix'd upon 
 his God, and the benign repose of inunortahty was again 
 visible upon his seraphic features. None of us in the 
 days of resurrection (3) appcar'd, when lisiug from tiie 
 dast, as Abbadona now appcar'd. Abdiel was no longer 
 able to contain Iiinisclf, when his looks met those of the 
 approaching Abbadona ; he pass'd through the crowd of 
 the faiihtui, rush'd, with extended arm, tov.ards heaven, 
 his joy declaring itself by his lively exclamations ; his 
 countenance was all animation, and his crown emitted 
 an harnionious sound; lie hastilj' descended tov.ards 
 Abbadoaa, and caught him in his strict embrace. 
 
 His friend tore himself from his encircling arm«, to 
 prostratehimself at ihefeet of his Judge. At tliis nio- 
 mtnt the Viholc concave of heaven resounded with tears 
 of rapture : these v.cre succeeded by the softest accents 
 <M joy. From th.e seats of the foar-and-twenty elders, 
 even to the throne of the eternal Son, the most harmo- 
 nious harps sung the dead return'd to life. But how 
 shall I repeat to you the words of Abbadona, when he 
 rose before the tli:o:ie ! and that, while addressing him 
 who was seated upon it, he said, with the enchanting 
 smile of eternal life — ■ 
 
 Oh ! by what solemn name, by what acts of adoration, 
 shall I designate thee, oh Thou who hast exercis'd such 
 mercy towards me? Children of light (4), whom I 
 have Eo tenderly lov'd, first born of the creation, and ye 
 inheritors of eternal life, through the merits of the 
 v.'ounds of the Son I come back to ye, oh! whiilier am I
 
 THE MESSIAH. 287 
 
 it:turn'd ? Tell me, oh! tell me, who call'J mc? Whofe 
 was that voi<;c procceclhig Irom the tiaoue, which drew 
 roe towards it, by prorjoiiuciag my name? — Thou ^rt 
 the Source of Life, the Pleniludo of Greatness, the uii- 
 crcated Son of the Fatlier; thy «arae is Salvation — 
 Liijht of lights; Mediator- of the covenant, sacritic'd 
 Lamb, Savioui-J Thou art also Judge; but 1 will give 
 thee names of lov. lu the eveiang of the day of judg- 
 meut, Güd ouce more created inc : for J was one of 
 those dooin'd to eternal death. But he willidrcw me 
 from the sha(3es of death, and te-crealed me for eternal 
 salvaiion, as Inetlabie as he is himself. jMay a solenm 
 hallelujah to the First of Beings be ttcrnally chanted to 
 thee in my bchali; for thou hast said to misery. Cease 
 to be; and lo my tears, 1 have nuinbci'd thee. Hence- 
 forth and evermore, niay tears of joy, giatitude, and of 
 adoration, tlow in honoui of Hini who is seated upon 
 the throne ! 
 
 My vision was now di.-lurb'd by diuky figures, which 
 sce;n"d to skim and hover in the air, and then to disap- 
 pear in the imm.nsily of the heavens. At la>t, all these 
 appe.nances vanishM, and a clearer view was atiorded me ; 
 but sii;ce 1 was last permuted to see what was passing 
 at the pres'-nl time, it apperr'd to me that some years 
 h.id t:iaps"d. 
 
 The thrv>ne, whose dazzling bri^htmss I;a 1 ceas'd to 
 be ftirifiCjShcd its rays all over tlie field of resurrection ; 
 from tlie most extensive distance which my eye had 
 ever been able to reach, I perceiv'd advancing towards 
 heaven, hosts of the victorious. 1 merely recoguiz'd 
 those who were without the crowd; these were those 
 first cliildrcn of the eaith wl.o perish'd when it was 
 over:'ow'd(6), wiien the scales of God reverberated, and 
 the souls of those who h.;d inherited the jnortality of 
 Adam, having been weig!i\l, they sunk into a gloomy 
 prison ; bat they were now freed from their chains, and 
 ascende«! towards heaven with the conqnerois. 1 fol- 
 lov.'d th<\-o happy beings with my eyes and with my 
 blciiuigs, when suddenly athundeiboll fell bchiud mc.
 
 288 THE MRSSIAH. 
 
 Instantly I pcrctiv'd this eirth was tran?f^.rm'd : arjels 
 of t!ie MostHi'^li! anfl ye mortals born ! I saw this glob«', 
 which had once labo'irM under so heavj' a corse, tran'«- 
 form't! into a second Eden. As I was drawn from the 
 clay of the ea: th, so did tlie terrestrial g!ut)o, rising anew 
 from its ashes, b«conie a delicions Eden. Ihe cication 
 resounded with the wonder, the stars shone with a njore 
 eft'nigent biightuess; 1 still hoard die thunder, the pre- 
 cursor of this new creation, and the rays of h»^aven still 
 beam"d before my delighted eyes, when I return'd to you 
 a'ter my vision (7). 
 
 Jcsns having descended fiom tlie Tabor, stopp'd np-)n 
 the borders of the sea of Tiberias, having on either side 
 of him hosts of angels, who were invisible to niort.ils : 
 they were his messenger» to and friim other worlds, who 
 cither icnder'd him an account of their various mjjsion«, 
 or receiv'd his precise onlers, which were fo regulate 
 the fates of those dilFerent worlds ; tluy went and came, 
 and were the bearers of commands, which excitetl thdr 
 surprise, and which will also excite ours, when the veil of 
 our first life shall bcTais'd, and vhen the souls of now- 
 buried mortal? shall rove over the ethereal plains. 
 
 The morni:ig dew had evaporated ; the da/zling ray» 
 of the rising sun were temper 'd by a slight mist, which 
 seem"d like a trar.sparent veil, wov» n out of white va- 
 pour. The silence of repose, and the soft breath of ze- 
 phyrs, pervaded the aijacent plains ; a s-nall vefsei, 
 mann'd by the ft lends, was indistinctly perceiv'd Ihrougii 
 the grey-tinted ndst, which vtil'd theincreas-ing brilliancy 
 of the dawn, as it glided along t!:c water; upon the deck 
 of thi;; ftsl'ing-boat, watching the nets, s!ood Simon Pe- 
 ter, who was surrounded by the silver-heatled Bartho- 
 lomew, and by Tiiaddeiis, w! o lean'd npon an oar, J-y 
 the two twins, whose features were animated by th» 
 most lively joy, as were Üi<~se of Natlianiel, w ho was 
 also there (8) ; by his side stoo<l the sons of Zt be dee : the 
 thoughts of JanjtS so.ir'd towards heaven ; those of Jolin 
 dwell'd on Christ upon cai Ih. 
 
 When lliey drew near the shore, they pcroeivM ih«?
 
 THE ME&jlAI!. /i}9 
 
 Mi^ah, bat without, as yet, reaiguiziiig him ; yet they 
 ieU iujliu'il to hoiumi llie vtnerHOle strüngcr, who, at 
 this ciily hoar, seeiu'd quietly to hold sweet coiuiiiuuiou 
 with IÜS (iwu luiud. 
 
 Ot all the pilgriini, said James, whom the idulators ot 
 Gl eece, and the iuhabitanU of the bauka ot the N ile, 
 have poriDitted to come amoiigst us, to celebrate the 
 least of the passover, aud to join in the hymns in the 
 temple, I .-aw no one whose countenance bespoke such 
 a loftiness of soul, as does that of lliis stranger. 
 
 To him Difiimus. Oh ! if it were one of the pilgrims 
 of the resurrection who thus presents himself to our vie w 
 this morning, that he may appear to us more eiTulgent 
 than the finest day — nay, than even the sun in all its me- 
 ridian glory! Thuu dost consider him, Thaddeu.«, with the 
 most anxious curiosity, and the imist scrutinizing looks. 
 
 TLaddeus thus reply'd ; Yei, I perceive in him the 
 distinguishing features of a mortal, who already belong» 
 to heaven. I am in momentary expectation v( his taking 
 flight at the moment of his traiisfomiation, which may 
 perhaps be so rapid, he may elude »ny vigil nice. 
 
 But the stranger now accosted them, sny ing, Children, 
 have ye any thing to eit? 
 
 They had not taken any fish during the night ; the an- 
 kuown therefore said to them. Cast your nets on the 
 right side of your boat, and you will have bettor success. 
 Tliey did so, aud now they were unable to draw up the 
 net for the mu.tituUe of fishes. Thom;is and Thaddens, 
 whose bosoms now glow'd with the highest expectations, 
 lixd their attentive looks up<m llie unknown; but their 
 suexpectc<l success in fishing, in consequence of their 
 having obeyM the stranger's ordeis, led John to discover 
 he was the Messiah, and with transport Le excluiin'd— 
 It is the Lord! 
 
 Simon Peter healing these words, seiz'd his tunic, and 
 casting hiiusjlf into the sea, he sw.im away in Ir.i'-te, I» 
 tjc again near his Saviour, whom he now sees, and re- 
 cognizes, riie others now, witli ail tlieir might, haviiv* 
 dv.iwn the ikI luil o; fishe» into the boat, were i:o 
 
 VOL. II.
 
 990 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 goorier landed, than they also, with silent joy, recrg- 
 niz'd llic Messiali ; ar.fi they saw a fu\; of coals on t!,e 
 shore, atid fish hild tlicreon, and bread. The Mediator 
 new said to them. Bring also of tiie tish which ye have 
 now canght. 
 
 Simon Peter instantly jamp'd info the water, and drew 
 the net to land, which did not break, though it was full 
 of large fish, ^ hich v.ere brought alive upon the strand ; 
 and Jesus said to his disciples. Come and eat. They gv 
 thei'd ronnd him. Jeans seated himself with a friendly 
 air familiarly amorgst them, and he himself help'd th.ese 
 happ}- mortals to fish and bread. 
 
 Since the sorro'.i ful repast which they had partaken 
 of together before 1 is death, this was the second tliat he 
 Lad partaken with them in joy. When they had fiiiish'd, 
 tliey ^^alk'd upon tlie strand. The Man of God said to 
 Peter — Simon, son of Jonas, dost ibou Icve me better 
 than these do ? — Peter instantly drew rear him, and rc- 
 ply'd— I-ord, thou knowest that I love thee. Then Je- 
 sus kindly said to him. Feed my lambs. Shortly after, 
 the Messiah again ask'd him — Simon, son of Jonas, dost 
 llion love me l Peter, though he did not display his sor- 
 row, w as griev'd to the very heart by this second ques- 
 tion, but reply'd — Lord, thou knowes-t 1 love thee. And 
 Jesus resum'd, with the same kindness — Feed ray sheep. 
 Jesus now stopt suddenly, and again inquir'd — Simon, 
 son of Jonas, dost th(u love me? Peter was now 
 j^iev'd to the very soul at his RLister's having ask'd Iiim 
 three times whether he lov'd him, and he reply'd in a 
 moving tone, Thou know'st every thing, Lord ; thoo 
 know'it that T love thee. Well, said the J^ord, feed my 
 sheep. When thou wast young, thon gnidedstthyself, and 
 walkedst whither thou wouldst; but when thou shalt be 
 old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall 
 sird tliec, and carry Ihcc whither thou wouldst not go. 
 Follow mc. 
 
 llie disciple understood how he ought to follow him, 
 and by what death he was to glorify God, as a witnes?of 
 Lis vesorreclioD.
 
 THE MLSSIAII. i.'91 
 
 Peter, upon turning round, saw the wcll-bc!ovM disci- 
 ple aj)proacuine, v.lio, (kr.ing tlia sorrowful farewell 
 flipper, had ieao'd upon tbe bosom of the r\It.ssiah; and 
 Peter seeing Liin, said to Jesus — Lord, and \shat sliall 
 this man do? Jesus reply'd. If I will that hn tarrj- liil 1 
 come, "svhat is that to thee ? Follow thou me (9). Then 
 the I isen from the dead disappear'd from before the ejes 
 of his disciples. 
 
 As tlie waves of the sea rise and fall, ar.fl bre'ik over 
 each other, so did their discourse, re-pectiug him who 
 hvl appear'd, break ia upon cacl» other. — Yes, I shall 
 follow him, said Simon, I shall die .is he died : girded, 
 conducted, and led to slaus^hter, 1 shall die as he died ; 
 but thou, John, thou art not to die ; thou art immortal. 
 
 Yes, thou art in:m.ortal, cried James, raising Lis eyes 
 to heaven in the fnllnessof his jcy. 
 
 Me immortal ! resum'd John ; he did not fay thaf. 
 
 ]f I will that he tarry till I come — what else decs that 
 signify ? said Thaddeus. — Oh, thou well-belov'd disciple I 
 then art immortal : such is the reward, the crown which 
 lie has bestow 'd upon thee, in return for thy fidelity. It 
 is a single exauiple ; thou art doubly biess'd, thou fa- 
 vourite of God, by this inestimable gift. Yet I feel a 
 dc<^cc of uneasiness: we shall die, we shall return to 
 
 the Mcssicih ; art thoa to tarry behind? But No, he 
 
 will be with his elect, even during tl;e consummation of 
 ac^es, both in heaven and on earth. John, thou wilt not 
 die. 
 
 They now all retarn'd to their different occnpations, 
 while their minds dweil'd upon a future stati ; they 
 row'd here and there, and in the joy of their hearts, they 
 diitributtd the fish, which f.ll'd their nets, among the 
 other fi'hermens' boats, who had, like them, been sailing 
 abo'it all night to no purpose. 
 
 The stars pujsu'd theii- course, and still cur Saviour re- 
 niainM upon his first judgment-seat. His sentences were 
 brief; but they readi'd the guilty with the rapitlity of 
 lightnin?, or penetrated the hearts of the chosen with th« 
 iBCSt lively joy.
 
 29-i THE MESSIAH. 
 
 The news of the resurrection of the ir^ssiali, anJ of 
 his liaviiig appear Vl to his disciplcä, was already spri-a-l 
 abroad, as wa^ also the descent of the heavenly witnesses 
 to the abode of mort.tls. It was also kr.ovvn that be, 
 whose existence and resurrection even the dead pro- 
 claini'd, was goin^ into Galilee, to shew himself a-^ain. 
 Friends ran reciprocally to iüformeach other, that those 
 w!io hop'd to witness t!ie glory of his expected appear- 
 ance were assembling upon the Tabor. They remain, 
 said they, under the sliade ol the cedars, without either 
 quenciiing their thirst at the stream, or breaking of bread. 
 These messengers hastily spread this news, as they pro- 
 ceeded from one abode to another— The Divinity, said 
 they, A\ill once more appsar to us; he has piomis'd to 
 grant us this favour. Several or the risen said to some 
 of the faithful who were penetrated with gratitude. 
 Hasten to the Tabor, if you wish, even here below, to ' 
 enjoy a foretaste of the joys of Heaven. 
 
 Tazaru« continued upon the mountain under the sliade 
 of the cedars, and said, He certainly nieanithat a gre.it 
 number should participate in the happiness of seeing 
 him, else he wonl.i not thus delay his appearance. As 
 yet we are but two hundred assembled here ; and he 
 wishes to favour many more witli his presence ; he 
 wishes that the lays wliich is ue iVoni his throne should 
 ditfnse their light to a distance, and proclaim the dawn 
 of the day of his entrance into eternity. Let us then 
 liope,my bretlnen,that we shall share in this abundance 
 of heaN enly b!es;ii)gs ; let us persevere in iiis ways, as 
 do those beatified saints above : let us praise Lis name, 
 and sing to the Divine Son, not the psalms of the tem- 
 [)le, but the hymns of the inheritors of his kingdom : let 
 iiiiij who feels hinis<'lf iiispir'd by a celestial fire, cele- 
 brate the Mtssiab, that those who came to enjv>y his ap- 
 pearance may find us occupied in singing his praises ; 
 andthut Jesus, v\h.:n he does appear, maybe rec.civ'd 
 with joyful and new songs of prais». 
 
 Then- the mother of the victorious overdeuh thus br- 
 gaa— 1 have learnt from Eve (If the did not too muck
 
 THE MESSIAH. 1^93 
 
 I cnonr a mortal) fome tniios of l!:0.=p j«>Tul hymns 
 V hich arc sung b'jjorc the throne; tut it can oniy be 
 vilh Iho voice of a uioital, witiilhat of his brethren npon 
 earth, that I can sing the glory of the Most Kxaltcd: do 
 thou join «iih me, thou who openM thy eyas to the 
 1 g! t upon the plains of Magdala. 
 
 Ale, cried Mnrj- ]\ragdalen, me sing hymns ■\v;th the 
 mother iif the Jlost High 1 uie, -who have never been 
 consecrated by a holy flanic! shall 1 dare to give utter- 
 ance to the praises of tlie Son of the Eternal! will 1 from 
 afar follow ilie example of his n.otlur, because I lore 
 liim! Thou bast heard the angels' songs of triumph, 
 \vhile liov'ring over the n;ar.ger. Eve has t lught thee 
 son:e heavenly hymns; and thou art the mother of the 
 Divine Man ; but I love him as tenderly. Begin, thoa 
 mother of him who is ris'n from the dead. Miriam, 
 raising her eyes to Heaven, seiz'd the psaltery, and soon 
 the strings, beading under her gentle touch, pour forth 
 the most nielodions sounds. 
 
 Mary thus began : When the angels sungrour.d the sta- 
 ble at Bethlehem, they shed tears like infants newly 
 born; but the hallelujah of the celestial concert beean.e 
 more animated when they saw the tears of tlie Holy 
 Child also flow. 
 
 Mary Magdalen thus went on: lie whose compas- 
 sionate tears flowVl at Bethlehem, he who listen'd with 
 kindness to the prai»ts of the heavenly spirits, saw me 
 prostrate at his feet, penetrated with sincere repentance, 
 and he took pity on me. 
 
 Mary restmi'd : It was no longer tears, but the bloody 
 swe.it of anguish which our Divine Redeemer shed at 
 (iethsemane; but then this blood cried alood. Pardon 
 for us sinners! 
 
 Mary Magdalen continu'd : When he look'd at Jeru- 
 salem, he shed tears over that city; he wish'd -to have 
 assembled its inhabitants, as a hen assembles her chickens 
 ander her wings; but they have rcfus'd his kind invita- 
 tions, they have rejected his love, and they cried under 
 the porches at Gabbatha, May his blood rest upon it«,
 
 294 THE MESSIAH, 
 
 and upon our cbiklreu ! Alas ! this bJcod has f.ow\i 
 cveti for them upon the altar of Golgotha, for those Nvho 
 had coiidoiHu'd him. Did not Uicy tb;;utnrn away Iheir 
 eyes, aad sjck relief froia their (error in flight? Did 
 not a hollow dismal riur.biing prociaini the alarm of 
 licU ? Did not he then fulfil the oaih that he had pledg'd 
 to the Eteruali when he said, I will save maukiud? and 
 since he fcov.'d his head in death upon the cross, has not 
 God crown'il this all-perfect Restorer with honour and 
 glory? Ah! my eyes are rais'd with delight upon the 
 grandeur wläoh he enjoys ; yet I often revert them to- 
 wards the bloody altar, and mourn over him whose 
 heai, crown'd in derision with thorns, was bow'd down 
 upon tlie Gah-ary. Come then, exclaim'd :\Iary, thou 
 who art no longer burthen'd with that ignominious 
 cro V, n upon that bloody mount, nor cover'd by the stone 
 at the mouth of the sepidcbro, come ! wc are overcome 
 with joy, and by the un .asiness of the expectation of 
 ECHng tliec again ! 
 
 Co:7ia, cried INIary Magdalen, oh ! thou who raisest tlie 
 dead, who hast brought li.'e again upon car'.fa, reanimated 
 by the biessiugs of thy Fatlier, oh, come ! v.e seek thee 
 ia the plain, in the firmament, and upon the surround- 
 ifig eminences, with looks of affection, of desire, and of 
 expectation. Oh! come to the first assembly of the 
 f.iiihful, as with eyes sparkling with joy, and a counte- 
 uanc? glowing with the blushes of innocence, the bnde 
 , expects the bridegroom ; so art thou expected by this 
 first assembly. Oh ! thou v, ho hast ris'n to reanimate in 
 future ages the deceas'il from amongst our descendants ; 
 yc who will succeed to the first inheritance, perform 
 your pilgrimage courageously, even unto the grave. 
 The master of yora- lives will re.mimute you : pursue 
 your road, bearing in your liand the flowVs of the har- 
 vest ; and Jet your mouths be fiil'd with his praise : let 
 it be thus ye advance towards tha gravesof your fathers. 
 
 Here Mary Magdalen interrupted lier song, by joy- 
 frdly exclaiming. Ah! the number of tt;is, our first as- 
 sembly , ftUi iucicascs. Do not you perceive the a-owds
 
 THE rilESSlAlI, 255 
 
 \\luch :\iT; pcurLnc; füilh from every path w Iiich lead» 
 towanls the liuiy l\iil i The jtail's ol' ihesi pilgrims s^ciu 
 to move v.ith'incicäsins iMpidily at every i-tcji whit-li 
 iu ids theia nearer to liappiücss auJ tlio clouds of dun 
 scf'iii to Üii-k>n «iider tliL-ir fcLt ! Fovtuuiite people ! 
 tha uu;nber of these elect of Christ is eoütiimiüiy in- 
 c&isini;; nnd liiry arc hastily approaching to see oncu 
 uiciciiiegloriGedof God. 
 
 >:ovcr;Lek--5 Miriam again ETveeps the cords of her 
 psaltciy to a'^company this hjmn. — Oh, leather ! glorify 
 himv.ithsach a dazzling lustre, that this priniLcval so- 
 ciety iR-.y cspcrleace the delight whicli is the portion 
 ol the ftlcslials! Suft'er tlicni to sec the face of the Son 
 of Go! saffcrllicm to inhale large draughts from the 
 i .iront of hi« light; and that thus rcfresh'd and ilrength- 
 ;r I, th'y uiay require no othur rapcon, vvLcii the 
 ■ ,'. ords of tyfanls sliall be pointed at ihtlr fare.ists, and 
 may be iVnablefl to walk v.itb a firm stop toivarcis the 
 moit cruel death, that they may bear vituess for the 
 .Sjn it! thfir last v.ords! and do net suffer them, v.hcn 
 approachiug the term of their existence, to be overcome 
 by lt;ng!hen*d torments ; bat oh! Most Merciiul! may 
 their blood be spee'fily shed, that it may the sooner ad- 
 dress iLee i:i their favour! 
 
 !Ma;y Magdalen thus reuim'd: — If I am abo fated to 
 b.ar i^iorious witness of the purity of thy faith, if I am 
 iLoright v.'ort!-.y to follow ia this bloody road to the 
 2;:.\\f, do not fcrsakc me, while slo-.vly fainting uuüer 
 my ;.giuy ; the smallest cor<solalioQ froulthee^\iii then 
 s-fiiee me. 
 
 Siich might certainly suffice thee, rejoin'd Mai->- ; but 
 they would cot suihcfc him, who has shewn huiiseif too 
 generously compassionate towards thee, not to grant tbte 
 the most sui)erabu!idani favour, should he call upon thcc 
 to become a maityr in his cause: no torments will be 
 sufficiently rigorous to efi'ace from thy remembrance that 
 heJivenly voice which call'd thee Maiy, and to prevent 
 thee from tailing prostrate before him ; then he will net 
 he laid iu tlic tomb, he will be seated upon the throae of
 
 V06 TlIE MESSIAH, 
 
 liis gliry; he, nt whose feet you will f.ill proslnite, will 
 
 then rciirn ;it the right of his faiher. 
 
 Lord, v\}io hast lovM us since the briiir.Hin^ of the 
 ■world, cried ?.Iai-y Magda'eii, mays: thou ihen frraat me 
 ihv fniliiess of thy giace ! and now, oh ! thou, after w honi 
 my soul pauts, ai^pcar, oh ! SaNiour, to our longing cyt?, 
 and fortify the martyrs, that they may pursue llieir 
 bloody r^ireer, till havins rcach'd the goal, the crowns 
 prepaiM for their reward shall sparkle before their eye«. 
 Thus sung Mary, and Mary Magdalen. 
 
 Angels, and many of the risen from the dcüd, v. ere 
 assembled round them, the numbers of which were ron- 
 finually increasing. Eloa, leining upon his golden 
 harp, listen'd to the songs of the muther of Christ. Da- 
 vid hover'd over her head, and drew nearer e\ery mo- 
 nicnt, to hear more distinctly the melting and sw eet ac- 
 cents of this holy woman. The righteous who, from 
 afar, had heard the sound of her voice. hasten'd towards 
 lier, saying, With what soft satisfaction does sl;e praise 
 the Heavenly lUstortr T Perhaps she already catdies h 
 ijlimpse of him upon ore of the eminences of the Tabor : 
 perhaps he is advancir.gtowardsber from beyond those 
 cellars ; but they could not see him. 
 
 The faithful, who were already arrivVl. were soon 
 follow'd by many others, and by the seventy disciples. 
 All these wlio had formerly abandoned liim, now ad- 
 ranc'd, shedding torrents of tears: with them came a 
 number of lame, blind, and deaf, whom Christ had 
 «•ur'd, and of the de(;eas'd,whomhc had recalKd to life. 
 Besides these, cauic Eeor, Dilean, Joel, Samma, anft 
 Flkannah ; these were follow'd by Bersebon and Betlio- 
 >on, and by angels and chernbims, who were invisible, 
 as well as the crowns of martyrdom, which they wore. 
 Next came Tabitha, Stephen, Jo.-es, and Portia; by the 
 kide of these, walk'd Kepthoa, who playfully strew'd 
 the buds of flowers, and early leaves, along her path ; fre- 
 quently looking at her with an expressive smile ; and at 
 hi'the thus address'd her: — 
 
 Portia, snch fc the road to Heaven ; and T am a»-
 
 THE MESSIAH. 297 
 
 gel who leads lliee thither. Tears of raptorcbath'd the 
 clieeks of Portia : she was not a mutiier ; yet a child, 
 upoa the point of reaching the tabarnacles of eternity, 
 condticted ber towards her Redeemer. Siic rcply'd, 
 Ciiildjthe real to Ilcavenis very deliglitlui ; aud i love 
 the angel who leads me along. 
 
 1 also love thee veiy much ; but a day will dawn, 
 during which I shall love thee still more ; when haviüg 
 reach'd thcterminalion of our flowery road, we shall be 
 sliadeil by other cedars, and other palm trees, and when 
 we shall enjoy an eternal spring. 
 
 Nicodemus and Joseph, having listen'! to their dis- 
 course, join'd them, saluting them with the salutation of 
 peace, th it of Christ, when he discover'd himself to his 
 disci oles. They then together drew near 3Iary Magda- 
 len, and the mother of the Mediator. Miriuu consi- 
 der'd the Pagan ; a'ld was transjwrted with joy, upon 
 perceiving that tlie Messiah had already cali'd her to- 
 wards the road to Heaven : and thus she again sounded 
 t'.ic harp of the new Jerusalem : — 
 
 Son of the Father, contiaaally dost thou augment the 
 liost of the blessed, and of the inheritors of eternal life. 
 To-day tliou asscmblest a gi-eat ninnber to see thee deli- 
 ver'd from the bondage of death. The new covenant 
 ■wiih Salem shall be founded npon the holy mountains ; 
 it will reach th-'ir summits, wliich toucheth oven the 
 £t ars. Yes, my eye« can pierce into faturity : t!ie ris'u 
 is ravishing to behohl: it is also de'ightiUl to mark the 
 progress of time, and to foresee wh tt will proceed from 
 this weak source, to see this small body mu tiplying and 
 increasing, and spread!;!g everywhere like an im ncnse 
 army. Oh ! t'lou M >st Majestic ! what was the begin- 
 liing of thy manifestations? Thou didst first appar to 
 a wt'ak mortal, who-e •»ighs rose even unto thee ; then 
 at difP'rt-nt li nes t'lou didst appear to thy sablime apos- 
 tles, wno are <loom'd to bondage ani mariyrdom,to for- 
 tify their minds b fore t!iey ttk^ the field, wliere, like 
 thee, they will be loaded with opprobrium,^ aud to prc- 
 02
 
 i?P8 THE MESSIAU. 
 
 pare tLem for ti c reward of siuiug in ju.ignicnt v,i{h 
 thoc. 
 
 The tree that will lead to the knoM let'ge of God, 
 which v% HI flourish and extend it£re^i^■^f}ing shade over 
 every nation, is to grow out of this little society : 
 thon (!ost now then accomplish ail thJL'tis. Son of Uta- 
 ven, vho didst offer thyself from ilii; beginni))g, and 
 who wert consecrated for the redtir.ption, long before 
 the creation of nian,ai;d of these hoMs, angeh of God, 
 tie vail of ti-e temple is rent before the Most Holy : Jay 
 your crcv.ns at the feet of him wlio has fulfili'd his di- 
 vine niissitn : lower ycnr palms at the approach of Jcais 
 Clirist, the great Finisher, and sing the hallcinjah of the 
 thoiKsand times thcvisands of celetial spirits. Maiy, 
 lost in etslacy, suffer 'd Ler harp to escape from her 
 bands. 
 
 Lazarus now saw assembi'd round hhn, and the mo- 
 ther of Christ, more than five hundred people : he knew 
 thfy were inheritors of salvation, the first fruits of 
 (>od, who were deslin'd one day to wear crowns near 
 the ihrorc, ai;d who even now wandei'd in the laly- 
 rinth of fate, as at break of day the pilgrim proccetfs 
 along the beaten path. This sght i: s| ird Lazarus with 
 t: e most livtly jny : borne as upon ihe w ings of the 
 r.iost ra\is!:ing thoughts, he ascei.ded the eminence, 
 Dtai which he had been reclining, from m hi nee he once 
 jr.ore cast his eyes upon the inherifcrs of the kingdom 
 of Heaven, now praying upon earth ; then, penetrated 
 with the most lively gratitude, he rais'd lis eyes and 
 hanris towards Heaven, and tluis express'd his feelings : 
 
 The Sa\iour has assembled usal! in this place, the blind, 
 tie lame, the deaf, the necessitous, and these of an humble 
 u;in<l, wlio put all their trust in God, and do not wholiy 
 «Upend ijxin the «assi-tance cf men. Future witnesses 
 of Uie resuiTteiion I ye know tLat the risen sent you to 
 the mount of the traj sfiguration, that ye might behold 
 his gh ry, respecting which you are one day to btar 
 witness, respecting the only Son of the Fall er, fui! of
 
 THE MESSIAH. 209 
 
 tvu:h and grace ; respectio? Christ, to wLoni in eviry 
 ago, may honour aa.l a loratioii be his p.irtion ! I rai-ie 
 my h^ad above ye with the jmre.st joy ; tliongh 1 no 
 longer c dl down blessings upon yon, since the Mo?t 
 ÄlcrcituI has already blessed you. by proüiisin:^ to shew 
 himself to \oii upon tlie Tabor: thus consecrntcd, you 
 may with me penetrate into t!ie distance of fulnrity, 
 where, for the love of his name, persecutors will obi;ge 
 you to endure disgrace; you will encounter many «ülH- 
 c'ihies,a)!d meet with luuöh trouble, while ruiming yonr 
 race annd the eft'usion of t^'.e blood of niaityrs ; but 
 these dilhculties, and these sutt'eri.'igs, will procure you a 
 crown of glory from above. 1 have met with much 
 favour — my tears express my gratitude towards my Di- 
 vine Bcuei^ctor ; bat my blood will not be shed to bear 
 whncs? in thecau>e of Jesus. 1 shall be sooner recallM 
 towards my Saviour, to plant a refreshing shade around 
 the tents of peace, where reposes the combatant : praise 
 bo to him v ho calls me the first to enjoy the eternal re- 
 waid ! you w ill follow me by a narrower gate, by a 
 thorny and bloody road. Blessed be the holy name 
 of Christ ! may it be glorify'd to all eternity ! Ah ! may 
 ye courageously sufter disgrace, and the distlain of the 
 incredulous, who do not acknowledge the Sovcreigu of 
 Heaven and of earth ; for those who, without having 
 seen the resurrection, shall be led towards God by your 
 prayers and example, will also be exposed to the rebukes 
 and the disdain of those unbelievers in Christ, and will 
 sutfor much from that weapon, which tlmugh it does not 
 draw blood, often destroys more etfcctually by injuring 
 the reputation: God pursues in silence amongst men the 
 most hidden ways; but when the end is accomplish' i. 
 he calls forth his thunder, and strikes the decisive blow. 
 Thus spoke Lazarus: and upon looking round hhn, he 
 pcrceiv'd under the shade of an eminence, many vessels 
 fdl'd with food and liquor, the produce of corn and of 
 the vine. He then said, Separate the bread from the 
 wine, which is to form this fraternal repast, and place 
 tbeiQ before the apostles, the most sacred witnesses.
 
 oOO TUE MESSIAH, 
 
 ihat thoy niay blc£S both. Wy friends, ye who Iiope 
 •md expect bis appearance, let us together partake of a 
 bu!y repast in memory of his death. His proposition 
 •w as rccciv'd -with transport ; and baving cboscn sevca 
 yonnir men to set cnt the bread and wine, they drew 
 nearer to each other. 
 
 Some immediately fell on then- knees; ctbei-s, with 
 tearfnl eyes, raif'd their hands to Heaven, wbilc the 
 you: g men plac'd the bread and wine before the as- 
 scnibiy. Lazarus jom'd them, and frtmding with pen- 
 sive looks, he ftrvently rais'd his clasped hands to Hea« 
 ^en ; then on every side, inov'd by joy and affection, 
 did the angels and tlie risen approach the society of 
 Christ; while Lazanis,in a grave and solemn tone, and 
 as if l.e wisii'd at the same time to invoke the divine 
 victim, snid: 
 
 Jesus Christ, om* blessed Saviour, dunnc the terrible 
 i.igiit of his sufierings, when he was betray 'd, and deli' 
 vei 'd to be put to death, took the bread and broke it, 
 xturn'd thanks, and gave it to his disciples, saying, 
 'I'.ike and eat — this is my body, which I have given for 
 yen ; every time that you do this, do it in memoty of 
 me. And during (hat same niglit of suttering of cur 
 Saviour, w hen the sweat and blood f1ow"d from his body 
 at Gt t'scmane. he aho took the chaiice, rttarn'd thanks, 
 .lUd gave it to his disciple?, saying. Drink ye all oxtt cf 
 this chalice of the new cover.ant, wlJch 1 fonnd by my 
 blood, which is shed for the remission of your si:.s; 
 e^ cr\ time that ye do this, do it in memoiy of me. 
 
 The faithlnl receiv'd the brras- and wine with Inrri- 
 >>h- and sincere compnaction, and with tlie firm resoiu- 
 l:;>r) of remaining attached to God, even till the end of 
 th« ir lives. M'hon tliey approacli'd, or n-tir'd from each 
 <.fh.er, t!)ey spoke in wordsof comfort, S'^ch as these (10), 
 let us contii:ne to advance in the road which leads Jo 
 f Jod. We shall not cnjoj- the fid'ness of peace, till we 
 have ran our nchle race. He has Inmself endnr'd ig- 
 nominy and disgrace; lie has suffer'd what we are none 
 of us requir'd to sr.ffer. May the Eivine Mediator be
 
 THE JIESSIAII. 301 
 
 exalted, both iii heaven and upon earth I lie l.a^ ac- 
 complisli'd ihe lodeinpiioii. Jesus Christ, the Eternal 
 High Priest, is entt-r'd into the Holy uf Holies ! May 
 the chalice of the new covenant restore thy strength, 
 ■when thy hcai-lshall overflow with sorrow, wbeu Uuiiag 
 the torments of the ino£t cruel martyrdom, thy soul, 
 patiting after Heaven, shall bo ready to take its flight 
 thither! Oh ! blessed mother of God, salute me as tboa 
 wert saluttd by tlie angel ! Ha\iug reacu'd tlse Son of 
 o.ir common 1 ather, 1 am also become an inheritor cf 
 the Kiiigilom of He.ivcu ! Of v. hat avail to me are now 
 all the giandeuis of the earth ! anrl I have still more su- 
 perior delight in expectation : I shall see the Divine 
 unknown, the i:npänetrablc,lhe most admirable! 
 
 Ah I 1 have just been admitted to partake of tlie re- 
 past of salvation, me who before this happy moniciit 
 was so n.iserable ! When I sh;dl have reach'd the tentj 
 of eternity, I shall begin to live a second life, a life of 
 blesjedncrs: we siiali tlien at free cost quench cur 
 thirst wit!i long draughts from the sources of life. Oh • 
 when shall I see the Heavens open, and Je<u^ sitting at 
 the right hand of the Father? Oh ! wlien shall I follow 
 the road of liie seventh young man (11) ? I shall also 
 drink this chalice of death, in iKemo; y of his decease. 
 r»Iay the Redeemer be prais'd in Heaven and on earth ! 
 The inore tlu evils of tiiis world shall fall upon thee, 
 the more wilt thou be iuclin'd to cry to Heaven, :trid the 
 more wilt thy life be in coniormity to the ndes of Jesui 
 Chnit, After Lis repast of love, our Saviour proceetJed 
 to G eth sc maue, where the s%veat and blood ilow'd down 
 his bent forclicad. Take pity on me, Di\ iue ^Mediator, 
 wbo«n I rofii:>"d to follow, said Bcthoron, take pity on 
 mej tiiat I may continue faithful to the end ! I sov.'d 
 \vii!i tears; but 1 reap with joy. I am fated to die 
 t v, ice, said Tabitlia, as an agieeable drowsiness after s'ui- 
 risc frequently follows our lirst v/akiug from the skep 
 of ni^ht : after which, the recollection of his dealli, the 
 fruit of i.'is vine, will for ever restore meto the kingdom 
 of my Father. Oh you Benoni, whom he sent to mc.
 
 sol THE MES.SIAII. 
 
 Slid Jiicl, and yc other angels, where arc yc] suffer me 
 to rejoice with you ! ^Vlly caniiut I ascend by t!;c s «me 
 road as Stephen, or by that of the seventh young man, 
 even to Beaoni, even uato Christ; wliile thou Samma, 
 and Elkannih, a5.^eiuie5t to Simeon, and to Jems Christ ! 
 JIo will Ukh remove the dirknessfrum before tliy eyes, 
 Eikanniih, a:id wiil dry all onr tears. The d;uknes5 
 vmish'd from before my eyes, said La/anis, when I was 
 r-jcall'd to life : and ih in, Eikaimah, who hast snfferd 
 with still more patience, shall soon e-cperience a similar 
 sensation. 
 
 Suddenly JMary cried aloud to Heaven, Sovereign 
 Pontiff, Son of God, I didst conceive tlsee! 1 will an- 
 nounce thy death till thou cailest me to thee : may the 
 Divine Saviour be ex dted in Heaven and on earth ! 
 
 While they were thus enconrai^ing each other, by thus 
 «p aking the words of life, as if they were already readj' 
 to enter the porticoes of eternity, they saw Jesus descend- 
 ing from one of the eminences, and tlie Divinity ad- 
 vancing toward; them. Soon he drew near : ecsta-y 
 and rapture now fiU'd every eye, an<l every heart. 
 
 As tlie fi:st spring breezes gently agitate the leaves of 
 the forest, so did this body of the faithful appear agi- 
 tated by thi-< long expected appearance of our Saviour. 
 It was for them a conviction of Heaven, w hich strength- 
 en'd their faith, and chiing'd every doubt into certainty. 
 
 A pilgrim expos'd to the burning ray s of the son, in vain 
 endeavours to quench his thirst, which is insatiable ; so do 
 these regard onr Lord, always more anxious to see him ; 
 but Jesus, no longer able to restrain himself, thus spoke : — 
 
 .S.il\ ation and peace be with you, my children ! In my 
 Tather's house are many man*ions: I go to prepare a 
 pbce for you all : I will come again at the death of each 
 of yc- faithful, and receive ye unto myself, that where 
 1 am, there ye may also be : if ye love me, keep my 
 coinmandments; and I will pray the rather, and he 
 fiiall setid yon another co'nforter, even the Spiiit of 
 Truth, whom sinners are not in a state to receive, because 
 tiwy kaosvetb liiin not ; bat ye ehall know bim, for
 
 THE MESSIAH. 303 
 
 he sbail dwell with joii, and be in you. I will not 
 ttjrsakc yoo, as, wliea dying, a mother forsakes bcr 
 chihhen; 1 will come and conduct ycu, like a good 
 guide, to the heavenly knowledge of ctornal life: at that 
 day, ye shall know that I am in my Fatiier, and ye in 
 nie, and I in yen. He that knoweth my command- 
 ment?, and keepeth them, he it is tlsal loveth me, and 
 he shall be lov'd of my Father, aiiü 1 will love him, 
 and will manifest myself to him. 
 
 Suddenly, in the midst of the tearful witnesses, the cyt s 
 of Likannah were opcn'd lo see the Divinity : lie fell 
 prostrate upon the earth, rending the air with his screams 
 of joy ; and rose again, as if girted with new life. The 
 Mediator resnm'd :— 
 
 In truth, I toll you, the Father and me will love him ; 
 we will come, and we will dwell in him, I am tl'c 
 true vine ; my Father is the viac-;lre.-scr, and ye are 
 the blanches ; and every branch that bearcth not fruit, 
 he taketh away ; and every branch thiat beareth fruit, 
 he puigeth it, that this superb \inc may bricg forth 
 mure fiujt. Ye have not chosen me ; but I ha\e chosen 
 you, and made ye prosper, that ye should bi ing foi th 
 fruit, ai}d that j uu c.hould grow for eternity : listen to 
 my solemn command, and let it be your cumfort ; for 
 the world will hate you as it hated me: so love one 
 another. 'Jhese tbiiigs Irave I spoken unto ye, that in 
 me ye might have peace; n» t li.at of the wo: 1.1, for in 
 the world ye shall have tribula ion ; but be of gc-od 
 cheer ; if ye love nie, ye will rejoice in me. 
 
 Such were the words for thtir couseciatiou for the 
 approaching fight, and for the etermd life ; arid aiter he 
 had spoken, he disappear'd from before their eyes. 
 
 ^V■heu jt-y and serenny had succeeded to their enthu- 
 siasm, they perceivM, near the phice where Christ had 
 disappearti, the cliild ZS'epüioa, w ho seem'd to sleep ; 
 they were preparing to awake l.ini ; but the happy 
 child was dead. And Laz.tru3 crit^l. Go and gather 
 some flowers; I am going to dig hun a grave. While 
 lUi. ajiall hillock rose, similar to those v.hicli one day
 
 304 THE MESSTAII. 
 
 will cover ns all, dan upon dust, ihcy {^thti-'d some 
 flowers, and taking the child, who still sceai'd to smile, 
 they lot him down into the giave, ^\hich, by degrees, 
 they till in with earth, and strew large haudfuls of flow- 
 ers upon tl'.e pla-e v.here his body is sown for th.e re- 
 snnertion ; after which, they departed from the Tabvr. 
 Several of them again turn their eyes towards tlis 
 ßowery hillock, which had just risen, without any 
 feeling of affliction, since this death v\Tts a reward, and 
 fae was to awake again to lifo at the resarrection. 
 
 Those of the seventy disciples who had visited tl:e 
 Tabor now quitted this motmt of transfiguration; and 
 as they descended, they were led on one side by a path 
 in the \ alley, into a little wood of palm trees. 
 
 There thej' found a?semble<l the twelve apostles, and 
 those who had not been upon the nicuj^taiii ; to them 
 tliey i-eiated, ia energetic terms, but in few words, the 
 happiness which our Saviour had afforded so great a 
 number. How could they have said much? Tears 
 choaked their words. After their recital, the most 
 profound silence reign'd among the assembly : they all 
 experienced a presage of their future happiness ; that 
 delicious sensation vshich is a foretaste of the divine iu- 
 beritance. 
 
 But James tore liimself from the embraces of Iiis 
 companions. Disciple of the Lord, said they, where art 
 thou going? Ah! surely tlie Lord will appear to his 
 chihhcn^ I am going to him, to ghe him the meeting 
 lipon the Tabor. But what v.ould b;- thy aflliclion, were 
 be to appeal- to us, and thou wert not here? 
 
 Hi? eye is every where ; he knows how much I de- 
 sire to see him, and why I go to meet him : suffer me 
 to proceed : 1 shall have no cause to grieve. 
 
 He departed ; and having soon reach'd the shade of (he 
 elevated rock«, he stopp'd, and raising his clasped 
 hands to Heaven, he thus pray'd : — 
 
 Oh ! Lord Go<l, do notyt t ascend to thy Father ; listen 
 to my entreaties : we all hope it is true that thon wilt 
 appear to ns agaiu ; but wc are not at any certaiaty of
 
 TIIL MESSIAir. JOj 
 
 your ?,-> iluing. Oh ! Divine Mediator, do not ytt Ivave 
 II«. 1 liavo iVmnd favour in your t-ycs. Must Mirciml ! 1 
 will ihcrt'forc conceal my alt" ill tliis cavern, and there 
 prostrate, I will wail thy pleaMtre. Only crois this \>\ncv. 
 Lord, and my «ye «ill, at a distance, follow Ihy glory. 
 While James thus pray'd, Jesus Chri:tseiz'd his hand, 
 rais'd him, and bless'd him for his heavenly missioi). 
 Giving a scream of joy, the disciple, in trembling, fol- 
 Jow'd Jesus along the road, which led to the little wood 
 of palm trees in the valley. Already, from the foot of 
 the mount, tbe disciples percclv'd Jesus, and by his side 
 the happy Zebedee. The Lord appear'd to them more 
 da/.zlin;^, and more superior to the angels, than he had 
 over done before, since he had risen from the grave. 
 They wish'd to advance to meet him ; but an angel made 
 them a sign to remain nenr the palm trees. Dost thoo 
 recollect, said they, one to the other, how surrounded by 
 murderers, his hands loaded with chains, we saw him 
 upon tl.e Mount of Olives? How Herod, dressing him 
 in a white robe, despised him ? How IMl ;te, alter that 
 had him scourg'd with rods, and crown'd with tliorns.him 
 whom we now behold so radiant ? Ah ! docs he already 
 vish to ascend to Heaven? Will this be the last tinifc 
 we shall see him? A separation from him will be the 
 most griev« usthat can attect onr hearts, the most wound« 
 ing to our feelings : w hat a cruel moment will that be, 
 when we shall be call'd upon to part from Jesus Christ ! 
 Is it already arriv'd ? At present it appeals to me that 
 tiie mount;iins and the hills shake with joy ; even the 
 trees of the forest rejoice. The sky seems to have as- 
 ■um'd its finest golden hue, the firmament is of the most 
 <lazzling blue, and my heart overflows w itli joy ; and 
 thou sheddest tears, bec;uise thou thinkest of the time 
 when he bore his cross to the Calvary; and how after 
 death, Joseph shrouded him in his burial clothes. 
 
 Thus did the disciples converse with each other, till 
 the moment when Christ <hew near ; then they all fell 
 npon their knees, extending their arms towards their 
 Divine Saviouj-. He saluted tliem with his heavenly
 
 506 THE MESSIAH, 
 
 ailutation — Peace be with you! remember what Las 
 been foretold : he w.is led like a lamb to the >l?.iii;hter ; 
 he patiently lbl!o»v'dj atid did not opeJiLismoulh. My 
 friends, I shall not again cujoy the pleasure of setin^ 
 you npou eaith : 1 shall never again eat honey with ycu, 
 nor of v» hat ye dress'd upon the strand at dawn of d;iy : 
 I shall no\i.r again repose under the ihude here below, 
 for I shall henceforth d'.vell in the eternal taberuacle:=, 
 where there are many abodes, and ^vhere you will again 
 see J our IMesaiah, aud with the pati iaichs of the ancient 
 covenant, you will enjoy the pleasure« of friendship, 
 which will never be interrupted by sorrowful adieus. 
 Jesus, now kneeliijg in all his majesty iu the mi*Ut of 
 these witnesses of hisresiurection, thus pray 'd aloud : — ■ 
 Father ! the hour beir.g arrived to manifest tiiy only 
 Son in all his splendour, l»ere hast ihou glorify 'd him, 
 and been gIorif> 'd by him ; thou hast granted hi;n power 
 over mcrtais, that he might ensure liicm from dsath, 
 and that he might ensure thcnr ctornal life; it is 
 ensuring to ihcinselvcs a bkssed iiuniorlaiity, to ac- 
 knowledge that thou art the Eternal, and that the 
 Messiah, whom thou didst send, is thy Son, and the So- 
 vereign upon earth. Father I I already sec with my 
 spiritual eye, the last and perfect coasumniation of all 
 things, I h.ave giorify'dthee upon earth ; I have finish'd 
 the work of thy divine decrees: now a crown awaits 
 mc iu tijy right hand : tl;ou wilt restore to uie the glory 
 that Vv'as my portion before Ü.e creation of the world. 
 I have m mifesicd thy name to the elect that tliou hast 
 granted me amongst the sinners : 1 am wituess tliat they 
 have receiv'd, and faithfully followd, the wise maxims 
 which 1 have taught them : row thi-y also acknowledge 
 tiiat I came from thee ; for I Lave taught them, Father, 
 what you have taught me, and it is from thee that they 
 have receiv'd their knowledge, as it is imprussM upon 
 their hearts tiiat I am the messenger of God. Reunited 
 with thee. Father, in fnil possession of beatitude, I ad- 
 dress tliee, not for the ^vorld, bat for t!iose who more 
 particularly belong to thee, and who have contributed to
 
 THE MESSIAH. 507 
 
 ni}- glory. I am r.ov. abcul to depart from tlie cai tJi, 
 aiKl to return to thet- ; bin these will, for a length of time, 
 wilness the ooious procecdinps of sinners, ;infl \\il! be 
 tht-ir victim«: may thi.y remain faiihtnl, oh Father ! in 
 the proud knowleri^e of him v. ho is now rccoricil'd to 
 mankind ! ISIay tlioy be luiited, as we are united, a 
 family of brothers! When 1 was with them as their 
 equal, I my.«elf watch 'd over iLeir iimnortal souls : here 
 they are, Fi-.iher; none of them ha\e perish'd, except 
 the son of perdition, who fu'.üU'd the accomplishment of 
 the prophecy : 1 tell lljem this myself, that when 1 am 
 gone, they may reflect upon my glory, and participate in 
 my joy. Th:y have heard thy wor-.ts of life : sinners 
 will hate them, as tliey have hated me. I do not at-k 
 you to withdraw lliem from the world, but only to pre- 
 serve them from their persecutor,tbe spirit of perdition : 
 sanctify them by thy truth ; thy v.ord is truth : 1 have 
 Iain down my life for thtm, that they may appear be- 
 fore thee purii^ 'd from sin. 
 
 Bat i do not pray solely for them ; the children of 
 the nev/ creation will, like dew upon the leaves, be one 
 day born to me from their words ; it is for them I 
 also implore thee, to the end that ti;ey may be unite<l as 
 we are, and that ail the earth may acknowletlge it was 
 thee who sent me. 
 
 I have 2;ranted eternal life, and my glory, to those 
 whom thou hast granted mr, that they may ULiite them- 
 selves as we do, to acromp!i.<h tlie divine end, and that 
 even siimers may iearn that Jtsiis was sent from heaven, 
 and that God loves llie chil'lren of the redemption, as 
 he has lov'd his only Son. Father ! may those whom I 
 liave sav'rt be assembled where I am; let them con- 
 f^nn: 'ate the glory which thou didst grant me before the 
 four lation of the world! IVIcst righteous Father! the 
 WO! Id hast mistaken thee; but I have reveal'd to thy 
 elect the mystery of thy divinity, and of my mission, 
 and I will engrave these things still deeper upon their 
 Leartg, that the love wldch thou hast borne me mav fire
 
 303 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 their souls, ar.d that their inimoi tal spirit ma}- contiiiU- 
 
 ally dwell iipou the thouj^ht of their Saviour. 
 
 The Modi itor liaving finishd his prayer, a flood of 
 glory encompdss'd i;is person, and he disappeared from 
 mortal eyes. 
 
 As the audience is impross'd by the raeliKly of a hymn 
 chanted in the temple, intended to celebrate the resur- 
 rection, or the source of et riial light, which unites, by 
 a strain of miuic, worthy of the poem, tie harmony of 
 instruments to the sound of the voice; wiiich, beginning 
 in a soft strain, increases by degrees, and continues with 
 well-sustain'd mclo<ly, lively, atfecling, and harmonious, 
 till it terminates in an astonishing and original finale ; 
 thus were the discipKs affi ttcd (1 speak like a mortal of 
 heavenly tl!ing^) by the si'j;!-.! of the Lord in all the daz- 
 zling effulgence of his glory, and when they heard him 
 pray to the Divinity. At last, they prepar'd to depart 
 from the palm trees of Galilee, and to return with joy- 
 fulness towanls Siikni : they scarcely percciv'd that they 
 were acconipany'd by angels, so deeply were they pe- 
 netrated by the favours bestow'd upon them by this last 
 appearance; and these immortals, lost in meditation, 
 respecting this glorious commencement of the kingdom 
 of Gol, forgot that they were visible to the disciples, and 
 that they had not been sent to appear to them. 
 
 John now separated himself from those even with 
 whom he was rejoicing respecting the redemption ; he 
 wish'd to be alone with God, and in perfect tranquillity 
 of soul, to give himself up to profound reflection upon 
 the inelfable consequences of eternal salvation. Thus 
 dirl he advance into the labyrinth of futurity, with real 
 and true humility ; but he walk'd like a mortal in the 
 ways of God, and therefore soon lost himself. 
 
 Yet, by the sole illusions of his imagination, he is 
 wrapt in enthusiasm, and he abundantly enjoy 'tl so flat- 
 tering an error, by considering the directions of God re- 
 specting our happiness, which increases, by thousands 
 and tens of tiiousande of degrees, those directions which
 
 THE MESSIAH. 309 
 
 fire every tbinldng mind, of which no mortal can define 
 the extent, since it reaches to infinity. But, ni)twitli- 
 standine; the brightness of the light which dazzled tlie 
 meditative thoughts of the apostle, he could not help 
 feeling that he was in want oi a heavenly laddt r. Actu- 
 ated by the most affectionate interest, Salem, one of his 
 guardian ai.g- Is, hover'd near him, and the immoilal 
 perctiv'd that God shed over the disciple, while at 
 prayers, a sacred sleep. The smile of the angel also 
 grew animated, as he contemplated the featui es of the 
 sleeping apostle. 
 
 John saw when he awoke, she who was his companion 
 at the cross, and who will also be fo, when he isrestor'd 
 to tlie Finisher of the new covenant. He flew to meet 
 the inc. ther of the Mediator and his own, and thus ad- 
 «iressld her, in entLusiastic joy : — 
 
 Motlser of Christ, I have been taught wisdom, during 
 a delightful sleep, and have learnt much respecting the 
 future salvation. 1 have been liivonr'd with a heavenly 
 vision, which has presented things to me, veiy different 
 to the idea I had form'd, aided by the reseai ches of my 
 imagination, respecting the designs of God, for my mind 
 had advanc'd into the distance of futurity; I had daiM, 
 though a sinner and a mortal, to attempt to fathom the 
 diiectious of God, to sound those depths, into which it 
 docs not belong even to angels to penetrate^ 
 
 Here, in a pleasing union, we were assenibl'd in our 
 cottage, near the temple ; the little society freely con- 
 veiVd with each other, uo one wishing to oblige the 
 others to conform to his opinion. Mother of our divine 
 Saviour, ah ! if the future great societies do but continue 
 to walk in the same charitable patl-, ir they do not suffer 
 themselves to be withdrawn from it by ilie desire of ar- 
 bitrary, severe, and tyraucic dominion ! We were blessM 
 with some lights, but a cloud rather veil'd them ; we 
 were resolv'd to die ; yet, wheji death threattn'd u«, our 
 courage failM. We were anxious to secure oar own sal- 
 vation, but we did not busy ourselves respecting that of 
 others, even to ouj- owii dCDi;il ; we breath' tl vyv. s, tUa: « e
 
 310 THE MESSIAH. 
 
 might not be detain'd upon cai th ; v.'e sciz'd the pilgrim's 
 stair ; Ave hop'd, %ve lanijuis'a'il, to be very soon near 
 Christ-: Wlien soon there ca ne a sound from heaven, a 
 rushing mighty wind, and it fill'd all the houje where 
 we were sitting; and there appear'd unto us cloven 
 tongue?, like as of lire, and sat upon each of us ; and we 
 le!t the euusiou of sentiment, more abundant than ever, 
 in our Leai ts. The flames of love with which we learLt 
 to love hi.ii, consumed our souls; and the cloud being 
 uow remov'd, ceas'd to obscure our knowledge: we be- 
 came rcjjga'd to his will, and no longer panted after im- 
 mediate de.tth ; but look'd forward, with iiumble expec- 
 talian, to bowing our bald heads under the sword of 
 marly rdom : we were still mindful of our own salva- 
 tion ; but were far more anxioas to insure that of our 
 brethren. We were animated bj' the most sincere and 
 ardent zeal for the society of God's elect. Our anxiety 
 to be; with Cht ist was subordinate to the will of the Lord, 
 which may not have destin'd us to rejoin him, till after 
 the lapse of m.my years, till after our brethren, instructed, 
 animated, and fortify "d by our consolaiious, both during 
 this life and upon their death-beds, shall have preceded 
 us thitker in crowds. We no longer consiikr'd ourselves 
 as pilgiims, ready prepar'd to ascend into the heavenly 
 kingdom ; we were guided, but our pilgrim's statf was 
 as yet only to be our guide upon eartii, where we are 
 doom'd to watch, with care, anxiety, and trouble, over 
 the salvation of those who shall acknowledge the tnith 
 of oar mission ; but we shall turn away from those who 
 are unworthy of partaking in the reward of eternal life, 
 shaking the dust from our shoes. 
 
 John's recital of Uiis vision convey'd the most pleasing 
 sensHlions to the soul of the motlier of our Saviour. 
 
 The Lyre (12), with the most brilliant 'tars of her con- 
 stellation, turn'fl towards the most etiulgent stars of the 
 constellation of the altar (13). This was the signal that 
 was to announce to the heavens, that the Metliator was 
 preparing to ascend to the right hand of God. 
 
 A confus'd prescii nee of what he had dcciai'd to them
 
 TIIE MESSIAH. 311 
 
 doring tlicir last iuten-icw, led (he disciples to expect 
 that Jti'JLi would soon leave them, that he v/as going to 
 return to his gloiy, and to leave them cxpos'd to bonds 
 and to disgrace; but wlxich would (iually lead them 
 also to glory. JJeverthcless they were b.ithed in tears. 
 Thaddens long rcpress'd the grief which overwhehn'd 
 his afflicted soul, before he thus gave it vent : — 
 
 Yes, this separation from onr wellbelov'd is certainly 
 very bitter, and very deplorable; it even shakes the 
 sonl, and pierces the very botto-n of the heart ; and how- 
 soever great may be the portion of felicity which awaits 
 the friend, the separation harrows up the soul of him 
 who remains below, since the prospect of cnr reimion is 
 yet far distant, and is hidden and conceal'd in the uncer- 
 taintyof the future. Noangel,tikiiiwpity onourwretch- 
 edr.ess, condescends to give us the slightest intimation 
 when we arc to expcnence the transport which the ap- 
 proach of that happy n;onient will occasion ns. No 
 compassionate spiiit appears to discover to us by the 
 slightest tigii when we may expect this more delight- 
 ful and more sacre<l hour than ever morning ytt pro- 
 claim'd, or mid-day saii enlighten'd, than any night yet 
 coveiM -with its shadf, or any moon rende»'d visible: 
 yet you, who diel tlirough a God, ye were our brother ; 
 ye have shed the same tears, and the destiny of mortals 
 is I;nown to you. 
 
 Thomas had assembS'd the twelve apostles, and the 
 seventy disciples, to lead them to Gethsemane, to visit the 
 place whese, during the eveni.'ig of the first separation, 
 Christ had pro-trated himself in tervent prayer, befoie 
 tlie Judge of the world. 
 
 This idea of taking thither the disciples did not origi- 
 nate in Thomas ; it hatl been inspii 'd him by the Medi- 
 ator. 
 
 Suddenly Jesus appear'd in the midst of them: he 
 conducted the witnesses, who follow him; and pjtssing 
 stowly before the grave of the Belhanite (14), they 
 blessed (ha holy woman, who slept with the Lord. They 
 then procec'led farther from Jerusalem.
 
 312 TUE MESSIAH. 
 
 The asceüt of t!ie mountain of Olives btcamc more 
 steep, and the snmtr.it of the mountain presentcl a 
 grciUer extent. The Mediator coulinii'd silent ; but the 
 disciples thonulit diey perceiv'd in him some indications 
 of an approachin;^ separation ; they conversed aifictiou- 
 ately together, otteu pausing, so much were their hearts 
 oppress'd : often did they contemplate the hill of death, 
 and still more freijneuily did they turn their ej es towards 
 the open tomb, since it was from thence that tlie well-be- 
 lov'd had return'd to them: this recolleclion reviv'd 
 their spirits. The summit of the mountain was insensi- 
 bly coverM by the holv band, whom Christ had chosen 
 to accompany him in his ascension, of the faithful, who 
 were risen from the dead, and of all the seraphims, who 
 had been appointed to serve him, since the night of 
 his birth at Bethlehem, even to his fital tiansfigura« 
 .tiun. 
 
 As upon Mount Lebanon, one of the oldest cedars 
 raises its head above the others, so appear'd Gabriel 
 amidst the heavenlj' body, who saw the Divinity ap- 
 proaching them, and the disciples following him with a 
 look of contentment, st) ongly blendetl with grief. 
 
 Eloa was more effulgent than ever; he had been 
 elected the first of the guardians of this earth, now freed 
 from the divine malediction, since those blessed words 
 htd been heard, which had blotted out those which had 
 burst forth in tljunder, for Jesus had exclaim'd upon 
 Calvarj-, All is finish'd! This sublime thought till'd 
 the soul of Eloa, the elect of Go<1, with the purest 
 jt>y. He looked forward to the future destiny of the 
 e.nth, from century to century, till the moment when 
 tiic celestial messenger is to bring l.im the trumpet of 
 the resurrection, with which he Is to a\\akeu the dead, 
 iu the »ight of the cherubims. 
 
 Jesus being an iv\l with the disciples upon the summit 
 of the Mount of Olives, the gentle zephyrs of g-owing 
 day gently floated around them, and refresh'd these 
 happy, but weak mortals, for whom the weight of mor- 
 tiiljry was still a heavy burthen. Ihe only S.n of the
 
 THE MESSIAH. 513 
 
 Father, awful ia his majestic beauty, was in the midst of 
 them. Never before had his disciples, nor even the angels, 
 seen him thus upon earth. He had an air of majesty, 
 Vrhich no lyre, no human voice, nor any idea, even ap- 
 proaching the nearest to a thought emanating from Hea- 
 ven, can des<;ribe. 
 
 From the most elevated star which the created eye 
 can reach, from all the worlds of the creation, from all 
 the poles of the surrounding globes, wlio from ihe great- 
 est distance draw their light from the tia:ning tonents 
 of biightness of their respective suns, all the spirits com- 
 pos'd like us of vapour, fire, air, and earth, in a word, 
 every thing in existence, fix'd their regard upon liim 
 who had accoraplish'd every thing. 
 
 The eye of Eloa.thi elected of God, darted even into 
 the centri.- of the immense circle of thoie who were con- 
 siderijag Christ : he then prostrated hiiii5elf before tha 
 Di\ine Mediator, and solemnly placM his radiant crown 
 at the feet of the perfect Restorer. 
 
 Christ was now upon the summit of tlie hill; around 
 him were the disciple?, and invisibly the risen, and the 
 angels. He now attVctionately extended his arms to- 
 wards his disciples, saying, — 
 
 Do not depart from Jerusalem ; bat await the effect 
 of the promise of the Father, which saith, that ye have 
 heird of me since my resurrection ; for John was bap- 
 tiz'd witli water, but ye shall be baptiz d by the Holy 
 Ghost in a few days, and l!ic promise shall be fulflll'd. 
 Some among them interrupted hhn with this question :— 
 Lord, wilt thou, at this tiine, restore again the king- 
 dom of Israel ? But he said unto them, It is not for you 
 to know the times, or the seasons, whicli t!ie Fatlier has 
 put in his own power. While speaking, without inter- 
 rupting hirasplf, he cast a beneficent lo'>k towards Be- 
 thany, and Lazarus was glorify'd. Lnniediatdybe was 
 led by his. angel to the summit of the mountain, that he 
 iji!w;ht join in the he.ive.iiy procession, fcnt ye »hall re- 
 ceive power af'.er that the Holy Ghost is come upon ye, 
 and \e shall be witnesses unto me, both in Jerusalem, 
 VOL. IL r
 
 311 THE MESS J An. 
 
 and ia all Ja<loa, ar.ri in Samaria, and unto tLe uUir- 
 niost parts of the earth. 
 
 Christ, then drawing nearer them, bestow'd upon the 
 witnesses an aflfectionate look of protection, and raising 
 Li? hands said : — 
 
 iMay God have you in his holy keeping, and bless 
 yon! IMay God cause his face to shine upon yoii, and 
 may he be j'our help! May he tiun his face towards 
 you, and bestow his peace, which passeth all understand- 
 ing, upon you i Thus did our Savioor bless them. Hea- 
 ven ! earth ! and all ye the chosen of God ! tiius did 
 the Mediator aeconipiisli every thing here below ; and 
 now a cloud descended ; and having receiv'd him, Le 
 was taken up to Keis'eu. 
 
 The witnesses long follow'd, with their eyes, the Risen, 
 conqueror of death ; their eyes were bathd in tears, and 
 their souls experienc'd the softest sensations — the same 
 sensation which we shall feel, when Christ, borne upoa 
 tbe clouds of Heaven, shall return as Judge of the 
 world- 
 
 They no longer saw hijn ; but two njen stood by them 
 •in white apparel ; these were Eloa and Siileni ; one of 
 them, whose head was surrounded by a brilliant glory, 
 and who held a golden staff in his right hand, said to 
 lliose who hardly listeu'd to hiiD in their transport of 
 
 joy. 
 
 Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into Hea- 
 ven? This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into 
 Heaven, shall so come down, in like manner as ye have 
 seen Iiinx ascend to his Father. Having thus spoken, 
 they disappear'd ; and the disciples returu'd to Jerusa- 
 lem, their hearts overflowhig with gratitude, and their 
 m<jnths with praise. 
 
 And they abode together in their dwelling near the 
 temple, praising and bles^ng Gud ; and thus consecrated 
 by prayer, they awaited for the promise of tlie Father, 
 wiio doath'd them with ^irtue from above, that they 
 nti^ht bear witness respecting our Saviour, after they had 
 recei\d ibe baptism of fire, or of the Holy Ghost.
 
 In the original, there is another book ; but even KIop- 
 stock himself has not numbered it, therefore he does 
 not feera to include it in his poem, tlie action of which 
 certainly ceases here, as the concluding book is divided 
 into different hymus, and into choruses of aiigels, who 
 invite each other to sing. Sometimes a single prophet 
 relates chronclogically the wonders which God operated 
 to preserve and rule the people from whom the Messiah 
 was to be born. Sometimes the angels and patriarchs 
 nnite, to render thanks and honour to him, by and for 
 whom these succeeding nüracles were perfojined. The 
 principal merit of this concluding bock consists in the 
 variety of the rhyme, and of the versification ; and this 
 wotild be wholly lost in a prose translation, which has 
 but vf ly feebly, in the foregoing four books, followed 
 the original German text.
 
 EXPLANATORY NOTES 
 
 TO 
 BOOK XVI. 
 
 (1) TT" LOPSTOCK visbes the reader to understand, 
 -*-^ that the souls of Pai^ans tfaou'^ht they were 
 bft'orc Olympus, aad that they saw Jupiter surrounded 
 by the fabalons deities. 
 
 (C) In this passage, wisJies to compare the supreme 
 felicity which the favourable judguient of Christ be- 
 stowed upon some souls, to that w hich a blind man would 
 feel, v.-ere he, by some sudden mijack,to have his sight 
 lestored. 
 
 (3) Klopstock here seems to eiitertain an opinion, that 
 our souls, after death, will be transported into dilferent 
 globes, in ^ hich, either by puiiibhmen'.s suited to oar 
 crimes, or by a forestate of beatitude, we shall be insen- 
 sibly led to attain the necessary decree of perfection to 
 appear in the presence of our Creator. 
 
 (4) As these are supposed to be pagan souls who ap- 
 pear before the judi^ment seat, they invoke the gods they 
 had been taught to worship, whom they fancy they recog- 
 r;i7.c in the Mefsiah. 
 
 (5) The German word is Zeus Krotieon, which I 
 thus translate, as Jopiter was, I understand, adored by 
 s-iveral nations, under the name of Zeus Jupiter, and of 
 Kroucon Saturn.
 
 SIS EXPLANATORY KOTES. 
 
 (i3) As it is said in the begiuuuag of this book, that it 
 was the soals of those Vi bo bad departed this life since 
 the resurrection of onr Savionr, v/ho wore brought be- 
 fore hiiu upon the Tabcr tor judgment, he cannot, of 
 coarse, have in vicvT any of the heroes of antiqnitj-, but 
 some individuals of irnpc: taace, whom he supposes to 
 have li%'ed and died about that period. 
 
 (7) The names of the stais, or worlds here alluded to, 
 I cannot tianslate ; all I uuderstund respecting them is, 
 that Ihey derived their names from difterent countries 
 in Palestine. The author supposes that these souls are to 
 visit these planetary worlds in progreäfire succession ; 
 and in consequence, our Saviour decides in which of 
 these worlds they are to be told he is their judge, or are 
 to be taught to consider him a; their Redeemer. 
 
 (8) This is addressed to another soul, which 1 wish to 
 be understood by the recommencement of the sen- 
 tence. 
 
 (9) Or Allu-ater, superior God acknowledged under 
 this name by the ancient Germans. 
 
 (10) This name, as well as the episode, are of the an- 
 chor's invention. 
 
 (11) An Eastern custom. 
 
 (12) The author was, 1 understand from his memoirs, 
 seized with a dangerous fit of illness while completing 
 this work ; and the hopes he entertained of having se- 
 cured bis f tlvation, did not prevent him from regretting 
 his supposed inability to concliide his poem. 
 
 (13) This alludes to the angels and the saint«, who sur- 
 rounded our Saviour upon the Tabor. 
 
 (14) Tliat is to say, in bell.
 
 EXPLANATORY NOTES. 3l9 
 
 (15) Tbis repetition Klopstock deemed necc=-ary to 
 recall to the recoUeciiou of iJie reader, that it was upon 
 llic Tabor the tiist di'ijree of the exaltation of the Messiah ; 
 that after the resurrection, lie sat iu judgment upon thv 
 souls of those who had since departed tliis life. 
 
 (1Ö) Tbis is the name the author gives to one of the 
 children that the Messiah placed in the midst of the 
 people, when he recommended them to be humble. St. 
 Luke, chap. 18, verse 1 j, l6, and 17. 
 
 (1?) They are interrupted while wisliing to teil their 
 God, Brania, that they had lacerated and mortified 
 themselves to do him honour, as the priests of that God 
 were in tlie habit of doing, to induce the people to be- 
 lieve in their holines. The author means ta represent 
 a croud of pagan souls appearing before the Divine Me- 
 diator, whom they all believe to be the God whom they 
 liad worshipped upon earth, aad to whom th^y make a 
 boast of tlieir good works in honour of their religion. 
 
 (IB) This was the ancient Mars of the Germ-uis : they 
 also honoured him under the name of O.iir. ; and the 
 Vandals styled bim the God of war, Otho : here they 
 seem to allude to him as one of the sylvan deities: 
 indeed, the Germans worsJiipped all their gwis amidst 
 groves and wood?, as did the ancient Britons in tlie time 
 of the Druids. 
 
 (19) Li the second book, when describing hell, it is 
 said, that two angels constantly kept watch at its gates. 
 
 (20) Tbis was Adramelccb. In the second book, 
 Klopstock relates the liistory of this temple, bnilt, or ra- 
 ther piled up after their revolt against G'.hI.
 
 EXPLANATORY NOTES 
 
 TO 
 
 EOOK XVIl. 
 
 0) KLOrSTOCK %va?ofopinion,thatberoreoursonl« 
 ecterefi their mortal bodies, they had pre-existed in a 
 spiritual life, which they will recollect when they again 
 reNive. 
 
 (-2) The author always makes clierubims precede and 
 accompany our Saviour after his resnrrection. 
 
 (3) With regard to this episode respecting an inferior, 
 or lower world, and the dark valley, it is necessary to 
 remark, that it was the opinion of the Hebrew?, that 
 after their demise thej^ descended info a» obscure glebe, 
 from which David rL-qiiests to be exempted in the 15th 
 psalm. This place was called S'neoJ, aad was supposed 
 to be under the earth. They thought tliat those who had 
 perished during the deluge were deüiined in one of 
 tliose inferior worlds, till they were to be dciivere«! by 
 Jesus Christ, after his res\irrec(ion. The general belief 
 of the fatliers of the church, respfecfins: these points, is 
 founded upon those words in the creed — " Jlc dcsccndcri 
 into hi'll,'' and upon the epistle of St. Tefer, chapter 3, 
 verse IQ — '* By which also he went and prc?.chefl unto 
 fhe spirits in prison." But other tuit!:orities explain 
 tlieie words into a deliverance from pagans, and from 
 the darkness of idolaters. 
 
 (1) That is, that each of Ihcai dreaded that they
 
 EXPLAXATOUY NOTES. 321 
 
 s«boul(i not be ansongthe ntnnber who were to bt saved, 
 which was the most bitter of tlieir aiSiclions. 
 
 (5) That of the disciples aad apostle?. 
 
 (f») Third chapter of Genesis, ver?e 15—" And I will 
 put eniiiily between thee and the woman, and between 
 thy seed and htr seed: it shall brui:^ thy Lead, aad thou 
 shall briiisc his heel." 
 
 (7) The ancients danced at all their religious cereino- 
 ni-s, and all their sicrc<l rejoicings : the dancing round 
 an object of refpftct was a mark of veneration. Thus 
 THi\U\ danced round the ark : the priests of Baal round 
 ihe altai of their Go;l, while th?y Implored him to make 
 hiinsi.'U' known, in answer to Elijah's defiance. Tie 
 sacre.'i dances, called brawls, were diuced in several 
 towns of France the first Sundays in Lent, round fires, 
 which w» re lit in squares, or market-place?. Daring 
 the last century, the people in the province of Letnosin 
 danccJ in the cboir of their churches, in honour of their 
 patron sidot, as they still daijce round the maypole and 
 the bonfires, in hononr of St. John the Baptist. 
 
 (r.) The wife of Joseph, the sou of Jacob, in Egypt. 
 
 CO) Accor.'.ing to the author, the youngest of tl'.e Mac- 
 cabees. 
 
 (10) Or ISIary, the deceased sister of iazariis and 
 Martha. 
 
 (11) This pilgrim, who takes the name of Japbet, is 
 Joseph. Tenedcs is a celebrated island in the Archipel- 
 ago, about ten miles long, and the same broad. Simos 
 is also a larger island, in the same sja. 
 
 (IC) Ilnshai was the fri»nd cf DaviJ, whom he saved
 
 32'3 EXPLANATOPoY N0T£5. 
 
 by the advice which he gave to Ato3alon>j in oppositiün 
 
 to liiHt of Arcliitophel. 
 
 (13) Jcthro, the priest of ISIidinn, the f;uher-iu-la\v of 
 
 Mose5. 
 
 (14) rirst Book of Chronicles, chapter 9, verse icj— 
 " And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, 
 the son oi Korah, and liis brethren, of the house of his 
 father, the Korahitcs, were over the work of the ser- 
 vice, licepers of tlie gates of the tabernacle : and their 
 fathers being over the host of the Lord, were keepers of 
 the e:it!.y." Second Book of Chrouicles, chapter 20, 
 verfc 19. — " And the Levites of the cliildien of the 
 Kohathite», ami of- the children of the Korhites, stood 
 lip to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on 
 hi-h." 
 
 (15) Psalm 39, verse 1—" To the chief mnsi-äan, even 
 to Jeduthun." First Book of Chronicles, chapter 1(5, 
 verse 41, and 4C— " And with them Heniau and Je<lu- 
 thun, and the rest that were chosen, who were expressed 
 by name, to give thanks to the Lord, because his mercy 
 endureth for ever ; And with them Heman and Jedu- 
 thun, with trumpets and cymbals, for those that should 
 make a sound, and with musical instruments of God ; 
 and the sons of Jeduthun were porters." Second Book 
 of Chronicles, chapter 35, verse 15—" And the singers 
 the sons of Asaph were in their place, according to the 
 commandment of David, and Asaph, and iieman, and 
 Jeduthun the king's seer." 
 
 (16) The daughter of Job. 
 
 (17) The oldest friend of Jobj whom she thinks is in- 
 clined to appear to Lazarus. 
 
 (18) Mary now addressee the principal chorister of
 
 EXPLA^^ATORY NOTES. 525 
 
 the temple of God, mentioned in the quotations from 
 the Book of Clironiclcs. 
 
 (19) Tlie Roman centurion, wLakept g-aard near llie 
 
 tOMlb Ot J Cells. 
 
 (£0) Tbc young man who speaks last, and who con- 
 tradicts the Other friends of Job. Job, chapter 3'Z. 
 
 (21) BetLoron is the name that Klopstock gi\-e3 to the 
 rich man -who could not resolve to follow Jesus Christ, 
 \^■hen the Messiali told him that, to be perfect, he must 
 give all he was woi th to the poor and follow him. St. 
 MaftJiew, chapter lo, verse 21,22, and 23 — •" .Ti^;»ssaid 
 unto him. If tliou wilt be perfect, go, and seil f. at thoa 
 hast, and give to the poor, and thcivsljalt have treasure 
 in heaven : and come and follow me. But when the 
 young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful ; 
 for he had great possessions. Then said Jesus unto bis 
 disciples, Verily I say anto you, that a rich man shall 
 hardly ever unter the kingdom of heaven." 
 
 (22) This guest of Lazarus, under the name of Gcrson, 
 and the app;:arance of a Grecian pilgiim from the Icland 
 of Pares, was in reality £liha, the friend of Job. 
 
 (23) The youngest of the Maccabees. 
 
 (24) At the conclusion of the Fifteenth Book, tliese 
 lovers are elevated from the summit of the Tabor, 
 amidst the assembly of the beatified. But as in the opi- 
 nion of the author, our felicity is to increase aftt r our 
 death, by gentle and imperceptible gradations in the 
 diöerent spheres to which we are to be transporter!, that 
 we may also imperceptibly' attain the necessary degree ©f 
 perfection, he supposes, that upon Ihtir ascension, Cidli 
 and Semida became first inhabitants of the evening star, 
 called Hesperus, whose uibabitants are styled Hesperi- 
 des. This episode, it appears from his own acknow-
 
 52-t EXPLANATOE.Y NOTES. 
 
 ledjjmeiit, was added by the author to his last edition of 
 
 his \vorl:s. 
 
 (25) The author Supposes tbat daiing their spherical 
 movecieiits, the worlds send forth harmonious sounds, 
 r.hich bless theh" Creator. 
 
 (26) The name of the leper is not mentioned in the 
 Xew Testament ; but the proccodings of these ungrate;';;! 
 wretches, and the gratitude displo^. ed by the Samaiitan 
 alone, after their miraculous cure by Jesus, are deäcribed 
 in tJie Gasptl of St. Luke, chapter 17, wrse 15 — 13 — 
 " And one of tliem, v.hen he saw that he was healed, 
 turned bai.'k, and with a lond voice g'orifiedGod. And 
 fell down on his face at his feet, givi.ig hiin thanks; and 
 he was a Sarnsritan. An 1 Jesus answeriiig said, M'ere 
 there not ten cleauie.l ? but where are the otner nine I 
 There are not found that returned to give glory to Go J, 
 save this stranger." 
 
 EXPLAXATOPtY NOTES 
 
 TO 
 EOOK XVIII. 
 
 (1) IT is the poet who now addresses himself to his 
 readers. 
 
 (2) This alludes to thos<i who were bnri:t at Auto 
 da fca, by the orders of the Inquisition. 
 
 (3) Which was always carried before the victims, as 
 if such a cj-mboi otiglit to have served as a pretence for 
 such cmcl'v.
 
 EXPLANATORY NOTES. 325 
 
 (4) Tlie angcl -«ho had ponred out tb.e bo-,v]s of biood 
 and tears, heic concludes bis ppeech. Others rise in snc- 
 ces^iun to accuse die souls ■srho are to bo judged, or to 
 siiig tor tlieiiJ, and with them, hymns of rejoicing. 
 
 (5) Wiio, according to the Ileveiation«, is to ji:f'gc 
 the tribes of Israel. The apoille Tbadd-^us is Lere 
 meant. 
 
 (0) It is Adam \vi:o speaks. 
 
 (7) I presume Ihi? alludes to a martyr, whose famHy 
 v.ished him to remain an idolater, and who sulTtred 
 deatli iii his youth. 
 
 (8) He adch esses himself to those soids who, having 
 fiooner than himself enjoyed tie blessing of Liimorta- 
 lity, did honour to the r.iessi;tb, as to the light of the 
 world. 
 
 (9) ^V^iich the profane must not pollute by their pre- 
 sumptuous curiosity. 
 
 (10) Tlie Jewish nation. — ^To t'aesc patriarchs were 
 afttrwarfls joined the Jews v.ho Lave been converttd 
 since the coming of the Mcisiuh. 
 
 (11) Jesus, while upon earth, raised many from the 
 dead. It is Abraham who is suppcse<i to speak. 
 
 (12) The great men and princes of tlie earth, who 
 persecuted the CLristians, or converted Jews. 
 
 (13) Abraham here allndes to St. Paul. 
 
 (1-i) Of Christianity, of which St. Paul Wns one of 
 the principal supports, and whose beatified name cannot 
 te rendered in any language.
 
 326 EXPLANATORY N0TE3. 
 
 (15) This is addressed to those who doubt of the im« 
 mortality of the sdhI. 
 
 (16) It 13 Jesus who is speaking as judge, 
 (i') It is Adam who spealcs. 
 
 (18) The chief of the singers iu David's time. 
 
 (IQ) I presuiTi : this alhides to some of those animals 
 whom the Eejptians and other nations adored. By the 
 inhabitant of the waves, the author means the croco- 
 diles of t!.e Nile. The rising snn is a'lored by many 
 Eastern nations. 
 
 (£0) This alludes to the children who were thrown 
 alive into the fires which blazed in honour of Moloch. 
 
 i'Cl) It is said of Enoch in Genesis, chapter 5, vtrse 
 £4 — " And Enoch walked ■»Aith God, and he was not : 
 for God took him," From whence Klop«tock infers, 
 that he did not die, but ascended to Heaven during his 
 life-.imc. 
 
 (CC) The follov^in» episode, written in 1753, was 
 suppressed by the author in the succesäve editions of the 
 Messiah, in the ftarth^t it might be misinterpreted, rr 
 that it might offend some ze.jlous Catholics, who held 
 the Virgin Mary and the saints in too great estimation. 
 
 (23) It is Adam who speak?. 
 
 (24) Eloa here ap»-.strophizcs one of the condenmed 
 kings, and then i esun.cs the discourse which he addreises 
 to them a!l.
 
 EXPLANATORY NOTES 
 
 TO 
 BOOK XfX. 
 
 (l) THE angel», who are appointed (o execute the 
 judgments of God, who are thus styled iu the sci iptures. 
 
 (C) That is to saj', their fiite was made known to the 
 spectator« : they \^ ere not absolutely rejected ; but they 
 were, it may be supposed, traiKported into diflereut 
 spheres, where tliey undenvent various puiiishmenfs, 
 which enliglitened their minds, tauglii them to know 
 themstlves, and thus opened to them the road to per- 
 fection. 
 
 (.3) Adam alludes to the moment whou after the 
 death of the Mesi-iah, the patiiarchs, and those who were 
 to appear to the first Christians, rose from the dead with 
 heavenly boches, 
 
 (4) The angels with whom Abbadona had associated 
 in ticaven after his creation. He next addresses him- 
 self to all the blessed. 
 
 (5) Adam returns to Ids na' rative, respecthig the last 
 jndgmciit. 
 
 (6) Overflowed by the deliige. The scales represent 
 the divine justice. The author has already supposed, in 
 the Sevente.nth Book, that those who perish«! by the 
 dtlcge, fell urtcr their death into a dank prison,
 
 :>28 EXPLANATORY NOTES. 
 
 from whence the Messiah, after his resurrection, ileli- 
 vered a grtat many ; the lemjiuder, after having been 
 coavcited atid puüiihed, were, according to the \isioii 
 of Adam, delivered at the general resurrection. 
 
 (7) Here fiuishcs Adam's vision respecting iLe Ja-t 
 judgtnetit. The author now i elates the appaiiiion of 
 Jesus to his disciples, to shew himself to whon) he des- 
 cends from the Tabor, njwn v.hich he Iiaii sat in jud'^- 
 ijicnt since iiis rtS'irrection. 
 
 (8) Nnlhanicl, like all the other disciples, was ov«r- 
 joyed at the resunection of Lis M.ister, though he %va3 
 of a very serious tarn of mind, and frcq lenfly medita- 
 ting npon thü sublime truths of religion. 
 
 (t)) This part is taken almost literally from the Gospel 
 o! bt. John, chapter 21. 
 
 (10) Various people aie now supposed to address each 
 other. 
 
 (1 1) Tlie seventh Maccabeus, the martyr. 
 ^12) A constellation of the northern pole. 
 
 (lo) A constellation of thes'iuthern hemisphere. 
 (14) That of Mai7, the sister of Lizaiu;. 
 
 riNiS. 
 
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