Blessed Creator, who before the Birth
Of Time, or e’re the Pillars of the Earth
Were fix’t or form’d, did’st lay that great Design
Of Man’s Redemption, and did’st define
In thine Eternal Councels all the Scene
Of that stupendious Business, and when
It should appear, and though the very day
Of its Epiphany, concealed lay
Within thy mind, yet thou wert pleas’d to show
Some glimpses of it, unto Men below,
In Visions, Types, and Prophesies, as we
Things at a distance in Perspective see:
But thou wert pleas’d to let thy Servant know
That that Blest hour, that seem’d to move so slow
Through former Ages, should at last attain
Its time, e’re my few Sands, that yet remain
Are spent; and that these Aged Eyes
Should see the day, when Jacob’s Star should rise.
And now thou hast fulfill’d it, blessed Lord
Dismiss me now, according to thy word;
And let my Aged Body now return
To Rest, and Dust, and drop into an Urn;
For I have liv’d enough, mine Eyes have seen
Thy much desired Salvation, that hath been
So long, so dearly wish’d, the Joy; the Hope
Of all the Ancient Patriarchs, the Scope
Of all the Prophesies, and Mysteries,
Of all the Types unvail’d, the Histories
Of Jewish Church unridl’d, and the bright
And Orient Sun arisen to give light
To Gentiles, and the joy of Israel,
The Worlds Redeemer, blest Emanuel.
Let this sight close mine Eyes, ’tis loss to see,
After this Vision, any sight but Thee.
(Matthew Hale)
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