Text:Characters of Christ borrowed from inanimate things in scripture

I.CXLVI. Characters of Christ borrowed from inanimate things in scripture

1 Go worship at Immanuel’s feet,
See in his face what wonders meet@
Earth is too narrow to express
His worth, his glory, or his grace.

2 [The whole creation can afford
But some faint shadows of my Lord;
Nature to make his beauties known,
Must mingle colours not her own.]

3 [Is he compar'd to wine or bread?
Dear Lord! Our souls would thus be fed:
That flesh, that dying blood of thine,
Is bread of life, is heav'nly wine.]

4 [Is he a tree? The world receives:
Salvation from his healing leaves:
That righteous branch, that fruitful bough,
Is David’s root and offspring too.]

5 [Is he a rose? Not Sharon yields
Such fragrancy in all her fields:
Or if the lily he assume,
The vallies bless the rich perfume.]

6 [Is he a vine? His heav'nly root
Supplies the boughs with life and fruit:
O let a lasting union join
My soul to Christ, the living vine!]

7 [Is he a head? Each member lives,
And owns the vital pow'rs he gives!
The saints below and saints above,
Join'd by his Spirit and his love.]

8 [Is he a fountain? There I bathe,
And heal the plague of sin and death:
These waters all my soul renew,
And cleanse my spotted garments too.]

9 [Is he a fire? He’ll purge my dross;
But the true gold sustains no loss:
Like a refiner shall he sit,
And tread the refuse with his feet.]

10 [Is he a rock? How firm he proves!
The rock of ages never moves;
Yet the sweet streams that from him flow,
Attend us all the desart thro']

11 [Is he a way? He leads to God;
The path is drawn in lines of blood;
There would I walk with hope and zeal,
Till I arrive at Sion’s hill.]

12 Is he a door? I’ll enter in:
Behold the pastures large and green;
A Paradise divinely fair,
None but the sheep have freedom there.]

13 [Is he design'd the corner stone,
For men to build their heav'n upon?
I’ll make him my foundation too,
Nor fear the plots of hell below.]

14 [Is he a temple? I adore
T' indwelling majesty and pow'r;
And still to his most holy place,
When’er I pray, I’ll turn my face.]

15 [Is he a star? He breaks the night,
Piercing the shades with dawning light;
I know his glories from afar,
I know the bright, and morning star.]

16 [Is he a sun? His beams are grace,
His course is joy and righteousness:
Nations rejoice when he appears
To chase their clouds, and dry their tears.]

17 O let me climb those higher skies,
Where storms and darkness never rise;
There he displays his pow'rs abroad,
And shines, and reigns th' incarnate God.]

18 Nor earth, nor seas, nor sun, nor stars,
Nor heav'n his full resemblance bears;
His beauties we can never trace,
Till we behold him face to face.

Text Information
First Line: Go, worship at Immanuel's feet
Title: Characters of Christ borrowed from inanimate things in scripture
Meter: L. M.
Language: English
Publication Date: 1793
Tune Information
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