The Counsels of Redeeming Love › Representative Texts

1 Th' Eternal speaks: All heav'n attends:
Who that unhappy race defends,
While justice aims the blow?
See nature tremble at their fates:
Death with his iron sceptre waits:
Hell opes her adamantine gates,
And triumphs at their woe.

2 Which of the bright celestial throng,
With Love so warm, and heart so strong,
Dares languish on a cross?
Who can leave liberty for chains?
Abandon ecstacy, for pains?
What angel fortitude sustains
Th' inestimable Loss.

3 He said: And death like silence reign'd:
Deep was their awe: The radiant band,
The mighty task declin'd,
At once, heav'n's Prince the silence broke,
And ardent thus, the Sire bespoke,
"None, but thy Son can ward the stroke;,
Ten let the task be mine.

4 Mine, be the feeble infant state;
Mine, in return for love be hate;
A manger be my throne.
Pain, when thy glory calls, is bliss;
When man's in danger, torture's peace;
Shame praise; a paradise th' abyss:
Then yield thy darling Son."

5 Th' Almignty radiance smil'd assent,
Loud was the shout that ether rent,
All heav'n was in amaze.
Be born, in anguish to expire;"
Earth triumph: Angels strike the lyre,
To everlasting praise.

Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs: selected and original, designed for the use of the Church Universal in public and private devotion #CCLV

th' Eternal speaks all Heav'n attends
who that unhappy race defends
while Justice aims the Blow
see Nature tremble at their fate
Death with his Iron scepter waits
Hell opes her Adamantine Gates
and triumphs at their woe

Hell opes her Adamantine Gates
and triumphs at their woe

see Nature tremble at their fate
Death with his Iron scepter waits
Hell opes her Adamantine Gates
and triumphs at their woe
Hell opes her Adamantine Gates
ad triumphs at their woe

The Psalm-singer's amusement: containing a number of fuging pieces and anthems #22