188

C. M.

SCOTCH PARAPHRASES.

The universal Triumphs of the Messiah's Kingdom. Is. ii. 2—6.

1 BEHOLD, the mountain of the Lord
In latter days shall rise

On mountain tops above the hills,
And draw the wondering eyes.

2 To this the joyful nations round,

All tribes and tongues, shall flow;
Up to the hill of God, they'll say,
And to his house, we'll go.

3 The beam that shines from Zion hill
Shall lighten every land;

The King who reigns in Salem's towers
Shall all the world command.

4 Among the nations he shall judge;
His judgments truth shall guide;
His sceptre shall protect the just,
And quell the sinner's pride.

5 No strife shall rage, nor hostile feuds
Disturb those peaceful years;
To ploughshares men shall beat their swords,
To pruning-hooks their spears.

6 No longer hosts encountering hosts
Shall crowds of slain deplore;
They hang the trumpet in the hall,
And study war no more.

154

189

C. M. SCOTCH PARAPHRASES.

Living Waters. Is. lv.

1 HO! ye that thirst, approach the spring
Where living waters flow;
Free to that sacred fountain, all,
Without a price, may go.

2 How long to streams of false delight
Will ye in crowds repair?

How long your strength and substance waste
On trifles light as air?

3 My stores afford those rich supplies
That health and pleasure give;
Incline your ear, and come to me;
The soul that hears shall live.

4 Behold, he comes; your Leader comes,
With might and honor crowned-
A Witness who shall spread my name
To earth's remotest bound.

5 See! nations hasten to his call
From every distant shore ;

Isles yet unknown shall bow to him,
And Israel's God adore.

190

C. M.

SCOTCH PARAPHRASES.

Christ foretold. Is. xlii. 1-4.

1 BEHOLD my Servant; see him rise
Exalted in my might;

Him have I chosen, and in him
I place supreme delight.

2 On him, in rich effusion poured,
My Spirit shall descend;

My truths and judgments he shall show
To earth's remotest end.

3 Gentle and still shall be his voice;
No threats from him proceed;

The smoking flax he shall not quench,
Nor break the bruised reed.

4 The feeble spark to flames he'll raise; The weak will not despise ;

Judgment he shall bring forth to truth,
And make the fallen rise.

5 The progress of his zeal and power
Shall never know decline;

Till foreign lands and distant isles
Receive the law divine.

191

L. M.

The Messiah predicted.

WATTS.

1 THE lands that long in darkness lay Now have beheld a heavenly light; Nations that sat in death's cold shade

Are blessed with beams divinely bright.

2 The virgin's promised Son is born:
Behold the expected Child appear!
What shall his names or titles be?
"The Wonderful, the Counsellor."
3 The government of earth and seas
Upon his shoulders shall be laid;
His wide dominions shall increase,
And honors to his name be paid.

4 Jesus, the holy Child, shall sit

High on his father David's throne,
Shall crush his foes beneath his feet,
And reign to ages yet unknown.

192

C. M.

SCOTCH PARAPHRASES.

The Sufferings of Christ foreshown. Is. liii.

1 THE Savior comes! no outward pomp
Bespeaks his presence nigh;

No earthly beauty shines in him,
To draw the carnal eye.

2 Fair as a beauteous, tender flower
Amidst the desert grows,
So, slighted and despised by man,
The heavenly Savior rose.

3 Rejected and despised of men,
Behold a man of woe!

Grief was his close companion still
Through all his life below.

4 Wronged and oppressed, how meekly he
In patient silence stood!

Mute as the peaceful, harmless lamb,
When brought to shed its blood.

5 'Midst sinners low in dust he lay;
The rich a grave supplied;
Unspotted was his blameless life;
Unstained by sin he died.

6 He with the great shall share the spoil,
And baffle all his foes;

Though, ranked with sinners, here he fell,
A conqueror he rose.

193

L. M.

DODDRIDGE.

The Riches of pardoning Grace. Is. xliv. 22, 23.
1 LET heaven burst forth into a song;
Let earth reflect the joyful sound;
Ye mountains, with the echo ring,
And shout, ye forests, all around.
2 The Lord his Israel hath redeemed,
Hath made his mourning people glad,
And the rich glories of his name

In their salvation hath displayed.

3 Unnumbered sins, like sable clouds,
Veiled every cheerful ray of joy,
And thunders murmured through the gloom,
While lightnings pointed to destroy.

4 He spoke, and all the clouds dispersed,
And heaven unveiled its shining face;
The whole creation smiled anew,

Decked in the golden beams of grace.

194

11s M.

DRUMMOND.

Prepare ye the Way of the Lord.

1 A VOICE from the desert comes awful and shrill, The Lord is advancing! prepare ye the way! The word of Jehovah he comes to fulfil,

And o'er the dark world pour the splendor of day

2 Bring down the proud mountain, though towering to heaven,

And be the low valley exalted on high;

The rough path and crooked be made smooth and

even,

For, Zion! your King, your Redeemer is nigh.