Page:Redemption, a Poem.djvu/272

 266 REDEMPTION.

Whom, co-existent, Son, I sole begot.

Him now I give, his life, for fallen man,

Justice and mercy, each to keep intact ;

Promised to him, who fell not of himself,

But thereto drawn, by our malignant foe.

This day, the perfect sacrifice demands;

This day, the solemn holocaust begins.

God to himself for broken law atones,

Blots man's transgression with redeeming blood ;

Purer than that, which Abel's altar stain'd,

Or that, which Carmel's hallow'd top enlaved,

Or pour'd its sacred stream along the plains,

When Maccabees thank off'rings to me made ;

Whose sacrifices, fire from heav'n consumed,

As sign acceptable by me rain'd down.

But how, since my beloved Son must die,

My justice to appease, preserved unstain'd,

Shall justice reconcilement find, with mulct

To those who slay ? May not rebellious, still

With reason judge, unjust the punishment,

That doth necessity on them impose?

With reason, true, if 't were necessity,

Which them impels, but not so, by free-will.

Death was decreed to mend the broken law.

But what death, who should slay, and how, from me,

No motion hath. Death comes unbid to all ;

Nor seldom,. by my high permissive will;

Or, as with agony and bloody sweat

Exhaust, or by man's guilt assumed, weigh'd down.

Death him would find then, vi'lence not imposed,

Did they leave this omit, nor shed his blood.

But, since their malice, stimulate by hell,

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