Primitive Christianity, Part 1

HAPpy the souls that first believed,
To Jesus and each other cleaved;
Join'd by the unction from above,
In mystic fellowship of love.

Meek, simple followers of the Lamb,
They lived, and spake, and thought the same!
Brake the commemorative bread,
And drank the Spirit of their Head.

On God they cast their every care,
Wresthng with God in mighty prayer
They claim'd the grace through Jesus given,
By prayer they shut, and open'd heaven.

To Jesus they perform'd their vows,
A little church in every house;
They joyfully conspired to raise
Their ceaseless sacrifice of praise.

Propriety was there unknown,
None call'd what he possess'd his own:
Where all the common blessing share
No selfish happiness was there.

With grace abundantly endued,
A pure, believing multitude,
They all were of one heart and soul,
And only love inspired the whole.

O what an age of golden days!
O what a choice, peculiar race!
Wash'd in the Lamb's all-cleansing blood,
Anointed kings and priests to God!

Where shall I wrander now to find
The successors they left behind?
The faithful, whom I seek in vain,
Are minish'd from the sons of men.

Ye different sects, who all declare,
"Lo, here is Christ,!" or, "Christ is there!"
Your stronger proofs Divinely give,
And show me where the Christians live.

Your claim, alas! ye cannot prove;.,
Ye want the genuine mark of love:
Thou only, Lord, Thine own canst show,
For sure Thou hast a church below.

The gates of hell cannot prevail;
The church on earth can never fail:
Ah! join me to Thy secret ones I
Ah! gather all Thy living stones!

Scatter'd o'er all the earth they lie,
Till Thou collect them with Thine eye;
Draw by the music of Thy name,
And charm into a beauteous frame.

For this the pleading Spirit groans,
And cries in all Thy banish'd ones;
Greatest of gifts, Thy love impart,
And make us of one mind and heart

Join every soul that looks to Thee,
In bonds of perfect charity;
Now, Lord, the glorious fulness give,
And all in all for ever live!