Religion
Part of the Ninth Chapter of Isaiah
From Moral and Sacred Poems (1744) · Osborn ed., vol. 3 (1869)
The people that in nature's night
Walk'd down the broad, destructive way,
Have seen a great and glorious light,
The morning of a gospel day.
Who loved in death's sad shade to dwell,
In trespasses and sins abode,
That gloomy neighbourhood of hell,
On them hath shined the light of God.
Thou, Lord, hast made Thy mercies known,
Hast added to the chosen race,
Enlarged, and multiplied Thine own,
And fill'd their hearts with joy and praise.
They joy in their Redeemer's sight
As harvesters to crown their toils,
As warriors from the well-fought fight
Return'd to part their glorious spoils.
For Thou the staff of sin hast broke,
The dire oppressor's iron rod,
The' Egyptian and Assyrian yoke,
And freed them from their guilty load.
Thou, as in Midiaris dreadful day,
Hast saved them from their tyrant lord;
And all our sins Thou soon shalt slay
With Gideon's and the Spirit's sword.
No common fight, though fierce, and loud
With all the horrid pomp of war,
Tumult, and garments roll'd in blood,
Can with the fight of faith compare.
The Spirit of burning Love shall come,
Our sins shall then the fuel be,
Thy love shall all our sins consume,
And get itself the victory.
For lo! to us a Royal Heir
Is born, to us a Son is given!
His shoulder shall the burden bear,
The government of earth and heaven.
The WONDERFUL His name shall be,
His new, unutterable name;
The COUNSELLOR, whose powerful plea
Acquits us of all guilt and blame.
The great, supreme, almighty GOD,
With His eternal Father One,
The Prince of peace, whose precious blood
Doth once for all mankind atone.
It seals the universal peace:
His peace and power to all extend,
His power shall evermore increase,
And never shall His mercies end.
His mercies flow to all mankind,
His arms of love would all embrace,
And every soul of man may find
The power of His all-pardoning grace.
Whoe'er receive His power to' obey,
To them He comes, and reigns alone,
Mildly maintains His righteous sway,
And 'stablishes His peaceful throne.
He will the steadfast mind impart,
The power that never shall remove,
And fix in every sinless heart
His throne of everlasting love.
The zeal of our Almighty Lord
His great redeeming work shall do,
Perform His sanctifying word,
And every waiting soul renew;
Bring in the kingdom of His peace,
Fill all our souls with joy unknown.
And 'stablish us in righteousness,
And perfect all His saints in one.
Codex Note
Attributed to Charles Wesley; Osborn's edition does not distinguish the brothers
Cite this poem
MLA
Wesley, Charles. “Part of the Ninth Chapter of Isaiah.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/wesley_c/395/.
Chicago
Wesley, Charles. “Part of the Ninth Chapter of Isaiah.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/wesley_c/395/.
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