Hymn: The Song of Zacharias

ISRAELS Great God eternally be Prais'd,
Who Israel from the Dust at length hath rais'd;
And mindful of his Ancient Care,
Forgotten, when we thought we were,
Israel to visit has himself come down,
The Prison Doors wide open thrown,
And by th' Redemption wrought, made his great Presence known.

Redemption for his People has he wrought,
And to the Throne the Royal Pris'ner brought;
To David's Throne, and 'tis his Son
Sprung from his Loyns, holds David's Throne;
With Empire, which no place or time can bound,
With Subjects, in all Countrys found,
Subjects, which like him shall be Kings, and like him Crown'd.

This by his Prophets, which have been of old,
In every Age he wondrously foretold;
(For every Age have Prophets been,
From since the World did first begin,
This to foretel, which now we Celebrate;)
That God our Wrongs would vindicate,
And from one Ruine save us, and our threatned State.

Not for our Righteousness, but to perform
The Mercy promis'd, and his Covenant sworn;
Promis'd the Fathers, who first were,
But which himself did to' Abraham swear,
By Oath most Sacred; for to be no more
Doubted, tho stablisht 'twas before,
By' himself, Heav'ns greatest Oath, the God most Highest swore.

So God most Highest, so by' Himself he Swore,
And that from Heav'n we should receive the Power,
(Deliver'd from our Enemies Hands,
Their Captive Chains and Servile Bands)
His own more Noble Service to attend,
Fearless of all that may offend,
In Righteousness, and holy Praise, which ne're shall end.

And now he comes, O Child, who this hath wrought;
He comes, who has the great Salvation brought:
Be thou his Prophet, and his Ways
Prepare, while He a moment stays,
Only till thou before Him canst prepare
His Ways, which deep and wondrous are,
Bylaying down his own, the Life o' th' World to spare.

Teach the World, Child, and make his Israel know
Whence their Salvations mighty Source does flow;
That from Remission of their Sin,
The mighty Source does first begin:
Through our God's tender Mercy, who the Way
To Pardon does by Penance lay;
Penance, which does the glories of his Grace display.

That Grace, whereby the Day-spring from on High,
Now visits us with Streams, which ne're shall die.
Streams of pure Aethereal Light,
To shine on those, who in darkness sit;
Which Death's pale shadow shall with Rays encrease,
And hopes long Pris'ners thence release,
And both theirs guide, and our feet into th' way of Peace.