A Soliloquy on the Soul (1)/A Meditation

by Thomas Black

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A

MEDITATION

Wrote a little before the Author's Death.

TO thee O Jeſus I will ſing,
Who mankind fall'n from where he ſtood,
Up from their ruined ſtate did bring,
Having redeem'd them by his blood.

I'll praiſe thee, who the angelic race.
Preſerv'ſt trom fear of falling free,
Extending unto both thy grace,
And who uphold it all things that be.

'Tis true ſome heaven-born left their ſtate,
This was the place where they ſat;
Made void when they were turn'd to hell,
But thou this ruin to repair.

But thou this ruin to repair,
Tock'ſt ſome of fallen Adam's race,
Like the beſt angels made them fair,
And ſit to fill that empty ſpace.

Let me ſweet Chriſt, now undertake,
The moving cauſes forth to ſhew,
Why thou left heaven and didſt make
A viſit for this earth below.

Why thou didſt voluntary leave,
The Father's high throne for a while,
To be accounted for a ſlave,
And live with rebels in exile.

Why thou with fleſhy vale did chuſe,
Thy divine countenance to hide,
Why thou to die. didſt not refuſe,
And in the grave ſometime abide,

If thou, O Lord, hadſt not ſo,
Then had the whole of human race,
Been utterly expos'd to woe,
And never in God's ſight found grace.

The Father's wrath had not been ſtill'd
Nor could his image been repair'd
The law could not have been fulfill'd,
Which none of mankind would have ſpar'd.

Nor would heaven's door, that once was ſhut
Been opend to let any in,
Who under ſentence had been put,
ot condemnation for their ſin.

Nor would death ſpoil'd be of its ſting,
Nor would the grave been vanquiſhed,
That thoſe within into death did bring,
Again might rais'd be from the dead.

Neither could trophies have been rais'd,
Upon the ſpoils of conquer'd hell,
Nor our dull bodies been prepar'd,
n the bleſt regions to dwell.

From all that dreadful miſery,
Under which man for in did groan,
He is delivered and ſet free.
To what thou ſuffer'd haſt and done.

And as thy ſufferings now are paſt,
And thou'rt ſet on thy throne on high,
So ſhall thy ranſom'd ones at laſt,
Share in that glorious dignity,

FINIS.