Poems, Sacred and Moral/Hymn 5

by Thomas Gisborne

HYMN V.

 

Veil, veil your eyes,
Angelic Legions! veil.
The Son of God forsakes the skies;
Bids flesh his Deity disguise;
Bids earth her Saviour hail.

Veil, veil your eyes!
Hell's black abysses move.
The rebel world its God denies;
The terrors of his wrath defies;
Mocks his redeeming love.

Veil, veil your eyes!
The bloody bargain's sign'd.
The hour of fraud the traitor spies;
With swords and staves, and torches flies,
As 'twere a thief to bind.

Veil, veil your eyes!
To Judgement Christ is led.
With charges feign'd, and perjured lies,
Malice His innocence decries,
Arraigns His sacred head.

Veil, veil your eyes!
The reed, the platted thorn,
The mimic robe of purple dyes,
Mark Him the brutal rabble's prize,
The taunting soldier's scorn.

Veil, veil your eyes!
Gentile and Jew conspire.
Against Him Priest and People rise;
His death demand with frantic cries,
A murderer's life require.

Veil, veil your eyes!
Barabbas is set free.
Cast out, the Lord of Glory dies;
For sinners bleeds a sacrifice,
Nail'd to the accursed tree.

Raise, raise your eyes!
Angels! He bursts the tomb:
Joins Love and Truth in endless ties
Bids Peace with Justice harmonise;
Averts the sinner's doom.

Raise, raise your eyes!
See Heaven her King receive!
The Law's demand He satisfies;
The sons of Adam justifies;
Bids all their myriads live.

Raise, raise your eyes!
His Spirit He sends down:
To all o'erflowing grace supplies;
His willing people sanctifies;
Prepares their future crown.

Raise, raise your eyes!
Death's captives He unchains.
His faithful host He glorifies.
Farewell to death and tears and sighs!
Man with his Saviour reigns