III + 

Paraphrase of Isaiah 64 + 

O that Thou wouldest rend the breadth of sky, + 

That veils Thy presence from the sons of men! + 

O that, as erst Thou camest from on high + 

Sudden in strength, Thou so would’st come again! + 

Track’d out by judgments was Thy fiery path, + 

Ocean and mountain withering in Thy wrath! + 

Then would Thy name⁠—the Just, the Merciful⁠— + 

Strange dubious attributes to human mind, + 

Appal Thy foes; and, kings, who spurn Thy rule, + 

Then, then would quake to hopeless doom consign’d. + 

See, the stout bows, and totters the secure, + 

While pleasure’s bondsman hides his head impure! + 

Come down! for then shall from its seven bright springs + 

To him who thirsts the draught of life be given; + 

Eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard the things + 

Which He hath purposed for the heirs of heaven⁠— + 

A God of love, guiding with gracious ray + 

Each meek rejoicing pilgrim on his way. + 

Yea, though we err, and Thine averted face + 

Rebukes the folly in Thine Israel done, + 

Will not that hour of chastisement give place + 

To beams, the pledge of an eternal sun? + 

Yes! for His counsels to the end endure; + 

We shall be saved, our rest abideth sure. + 

Lord, Lord! our sins⁠ ⁠… our sins⁠ ⁠… unclean are we, + 

Gross and corrupt; our seeming-virtuous deeds + 

Are but abominate; all, dead to Thee, + 

Shrivel, like leaves when summer’s green recedes; + 

While, like the autumn blast, our lusts arise, + 

And sweep their prey where the fell serpent lies. + 

None, there is none to plead with God in prayer + 

Bracing his laggart spirit to the work + 

Of intercession; conscience-sprung despair, + 

Sin-loving still, doth in each bosom lurk. + 

Guilt calls Thee to avenge;⁠—Thy risen ire + 

Sears like a brand, we gaze and we expire. + 

But now, O Lord, our Father! we are Thine, + 

Design and fashion; senseless while we lay, + 

Thou, as the potter, with a Hand Divine, + 

Didst mould Thy vessels of the sluggish clay. + 

Mark not our guilt, Thy word of wrath recall, + 

Lo, we are Thine by price, Thy people all! + 

Alas for Zion! ’tis a waste;⁠—the fair, + 

The holy place in flames;⁠—where once our sires + 

Kindled the sacrifice of praise and prayer, + 

Far other brightness gleams from Gentile fires. + 

Low lies our pride;⁠—and wilt Thou self-deny + 

Thy rescuing arm unvex’d amid thine Israel’s cry? + 