Classic Poem

What, though the waters, struck with dread,
Rise up and form a pyramid?
Though floods should gush from rocks and stones,
Or living souls from wither'd bones?

To hear of an incarnate God,
Is yet more wonderful and odd;
Or to behold how God most high
Could in our nature breathe and die.

What, though the bright angelic forms
Degraded were to crawling worms?
These creatures were but creatures still,
Transform'd at their Creator's will.

Though creatures change a thousand ways,
It cannot such amazement raise,
Nor such a scene as this display,
Th' eternal Word a piece of clay.

God man a strange contexture fix'd,
Yet not confused nor commix'd;
Yet still a myst'ry great and fresh,
A Spirit infinite made flesh.

What, though, when nothing heard his call,
Nothing obey'd and brought forth all?
What, though he nothing's brood maintain,
Or all annihilate again?

Let nothing into being pass,
Or back again to what it was?
But, lo! the God of beings here,
As turn'd to nothing doth appear.

All heav'n's astonish'd at his form,
The mighty God became a worm,
Down Arian pride to him should bow,
He's Jesus and Jehovah too.

The Sum of Redemption .

 With haughty mind to Godhead man aspir'd,
With loving mind our manhood God desir'd:
Man was by pride from place of pleasure chas'd,
God man by love in greater pleasure plac'd.

Man seeking to ascend procur'd our fall;
God yielding to descend remov'd our thrall:
The Judge was cast, the guilty to acquit;
The sun defac'd to lend the shades the light.