The advent, ministry, and works of our Lord Jesus Christ being a versification of some portions of the four evangelists

Front matter

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Preface

In presenting this little volume to the public, the author is aware that men of large literary attainments will charge him with a fault, to which even some of the very men whose writings are the subject of his essays, are obnoxious, viz., that his style and manner indicate a great want of those advantages which result from a learned education. I see not that I can do better than to throw myself upon the charitable consideration of this class of men. I readily admit that the professedly learned, who write for fame or fortune, should pass the most rigid criticism; but shall this rule be applied indiscriminately, and shall all works be excluded that will not bear the test ? and would not such a process of excision deprive the world of an immense amount of good?

The advantages to my own mind, resulting from the labor of this performance, has already been an ample reward for all my pains; and if there had been none to offer this work to, except the proficients in human learning and scholastic divinity, it had not been offered to the world at

IV PREFACE.

all. But do we not know that the great body of the professors of religion and seekers after it, are comparatively of the poor, the weak and the illiterate; but many of them rich in faith and zealous of good works. It is with these I expect this little volume will find favor; and I give it publicity in the belief that it will do some good. But if in this my destiny be disappointment, still I think I may claim for myself a sincerity of purpose, as a shield from the shafts of the malicious: from the charitable I have nothing to fear, for the mantle of their virtue covcreth a multitude of sins.

I am indebted principally to Fleetwood's Life of Christ for the chronological 'arrangement of the subjects, but have made some deviations from that standard.

Chapter I

Presage of the birth of Jesus — Salutation of Mary by the Angel — Birth of Jesus, Page 9

Chapter II

Declaration of the birth of Jesus to the shepherds — A multitude of the heavenly host appear with the angel praising and blessing God — The parents take their Babe to Jerusalem — The prophecy of Simeon and Anna — They return to Nazareth and their son remaineth with them, Page 12

CHAPTER XX. Parable of the ten talents — The Sheep and goats, Page 98

CHAPTER XXL

The last Supper — The treachery of Judas, Page 104

CHAPTER XXIL

The Consolatory Discourse, Page 108

CHAPTER XXIII.

The Consolatory Discourse continued, Page 112

Vin CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXIV.

Jesua betrayed and apprehended — Peter's denial and repentance — Tne Crucifixion, ra S e 117

NOTE*, Pa S e122

A VERSIFICATION OF SOME PORTIONS

OF THE

FOUR EVANGELISTS.

Chapter I

Presage of the birth of Jesus — Salutation of Mary by the Angel — Birth of Jesus.

Our hope of glory, crown and diadem,

"Was called the babe of ancient Bethlehem,-

God was his father, his descent divine,

And from king David in an earthly line;

A two-fold nature sweetly did combine

Both in one person, human and divine.

The angel Gabriel, missioned from above,

Made his descent, on errand full of love,

God sent him down, in spiritual sense a groom,

The bride was Mary, crowned with vestal bloom,

Straightway he came — an angel — unto her —

A royal guest, a heavenly messenger,

With words like these did o'er her soul prevail:

Thou highly favored of my Father, hail 1

I have on thee, the Lord presiding o'er,

Rich blessings poured, and blessings yet in store.

By Mary then, this thing was not foreseen, What, this his blessing on her head should mean. His person too, from every blemish free, No doubt was glorious in a high degree, Did to her view such majesty unfold, The modest maiden trembled to behold.

Fear not Mary, the angel then rejoined, Nor let one doubt disturb thy peaceful mind; Thy soul redeemed — from all pollution free, His living favor God hath given thee: To bless thy soul with an immortal fame, Shalt bear a son, and Jesus call his name; For in his blood polluted men shall lave, And from their sins their precious souls shall save. His power, his might, his majesty divine, Shall far exceed the greatest of mankind, A Prince indeed, shall he, thy son, be known, Forever seated on king David's throne; Beneath his power shall Jacob love to bend, And of his kingdom there shall be no end.

These truths were clear and certainly divine, Yet Mary, doubting, queried in this line: How shall this be, a virgin in my place, Have known not man, nor felt his loved embrace?

The Holy Ghost — creative power, said he, Shall come upon, and overshadow thee, Therefore the child which in thy arms shall fall, The Son of God, the sons of men shall call.

Her douhts removed, full faith possessed her soul, And to the angel yielding full control, Said she, my soul will in this holy place, Submit resistless to thy loved embrace, Behold here now the handmaid of the Lord, Be 't unto me according to thy word.* His errand done, the angel passed away, From her departing for the realms of day.

fNow Mary was, as mutual love inclined, Espoused to Joseph, of Judea's line, But Joseph saw, and it disturbed his mind, Before they were in perfect union joined, That his beloved had evidently ran A quite unlawful intercourse with man; Was then disposed to put his spouse away, But meditating, made a short delay; Wherefore the Lord, to cure the painful theme, Did in a vision or a sacred dream, Appear to Joseph in a blaze of day, And with his doubts removed his fears away.

Thou son of David, let no doubtful fear Disturb thy union with thy Mary dear,

♦See Note 1, at the end. jMatt. i.18.

For she shall bear, pure as the heavenly host, A son with fulness of the Holy Ghost, Shall save his people from their wretched fall. And thou his name Immanuel shalt call,

*And in that day it came to pass, 'tis said, A law for taxing all the world was made, Therefore they went their lawful tax to pay, In that auspicious and eventful day, To Bethlehem within the power of Rome, Both Joseph went and Mary from their home; Denied the inn, were made content to lay Their lowly heads upon a bed of hay, Beneath a shed, of earthly pride the scorn, And there the babe Immanuel was born.

Chapter II

Declaration of the birth of Jesus to the shepherds — A multitude of the heavenly host appear with the angel praising and blessing God — The parents take their Eabe to Jerusalem — The prophecy of Simeon and Anna — They return to Nazareth and their son remaineth with them.

fThe shepherds' story does instruction yield, All night abiding in the tented field; The silent night to watch with patient care, In spiritual sense denotes a state of prayer,

*Luke ii. 1 f^uke ». S.

The sheep and lambs, with innocence combined,

Do represent the virtues of the mind,

And night prevails whene'er the gospel sun

Withholds his rays from tribulated ones;

Here in this state let patient man abide,

Nor seek relief from any source beside;

Hold fast your faith, the blessed day will dawn,

And day-star rise refulgent as the morn,

Salvation free will be proclaimed amain,

As with the shepherds on Judea's plains,

They watched their flocks from danger kept away,

From evening tide until the dawn of day,

When lo, the angel of the Lord came down,

And living glory all-displayed around,

Did to their view such glorious light appear,

The wond'ring shepherds shook with awful fear.

Peace! peace! said they, nor let your fears annoy, Behold I bring glad tidings of great joy, For unto you this day — the joyful word, Is born a Saviour which is Christ the Lord; And this to you an evidence shall be, That I these things am favored to foresee; A manger low at Bethlehem the shade Shall ye there find the babe immortal laid.

No sooner did the angel this declare, Than instant glory filled the ambient air — 2*

An heavenly host, indeed an awful thing, Was seen descending on supernal wing, Did all as one to God their voices raise, In sweetest anthems of supernal praise — To God on high all glory first; and then, Peace and good-will to all the sons of men.

They took their flight, this scene of transport through, Their instant flight beyond the ethereal blue, Into unbounded space, unmeasured swing, Suns, skies, and stars were soon beneath their wing.

The woud'ring shepherds wrapt in visions bright, Their souls transported with supreme delight, To other said, let 's go to Bethlehem, And see what things had been revealed to them. When there, they found, as had the angel said, The babe immortal in a manger laid, Which when they M seen they spread in gospel

style, The far-famed wonders of this lovely child, Their word went forth with wonder working In that auspicious and eventful hour, [power, The glorious tidings went on rapid wings, But Mary kept and pondered all these things.

The shepherds' hearts with gospel love enlarged; Returned rejoicing to their lawful charge,

And praising God, rejoicing in his word,

For all the things which they had seen and heard.

*Soon after this, (the law directed them,) They took their babe unto Jerulsalem, With hearts united they with one accord Did there present him holy to the Lord.

And now behold there came to see this son, An ancient man whose name was Simeon, The same was just, devout, and waiting still For consolation of all Israel; The Holy Ghost, or precious love of God, Within his heart was widely shed abroad, The Holy Ghost — the saints 1 eternal shield, Had to his mind this solemn truth revealed, Nor should be from this state of being hurled Till he had seen the Saviour of the world. Then he was led by God's eternal power Into the temple, that auspicious hour, Jesus the child, and parents there he saw, For to perform the customary law, Then took him up within his arms and said, Let choicest blessings rest upon his head, And let thy servant now at once, Lord, Depart in peace according to thy word; For I have seen revealed to fallen man The glorious wonders of thy gospel plan ; ♦Luke u, 22.

Nor Jews alone the subjects of this grace But all the nations of the Gentile race. The parents marveled when the man had done, At things thus spoken of their infant son.

Then adding farther, he the parents blest, And then the mother separately addrest: Of Jacob's seed is set this child of pain, Both for the falling and the rise again, Yea, thy own soul shall bitter anguish know In future scenes of most excessive woe, Nor hidden things shall ever be concealed, But inward thought of every heart revealed.

That instant too there was another came, A prophetess, and Anna was her name, Whose age so great as by the text appears, Must have been equal to one hundred years; She likewise joined, in strains of ardent love, In thanks and praises to the God above, In holy ardor spake of him to them, Who sought redemption in Jerusalem.

All things performed for which they thither came, They soon returned to Nazareth again; There as he in a state of childhood grew, Waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom too, And patient 'biding 'neath his parents' shed, The grace of God did rest upon his head.

CHAPTER III. Jesus' temptation in the wilderness

*Thus he continued, by the text appears. Until attained the age of thirty years; His soul conversant with the heavenly host, Was filled triumphant with the Holy Ghost; jThen by the Lord his living faith to test, Was lured or led into the wilderness; In this lone state which did his soul amaze, Was of the devil tempted forty days.

His baits, the devil to all vice allied, In thick profusion strewed on every side, Invincible our blessed Saviour stood, He tasted not however sweet the food. When these were ended — days of painful strife, Our Saviour hungered for the word of life. Then said the devil in that evil hour, As if to flatter with a sense of power, Take wholesome bread converted from this stone, If thou command, the thing shall quick be done. Then answered Jesus this infernal fiend: The life of man does not at all depend On bread alone, the product of the sod, But by the word of the eternal God.

*Lukeiii,23. t^u^e iv, 1.

The devil next, his further power to try, Did take him up into a mountain high. This lofty highth may be the gospel plan, To be the mountain of the pride of man. And at one view the devil then did show The mountains, hills, and pleasant vales below; And said to him, if thou at once wilt own Thyself a subject of my splendid throne, This glory all — the pride of every clime, The wealth and power shall instantly be thine.

Did Jesus' answer in this channel run: Get thee behind me, thou infernal one, For it is said in reverential awe, By inspiration in the Jewish law, That thou shalt worship, and without reserve, The Lord thy God, and him alone shalt serve.

The scene continued, as we read of them, Was next removed unto Jerusalem; Then to the temple place of holy prayer, Was lofty seated on a turret there; The devil then did thus in language run: If thou indeed art God's Eternal Son, This instant hence — thyself exempt from woe, Nor fear thou falling on the stones below, For it is written in the law at large, That angels have thee in their holy charge,

Lest thou, dependant on thy strength alone, Should dash thy foot against a rock or stone.

Then Jesus said, this is the sacred word, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord the living God. He failing thus in every vain desire, Did for a season from our Lord retire.

Jesus returned, this sore temptation through, And with an increase of the spirit too, And then went forth the glory of his name, In rapid flight upon the wings of fame, His mighty power did every where abound, In all the regions of the country round, And from his tongue such precious truth did fall. That he was loved and glorified of all.

Chapter IV

Jesus turns water into wine, at the marriage of Cana, in Galilee.

*Now in those days was John the Baptist there. His food was locusts — raiment, camels hair, Then did he preach throughout Judea's land: Repent all ye, the kingdom is at hand, For I am he — seen with enlightened eye, And spoken of in ancient prophecy; I am the voice — and certain is the sound, Let hill and stream and distant dale resound :

♦Mat. iii, 1.

Prepare the way appointed for the Son,

Wherein his ransomed and redeemed may run,

Made straight and plain to all; for surely now

All crooked ways the Lord will disallow.

Think not to say, our law is plainly told,

And for our father — Abraham of old;

For this I say, and ye shall find it true,

That God is able to raise up anew

Both sons and daughters, his alone the might,

The law of old and Abraham aside ;

With 'finers fire he comes, indeed — and more,

With fuller's soap to purge his Gospel floor;

Then fans his wheat, the chaff, with vengeful ire,

He sure will bum with his baptismal fire.

As now the time — the appointed time drew nigh, For the fulfilment of his mission high; *Was soon invited to a marriage free, In Cana town and state of Galilee; To add still further to the social cheer, Were both his mother and disciples here.

The lovely matron, Jesus' mother, found, They had no wine to cheer the social round, Then told her Son, as if herself aware 'T would be the subject of his special care. And charged the servants that without delay, All his commands they strictly should obey.

*John ii, 1.

Now there were standing plain before his eyes, Six water pots, and of capacious size, The servants then received command of him To fill with water to the very brim, Now draw from them and pass it round, he said, The willing servants readily obeyed. The ruler here to judgment did incline, When he had tasted of the new made wine, Pronounced it good — to bridegroom then did say, Thou hast reversed the order of the day, For every man, as custom doth incline, Doth at the first set forth the best of wine, Till all have drank, and freely to their mind, Then doth he serve them with a poorer kind, And justified by free consent ; but thou The most delicious hast reserved till now.

This first of public miracles did he, In Cana town and state of Galilee, Through which his living power and glory then, Was manifested to the sons of men; And his disciples all with one accord, Did then believe and reverence their Lord.

CHAPTER V. Discourse with the woman of Samaria

*Soon after this by gospel impulse free, He passed from Judea into Galilee, In doing which this thing he needs must do, To pass the country of Samaria through, Then cometh he about meridian day, Unto a city of Samaria.

Now this same city it appears was one, Near to the ground which Jacob gave his son.

The master wearied, stopt to rest awhile, And when he rested was at Jacob's well. While his disciples w r ent to purchase fare, Forth from the city came a woman there, She came to draw, the water once in hand, Give me to drink, the master did demand; She then replied, why asketh drink of me, Who am a woman of Samaria?

For not a Jew in all Judea's land Will ever deal with a Samaritan.

This prospect then he laid before her view, The gift of God if thou but rightly knew, And who it is that with extended hand A drink of water doth of thee demand,

*John iv, 3.

Wouldst ask of me, and then indeed would I, With living water all thy wants supply.

She said to him, the like I never saw, The well is deep nor hast wherewith to draw, Then how obtain, dost thou at all conceive, The living water thou propos'st to give; Art more renowned, dost thou presume to tell, Than father Jacob, who gave us the well, And drank thereof their generations through, Himself, his children, and his cattle too?

He answered her, that all the sons of pain Who drink thereof shall surely thirst again, But whoso of the sons of men that live Shall drink the water I to him shall give, A pleasant savor shall his soul retain, And for the like shall never thirst again, For he shall know a depth of love untold, The well of life a fountain in his soul.

Then give me this the woman did implore, That I thirst not, nor hither come for more.

To whom our Lord, the truth to ascertain, Go call thy husband, and come here again. But to him then the woman in reply, That sheM a husband promptly did deny.

Again to her the Saviour did declare, Thou hast well said I have no husband there,

For with five husbands pledged in sacred vow Before the one with whom thou livest now, And he the man with whom thou livest now Is not thy husband under sacred vow; In this therefore, the marriage state impaired, Thou hast the truth unwittinglv declared.

Now I perceive by this remark, said she, Thou art a prophet sent in love to me; In this one thing let me I pray draw nigh, Our fathers worshipped in this mountain high; But ye, if worship be performed with grace, Must be at Salem, the appointed place; Now this one thing I would that thou make known, If those were right, or are ye right alone.

The hour is coming, Jesus then replied, Nor in this mount nor any place beside That ye shall worship, for the God of grace Is not confined to one peculiar place ; For be it known the hour is come I say. And this the morning of the gospel day, When all true worshippers, both aged and youth, Shall worship God in spirit and in truth; With pure delight shall then your bosoms swell, For 't is with these the Lord delights to dwell ; God is a spirit, holy is his name, Who worship him must worship in the same.

I know, said she, the messenger of love— Mesias cometh from the realms of above; And when he comes salvation free will bring, And in his love will teach us every thing.

Then Jesus answered, I indeed am He, Who now declareth gospel truth to thee.

With deep conviction in her soul, she then Into the city — saith unto the men, Come see a man who hath to me unspared, The every act of all my life declared, Now is not this, by gospel love unfurled, The long expected Saviour of the world.

Then they went forth soon as this truth had heard, With faith undoubting in the woman's word, Spread o'er the field — a wonderful display, Dressed all in white — the costume of the day; Then did our Saviour to his friends allow, Behold the fields are white to harvest now.*

When those Samaritans to him drew near,

They all besought that he would tarry here,

And while he staid, his living truth they heard,

And more believed because of his own word,

And to the woman did acknowledge free,

Now we believe, but not because of thee,

*8ee Note 2. 3*

And know indeed with gospel light unfurled, That this is Christ the Saviour of the workL

CHAPTER VI. Sermon on the Mount

*In love to all, supreme, exhaustless fount,

Behold him preaching on the holy mount,

On his poor ones afflicted faithful few,

Distilled his blessings as the precious dew.

He op't his mouth and taught them precious things,

His soul a fountain of celestial springs:

Oh ye poor ones, afflicted faithful few,

The glories of my kingdom are for you ;

All ye who mourn, cheer up, for near at hand

Is your relief and comfort at command;

Be meek and low, your blessings will increase,

The earth shall ye inherit in endless peace;

All ye who hunger for heaven not earthly food,

I '11 fill your hearts with precious things and good,

And ye who thirst for heaven, not earthly things,

I'll quench your thirst in everlasting springs;

And ye whose hearts to mercy are inclined,

Ye cannot fail' of mercy sure to find;

Nor less the pure in heart for they shall see

My Father's face, is surely my decree ;

♦Mat.v.l.

And ye peace-makers, sure is your reward, Ye blessed children of the living God; If faithful ye shall surely suffer then Vile persecution from the hands of men; But be ye faithful in that trying hour, And ye shall witness my preserving power, Rejoice, be glad, and in my power confide, For so were all the ancient prophets tried.

Oh ye, my friends, my precious chosen few, Completely salted is the earth by you, If in your souls my savor ye retain In all your social intercourse with men, But lose ye this, then in that hapless hour Shall find, alas, you've lost your seasoning power, Most sure indeed, your strength will fail you then, Cast out and trodden under foot of men; Gird up your loins then in my strength divine, Before the nations of this world enshrined, In living glory, beautified with grace, Or like a city set in sightly place. Neither do men, when they have lit a flame, Put under cover to conceal the same, But on a stand its splendour doth abound, And shedeth light on every object round. Then shall all men with joy behold the same, And glorify your heavenly Father's name.

T' destroy the law is not my present aim. But to fulfil and thereby end the same, I surely must, and this to you I say, Fulfil the law that it may pass away, Therefore, break ye the least of these, and then Shall teach the same unto the sons of men, Though great to you may seem your holy call, You'll in my kingdom be the least of all. But these commandments whosoe'er shall see Fulfilled in 'selves as they're fulfilled in me, And teach men so — these then indeed shall stand As precious jewels in my Father's hand; Therefore, except your righteousness exceed All those self-righteous Pharisees indeed, Ye in no case can enter with delight, Nor find acceptance in my holy sight.

The law of old was holy, just and good, To end in me is plainly understood; Thou shalt not kill, is there laid down, we see, Shalt not be angry is my law to thee; If 'gainst thy brother thou shalt burn with ire, Thou then shalt be in danger of hell fire. Shouldst thou therefore an holy gift prepare, And to the alter shouldst present in prayer, And there shouldst be with painful sense opprest, That hardness lingers in a brother's breast,

First go thy way and reconcile his mind, And then with me acceptance thou shalt find- Hath wily Satan now become this day, Thy close companion in thy lonesome way, At once resolve to heed this sacred word, And flee from him by turning to the Lord; Else he will hold thee ; nor will sovereign power At all deliver from that fatal hour, Till through repentance full atonement's made, And the last farthing of the debt is paid.

In ancient law you '11 find forbidden there, Illicit dalliance with the lovely fair, The thought alone will my displeasure draw, 'Tis inconsistent with my holy law; Thine hand, thine eye, no matter what the price, If they offend thee thou must sacrifice ; Far better, far — the solemn truth I tell, Than that the body should be lost in hell ; Nay all these things shall sacrifice, and more, Then on your heads my blessings I will pour, Profusely pour, and which shall sweetly bind Both wife and husband in one peaceful mind, In my pure counsel, nor shall evermore Be disunited as in days of yore.

Ye know of old to break an oath would draw The sore displeasure of the Jewish law ;

But now behold, let nations understand, Swear not at all, is my supreme command — Swear not by heaven — God's throne — is my decree, Nor earth, the footstool of his Majesty ; Nor swear ye by — 'tis a forbidden thing, The holy city, — seat of Zion's King; Nor by thy head shalt thou presume to swear, Who hast not power to change a single hair; But stand ye faithful — let your yea and nay Before all men the living truth convey: For more than these, or from the tongue or pen, Doth flow from evil in the hearts of men. Ye know of old it firmly was decreed, To pay with evil for an evil deed; But ye, my friends, my precious chosen few, This vengeful precept will not do for you. When evil comes resist it not, but then In meekness suffer from the hands of men. In suit at law should any man essay, To trouble thee, and take thy coat away, Give him thy cloak and no resistance make, But gladly suffer for thy Saviour's sake; Then I to you will needful things restore, Your real wants to satisfy, — nay more, To him that asketh ye shall give in need, The naked clothe, the hungry ones shall feed,

And should one thus, I want to borrow say, From him in no wise shalt thou turn away.

Ordained of old it was, in church and state, Thy neighbor love, thine enemy shalt hate; But ye whose hearts my gospel doth renew, Far better precepts I now give to you; Yea, blessed precepts from the realms above, Ye shall not fail your enemies to love. Though man may curse, yet if by me you 'r led, You '11 crave rich blessings on his guilty head; To those who hate — in every act unkind, Do good and pray with fervency of mind, The sons and daughters of your Father then, Who pours rich blessings on the sons of men; On good and evil he bestoweth amain The bounteous blessings of the sun and rain. 7 or if your love hath special friends in view, sfor flows except to a selected few, Vhat sure reward have ye in prospect then, £>r things but common with most wicked men. Aas, my friends! this living truth I say, Tus kind of doctrine will but lead astray; Therefore be holy, perfect, just, upright, Yeoved professors of the holy Light, Hea^'n's King is perfect — his a boundless sway, So nust all his be perfect in their day,

*Shall oft indeed your diligence renew, And take good heed in every thing ye do; When ye hand forth to the dejected poor The needful morsel from your bounteous store, Respect their feelings, nor your virtue stain, With high parade before the sons of men; But in your hearts let gospel love prevail, Nor let one tittle of your bounty fail. He that delights in secret alms to see, Will then reward your strict integrity. As oft shall rise in view their hapless fate, The poor shall visit in their low estate, Without parade or ostentatious show, Shalt thou on them thy charity bestow : Thy Father who in depth of love untold, All acts of men in secret doth behold, Shall then thy works of charity repay, With open hand, and in the face of day.