Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

CXXXVI.

Multitudes converted by Peter's Sermon.

WHEN this they heard, a deep Concern they

felt,

Their Hearts with inward true Compunction melt :

What shall they do t'avert the threaten'd Doom,
Attone juft Heav'n, and fhun the Wrath to come?
Th' Apoftles thus--- Believe, Repent, Obey!
And wash in facred Streams, your Sins away!
None are excluded from the proffer'd Grace,
It reaches all of Abraham's faithful Race;
To Children and the Gentile World extends,
And only with the Line of Nature ends.

With Joy the happy Tidings they receive,
Three Thousand Souls prepar'd for Life, believe:
Who, all the daily Temple-Prayers frequent,
All conftant to the Word, and Sacrament.
Wonders and Signs were by th' Apostles shown,
All free to all, they nothing call their own.
Singly their Hearts from worldly Cares remov'd,
They God's High Praises fung, by God and Man
belov'd.

CXXXVI.

ACTS Chap. II. Ver. 37, 38, 39.

136

37. When they heard this, they were pricked in their hearts, and faid unto Peter, and to the reft of the Apoftles, Men and brethren what shall we do? 38. Then Peter faid unto them, Repent and be baptifed every one of you in the name of Jefus Chrift, for the remiffion of fins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghoft.

39. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God fhall call.

CXXXVII.

Peter and John restore a lame Man to his Feet.

'Twas

Was now the Hour when pious Crowds repair

To God's High-Temple with glad Hymns and

Pray'r,

When Cephas and the Lov'd Disciple there,
A poor Infirm with ftedfaft Eyes furvey,
Who at the Temple's Beauteous Portal lay,
And did the Peoples Charity request,
Th' Apostles ent'ring ask'd ainong the rest.
Silver and Gold expect not to receive,
Said Cephas, what we have we freely give;
And in the Name of Jefus bid thee rise.

That facred Name now Strength and Spirit supplies;

Such pow'rful Words all Nature must obey, He rofe, he stands, he walks and fprings away; Him to the Temple his Reftorer brings,

With loud and chearful Voice he God's high Praifes

fings.

CXXXVII.

ACT's Chap III. Ver. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

237

was

2. A certain man lame from his mother's womb carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entred into the temple.

3. Who fecing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked an alms.

4. And Peter fastening his eyes upon him, with John, faid, Look on us.

5. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive fomething of them.

[ocr errors]

6. Then Peter faid, Silver and gold have I none but fuch as I have give I thee: In the name of Jefus of Nazareth, rife up and walk

CXXXVIII.

Ananias and Sapphira, their Deceit and Punishment.

Some Tares among the Wheat thus early were; The first appear'd, a loft unhappy Pair;

He Ananias, the Sapphira nam'd,

For Sacrilege, and its juft vengeance fam'd:
Their Land they fold, and part they kept away,
Part at th' Apoftles Feet diffembling lay:
Nor this unpunish'd dar'd, for to the Man,
With Holy Fervor, Cephas thus began.

Why has the envious Spirit thy Heart possest,
And fill'd with Lies thy avaritious Breast?
Th' Almighty Mind thou would'ft deceive in vain,
And part of what was lately fold detain.
He heard the piercing Words he cou'd not bear,
But down he falls, and dies in deep Despair.
Few Hours expir'd before his Wife came in,
Partner, if not Advifer, of his Sin:

With the fame Question her th' Apostle try'd,
And she the fame with harden'd Brow reply'd:
Since then, Barjonas answers, you've agree'd
In Sin, be the fame Fate for both decreed:
He faid, a fudden Mift invades her Eyes,
Palenefs her guilty Face, and down the falls and
dies,

« AnteriorContinuar »