CXXXI.

The Crucifixion of our Lord and Saviour.

D

Ifmal the Place, and difmal was the Day,

The gloomy Sun deny'd his chearful Ray; The Eye of Heav'n was clos'd, nor longer fhin'd, When on the Cross the Saviour of Mankind: Who ftruggling for his last expiring Breath, And cafting round his Eyes that roll'd in Death; His Mother and his Friend beneath him spy'd, Whom from the Saviour cou'd no Hour divide. Not ev'n the laft; then to the Virgin said, Woman! behold thy Son! nor think me dead. Next, to the happy Man who shar'd his Breast, Behold thy Mother there! nor more expreft; Nor needed more, fuch filial Duty shown, And friendly Care, as made his Home her own.

And now the Dear, the Glorious Conqueft won,. And all fulfill'd, our Saviour cries--- 'Tis done! He Pardon for his Murderers defir'd,

Then bow'd his fainting Head, and with a Sigh expir'd.

CXXXI.

St. JOHN Chap. XIX. Ver.26, to 30.

13t

26. When Jefus faw his mother, and the difciple Standing by, whom he loved, he faid unto his mother, Woman, behold thy fon.

27. Then faid he to the difciple, Behold thy mother. And from that hour that difciple took her to his own home.

28. Fefus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, faith, I thirst.

29. Now there was fet a veffel full of vineger: and they filled a fpunge with vineger, and put it upon byffop and put it to his mouth.

30. When Jefus therefore had received the vineger, he faid, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. CXXXII.

CXXXII

The appearance of Jefus after the Re furrection.

UR Lord to his Difciples does appear,

OUR

And ftills their trembling Breafts with-- Peace
be here;

Tho' Didymaan Thomas was not there,
To him th' Apoftles what they faw, declare.
But Dreams to him, and idle Tales they told,
Unless these Eyes, these very Eyes behold
Thofe deep and ghaftly Wounds of which he
dy'd,

Unless my Hands may feel his opening Side;
Another's Witness yet I fha'n't receive,
I cannot, and I will not yet believe.

Seven times the Sun in his diurnal Race,
Had now discover'd Nature's fmiling Face;
At length the Eighth revolving morn arose,
When to th' Eleven himself our Saviour shows;
To Thomas he above the reft apply'd,

And bids him feel his wounded Hands and Side.
Thy own bold Wish, he said, thou shalt receive,
O! be not faithlefs yet, but yet Believe!

With Tears of Joy he cry'd--- "My God! my
Lord!

"Incredulous no more, and Iral's King ador'd.

CXXXII

St. JOHN Chap. XX. Ver. 26, 27, 28,

132.

26. After eight days, again his difciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Fefus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

27. Then faid he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach bither thy hand, and thrust it into my fide: and be not faithlefs, but believing.

28. And Thomas answered and faid unto him, My Lord and my God.

CXXXIII.

Chrift appears a third time to his Difciples being a Fishing.

AS on the Sea from fair Tiberias nam'd,

Tho' for our Saviour's Wondess juftlier fam'd;
Simon and others went their Nets to caft,
They all the Night in fruitless Labor past;
The Morn at length with happier Omens rose,
And on the Beach did their lov'd Lord disclose,
Who bids 'em o're the Starbord caft their Net,
Which done, they of the scaly Nation get

Within their twisted Toils a Prey fo vast,
As from the Place to move their Strength surpast;
Till with more Hands th' unequal Toil they share,
And to the Shoar their struggling Captives bear.
A Dinner ready on the Sand they find,

Their Master with 'em fits, and when they'd din'd,
The Love of Cephas, and his Patience try'd,
And thrice he founds him, who had thrice deny'd;
Then bids him feed his Flock with tender Care,

Nor fear, for his lov'd Charge, his Master's Fate to

Thare.