The saints recreation, third part, upon the estate of grace containing and methodicially [sic] delineating a Christians progress, priviledges, comforts and duties, beginning at conversion : describing also the Blessed Redeemer Jesus, both absolutely and comparatively : and all these in spiritual hymns and songs, suted to grave sweet and melodious tunes, together with a plain paraphrase upon the margent, confirming all by Scriptures, explaining difficulties and methodizing the songs / compiled by Mr. William Geddes ...

SONG III.

THE PILGRIMS PANACEA, OR BALME OF GILEAD, Holding forth (1.) the Restauration, or Redemp∣tion of lost mankinde, how it was Decreed, and gradually revealed, until the Nativity of Our blessed SAVIOVR. (2.) Of CHRIST'S Nativity, His matchless Person, His divine and humane Natures, His All-sufficiency to save, with ane Introduction to His Offices.

1.

THough Satan, Death and a Hell conspire, To throw me in Tartarean fire; Yet some of Adams wretched race b Rescu'd shall be by Gods free grace.

2.

Before the Earth foundationc took, It written was in Heav'ns Book; Eternal and a firme decree In Council of the Trinity,

3.

That Christ Jehovah's only Son Should be a livingd Corner-stone: In him were somee Elect to be f Choice vessels to Eternity.

4.

Did that Immense, Eternal God, In light who hath a firme abode, One Essence in blest Trinity, Three Persons in that Unity,

5.

Who from none else do'th seek supply, (For in him all perfections be) g My good to Him doth not extend; For why his glory hath none end:

6.

Did that great Jove my bliss contrive? Me wretched worme to keep alive? To keep me from Eternal fire, When Hellish powers did conspire?

7.

How shall poor I, then thankful prove, For this great mercie, this free Love? My Soul shall all herb powers bend, Him to extol, World without end.

8.

To Adami this was first reveal'd▪ When to tentation He did yield: He trembling runk himselfe to hide: Gods presence He could not abide.

9.

When guilty of Apostacy, By tasteing the forbidden Tree, Horrour of conscience did him fright: Ill-doers always shun the light.

10.

God frowns, good Angels do forsake, The Heav'n is shut, th'Infernal-lake Is ready to receive: and so Nothing remains but wrath and wo.

11.

But He whosel opportunity Is wretches great extremity; He who dispenses every lot, m Is found of them that sought Him not.

12.

He calls for Adam of free Grace, And Preach't to Him a blessed peace. Come, Adam, thou hast greatly sinn'd Yet with me thou may'st mercie find:

13.

Afflictions sharp thoun must endure, But thy Salvation shall be sure. I shall thee send ao Blessed Seed, And He shall bruise the Serpents head.

14.

This is the Covenant of Grace, Which brings my Soul so sweet solace. There isp a gracious paction Betwixt the Father and the Son.

15.

And by the Son, with Adams race, Who should repent, and seek his grace. The Son unto the Father spake, I will Man's nature on me take.

16.

I will my selfe a ransome give, For the Elect that they may live: Come, Son, (quoth He) if thou do so, They shall be safe from Hell and wo.

17.

The Father to poor man he saith, If thou beleeve with saving Faith, In this my Son; I'll give thee peace: Eternal Love shall thee embrace.

18.

The Lord did promise ev'n the same To Faithful fatherq Abraham; That in His seed all should be blest, And get from Him Eternal rest.

19.

This promise grows morer full and clear Till that the full time did draw near: So that Messiah'ss time ands place The Prophets told, Israels race.

20.

This blessed Seed who glorious is, P'raefigur'dt was by Sacrifice: By Types and Shadowsu many one, Ev'n to His Incarnation.

21.

This Seed is that Messias great; Eternal God without all date: Hence doth my drouping Soul yet Live: For He Salvationv will me give.

22.

His Birth, his Life, His Death and all His acts and sufferings great and small, w Are Balsam for my bleeding would: In Him alone Salvation's found.

23.

I'll now my meditation raise; x For this the Angels doth amaze. I'll soar on Contemplations wings, Admiring these Celestial things.

24.

O how great sweetness JESU LORD, Thy very Names my Soul afford! For, JESUS, that's a Savioury sure, To give my Soul a Soveraign cure.

25.

CHRIST, that's the chiefez Anointed one; To him a parallel is none; Not with that Oile material, Prescrib'd by Law Levitical;

26.

But with the Sp'rit above all measure, Hence is my life, my Joy, my treasure, Transcendenta gifts (I know right well) He hath, my Soul to keep from Hell.

27.

b O joyful tydings do I heare, At Bethlehem in a Heav'nly quire: The Angels sing and shout for joy, When Christ was born, that blessed Boy.

28.

To GOD be glory,c peace on Earth, Good will to men, O Blessed birth! Go, Shepherds, go, and leave your Tent, This day to you a Saviour's sent.

29.

To Bethlehem run and Him behold, Of whom the Prophets have fortold. Yee shall the great Messiah see, In whom all Nations blessed be.

30.

The wonder first (for to begin) A Man is born freed of sin, e The like was not since Adam's fall; This cleanses sin Original.

31.

Another thing I do admire, That GOD Eternal comes so neare. My naturef fraile he did assume; This keeps me from a dismal doome.

32.

If GOD and Man, none can so well, GOD and lost Man kindg reconcile. Thish Theanthropos only can Make peace for sinful wretched Man.

33.

If God, he cannot buti prevail: If Man,k my Brother will not fail. To plead for me, that haynous crimes May not condemn in judging times.

34.

By Sin, though I be quite undone, And ther's no help below the Moon: Yet Jesus Christ hel can me save, Who rose Triumphing from the grave.

35.

Though I be full of putridm sores, My sinfuln nature good abhorres; Yet Christ is that Physiciano sure: His Panacea will me cure.

36.

I'm Dead in sin,p I cannot move, Nor speak or think of things above: But He'll come in with quickning grace, And will afford my Soul Solace.

37.

Though wrathq and curse I doe deserve, For many wayes that I did swerve; Yet Christ ther curse did bear for me; And nail'd my sinss unto a Tree.

38.

Though I deserve Infernal pains; Nothing in me but sin remains: His painful death shall mes relieve; He did for me a ransome give.

39.

Though I deserve eternalu shame, For gross profaning of His name: His ignominyv and disgrace, Keeps me from a confounded face.

40.

Like Starres my sinsw in number be, Or like the drops of Ocean-Sea; Yet do His mercies farrx transcend In number, for they have no end.

41.

Even crimson-redy by sin am I; My sins are of a double dye: But Christ will makez me white as Snow: Me to exalt, he came below.

42.

For us poor sinners, for our sakes Three offices He undertakes; Then joyfully I'll say and sing, He is my Prophet, Priest and King.

FINIS.

Notes

• a

  Rom. 5: 12, 13.—6: 23. Gal. 3: 10.
• b

  Eph: 2: 8.
• c

  Rom. 8. 29. Eph. 1: 4.
• Salvation decreed.
• d

  1 Pet. 2: 6.
• e

  Eph. 1: 4, 5.
• f

  Jer. 18; 6. Rom. 9: 23.
• The devout Souls pious re∣flection upon the considera∣tion of Gods free grace.
• g

  Psal. 16: 2, 3.
• b

  Psal. 103. 1.—42: 11.
• i

  Gen. 3: 15.
• Redemption and Salvation revealed.
• k

  Gen. 3: 8.
• l

  Exod, 14: 10. 10. 1 Sam, 23: 26, 27, 28. Ezek. 16: 4, 5, 6, &c.
• m

  Isa. 65: 1, 2, 4.
• n

  Gen 3: 17, 18, 19.
• o

  Gen. 3: 15.
• p

  Some di∣stinguish the Covenant of Redemption, which is be∣twixt GOD the Father, and the Son from the Covenant of grace which is betwixt God and Man by the Mediator JESUS, which they ground upon such Scriptures as these. Act. 20: 28. 1. Cor. 6: 20. 1 Pet. 1: 18. Act. 23. comp. with Psal. 2: 7. Eph. 1: 3, 4, 5. See Dicksons therapeutica Sacra l. 1. c. 4.
• The promise renewed to A∣braham, and the Messiss re∣stricted to His family and of∣spring.
• q

  Gen. 12: 3. — 18: 18. — 22: 18. The gradual clearing and confirming of the Covenant of grace.
• r

  Heb. 1: 1.
• s

  Dan. 9: 24, 25.
• s

  Mic. 5: 2.
• CHRIST and Redemp∣tion by him typified by Sa∣crifices and Ceremonies.
• t

  Col. 2: 16, 17. Heb. 7. 8. 9.
• u

  Heb. 10: 1.
• v

  Act. 4: 12. 1 Col. 1: 30.
• w

  Mat. 9: 12, 13. Mal. 4: 2.
• x

  1. Pet. 1: 12.
• The com∣fortable names and ti∣tles of CHRIST, whereof see more in Song V.
• y

  Mat. 1: 25. JESUS is the same that Jo∣shua, that is, to save.
• z

  That same which the He∣brew word Messiah, that is anointed, Joh. 1: 41—4: 25. Isa. 61: 1. For he was furnished with all suitable endowments to be our King, Priest, and Prophet, Psal. 45: 7. Joh. 3: 34.
• a

  Col. 1: 19. CHRISTS Nativity.
• b

  Luke 2: 9, 10, 15.
• c

  Luke 2: 14, 15.
• CHRISTS immaculat and wonderful conception, and Union of the divine and Humane na∣tures.
• d

  Mat. 1: 20, Luke 1: 35.
• e

  Job 24: 4. Psal. 51: 5.
• f

  Heb. 2: 16, 17. Isa. 7: 14. Joh. 1: 14, Mat. 1: 16.
• g

  Col. 1: 20, 21, 22.
• h

  That is God-Man in one person.
• CHRIST'S All-sufficiency to remove all evil & vouch∣safe all good.
• i

  Heb. 7: 25.
• k

  Heb. 2: 17, 18—4: 15, 16,
• l

  Mat. 1: 12.
• m

  Isa. 1: 6.
• n

  Gen. 6: 5. Rom. 5: 14, 8.
• o

  Mat. 9: 12, 13.
• p

  Eph. 2: 1.
• q

  Eph. 2: 3.
• r

  Gal. 3: 13.
• s

  Col. 2: 14.
• s

  Rom. 8: 1.
• Mat. 20: 28.
• u

  Dan. 9: 8.—12: 2.
• v

  Isa. 61: 7. Rom. 9: 33.
• w

  Ps. 40: 12.
• x

  Psal. 103: 8, 11, 17.
• y

  Isa. 1: 18.
• z

  Isa. 1: 18, 1 Joh. 1: 7.
• A transition to CHRIST'S offices.