REDEMPTION. 149
Approaching, and with voice aloud proclaimed :
" Behold the Lamb of God ! of whom I spake, Predicting he should come, and now point out. This is the Man of whom I said There comes One after me, who is preferr'd before, Because he was before ; long in your midst, Yet not till now made known as Israel's Hope, Her meek Oblation, in whom is no sin, Nor guile found in his mouth. Behold the Lamb ! Who takes away your sins, who renders void The dread hand-writing, which against you stands, And with his blood blots out your guilty stains. With water unto penance I baptize, But take no sins away ; this, He who comes, Assured performs, baptizing you with fire And with the Holy Ghost; whose shoes I am Not worthy to unloose. His is the fan, With which he fans the floor, garners the wheat, But all the chaff consumes with quenchless fire. Him have the prophets taught, and long'd to see, Him oft predicted, waiting till he come. Be not deceived, nor let my voice delude ; He comes not forth with pomp, nor vain display, Nor as a mighty conqu'ror drench'd in blood j Not as of old, when Moses heard his voice, Nor yet, as midst Shekinah's hallow' d light, Where his effulgence shone with mellow'd ray; But meek and lowly, clothed in our flesh, Our elder brother, touch' d with our distress, With power to lift the burdens which we bear, And Israel raise to more than former state. On him the Holy Ghost will soon descend,
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