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REDEMPTION. 327

'Twas but the symbol of that one true Ark,

In whom the world is saved from second death.

Or he of Ur, reputed just with God,

Who, in the promise of innum'rous seed,

Was, for his righteousness, by heav'n endow' d,

Did he his only son e'en, not withhold,

A victim for his holocaustal rites,

When thus th' almighty Father seeming tried

His steady faith, his confidence, and zeal,

Twas but a premonition of the scheme,

Which Him prefigured, who the mandate gave,

And who his sole Begotten did not spare,

A holocaust of love, made once for all.

So Moses imaged forth the lifting up,

When Israel murmur' d in the plains of Hor.

Swift through their camps the fiery serpents flew,

Thick o'er the ground afflicted Israel lay,

Wounded for sins ; when he, so God ordain'd,

The brazen Seraph raised their camp the midst;

Tow'rds which, whoever turn'd his eyes with faith,

Was from the serpents' lethal bite restored.

As thus the serpent, so the Son of Man

Was lifted up, to heal the deadly wound

Of Sin's sharp fang, and bid the dying live.

So all the rites of ceremonial law,

Constant to this same point perpetual tend ;

All look to One, and their fulfillment find,

Complete in him, and now no more endure.

Old things have pass'd away, dim shadows cease ;

Their types, the Antitype removes ; figures

In realty expire, and all is done.

Midst these high purposes, but one remains,

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