Ye gloomy scenes far hence, intrude no more; Sublimer themes invite the muse, to soar In loftier strains, while scenes both strange and new, Burst on the sight and open to the view. Lo! from the opening heavens in bright array, An angel comes, to earth he bends his way, Reveals to man in power, as at the first, The fulness of the Gospel long since lost. See earth obedient from its bosom yield! The sacred truth it faithfully conceal'd, The wise confounded startle at the sight, The proud and haughty tremble with affright; The hireling priests against the truth engage, While hell beneath stands trembling filled with rage. False are their hopes and all their struggles vain, Their craft must fall and with it all their gain; The deaf must hear, the meek their joy increase, The poor be glad and their oppression cease. See Congress stand in all the power of state, Destined, like Cyrus, now to change the fate Of Joseph's scattered remnants! long oppressed, And bring them home unto a land of rest; Beyond the Mississippi's rolling flood, A land before ordained by Israel's God! Where Zion's city shall in grandeur rise, And fill the wondering nations with surprise. From north, and south, and east behold them come By tens of thousands to their destined home! From heaven's king commissioned to proclaim Repentance, and baptism in his name, His servants to the Gentiles lift their voice, While tens of thousands in the sound rejoice, And they to Zion bend their joyful way, With songs of joy and gladness hail the day. The priests and people filled with dread surprise, Alarm'd at their approach vindictive rise, And lest the power of truth should still prevail, They think to cause the prophecy to fail. And if by fire and sword the saints they drive, While other sects and parties grow and thrive, As bloody persecution lifts her thong, All parties cry at once, the saints are wrong; For if they were the chosen of the Lord, He would protect them and fulfil his word. O fools, and slow of heart to understand The prophecies concerning Zion's land. Have ye not read the words of them of old? When wrapt in vision clear they have foretold The wicked deeds that you of late fulfil'd, The scenes that have transpired on Zion's hill? He that is truly wise will search and see, He that's already blind more blind shall be; One truth is clear, the ransom'd shall return, Another is, the wicked shall be burned. How vain the thoughts that stripes would change the mind, Convince the judgment and convert mankind, Or cruel scourge of mobs with all their rage, Make man believe that this enlightened age Needs no repentance, faith, nor nothing more Than the religion they enjoyed before. If persecution were good argument, Why not the Jews make ancient saints repent? Paul of all men the hardest to reclaim, Stoned, whipt, imprisoned, still remained the same;