Ten thousand heretics rejoiced in fire, While priests for their conversion did aspire. 'Tis true the Romans many converts made, When they the inquisition call'd to aid, Perhaps these modern times have made a few, Who turn'd from saints to join the drunken crew; But persecution spreads the truth abroad, Make servants bolder in the cause of God. Adds to their numbers, twice ten thousand more, And makes them stronger than they were before. See men commission'd in Messiah's name, Wide o'er the earth the joyful news proclaim; While from on high the spirit's power descends On all the saints that bow to his commands, The deaf shall hear, the blind their sight receive, The dumb shall sing with joy, the dying live, The lame shall leap, and all mankind behold Jehovah's arm made bare, like days of old. While his elect to Zion gather home, From every tribe and nation see them come. See o'er the land where desolation reign'd, The saints in peace, enjoy their rights again. Rise, crown'd with light, imperial Zion rise, Prepare to meet the city from the skies, Let Joseph's remnants at thy gates attend, Walk in thy light, and in thy temple bend, While Gentile saints thy spacious courts shall throng, And join their voices in the general song; No more shall proud oppression drive the hence, Nor terror come, for God is your defence Come, gentle muse, suspend the joyful lay, And o'er the earth let's take a wide survey; Soft touch the lyre in slow and mournful strains, And sing of scenes where death and sorrow reign; See dire commotion seize the nations all, While blood and war the stoutest hearts appal, Kingdom on kingdom in confusion hurl'd, System on system wreck'd throughout the world, Sect against sect in bloody strife engage, Man against man in single combat rage, While widows mourn the loss of husbands slain, And virgins for their bridegrooms weep in vain, While pining famine wastes their strength by day, And pestilence oft seizes on its prey; Earthquakes in turn in bellowing fury roar, And ocean's waves roll frightful to the shore. See through the heavens the sun in sackcloth mourn, The moon to blood in frowning anger turns, The stars affrighted from their spheres are hurled, System on system wreck'd and world on world, Earth's whole foundation to the centre nods. And nature trembling feels the power of God. While Michael sounds the trumpet loud and long, See from their graves the saints unnumbered throng; See through the air the ocean and the earth, Their dust reviving bursting into birth, See bone to bone in perfect order fly, While sinews, flesh, and skin their place supply; And every hair all number'd in its place, Immortal beauty does their temples grace. Thus formed anew with joy they mount on high, And wing their passage to the upper sky; Meantime the heavens rend while wrapt in fire,