148th.
1
Israel, in ancient days,
Not only had a view
Of Sinai in a blaze,
But learned the gospel too:
The types and figures were a glass
In which they saw the Saviour’s face.
2
The paschal sacrifice,
The blood besprinkled door,
Seen with enlightened eyes,
And once applied with power,
Would teach the need of other blood
To reconcile the soul to God.
3
The lamb, the dove, set forth
His perfect innocence,
Whose blood of matchless worth,
Should be the soul’s defence;
For He who can for sin atone,
Must have no failings of His own.
4
The scapegoat on his head
The people’s trespass bore,
And to the desert led
Was to be seen no more:
In him our Surety seemed to say,
“Behold, I bear your sins away.”
5
Dipped in his fellow’s blood,
The living bird went free;
The type, well understood,
Expressed the sinner’s plea,
Described a guilty soul enlarged,
And by a Saviour’s death discharged.
6
Jesus, I love to trace
Throughout the sacred page,
The footsteps of Thy grace,
The same in every age.
O grant that I may faithful be
To clearer light vouchsafed to me!
