Thursday 28 April 2016

The Earth Trembled


On our Saviour's Passion
[The earth trembled] (1688)

 The earth did tremble; and heav'n's closed eye
Was loth to see the Lord of Glory dye:
The Skyes were clad in mourning, and the Spheares
Forgat their harmony; the Clouds dropt teares:
Th'ambitious Dead arose to give him roome;
And ev'ry Grave did gape to be his Tombe:
Th'affrighted heavn's sent down elegious Thunder;
The World's Foundation loos'd, to lose their Founder;
Th'impatient Temple rent her Vaile in two,
To teach our hearts what our sad hearts should do:
Shall senselesse things doe this, and shall not I
Melt one poore drop to see my Saviour dye?
Drill forth my Teares, and trickle one by one,
TIll you have pierc'd this heart of mine, this Stone.