William Cowper (1731–1800)

        Israel in ancient days

        Not only had a view

        Of Sinai in a blaze,

        But learn’d the gospel too:

The types and figures were a glass

In which they saw a Saviour’s face.

        The paschal sacrifice,

        And blood-besprinkled door,

        Seen with enlightened eyes,

        And once apply’d with pow’r;

Would teach the need of other blood,

To reconcile an angry God.

        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.

        The scape-goat on his head

        The people’s trespass bore,

        And to the desert led,

        Was to be seen no more:

In him, our Surety seem’d to say,

„Behold, I bear your sins away.”

        Dipt in his fellow’s blood,

        The living bird went free,

        The type, well understood,

        Express’d the sinner’s plea;

Describ’d a guilty soul enlarg’d,

And by a Saviour’s death discharg’d.

        Jesus, I love to trace

        Throughout the sacred page;

        The footsteps of thy grace,

        The same in ev’ry age!

O grant that I may faithful be

To clearer light, vouchsaf’d to me.