"2.Cor.5.19. God was in Christ Reconciling the World to Himself"
By
Katherine Philips
- Transcription, correction, editorial commentary, and markup by Staff and Research Assistants at The University of Virginia, John O'Brien, Sara Brunstetter
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2.Cor.5.19.n001a0012.Cor.5.19. in the Christian Bible is the verse "that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting peopleís sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation" (English Standard Version. Bible Gateway) God was in Christ Reconciling the World to himself.
1When God, contracted to Humanity,
2Could sigh and suffer, could be sick and die;
3When all the heap of Miracles combin'd
4To form the greatest, which was, save Mankind:
5Then God took stand in Christ, studying a way
6How to repair the Ruin'd World's decay.
7His Love, Pow'r, Wisdom, must some mean procure
8His Mercy to advance, Justice secure:
9And since Man in Misery was hurl'dn002n002(draft)A potential reference to Adam and Eve ("Man") being hurled from the Garden of Eden into the world ("Misery"),
10It cost him more to save then to make the Worldn003n003(DRAFT) What did it cost him? Is this the death of Jesus?.
11Oh! what a desp'rate load of sins had we,
12When God must plot for our Felicityn004n004Happiness. Source: Oxford English Dictionary?
13When God must beg usn005n005(DRAFT)Relationship dynamic of humans as being their own downfall, with God in the position of savior. that he may forgive,
14And dye himself before Mankind could live?
15And what still are we, when our Kingn006n006God as a sovereign ruler; a very literal translation of the "divine ruler." in vain
16Begs his lost Rebels to be Friends again?
17What flouds of Love proceed from Heaven's smile,
18At once to pardon and to reconcile?
19What God himself hath made he cannot hate,
20For 'tis one act to Love and to Create:
21And he's too perfect full of Majesty,
22To need additions from our Misery.
23He hath a Father's, not a Tyrant's, joy;
24Shews more his Pow'r to save, than to destroy.
25Did there ten thousand Worlds to ruine fall,
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26One God could save, one Christ redeem them all.
27Be silent then, ye narrow Souldsn007n007(DRAFT) I don't understand what this is meant to be, take heed
28Lest you restrain the Mercy you will need.
29But, O my Soul, from these be different,
30Imitate thou a nobler Precedent:n008n008An earlier event or action that is to serve as an example. Source: Oxford English Dictionary
31As God with open Arms the World does woo,
32Learn thou like God to be enlarged too;
33As he begs thy consent to pardon thee,
34Learn to submit unto thy Enemy;n009n009(DRAFT is this right?)"thy Enemy" as God
35As he stands ready thee to entertain,
36Be thou as forward to return again;
37As he was Crucify'd for thee and by thee
38Crucifie thou what caus'd his Agony;
39And like to him be mortify'd to sin,
40Die to the World as he dy'd for it then.
