1 What dazzling glories strike mine eye!
How infinite the mystery;
What truth divine doth God reveal,
When Judah's Lion breaks the weal!
Expounds to man that sacred book,
Which from the Father's hand he took.

2 Long did this secret lie conceal'd
In God, nor was it yet reveal'd;
Nor men, nor angels, could discern,
Nor might the Father's nature learn:
Nor was there found a worthy one
To take the book, and look thereon.

3 But to dispel our gloomy fears,
A Lamb with marks of death appears;
Deep wounds, with blood exhausted vein,
Denoted that he had been slain:
And in that wounded form prevail'd
To read the book, tho' sev'n times seal'd.

4 When ev'ry seal is open broke,
And each attending voice hath spoke,
An universal silence reigns,
Whilst he the sacred page explains:
Yes! heav'n itself in silence waits,
What the dear, worthy Lamb relates.