The Brazen Serpent

Verse 1

When the chosen tribes debated ’Gainst their God, as hardly treated, And complained their hopes were spilt, God, for murmuring to requite them, Fiery serpents sent to bite them; Lively type of deadly guilt!

Verse 2

Stung by these, they soon repented; And their God as soon relented; Moses prayed; he answer gave: “Serpents are the beasts that strike them; Make of brass a serpent like them; That’s the way I choose to save.”

Verse 3

Vain was bandage, oil, or plaster; Rankling venom killed the faster; Till the serpent Moses took, Reared it high, that all might view it; Bid the bitten look up to it; Life attended every look.

Verse 4

Jesus, thus for sinners smitten, Wounded, bruisèd, serpent-bitten, To his cross directs their faith. Why should I, then, poison cherish? Why despair of cure, and perish? Look, my soul, though stung to death.

Verse 5

Thine’s alas! a lost condition; Works cannot work thee remission, Nor thy goodness do thee good. Death’s within thee, all about thee; But the remedy’s without thee; See it in thy Saviour’s blood.

Verse 6

See the Lord of glory dying! See him gasping! Hear him crying! See his burdened bosom heave! Look, ye sinners, ye that hung him; Look how deep your sins have stung him; Dying sinners, look and live.