Poems By John Moultrie. New ed |
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SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.
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SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.
FROM THE EPISTLE.
SONNET I.
Diverse in clime and country, wealth and birth,Lowly and lofty, rich and poor are we,
Brethren, in Christ, of one great family—
Heirs to a treasure of uncounted worth
In Heaven, yet oft dishonour'd here on Earth,
For that men know us not—too blind to see
That inner light's serene effulgency
Which cheers the humblest Christian's home and hearth.
Yet fear we not their scorn, nor shun their hate,
Knowing that love, eternal and divine,
Even here hath raised us to a higher state
Than this world to its noblest can assign;
If to be sons of God is to be great
Beyond the greatness of Earth's princeliest line.
SONNET II.
Yes!—we are sons of God, though still besetBy sorrow and infirmity and sin,
Fightings without, and grievous fears within;
And oft with bitter tears our cheeks are wet.
Such are we now; nor may we guess as yet
What we shall be, when (this world's stormy din
Once ended) we our final rest shall win,
Where souls redeem'd all earthly griefs forget:
But this we know, that when He shall appear
Who is our life—whatever change shall be
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In these weak souls not yet from bondage free—
We shall be like Him—since, unveil'd and near,
Even as He is, our Master we shall see.
SONNET III.
Such is our hope, which maketh not ashamed,Our souls sustaining with that daily bread
Whereon the cold dull world hath never fed;
By all but saints, unseen, unknown, unnamed;
Then let not such for carnal sloth be blamed
In their high calling, but, till lust be dead,
Their master's path of self-denial tread;
To his high model let their lives be framed.
So, strength from Him deriving, let them wage
Unceasing war with still unvanquish'd sin,
Quelling the lusts that in their members rage,
Till by degrees they cleanse the world within,
And, in the Book of Life's eternal page,
Triumphantly their high enrolment win.
FROM THE GOSPEL.
I
In patient faith, till Christ shall comeTo call his duteous servants home,
Our hearts and minds we keep;
Still looking for that glorious day
When Heaven and Earth shall melt away
And saints awake from sleep.
II
And still—as years roll swiftly by,And signs fulfill'd of prophecy
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O'er Heaven and Earth our spirits range.
Noting if signs of coming change,
And brighter days appear.
III
And signs there be, in this late time,Once more of hope's reviving prime,
As in redemption's morn;
The feverous earth doth shake again,
Groaning and travailing in pain,
Till some new change be born.
IV
And still, as empires reel and quake,Doth longing expectation wake
In questions deep engross'd;
Seeking the place, the day, the hour,
Of Christ's approach in all his power,
With heaven's abundant host.
V
Vain search!—yet vainer and less blestIs theirs who would our faith molest
With fancies strange and new;
False prophets who men's hearts deceive,
For dark and slippery paths to leave
The ancient and the true.
VI
We will not heed them, though they preachFalse Christs with most persuasive speech,
And godless gospels frame,
Well skill'd the unstable to beguile,
In freedom's name, themselves the while
Sworn slaves of sin and shame
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VII
“Lo! here”—the sensual zealots cry—“Is man's supreme felicity;—
Leave dreaming and be wise;
Pleasure and love's free laws obey,
Nor cast Earth's solid joys away
For hopes beyond the skies.
VIII
“Man's full-grown mind hath burst its prison—On superstition's night hath risen
The wish'd-for dawn of truth;
Nations and empires break the sleep
Of centuries, and from darkness leap
To life and hope and youth.
IX
“Indulge the fond conceits no moreWhich fed the heart, ere yet was o'er
The childhood of our race;
Unheard let priests and poets tell
Fantastic tales of Heaven and Hell!—
Be Earth our resting-place!
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“Let reason's sober light dispelThe dreams that nature loved so well—
Whate'er young fancy drew:
Her shadowy world at once destroy,
Nor barter for ideal joy
The tangible and true.”
XI
So let them prate!—we will not heedThe dogmas of their loveless creed,
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But calmly still in patience rest,
Till, lightning-like, from east to west
Breaks in the promised day.
XII
With no unheedful hearts we hearThe mutterings of convulsion near,
And terror soon to be;
Hosts gathering for the final strife
Of light and darkness, death and life,
With breathless awe we see.
XIII
We know that fearful darkness soonShall veil the face of sun and moon,
The stars forsake their spheres:—
The powers of heaven, with fear aghast,
Tremble and quake, until at last
Christ's sign in heaven appears.
XIV
Then Earth's rebellious tribes shall wail,And sinful hearts with terror fail;
While saints despised so long,
From east and west, and south and north,
By angel trumpets summon'd forth—
Raise one triumphant song.
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