University of Virginia Library

“Lo! at yon gate,” the Mercuries of sin
Are crying, “Stands the awful Grace of God!”
And, in one moment, like a moral wave
Heaves far and wide the town's excited heart;
Council, and nuns, and priests, and monks advance,
And motley crowds, from ev'ry lane and street
Are rushing, while the festive town-clock peals
A loud hosannah from its lofty spires,
And tapers flash, and greeting cymbals sound,
To meet the great Procession. See! they come,
In robes how costly! There, in cushion'd pomp
The Bull of grace, whereby the Godhead's hands
Are bound, and His dread thunders must awake
Or sleep, as priestly conjuration bids!
For now, before a wooden cross uprear'd
Bedeck'd with Leo's blazonry of pride,
The loud-voiced Tetzel takes his stand profane:
Prime vender he! beneath whose venal lip
Heaven's attributes, as in a mart exposed,
Are purchased by Indulgence; Christ is sold
In pardons! Sin itself, before conceived,
Or acted, by the Pope's almighty Bull,
Shall not be damning: whatsoe'er Desire
May dream hereafter, through its charm absolved,
Shall be forgiven!—“Down this cross there flows
A grace like that the Saviour's bleeding side
Dispersed; but hark! from deeps of ghastly woe
Where yelling Spirits clang their chains of fire,
Tormented parents, friends, and children, lift
Their tongues uncool'd, and cry for needed alms
To bring them from that red Abyss of wrath,
Where scorch their souls in purgatorial flames!
Let but your money, with its golden clink,
Yon chest descend, and, lo! at once escaped,
Those dungeon'd Spirits, wing'd by papal grace,
Full into heaven's bright welcome flee!”

So cried that dread impostor; and the souls
Of myriads, by anointed lies seduced,
Imperill'd; Christ himself, in blacker shame
Than once the Cross of Calvary o'erhung,
Was openly to mocking Hell exposed;
Eternity a mart of sin became,
Or, papal auction, where that grace was sold
For filthy lucre, which the costly Blood
Which warm'd Emmanuel's veins, alone procured;
And 'gainst the purity of Heaven's high throne
The breath of human blasphemy arose
From Pope, and priesthood. Seal'd the Bible, then!
And sure, if ever down a Seraph's cheek
Roll'd the rich tear immortal feeling sheds,
It trickled now, when thus religion dared
In words divine God's heart of gracious love
To libel; Christ's own pangs for venal lies
To barter, till the Truth of heaven betray'd,
In priestly suffocation sank, and died.

But, there is mercy in thy myst'ry lodged,
Eternal! Out of darkness cometh light
By Thee evoked; and, while the anarch sin
To mortal judgment, in its clouded gaze,
O'er time and circumstance sole monarch looks
Ascendant, all the waves of human will
In lawless riot though they toss and plunge,
Within the circle of Thy will supreme
Alone are heaving; if they rise, or fall,
'Tis only as Thy secret law ordains.