University of Virginia Library

And hence, amid the harmony of things,
A while, as on the brink of heaven restored,
Rejoiced the grateful Luther. Who can tell,
The Promised Land of hope's perpetual dream
How greenly-bright before him, then, it smiled!
The passion and the principle of song,
With full intensity his being fired:
'Twas thus, the poetry of peace and joy
Each fine pulsation of his nature thrill'd;
And all without, from life internal, took
Some answ'ring tone of sympathetic love.
Through walks, and woods of Wittemberg he roam'd;
Or gave his spirit to the mountain-breeze;
And in the carol of rejoicing streams,
The leafy warble of the forest-boughs,
Or lyric echoes of the laughing wave,
In sound, or scene, and all which nature show'd,
A charm responsive to himself he found.
Nature and man in fine accordance met:
Their smiles and tones reciprocally play'd;
Her forms of matter to his shaping mind
Embodied meaning; and a moral grace
From all Her symmetries appear'd to flow.
Now was the halcyon of the heart; awhile
Bosom'd in peace, the bright-soul'd Monk was blest.
The past was praise, for all that vict'ry won;
The present prayer, for all which Mercy gives;
And o'er the future his prophetic heart
Glow'd with entrancement, as Isaiah did,
When his lyre trembled with exulting tones
Millennial over crown'd Messiah's reign:
Till oft, in rapt Imagination's dream,
Amid the universe of happy worlds
This earth appear'd creation's loved St. John,—
Safe on the bosom of redemption's Lord
Reclining there in glory, and in rest.

And, like th' apostle of a church reform'd,
Who has not, in the harmony and heaven
Of some high mood of meditative calm,
As opes the flower its scented breast of bloom
To welcome there each beautifying ray,—
Yielded his spirit with expanding joy
To Nature, in her eloquence of scene,
As if to consciousness he then appeal'd?
Till all creation grew personified,
And the touch'd earth, to fancy's tender dream,
His living counterpart of joy became.

As by some harp, when exquisitely strung,
A vulgar breeze to music's voice is turn'd
When o'er its chords the airy tremor floats,
In subtile magic, so, to mind intense,
The coarse realities of sense and time
Change, as they touch the intellectual powers,
To meanings beautiful, and mental types.
The prose of earth to poetry of heaven
Is thus transform'd, for faith's perusal, there;
And oh, ye scenes, ye splendours, and rich sounds,
Like inspirations, lo! at once ye act:
All sacramental charms of earth, and air,
All signs and symbols of redeeming grace
Steal into view, with eloquent surprise!
Till the pure eye of sainted Thought conceives
The dust to overflow with teeming spells,
While all things, into sacredness refined,
Make parables which prove redemption's plan.

Thrice happy they, who thus, by heav'n empower'd,
Can find a gospel in the flowers, and leaves!
Creation's book then fancy's bible forms;
And faith poetic, by the Spirit led,
All nature calls a comment on the Cross.
In this let holy Love our teacher be!
A love perpetual,—for in that supreme,
The sabbath's God Himself no sabbath keeps.
And then, what great proprietors we are!
E'en on His throne the Uncreate is ours
By covenant, from everlasting made;
And under it entire creation works
All good and glory for the church redeem'd.

Many have much, yet all desire a more;
But less than infinite, to man is nought:
The more must be almighty, or 'tis none!
But who hath Christ, has God by God bestow'd,
And vast Eternity becomes his friend.
Then still, thou Sun! Emmanuel's image be,
And like a shadow of His glory burn;
Thou Moon! His mystic bride on earth, reflect;
Planets! that with prophetic radiance gleam;
Thou paragon of elemental powers,
Myst'ry of waters, never-slumbering Sea!
Impassion'd Orator! with lip sublime,
Whose waves are arguments which prove a God;
Ye Woods! that with tempestuous anthems ring;
Ye Winds! whose allelujahs tongue the storm
With music's deep magnificence of tone;
Ye Mountain-altars! which from earth to heaven
Serenely lift your consecrated steps,
While the soft grandeur of the silent hills
Sinks on the heart like music low, and sad,—
Long in your magic each, and all, abide,
Some teaching mystery of Christ to show:
That hence, in all things, with an eye of praise
And heart of prayer, true Faith may ever find
By nature, as by grace, her God express'd;
And in the temple of creation greet
Perpetual glories which His Name enshrine.