 | A DREAM. Water-drops |  |
38. A DREAM.
In troubled sleep, I seem'd to see a flood
Flaming and fearful.
Far and wide it spread,
And many trifled on its fatal brink
Who never more unscath'd, to life return'd:
For he who reel'd upon its slippery verge,
Did plunge therein and mock his God, and die.
Loud, warning voices call'd the endanger'd back,
And bade them drink pure water, and be whole.
Yet some there were, who strove with eager toil
To form new channels for that baleful tide,
With ætna's lava,—and they strangelypress'd
The fire-cup to their weaker neighbor's lip,
Till the red plague-spot rankled in his soul,
While in their coffers swell'd the price of blood.
Again I looked:—And lo! they did the deeds
That bounty prompts,—the sacred fane they rear'd
For Christian worship, and the Gospel-gift
Sent to blind Pagans; holding high their lamp,
That, like a city set upon a hill,
Its light might not be hid.
Flaming and fearful.
Far and wide it spread,
And many trifled on its fatal brink
Who never more unscath'd, to life return'd:
For he who reel'd upon its slippery verge,
Did plunge therein and mock his God, and die.
Loud, warning voices call'd the endanger'd back,
And bade them drink pure water, and be whole.
Yet some there were, who strove with eager toil
To form new channels for that baleful tide,
With ætna's lava,—and they strangelypress'd
The fire-cup to their weaker neighbor's lip,
Till the red plague-spot rankled in his soul,
While in their coffers swell'd the price of blood.
Again I looked:—And lo! they did the deeds
That bounty prompts,—the sacred fane they rear'd
For Christian worship, and the Gospel-gift
Sent to blind Pagans; holding high their lamp,
That, like a city set upon a hill,
Its light might not be hid.
219
Yet still they sold
Such poison to their brother, as bereav'd
His wretched wife, and on his babes entail'd
Dire orphanage!
Then fled my dream away;
And words were trembling on my lip to Him
Who giveth skill to read His Holy Word,—
That He would grant us hearts to understand
That wealth, obtain'd without His fear, is but
An ill inheritance.—
Oh! break the chain
Of Mammon from our spirits, that in love
To all mankind, as well as love to Thee,
With hands outstretch'd to pluck our brother's feet
From the destroyer's net, we so may pass
This evil world, as mid all snares to hold
Our footing firm in Thee.
Such poison to their brother, as bereav'd
His wretched wife, and on his babes entail'd
Dire orphanage!
Then fled my dream away;
And words were trembling on my lip to Him
Who giveth skill to read His Holy Word,—
That He would grant us hearts to understand
That wealth, obtain'd without His fear, is but
An ill inheritance.—
Oh! break the chain
Of Mammon from our spirits, that in love
To all mankind, as well as love to Thee,
With hands outstretch'd to pluck our brother's feet
From the destroyer's net, we so may pass
This evil world, as mid all snares to hold
Our footing firm in Thee.
| A DREAM. Water-drops | |