 | The poems of Robert Traill Spence Lowell |  |
67
THE CHRIST FORGOTTEN IN OUR DAYS.
“Though He was rich, yet, for our sakes, He became poor.—How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!—The cares of this life, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the Word, and it becometh unfruitful.—Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth.—Take no thought for the morrow.”
Christ in a wretched place was born,
Nor owned his very grave;
He lived both homeless and forlorn,—
His fellows such as rich men scorn,—
And ate what beggars gave.
Nor owned his very grave;
He lived both homeless and forlorn,—
His fellows such as rich men scorn,—
And ate what beggars gave.
And when the Lord of Life became
Poor, and of none esteem,
He bade his followers do the same;
For Him to choose a life of shame;
Earth's goods a curse to deem.
Poor, and of none esteem,
He bade his followers do the same;
For Him to choose a life of shame;
Earth's goods a curse to deem.
The poor He blessed, and opened wide
The kingdom to their feet;
And bade the rich man go divide
The wealth whereon he built his pride,
And give the poor to eat.
The kingdom to their feet;
And bade the rich man go divide
The wealth whereon he built his pride,
And give the poor to eat.
68
Not otherwise might he be made
Christ's brother and God's son;
For how could one in pomp arrayed
The family of Christ invade,
Where wealth and pomp was none?
Christ's brother and God's son;
For how could one in pomp arrayed
The family of Christ invade,
Where wealth and pomp was none?
Christ's brethren,—oh! what seraphim
Cared less for earthly good!
The rich, bright world to them was dim;
They marched along with Prayer and Hymn,
And left it, where it stood.
Cared less for earthly good!
The rich, bright world to them was dim;
They marched along with Prayer and Hymn,
And left it, where it stood.
If in the Kingdom's early day,
Men gave up earth for Heaven,
If lands and wealth they gave away,
If dainty food and rich array,—
If all for Christ was given,
Men gave up earth for Heaven,
If lands and wealth they gave away,
If dainty food and rich array,—
If all for Christ was given,
Then how unlike God's humble Son
Are they who bear his name!
In rich apparel every one,
No worldly good they care to shun:
Are those and these the same?
Are they who bear his name!
In rich apparel every one,
No worldly good they care to shun:
Are those and these the same?
The rich,—the rich are everywhere;
These fill the Temple too,
And scantly give the poor a share
To whom Christ said YE BLESSED ARE:
God's kingdom is for you.
These fill the Temple too,
69
To whom Christ said YE BLESSED ARE:
God's kingdom is for you.
O rich men! who do claim to be
The followers of the Lamb,
What, what are you, and what was He?
Is not His name a mockery?
Is not your faith a sham?
The followers of the Lamb,
What, what are you, and what was He?
Is not His name a mockery?
Is not your faith a sham?
I see your houses cedar-lined:
Ye feed each earthborn lust
For food, for gems, for gold refined,
For every pleasure that can bind
The spirit down to dust.
Ye feed each earthborn lust
For food, for gems, for gold refined,
For every pleasure that can bind
The spirit down to dust.
What single thing that wealth can buy
Do ye, for Christ, forget?
To bear thy cross, thyself deny,—
Know ye these words? Were they to die,
Or are they living yet?
Do ye, for Christ, forget?
To bear thy cross, thyself deny,—
Know ye these words? Were they to die,
Or are they living yet?
Has Christ taught you another way,
The Fathers never knew,
To live well here, and live for aye?
To have the riches earth can pay,
And those hereafter too?
The Fathers never knew,
To live well here, and live for aye?
To have the riches earth can pay,
And those hereafter too?
70
And yet ye cant of serving God
And giving to his poor,
Who go unfed, unclothed, unshod,
And underneath the heavy sod
First find a sleep secure.
And giving to his poor,
Who go unfed, unclothed, unshod,
And underneath the heavy sod
First find a sleep secure.
O men well clothed, and warmed, and filled
While God's poor children fast,
The very churches that ye build
And deck with pomp and carve and gild
Will judge you at the last.
While God's poor children fast,
The very churches that ye build
And deck with pomp and carve and gild
Will judge you at the last.
Where are my poor, Christ still demands,—
To whom the Gospel came?
This costly offering at your hands
Is to yourselves, and only stands
A monument of shame.
To whom the Gospel came?
This costly offering at your hands
Is to yourselves, and only stands
A monument of shame.
Give to my poor! give much: give all,
If nothing less will do;
They that at first obeyed the call,
Were fain to let earth's riches fall:
Shall I ask less of you?
If nothing less will do;
They that at first obeyed the call,
Were fain to let earth's riches fall:
Shall I ask less of you?
June, 1849.
| The poems of Robert Traill Spence Lowell | |