ON THE SAME SUBJECT;
Written upon another Occasion.
I
“Mankind's Redemption,” you are pleas'd to say,
“By Jesus Christ was not the only Way
That could succeed; indefinitely more
Th' Almighty's Wisdom had within Its Store;
By any chosen one of which, no doubt,
The same Redemption had been brought about.
II
“For who shall dare,” you argue, “in this Case,
To limit the Omnipotence of Grace;
As if a finite Understanding knew
What the Almighty could, or could not, do;—
Though, since He chose this Method, we must own
That our Dependence is on This alone?”
III
Now, Sir, acknowledging His Pow'r Immense,
Beyond the Reach of all created Sense,—
Does it not seem to follow thereupon,
That His True Way must be directly One?
To save the World He gave His Only Son;
Therefore, by Him alone it could be done.
IV
Variety of Ways is the Effect
Of finite View, that sees not the direct;
But the Almighty, having all in View,
Must be supposed to see and take it too,—
To see at once, tho' we are in the dark,
The one straight Line to the intended Mark.
V
Saint Paul's Assertion of “No other Name
Giv'n under Heav'n,” appears to be the same
With this: “No other Name or Pow'r could save
But that of Jesus, which Jehovah gave.”
More Sons, more Saviours, as consistent seem
As more effective Methods to redeem.
VI
“I am the Way,” said Christ. There could not be,
By just conclusion, any, then, but He.
“I am the Truth.” Whence it appears anew,
That no Way else could possibly be true.
“I am the Life;” to which, as Adam died,
Nothing could bring Mankind again beside.
