Charity A Poem. By the author of "Letters on Prejudice," "Sermons on Christian responsibility," &c. [i.e. by W. L. Bowles] |
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CHARITY.
OH Charity! thou fairest birth
Of heavenly Mercy! sent on earth
To heal the wounds that sin has given,
To point the Christian's path to Heaven;
To mitigate affliction's smart,
And to bind up the broken heart;
The balm of sympathy to pour
On Poverty's neglected sore;
The cup of med'cine to supply
To the dry lip and fainting eye;
The hand of pity to extend,
And to the friendless guide a friend;—
The naked clothe,—the hungry feed,—
And scatter the prolific seed
Of moral and religious truth
Upon the opening soil of youth,
Unblasted yet by passion's breath;
Untainted by the gale of death;
Unshackled by the frost of years,
Unchok'd by earthly thoughts and cares!
Of heavenly Mercy! sent on earth
To heal the wounds that sin has given,
To point the Christian's path to Heaven;
To mitigate affliction's smart,
And to bind up the broken heart;
The balm of sympathy to pour
On Poverty's neglected sore;
The cup of med'cine to supply
To the dry lip and fainting eye;
The hand of pity to extend,
And to the friendless guide a friend;—
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And scatter the prolific seed
Of moral and religious truth
Upon the opening soil of youth,
Unblasted yet by passion's breath;
Untainted by the gale of death;
Unshackled by the frost of years,
Unchok'd by earthly thoughts and cares!
Or in thy higher, holier aim,
The sounds of Mercy to proclaim
To an enslav'd, apostate world,
And with the banner broad unfurl'd,
That erst the Christian heroes bore
To Palestina's sacred shore,—
But in another spirit sent,
Upon another warfare bent,
With other panoply supplied;
And for the military pride
Of shield and helmet, lance and mail,
And plumage dancing in the gale,
And floating scarf, and charger proud,
And doubling drum, and trumpet loud,
Presenting fair the open'd page,
Where, through the “everlasting age,”
Inscrib'd in characters divine,
The glories of the Godhead shine;
And to the scope of mortal eye
The brightness of his Majesty,
Soften'd by Mercy's tender grace,
Presents a mild and genial face,
With healing wings his radiance shades,
With love and peace the heart pervades,
Fair in a Saviour's form appears
To raise man's faith, and calm his fears;
And o'er a darken'd world's distress,
Shines forth the Sun of Righteousness!
While harps celestial hymn the strain
That floated soft o'er Judah's plain;
And Angels in loud chorus sing
Glory to Heaven's Eternal King,
And every attribute divine
In solemn eulogy combine—
Justice and Mercy, Truth and Love,
And peace on earth, and joy above.
The sounds of Mercy to proclaim
To an enslav'd, apostate world,
And with the banner broad unfurl'd,
That erst the Christian heroes bore
To Palestina's sacred shore,—
But in another spirit sent,
Upon another warfare bent,
With other panoply supplied;
And for the military pride
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And plumage dancing in the gale,
And floating scarf, and charger proud,
And doubling drum, and trumpet loud,
Presenting fair the open'd page,
Where, through the “everlasting age,”
Inscrib'd in characters divine,
The glories of the Godhead shine;
And to the scope of mortal eye
The brightness of his Majesty,
Soften'd by Mercy's tender grace,
Presents a mild and genial face,
With healing wings his radiance shades,
With love and peace the heart pervades,
Fair in a Saviour's form appears
To raise man's faith, and calm his fears;
And o'er a darken'd world's distress,
Shines forth the Sun of Righteousness!
While harps celestial hymn the strain
That floated soft o'er Judah's plain;
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Glory to Heaven's Eternal King,
And every attribute divine
In solemn eulogy combine—
Justice and Mercy, Truth and Love,
And peace on earth, and joy above.
Meet Herald of a theme so high,
And on thy glorious embassy
Attended, not with vulgar state,
Or pageants that on monarchs wait;
But leading forth a gen'rous band,
Prompt to resign, at thy command,
Life's dearest pleasures, tend'rest ties,
And all that common mortals prize;
And, with a holy zeal inspir'd,
With a sublime ambition fir'd,
Ready with life itself to part,
And patient bear the keenest smart
Of skies inclement, toils intense,
And (harder still to human sense)
Firmly to brave the pang severe
Of the loud scoff and bitter sneer;
While in his sacred steps they tread,
Who “to the smiters” bow'd his head;
The thorny crown submissive wore,
And sharpest taunts of malice bore,
And for his foes his life-blood gave,
The scorn of those he died to save!
And on thy glorious embassy
Attended, not with vulgar state,
Or pageants that on monarchs wait;
But leading forth a gen'rous band,
Prompt to resign, at thy command,
Life's dearest pleasures, tend'rest ties,
And all that common mortals prize;
And, with a holy zeal inspir'd,
With a sublime ambition fir'd,
Ready with life itself to part,
And patient bear the keenest smart
Of skies inclement, toils intense,
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Firmly to brave the pang severe
Of the loud scoff and bitter sneer;
While in his sacred steps they tread,
Who “to the smiters” bow'd his head;
The thorny crown submissive wore,
And sharpest taunts of malice bore,
And for his foes his life-blood gave,
The scorn of those he died to save!
Spirit of Heavenly Love! whose voice
First bade the smiling world rejoice,
When in transcendent beauty form'd,
And with life's genial spirit warm'd,
It sprung from chaos, at the word
Of Nature's universal Lord;
Who, as he view'd the wondrous frame,
Pronounc'd that all was good and fair,
Ere pain and sorrow, guilt and shame,
Had yet obtain'd an entrance there.
First bade the smiling world rejoice,
When in transcendent beauty form'd,
And with life's genial spirit warm'd,
It sprung from chaos, at the word
Of Nature's universal Lord;
Who, as he view'd the wondrous frame,
Pronounc'd that all was good and fair,
Ere pain and sorrow, guilt and shame,
Had yet obtain'd an entrance there.
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Nor in that dark and fatal hour,
When Sin and Death assum'd their pow'r,
When God's fierce indignation burn'd,
And songs of joy to mourning turn'd,
Didst thou forsake man's wretched race,
Their only hope, their only grace:
Thine arm the sword of justice stay'd,
Thy love the mighty ransom paid;
Thy voice proclaim'd the captive free;
Thy pity taught the blind to see;
Thy breath the Martyr's prayer inspir'd,
And through the world thy zeal untir'd,
From age to age, from shore to shore,
The tidings of Redemption bore.
Thy hand the flag of peace unroll'd,
Thy tongue the tale of mercy told;
Thy strength the Missionary band,
From Paul to Schwartz, led by the hand,
With energy divine sustain'd,
And in their Master's love constrain'd,
“That which was lost to seek and save,”
To snatch the victim from the grave;
From clime to clime, from pole to pole,
Speak pardon to the contrite soul,
And turn the nations, with their word,
From Satan's bondage, to the Lord!
When Sin and Death assum'd their pow'r,
When God's fierce indignation burn'd,
And songs of joy to mourning turn'd,
Didst thou forsake man's wretched race,
Their only hope, their only grace:
Thine arm the sword of justice stay'd,
Thy love the mighty ransom paid;
Thy voice proclaim'd the captive free;
Thy pity taught the blind to see;
Thy breath the Martyr's prayer inspir'd,
And through the world thy zeal untir'd,
From age to age, from shore to shore,
The tidings of Redemption bore.
Thy hand the flag of peace unroll'd,
Thy tongue the tale of mercy told;
Thy strength the Missionary band,
From Paul to Schwartz, led by the hand,
With energy divine sustain'd,
And in their Master's love constrain'd,
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To snatch the victim from the grave;
From clime to clime, from pole to pole,
Speak pardon to the contrite soul,
And turn the nations, with their word,
From Satan's bondage, to the Lord!
Say, “Ministering Angel!” say,
When shall we hail the glorious day,
When thy celestial form, display'd
In native loveliness, array'd
In the bright beams of heavenly truth,
Perennial love, perennial youth,
Shall, from behind the murky cloud
That in impenetrable shroud
Now veils thy beauties from our sight,
Shine forth in unobstructed light;
And, with the torch of conscience pure,
(A guide infallible and sure,)
To Mis'ry's dwelling point the way,
And gild it with Compassion's ray?
Single in motive, act, and plan!—
The will of God, the wants of Man,
The only principle to guide,
The sole criterion to decide,
In the discharge of that high trust,
With such emphatic warning given,
That if in indolence 'tis lost,
It leads to forfeiture of heaven;
Talents imparted to be used,
And wealth bestow'd to be diffused!
When shall we hail the glorious day,
When thy celestial form, display'd
In native loveliness, array'd
In the bright beams of heavenly truth,
Perennial love, perennial youth,
Shall, from behind the murky cloud
That in impenetrable shroud
Now veils thy beauties from our sight,
Shine forth in unobstructed light;
And, with the torch of conscience pure,
(A guide infallible and sure,)
To Mis'ry's dwelling point the way,
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Single in motive, act, and plan!—
The will of God, the wants of Man,
The only principle to guide,
The sole criterion to decide,
In the discharge of that high trust,
With such emphatic warning given,
That if in indolence 'tis lost,
It leads to forfeiture of heaven;
Talents imparted to be used,
And wealth bestow'd to be diffused!
Hark! from the skies a voice I hear—
Deep fall its accents on mine ear,—
While a bright vision, part reveal'd,
And part in wreathing clouds conceal'd,
Breaks radiant on my wond'ring eyes,
And thus in solemn tone replies:—
Deep fall its accents on mine ear,—
While a bright vision, part reveal'd,
And part in wreathing clouds conceal'd,
Breaks radiant on my wond'ring eyes,
And thus in solemn tone replies:—
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“Not yet can mortal eye sustain
The brightness of my glorious reign.
Not yet can mortal virtue prove
The fervour of my boundless love!
Not till the Book of Life shall stand,
Alike in promise and command,
The guide and oracle of all
Who on its glorious Author call:—
Not till a spring of action pure,
And principles defin'd and sure,
Supply, in every doubtful choice,
Their aid to Nature's feeble voice;
Man's wand'ring fortitude sustain,
The path of duty to maintain;
And, as along this vale of tears
He journeys his allotted years,
Still o'er his every thought preside;
In every step his progress guide;
And bracing his determined soul,
And pointing to his heavenly goal,
Cheer his probationary way
With promise of a brighter day!
The brightness of my glorious reign.
Not yet can mortal virtue prove
The fervour of my boundless love!
Not till the Book of Life shall stand,
Alike in promise and command,
The guide and oracle of all
Who on its glorious Author call:—
Not till a spring of action pure,
And principles defin'd and sure,
Supply, in every doubtful choice,
Their aid to Nature's feeble voice;
Man's wand'ring fortitude sustain,
The path of duty to maintain;
And, as along this vale of tears
He journeys his allotted years,
Still o'er his every thought preside;
In every step his progress guide;
And bracing his determined soul,
And pointing to his heavenly goal,
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With promise of a brighter day!
“Nor even then, shall human eye
Sustain the dazzling brilliancy
Of love unbounded, faith unmoved,
And hope to certainty improved.
Sustain the dazzling brilliancy
Of love unbounded, faith unmoved,
And hope to certainty improved.
“Longer, yet longer, must it be,
Ere Virtue, from corruption free,
In all her native lustre bright,
Shall burst resplendent on the sight;
Not till the earth's extended bound
Shall echo the triumphant sound
Of loud Hosannas to the name
Of Him, who from the right hand came
Of Heavenly Majesty, to heal
The sinner's agonies; to feel
For sin the sinner's curse, and save
His faithful servants from the grave;
Not till his kingdom shall begin,
And poverty, and pain, and sin,
From a regenerate world shall fly,
And tears be wip'd from ev'ry eye,
And perfect faith, and perfect love,
Shall raise the Christian's heart above
All meaner interests and cares;
All earthly hopes, all earthly fears!
Not till the welcome call be given
To wing his joyful way for heaven;
Not till the grave's dark gulf be cross'd,
And Death in Victory be lost!”
Ere Virtue, from corruption free,
In all her native lustre bright,
Shall burst resplendent on the sight;
Not till the earth's extended bound
Shall echo the triumphant sound
Of loud Hosannas to the name
Of Him, who from the right hand came
Of Heavenly Majesty, to heal
The sinner's agonies; to feel
For sin the sinner's curse, and save
His faithful servants from the grave;
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And poverty, and pain, and sin,
From a regenerate world shall fly,
And tears be wip'd from ev'ry eye,
And perfect faith, and perfect love,
Shall raise the Christian's heart above
All meaner interests and cares;
All earthly hopes, all earthly fears!
Not till the welcome call be given
To wing his joyful way for heaven;
Not till the grave's dark gulf be cross'd,
And Death in Victory be lost!”
FINIS.
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