University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The Christian Scholar

By the Author of "The Cathedral" [i.e. Isaac Williams]

collapse section 
  
collapse section 
 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
 IV. 
 V. 
 VI. 
 VII. 
 VIII. 
 IX. 
 X. 
 XI. 
 XII. 
 XIII. 
 XIV. 
 XV. 
 XVI. 
 XVII. 
 XVIII. 
 XIX. 
 XX. 
 XXI. 
 XXII. 
 XXIII. 
 XXIV. 
 XXV. 
 XXVI. 
 XXVII. 
collapse section 
 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
 IV. 
 V. 
 VI. 
 VI. 
 VIII. 
 IX. 
 X. 
 XI. 
 XII. 
 XIII. 
 XIV. 
 XV. 
 XVI. 
 XVII. 
 XVIII. 
 XIX. 
 XX. 
 XXI. 
 XXII. 
 XXIII. 
 XXIV. 
 XXV. 
 XXVI. 
 XXVII. 
 XXVIII. 
 XXIX. 
 XXX. 
 XXXI. 
 XXXII. 
 XXXIII. 
 XXXIV. 
 XXXV. 
collapse section 
collapse section 
 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
 IV. 
 V. 
 VI. 
 VII. 
 VIII. 
 IX. 
 X. 
 XI. 
 XII. 
 XIII. 
 XIV. 
 XV. 
 XVI. 
 XVII. 
 XVIII. 
collapse section 
  
collapse section 
  
collapse section 
collapse section 
 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
 IV. 
 V. 
 IV. 
 VII. 
 VIII. 
 IX. 
collapse section 
 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
 IV. 
 V. 
collapse section 
 I. 
 II. 
collapse sectionIII. 
III. SACRILEGE.
  
  
 IV. 
 V. 
collapse sectionVI. 
  
  
  
 VII. 
collapse section 
 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
 IV. 
 V. 
collapse section 
  
  
collapse section 
 I. 
collapse sectionII. 
  
  
collapse sectionIII. 
  
  
  
  
 IV. 
 V. 
 VI. 
collapse section 
 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
collapse section 
 I. 
 II. 
collapse section 
  
collapse section 
collapse section 
  
  
collapse section 
collapse sectionI. 
  
  
 II. 
collapse section 
collapse section 
 I. 
  
 III. 
 IV. 
 V. 
 VI. 
 VII. 
 VIII. 
collapse section 
 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
 IV. 
 V. 
collapse section 
 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
 IV. 
 V. 
 VI. 
collapse section 
 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
 IV. 
 V. 
 VI. 
 VII. 
collapse section 
  
collapse section 
 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
collapse section 
collapse sectionI. 
  
  
 II. 
collapse section 
 I. 
 II. 
collapse section 
 I. 
 II. 
 III. 


163

III. SACRILEGE.

[_]

Line 367, Διος πλαγαν, to line 396.

“The hand of Heaven is on them, see
Their own madness they deem wise!
O footsteps and mute auguries
Of Him whose will is destiny!
“Tush,” said one, “doth God perceive,
Or for trampled altars grieve?”
Thus they whet themselves to rage
Of abhorrèd Sacrilege.
Sprung are such from them of old
Breathing forth rebellion bold,
Nurs'd to impious hardihood
From full houses flowing o'er
With an over-plenteous store,
Beyond the golden mean of good.
Far aloof from such be mine,
With content in humble cell,
Unharming and unharm'd to dwell,
Hard by holy Wisdom's shrine!
For what shall towers of wealth avail
To them who kick at Judgment's shrine,

164

To save them from th' o'erwhelming jail,
Th' inextricable net of Penalty divine?
“When they the strength of Right let go,
Th' infatuating Judgment's course
Urges them on, and gathers force,
Dread Counsellor for children's woe.
Therefore lowers the heavenly roof,
And all Healing stands aloof.
Now no more the guilt conceal'd,
Horribly it stands reveal'd—
Awfully resplendent light:
It has pass'd for current long,
Through the hands of thousands strong,
And their handling made it bright.
Black forgery is in these lines,
See the adulterous metal shines,
With a curse upon its brow!
Look at it, and sound it now!
It seem'd but sport at morning mild,
And they pursuing, like a child
With feather'd prey his grasp inviting,
Ever before his steps alighting;
But in sad Destruction pale
The City shall such sport bewail!

165

Yea, though ye pray, and cry aloud,
God turns from the abhorred land,
And draws around Him the dark cloud
From sacrilegious heart and gold-defilèd hand.”

ON THE FOREGOING.

Such is, alas! that evil School
Which in our Christian land bears rule,
The only lore it with it brings
Hate of God's Church and hate of kings,
Contempt of Christ in His own poor.
And yet they prosper as of yore,
Grow in possessions more and more;
But o'er them hangs from age to age
Blindness of eyes their heritage,
A heavier judgment to endure .
 
“Then grieve not at their high and palmy state,
Those proud bad men, whose unrelenting sway
Has shatter'd holiest things, and led astray
Christ's little ones.”

Lyr. Apost.