 | Sonnets and Other Poems Chiefly Religious |  |
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CLASSICAL AND BIBLICAL STUDIES.
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THE CONSECRATION OF THE PARTHENON.
“Time is a child at play.”
Heraclitus.
Heraclitus.
The Parthenon, Athena's pride and crown,
Was finished; every hammer's sound was hushed,
The marble's splintery dust was cleared away,
And all was ready for the joyful rite
Of consecration; when, before the crowd
Began to gather, an Athenian came
Whose intellect was nurtured in the schools
Of ancient song and high philosophy;
He came for one long satisfying gaze
Upon the perfect work; and, as he mused,
His thoughts found words, and with himself he spake:
Was finished; every hammer's sound was hushed,
The marble's splintery dust was cleared away,
And all was ready for the joyful rite
Of consecration; when, before the crowd
Began to gather, an Athenian came
Whose intellect was nurtured in the schools
Of ancient song and high philosophy;
He came for one long satisfying gaze
Upon the perfect work; and, as he mused,
His thoughts found words, and with himself he spake:
“What toil of slaves has built these walls!
What wealth of dimly burning gold,
And lustrous marble, pure and cold,
Is gathered in these sacred halls!
What wealth of dimly burning gold,
And lustrous marble, pure and cold,
Is gathered in these sacred halls!
“But far more precious than the hand
Of slave, is that high intellect
Which gave the free-souled architect
O'er matter his sublime command;
Of slave, is that high intellect
Which gave the free-souled architect
O'er matter his sublime command;
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“And far more precious than the gold
And marble of this holy shrine,
The sculptured images divine
Their glorious beauty here unfold.
And marble of this holy shrine,
The sculptured images divine
Their glorious beauty here unfold.
“To this—to beauty's perfect height—
All being evermore ascends.
Whate'er has force and motion tends
To life, and harmony, and light;
All being evermore ascends.
Whate'er has force and motion tends
To life, and harmony, and light;
“But when the eternal spirit rolls
Blindly no more through life and death;
When now it lives in human breath,
And thinks and feels in human souls;
Blindly no more through life and death;
When now it lives in human breath,
And thinks and feels in human souls;
“Then perfect beauty first has birth,
The product of the artist's thought;
Then sculptured forms like these are wrought,
More beautiful than aught of earth.
The product of the artist's thought;
Then sculptured forms like these are wrought,
More beautiful than aught of earth.
“So let us now rejoice, that we
Have lived to build this glorious fane,
And given it beauty to remain
In earthly immortality.”
Have lived to build this glorious fane,
And given it beauty to remain
In earthly immortality.”
He ceased, and mingled with the festive throng,
And joined in every gorgeous gladsome rite
As gaily as the gayest there, till even
Sent home the crowds, all weary of their joys,
And down he lay to rest, but could not sleep;
So to the Parthenon he wandered back,
And gazed upon the moonbeams as they fell
Full on the colonnades. All earth and heaven
Were hushed. And then, like stars that hide from day
But shine at night, far other thoughts arose
Upon his spirit, and again he spake:
And joined in every gorgeous gladsome rite
As gaily as the gayest there, till even
Sent home the crowds, all weary of their joys,
And down he lay to rest, but could not sleep;
So to the Parthenon he wandered back,
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Full on the colonnades. All earth and heaven
Were hushed. And then, like stars that hide from day
But shine at night, far other thoughts arose
Upon his spirit, and again he spake:
“Oh, what is art to those who groan?
And what is glory to the dead?
When mightier Death has bowed his head,
The hero knows not Victory's tone;
And what is glory to the dead?
When mightier Death has bowed his head,
The hero knows not Victory's tone;
“And all those myriads who to deeds
Of fame and glory are not born,
Whose life no beauteous arts adorn,
Are they no more than wasted seeds?
Of fame and glory are not born,
Whose life no beauteous arts adorn,
Are they no more than wasted seeds?
“Oh, can we hope for, after this,
Another, a diviner life,
Free from the taint of wrong and strife,
And all that is at war with bliss?
Another, a diviner life,
Free from the taint of wrong and strife,
And all that is at war with bliss?
“Is there a world beyond the grave,
Where justice reigns;—where deathless shame
Awaits triumphant wrong, and fame
Shall crown the unsuccessful brave?
Where justice reigns;—where deathless shame
Awaits triumphant wrong, and fame
Shall crown the unsuccessful brave?
“Is there a better, kindlier land,
Where those we deemed but wasted seeds,
Because they wrought no worthy deeds,
May into flower and fruit expand?
Where those we deemed but wasted seeds,
Because they wrought no worthy deeds,
May into flower and fruit expand?
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“I fear the Ephesian sage is right;
That nought endures but only change.
What's now familiar once was strange;
And day is swallowed up of night.
That nought endures but only change.
What's now familiar once was strange;
And day is swallowed up of night.
“From earth we come, to earth return;
All that has ever lived must die.
Perhaps the stars that burn on high
To ashes in their time may burn;
All that has ever lived must die.
Perhaps the stars that burn on high
To ashes in their time may burn;
“And this our temple, which we call
Eternal in its strength and grace,
Barbarian armies may deface,
Or earthquakes shatter to its fall.
Eternal in its strength and grace,
Barbarian armies may deface,
Or earthquakes shatter to its fall.
“For time is as a child at play,
Creating and destroying still.
Alike to him are good and ill;
Together both are swept away.
Creating and destroying still.
Alike to him are good and ill;
Together both are swept away.
“Then what in boundless space are we?
And what in endless time am I?
Mere clouds upon the eternal sky,
Mere foam upon the eternal sea!
And what in endless time am I?
Mere clouds upon the eternal sky,
Mere foam upon the eternal sea!
“Yet surely there is hope to find
Wherever there is power to seek;
And we could never think or speak
Of light, had we from birth been blind.
Wherever there is power to seek;
And we could never think or speak
Of light, had we from birth been blind.
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“Is he but like a breaking wave
Who gazed on beauty with delight,
Who longed for knowledge, strove for right,
And died, his fatherland to save?
Who gazed on beauty with delight,
Who longed for knowledge, strove for right,
And died, his fatherland to save?
“There comes no answer. From the shore
We watch the billows, while the sea
Before us lies,—a mystery
Whose depths we never can explore.
We watch the billows, while the sea
Before us lies,—a mystery
Whose depths we never can explore.
“Oh, could some power divine illume
This life of ours, its sorrows cheer,
Its gladness purify, and clear
The awful mystery of the tomb!
This life of ours, its sorrows cheer,
Its gladness purify, and clear
The awful mystery of the tomb!
“Or could the universal Mind
Which through all being ever rolls,
And kindles into life our souls,
Reveal itself to humankind!
Which through all being ever rolls,
And kindles into life our souls,
Reveal itself to humankind!
“O mighty Mind, Thou art supreme!
O Nature, thou art infinite!
Our ignorance is densest night;
Our knowledge, but a taper's gleam.”
O Nature, thou art infinite!
Our ignorance is densest night;
Our knowledge, but a taper's gleam.”
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HANNIBAL'S RETURN TO CARTHAGE.
My own, my native Carthage! which I serve,
Unseen, though loved, these three and thirty years,
Through triumph and misfortune, toil and blood.
Home of my fathers, and my childhood's home!
Once more mine eyes behold thee, still unchanged;—
The rock-built towers that look upon the sea,
The forest of the masts that crowd the port;
And there the stern old temple where I laid
My hand upon the sacrifice, and vowed
Eternal hatred to the Roman name.
Have I not well fulfilled my early vow?
Have I not written deep my quenchless hate
In fire and blood, when desolation tracked
My path, and many a plain that bloomed before
Turned to a smoking wilderness behind;
And when the earth was drenched and waters dyed
With Roman blood, upon the battle-days
Of Trebia, Thrasymene, and Cannæ?
Unseen, though loved, these three and thirty years,
Through triumph and misfortune, toil and blood.
Home of my fathers, and my childhood's home!
Once more mine eyes behold thee, still unchanged;—
The rock-built towers that look upon the sea,
The forest of the masts that crowd the port;
And there the stern old temple where I laid
My hand upon the sacrifice, and vowed
Eternal hatred to the Roman name.
Have I not well fulfilled my early vow?
Have I not written deep my quenchless hate
In fire and blood, when desolation tracked
My path, and many a plain that bloomed before
Turned to a smoking wilderness behind;
And when the earth was drenched and waters dyed
With Roman blood, upon the battle-days
Of Trebia, Thrasymene, and Cannæ?
Yes,
And have I not remembered thee, my own,
My native Carthage? When Italian lands
Confessed my sway, and many a goodly town
Knelt to my power, my conquests were for thee.
Of thee I thought when Rome's best blood was poured,
A rich libation to thy guardian gods,
Sweeter than oldest wine. Of thee I thought
When my Numidian bloodhounds tracked the wolf
Even to his den, to Rome; and I rode on
And flung my spear into the startled street;
For then I deemed that Rome was won for thee.
And have I not remembered thee, my own,
My native Carthage? When Italian lands
Confessed my sway, and many a goodly town
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Of thee I thought when Rome's best blood was poured,
A rich libation to thy guardian gods,
Sweeter than oldest wine. Of thee I thought
When my Numidian bloodhounds tracked the wolf
Even to his den, to Rome; and I rode on
And flung my spear into the startled street;
For then I deemed that Rome was won for thee.
Vain was my hope. Inexorable fate
Dashed the full cup of triumph from my lips.
Oh, how unlike is this to that return
I hoped for! I would have come back to thee
With keys of hundred cities in my hands,
With many a high-born hostage in my train,
And all the treasures of the Capitol;
Rome should have been a suppliant in the dust
Before thy feet, and thou the queen of all
Between the Desert and the farthest Alps.
But these are dreams.
Dashed the full cup of triumph from my lips.
Oh, how unlike is this to that return
I hoped for! I would have come back to thee
With keys of hundred cities in my hands,
With many a high-born hostage in my train,
And all the treasures of the Capitol;
Rome should have been a suppliant in the dust
Before thy feet, and thou the queen of all
Between the Desert and the farthest Alps.
But these are dreams.
Carthage! I now return
Not as a conqueror, though unconquered yet;
I come to save thee, or to die with thee.
I fear thy doom is sealed. For this it was
Scipio was saved at Cannæ; and I saw
The sign of fate, and told the coming woe,
When I beheld my brother's severed head,
And knew his battle had been lost. Alas!
My valiant brothers! Mago! Hasdrubal!
Fate was more strong than you. We once were three,
Sons of Hamilcar, bred like lion's cubs
To prey upon the Romans; ye are dead,
And sleep on distant shores; while I remain
Alone to strive against my country's fate.
Happy are ye who live not to behold
Carthage a ruin!
Not as a conqueror, though unconquered yet;
I come to save thee, or to die with thee.
I fear thy doom is sealed. For this it was
Scipio was saved at Cannæ; and I saw
The sign of fate, and told the coming woe,
When I beheld my brother's severed head,
And knew his battle had been lost. Alas!
My valiant brothers! Mago! Hasdrubal!
Fate was more strong than you. We once were three,
Sons of Hamilcar, bred like lion's cubs
To prey upon the Romans; ye are dead,
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Alone to strive against my country's fate.
Happy are ye who live not to behold
Carthage a ruin!
But I mourn too long.
One battle still is left for me to fight,
And I will fight it like my father's son—
Yes, like my former self. Scipio and I,
Heroes of many a well-fought battle-field,
And undefeated both, are now to meet;
Our meeting shall be like that war of old,
When earth-born giants sought to scale the heavens.
Vain is the strife that mortals strive with fate,
One battle still is left for me to fight,
And I will fight it like my father's son—
Yes, like my former self. Scipio and I,
Heroes of many a well-fought battle-field,
And undefeated both, are now to meet;
Our meeting shall be like that war of old,
When earth-born giants sought to scale the heavens.
And yet it must be striven. I will not die
While they who rule the world will grant me power
To serve my country, or to injure Rome;
But if the Powers on high deny me both,
I have at least a refuge in the grave.
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THE TEMPTATION OF CHRIST.
The place was desert, and the hour was late,And Jesus sank to rest upon the stones,
Oppressed with hunger, weariness, and pain.
But soon He heard what seemed a heavenly Voice—
Or was it only thoughts within His heart?—
Saying—
Or was it only thoughts within His heart?—
Saying—
“Thou art the Christ! the angel told
Thy birth before; the host of heaven rejoiced
When Thou wast born; a star arose to guide
The Magi to Thy cradle; Thou hast seen
And felt the Holy Spirit on Thee rest,
And Thou hast heard the Voice that called Thee Son;
—Why shouldst Thou famish in Thy Father's house?
If Thou art Heir of all things, if indeed
Thou art the Son of God, command this stone
That it may turn to bread.”
Thy birth before; the host of heaven rejoiced
When Thou wast born; a star arose to guide
The Magi to Thy cradle; Thou hast seen
And felt the Holy Spirit on Thee rest,
And Thou hast heard the Voice that called Thee Son;
—Why shouldst Thou famish in Thy Father's house?
If Thou art Heir of all things, if indeed
Thou art the Son of God, command this stone
That it may turn to bread.”
But He replied—
“I came on earth to do My Father's will;
And if it be His will to send Me food,
He can command the manna; and the life
Of man is not sustained by bread alone,
But by the words of God.”
“I came on earth to do My Father's will;
And if it be His will to send Me food,
He can command the manna; and the life
Of man is not sustained by bread alone,
But by the words of God.”
No manna fell;
But God sustained Him, and He wandered on,
Into the Holy City, to the House
Of God. Two men beside had come to pray;
And Jesus heard them. One looked up and said—
“I thank Thee, God, I am not as other men,
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Into the Holy City, to the House
Of God. Two men beside had come to pray;
And Jesus heard them. One looked up and said—
Extortioners, unjust, adulterers,
Or even as this publican. I fast
Twice in the week; I pay the tithe of all;
Not only corn and oil and figs and wine—
To pay of these I count a thing of course—
But tithe of anise, cummin, mint, and rue,
And every herb that in my garden grows.”
The other dared not lift his eyes to heaven,
But smote upon his breast, and muttered low—
‘I am a sinner, and confess my sin;
I pray Thee, God, be merciful to me!”
And Jesus climbed the Temple's pinnacle,
And gazed adown the dizzy height, and saw
The people as they came and went. A Voice
Like that which in the desert spake of bread—
Or was it only thoughts within His heart?—
Whispered—
And gazed adown the dizzy height, and saw
The people as they came and went. A Voice
Like that which in the desert spake of bread—
Or was it only thoughts within His heart?—
Whispered—
“By faith the Righteous One shall live:
Now prove thy faith! now cast Thee headlong down,
And God will give His angels charge of Thee
To bear Thee up in safety; and the crowds
Shall see, and fear, and wonder, and believe;
And Thou shalt teach the prating Pharisee
Who vaunts his works, what wonders faith can work;
And Thou shalt teach the contrite publican
That God is near the lowly and the meek.”
Now prove thy faith! now cast Thee headlong down,
And God will give His angels charge of Thee
To bear Thee up in safety; and the crowds
Shall see, and fear, and wonder, and believe;
And Thou shalt teach the prating Pharisee
Who vaunts his works, what wonders faith can work;
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That God is near the lowly and the meek.”
And Jesus answered—
“Not with such a sign
Can I rebuke the boaster and the proud,
Or teach that with My God forgiveness dwells.
If God command Me, I will cast Me down;
And if His angels bear Me, it is well;
If not, I am content to fall and die,
Or, if He will, to die upon a cross.
But He hath said, Tempt not the Lord thy God.”
Can I rebuke the boaster and the proud,
Or teach that with My God forgiveness dwells.
If God command Me, I will cast Me down;
And if His angels bear Me, it is well;
If not, I am content to fall and die,
Or, if He will, to die upon a cross.
But He hath said, Tempt not the Lord thy God.”
And Jesus wandered silently away,
And climbed a snowy mountain height—the same
Whereon, before He died, He met and spake
With Moses and Elijah—and He fell
Into a trance; and, in a vision, saw
The glory of the realms of all the world
Spread out beneath Him:—Palestine, and Greece,
Egypt, and Rome, and all that Roman arms
Had won; nor only these, but lands unknown
Beyond where Alexander's conquest paused,
Beyond the source of Nile, beyond the plain
Where Cyrus perished, and beyond the sea
West of the pillars named of Hercules;—
He saw their glory, and He saw their guilt;
He saw the temples of their idol gods,
He saw the bloodshed of their wars, the smoke
Of ruined homesteads, and the captives borne
Away to bondage.
And climbed a snowy mountain height—the same
Whereon, before He died, He met and spake
With Moses and Elijah—and He fell
Into a trance; and, in a vision, saw
The glory of the realms of all the world
Spread out beneath Him:—Palestine, and Greece,
Egypt, and Rome, and all that Roman arms
Had won; nor only these, but lands unknown
Beyond where Alexander's conquest paused,
Beyond the source of Nile, beyond the plain
Where Cyrus perished, and beyond the sea
West of the pillars named of Hercules;—
He saw their glory, and He saw their guilt;
He saw the temples of their idol gods,
He saw the bloodshed of their wars, the smoke
Of ruined homesteads, and the captives borne
Away to bondage.
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And a Voice again—
Or was it only thoughts within His heart?—
Whispered—
Or was it only thoughts within His heart?—
Whispered—
“Thou art the Christ, the Lord of all!
Thou art the Son of David, Thou the Priest
After the order of Melchizedec;
Thy God hath sworn to make Thine enemies
The footstool of Thy feet, and Thou shalt rule
The nations with an iron rod, and break
Their idols like a potsherd. Fire from heaven
Fell at Elijah's bidding to consume
His enemies; and fire from heaven shall fall,
And utterly destroy Thine enemies,
Thou greater than Elijah!—I ord and Christ,
Why tarriest Thou? all these by right are Thine;
Thy Father hath ordained Thee Heir of all;
Go, enter on Thine own inheritance!”
Thou art the Son of David, Thou the Priest
After the order of Melchizedec;
Thy God hath sworn to make Thine enemies
The footstool of Thy feet, and Thou shalt rule
The nations with an iron rod, and break
Their idols like a potsherd. Fire from heaven
Fell at Elijah's bidding to consume
His enemies; and fire from heaven shall fall,
And utterly destroy Thine enemies,
Thou greater than Elijah!—I ord and Christ,
Why tarriest Thou? all these by right are Thine;
Thy Father hath ordained Thee Heir of all;
Go, enter on Thine own inheritance!”
And Jesus said—
“For victories such as these
I care not, nor to call down fire from heaven.
I came not to destroy; I came to save.”
I care not, nor to call down fire from heaven.
I came not to destroy; I came to save.”
The Voice replied—
“The tyrant to destroy,
And save the lowly—therefore art Thou come!
Thou, the Messiah!—Underneath Thy reign
Peace shall abound while sun and moon endure;
And every man shall safely rest beneath
The shadow of his fig tree and his vine;
The children of the city of Thy God
Shall flourish as the grass upon the earth;
And prayer and praise shall unto Thee ascend
From every generation; and they all
Shall call Thee Blessed. Wherefore tarriest Thou?—
Thou, who art born to crush the Serpent's head!”
And save the lowly—therefore art Thou come!
Thou, the Messiah!—Underneath Thy reign
Peace shall abound while sun and moon endure;
And every man shall safely rest beneath
The shadow of his fig tree and his vine;
The children of the city of Thy God
Shall flourish as the grass upon the earth;
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From every generation; and they all
Shall call Thee Blessed. Wherefore tarriest Thou?—
Thou, who art born to crush the Serpent's head!”
And Jesus spake and answered—
“Thus to crush
All idols into dust, and thus to gain
Deliverance for mankind from war and wrong,
Were easy as the lifting of My hand.
But I, the Son of Man, for harder strife
Have come, and higher victories than these.
Though I be born to crush the Serpent's head,
Yet in the strife I must Myself be crushed.
I laid the glory of My Father down,
And I was born of woman, and I toiled,
A village carpenter, at Nazareth;
And I will bear My cross unto the end:
And he that bids Me lay aside the cross
Bids Me not serve My Father, but the world;—
Yea, serve the Power of Evil; for I know,
Although thou speakest with an angel's tongue,
Thine is the Tempter's voice that tempted Eve,
Thine the Accuser's voice that slandered Job,
And thou the Serpent I was born to crush!”
He heard the Tempter's voice no more. He saw
All idols into dust, and thus to gain
Deliverance for mankind from war and wrong,
Were easy as the lifting of My hand.
But I, the Son of Man, for harder strife
Have come, and higher victories than these.
Though I be born to crush the Serpent's head,
Yet in the strife I must Myself be crushed.
I laid the glory of My Father down,
And I was born of woman, and I toiled,
A village carpenter, at Nazareth;
And I will bear My cross unto the end:
And he that bids Me lay aside the cross
Bids Me not serve My Father, but the world;—
Yea, serve the Power of Evil; for I know,
Although thou speakest with an angel's tongue,
Thine is the Tempter's voice that tempted Eve,
Thine the Accuser's voice that slandered Job,
And thou the Serpent I was born to crush!”
Satan as lightning fallen down from heaven;
And angels brought Him manna, and they sang
Of brief affliction and unending joy;
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Beyond it, and the Serpent crushed in death;
The tree of Eden planted, with its leaves
For healing of the nations, and its fruit
Of life eternal; death and hell and sin
Abolished, and the Father all in all.
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A GRAIN OF MUSTARD SEED.
“What is the symbol that may best describe
The Kingdom of My Father in the world?”
The Saviour spake, and paused for a reply.
The Kingdom of My Father in the world?”
The Saviour spake, and paused for a reply.
Then answered he whom Jesus called a Stone
For the foundation of the Church of God:
For the foundation of the Church of God:
“The Kingdom of Thy God is like the morn
In cloudless glory, when the shadows flee,
And earth rejoices. And the kings of earth
Shall come, and lead the nations, to adore
The brightness of its rising.”
In cloudless glory, when the shadows flee,
And earth rejoices. And the kings of earth
Shall come, and lead the nations, to adore
The brightness of its rising.”
Then the Son
Of Thunder answered—he whom Jesus loved:
Of Thunder answered—he whom Jesus loved:
“The Kingdom of Thy God is like the stone
In vision of the Babylonian king,
Hewn from the mountain by no human hand,
Which fell and smote the image that displayed
All worldly domination, pomp, and power,
Scattering its form in dust; and then became
A mighty mountain, filling all the earth.
So shall a Stone from Zion's Rock be hewn,
To smite the power of Herod and of Rome;
So shall the Kingdom grow, and fill the world,
And stand for ever.”
In vision of the Babylonian king,
Hewn from the mountain by no human hand,
Which fell and smote the image that displayed
All worldly domination, pomp, and power,
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A mighty mountain, filling all the earth.
So shall a Stone from Zion's Rock be hewn,
To smite the power of Herod and of Rome;
So shall the Kingdom grow, and fill the world,
And stand for ever.”
But the Lord replied:
“Yea, rather is the Kingdom like a grain
Of seed that groweth up unseen, unwatched,—
The sower knows not how; for of herself
Earth bears her increase; first the blade, and then
The ripening ear, and then the ripened corn.
Yea, like a mustard seed, the least of all,
Which groweth greater than the herbs, and spreads
A shelter where the birds of heaven may rest.
Such is My Father's Kingdom in the world.”
“Yea, rather is the Kingdom like a grain
Of seed that groweth up unseen, unwatched,—
The sower knows not how; for of herself
Earth bears her increase; first the blade, and then
The ripening ear, and then the ripened corn.
Yea, like a mustard seed, the least of all,
Which groweth greater than the herbs, and spreads
A shelter where the birds of heaven may rest.
Such is My Father's Kingdom in the world.”
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A SERMON BY SAINT PETER.
Hearken, my children, and I will declare
That which mine ears have heard, mine eyes have seen.
That which mine ears have heard, mine eyes have seen.
The Saviour said:—“Blessed are ye who know
That I am Christ, the Son of God Most High.
But now another lesson ye must learn:
The Son of Man must suffer unto death,
Ere He can enter into glory.” All
That heard were sore astonished; and I said
“Oh, God forbid it! this shall never be.”
But Jesus turned Him round, and on me fixed
That gaze which no man could withstand; and said,
“Get thee behind Me, Satan, lest thou make
My feet to stumble; for thou speakest not
The things of God. He that would follow Me
Must bear his cross; he that would save his life
Must learn to lose it.” And I stole away—
I who was always foremost of the Twelve—
I who was first to say, “Thou art the Christ”—
I stole away for very fear and shame;
And when my brother told me that He said,
“Lo, there are some of those that stand around
Who shall not taste of death before they see
The Kingdom of the Christ revealed in power,”
I groaned and wept to think what I had lost.
That I am Christ, the Son of God Most High.
But now another lesson ye must learn:
The Son of Man must suffer unto death,
Ere He can enter into glory.” All
That heard were sore astonished; and I said
“Oh, God forbid it! this shall never be.”
But Jesus turned Him round, and on me fixed
That gaze which no man could withstand; and said,
“Get thee behind Me, Satan, lest thou make
My feet to stumble; for thou speakest not
The things of God. He that would follow Me
Must bear his cross; he that would save his life
Must learn to lose it.” And I stole away—
I who was always foremost of the Twelve—
I who was first to say, “Thou art the Christ”—
I stole away for very fear and shame;
And when my brother told me that He said,
“Lo, there are some of those that stand around
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The Kingdom of the Christ revealed in power,”
I groaned and wept to think what I had lost.
But six days after, as the evening fell,
The Lord arose up suddenly, and said,
“I go to ascend Mount Hermon: follow Me,
Peter and James and John.” From off my heart
A weight of lead was rolled; I wept for joy.
The Lord arose up suddenly, and said,
“I go to ascend Mount Hermon: follow Me,
Peter and James and John.” From off my heart
A weight of lead was rolled; I wept for joy.
Under the stars we mounted. Not a word
Spake Jesus; and we pondered, as we went,
Those two mysterious oracles—“The Christ
Must suffer unto death;” and “Ye shall live
To see the Kingdom of the Christ.” We said,
“Now shall Messiah's purpose be unveiled!
All shall be known ere morning.” We recalled
The Baptist's words, “Behold the Lamb of God,
Which beareth all the sin of all the world.”
We said, “The Paschal lamb is slain; the Christ
Lives and abides for ever. God will find
A ransom, and will save His Son from death.
It may be—yea, it must be—we are tried
And proved, as Abraham once was tried and proved
When God commanded him to sacrifice
His son upon Moriah; once again
Jehovah will provide, and Hermon now
Shall be a new Moriah; and the Lord
Will make an altar of its highest height,
And God again will send down fire from heaven;
And, like Elijah, shall the Christ ascend,
A flaming sacrifice, yet not in death—
Yea, shall ascend before the throne of God,
And thence return to judge and rule the world.”
Spake Jesus; and we pondered, as we went,
Those two mysterious oracles—“The Christ
Must suffer unto death;” and “Ye shall live
To see the Kingdom of the Christ.” We said,
“Now shall Messiah's purpose be unveiled!
All shall be known ere morning.” We recalled
The Baptist's words, “Behold the Lamb of God,
Which beareth all the sin of all the world.”
We said, “The Paschal lamb is slain; the Christ
Lives and abides for ever. God will find
A ransom, and will save His Son from death.
It may be—yea, it must be—we are tried
And proved, as Abraham once was tried and proved
When God commanded him to sacrifice
His son upon Moriah; once again
Jehovah will provide, and Hermon now
Shall be a new Moriah; and the Lord
Will make an altar of its highest height,
And God again will send down fire from heaven;
And, like Elijah, shall the Christ ascend,
A flaming sacrifice, yet not in death—
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And thence return to judge and rule the world.”
At last we reached the summit; by the stars
We knew 'twas midnight. Jesus went apart
And stood in prayer; but we were tired and faint
With travel, and we laid us down in sleep,
Till such a blaze of light upon us fell
As might awake the dying; and we saw
The Christ revealed in glory, with His robes
White as the snow in winter, and His face
Bright as the lightning; Moses on His right
Stood, and Elijah on His left. We said,
“It is as we believed; the time is come;
And on the Mount the Three shall set their throne,
The Lawgiver, the Prophet, and the Christ.”
We knew 'twas midnight. Jesus went apart
And stood in prayer; but we were tired and faint
With travel, and we laid us down in sleep,
Till such a blaze of light upon us fell
As might awake the dying; and we saw
The Christ revealed in glory, with His robes
White as the snow in winter, and His face
Bright as the lightning; Moses on His right
Stood, and Elijah on His left. We said,
“It is as we believed; the time is come;
And on the Mount the Three shall set their throne,
The Lawgiver, the Prophet, and the Christ.”
But Jesus and the twain together spake;
Not, as we hoped, of kingdoms and of power,
But of a Victim to be sacrificed,
And His departure at Jerusalem.
Then Moses and Elijah said, “Farewell!
We meet in Paradise!” But I exclaimed
“O Master, it is blessed to be here!
Oh, let them not depart, and let us make
Our dwelling on the Mount with them and Thee,
And we will spend our lives in praise and prayer!”
But then a cloud of light upon us came—
The Glory, the Shechinah—and we feared
And fell upon our faces; and a Voice
Out of the cloud was heard, “Behold My Son,
My Chosen, My Beloved.” And we heard
And saw no more, but lay like men in trance,
Till Jesus said, “Arise, be not afraid.”
And we arose; the vision was no more,
And Jesus was alone. And on the morn
The Lord descended with us from the Mount,
To suffer at Jerusalem, as ye know.
Not, as we hoped, of kingdoms and of power,
But of a Victim to be sacrificed,
And His departure at Jerusalem.
Then Moses and Elijah said, “Farewell!
We meet in Paradise!” But I exclaimed
“O Master, it is blessed to be here!
Oh, let them not depart, and let us make
Our dwelling on the Mount with them and Thee,
And we will spend our lives in praise and prayer!”
But then a cloud of light upon us came—
The Glory, the Shechinah—and we feared
And fell upon our faces; and a Voice
Out of the cloud was heard, “Behold My Son,
My Chosen, My Beloved.” And we heard
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Till Jesus said, “Arise, be not afraid.”
And we arose; the vision was no more,
And Jesus was alone. And on the morn
The Lord descended with us from the Mount,
To suffer at Jerusalem, as ye know.
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THE DREAM OF PILATE'S WIFE.
O Pilate! O my husband! let Him go,The Galilean Prophet!—all the night
With thoughts of Him I have suffered in my dreams.
“Thou must approve thyself as Cæsar's friend”?
My dream was first of Cæsar. He was dead;
His palace was a place for owls and bats;
His spirit went to join the kings of old;
And they, arising from their shadowy thrones,
Exclaimed, “Art thou at last become like us,
Thou who didst crush the nations, and exalt
Thy throne above the stars?”
My dream was first of Cæsar. He was dead;
His palace was a place for owls and bats;
His spirit went to join the kings of old;
And they, arising from their shadowy thrones,
Exclaimed, “Art thou at last become like us,
Thou who didst crush the nations, and exalt
Thy throne above the stars?”
Then changed my dream.
Under an olive tree the Prophet knelt;
Upon the ground were drops of blood, that fell
Down from His brow in sweat of agony;
The thunder and the lightning and the storm
Were gathering in the heavens; the thunders' voice
Spake with the Prophet, saying, “Shall we fall
And smite Thine enemies?” And He replied,
“Fall not; I bow in death. The hour is theirs;
The power of darkness ruleth for the day.”
And then the Prophet died upon a cross,
Condemned by thee, my husband! but a God
Came down from heaven, and raised Him from the grave.
Then did the tempest burst; the stars fell down
Like leaves in storms of autumn, and the sun
Was turned to darkness, and the moon to blood;
And then the Prophet mounted on a throne
To judge the nations. All before Him stood—
Barbarians, Greeks, and Romans — slaves and kings—
In two vast crowds all mingled. And He spake
To those who thronged upon His right, and said,
“Mercy is for the merciful! and ye
Who comforted the sorrowing, come and share
The blessings of the kingdom of your God!”
Then turning to the crowd upon the left,
He said, “No mercy for the merciless!
And ye, who never cared for human woe,
Depart, accursed, into agelong fire!”
And they to Tartarus were borne; and thou,
My husband, was the foremost of them all!
Thou wilt not heed the warning? I depart;
Under an olive tree the Prophet knelt;
Upon the ground were drops of blood, that fell
Down from His brow in sweat of agony;
The thunder and the lightning and the storm
Were gathering in the heavens; the thunders' voice
Spake with the Prophet, saying, “Shall we fall
And smite Thine enemies?” And He replied,
“Fall not; I bow in death. The hour is theirs;
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And then the Prophet died upon a cross,
Condemned by thee, my husband! but a God
Came down from heaven, and raised Him from the grave.
Then did the tempest burst; the stars fell down
Like leaves in storms of autumn, and the sun
Was turned to darkness, and the moon to blood;
And then the Prophet mounted on a throne
To judge the nations. All before Him stood—
Barbarians, Greeks, and Romans — slaves and kings—
In two vast crowds all mingled. And He spake
To those who thronged upon His right, and said,
“Mercy is for the merciful! and ye
Who comforted the sorrowing, come and share
The blessings of the kingdom of your God!”
Then turning to the crowd upon the left,
He said, “No mercy for the merciless!
And ye, who never cared for human woe,
Depart, accursed, into agelong fire!”
And they to Tartarus were borne; and thou,
My husband, was the foremost of them all!
We perish; and the guilt shall all be thine.
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THE CONVERSION OF SAINT JAMES THE LORD'S BROTHER.
[_]
This poem is written on the supposition, which seems highly probable, that Saint James the Lord's brother, the first Bishop of Jerusalem and the author of the Epistle of James, was not a believer in Christ until after the Resurrection, when he was converted by the appearance of Christ to him alone. Compare John vii. 5 with I Cor. xv. 7.
Jesus, my brother! He is Lord and Christ!
Though I have known Him from my earliest years
As brother in the flesh, I know Him now
No more as brother, but as Christ and King—
As Lord and Saviour!
Though I have known Him from my earliest years
As brother in the flesh, I know Him now
No more as brother, but as Christ and King—
As Lord and Saviour!
Oh, accuse me not
Before the Father, that I disbelieved;
I only waited for a sign from heaven,
And Thou hast granted it!—Thy living face,
Thy living voice, Thy words of love to me!
Before the Father, that I disbelieved;
I only waited for a sign from heaven,
And Thou hast granted it!—Thy living face,
Thy living voice, Thy words of love to me!
But wherefore was it that I knew Thee not?
Why understood I not the Prophet's words,
“A Man of Sorrows, pouring out His soul
Even to death”? And wherefore bowed I not
Before the Saviour's awful purity?
Well I remember, in our early days,
When for some childish fault I sank rebuked,
Awed by His majesty of gentleness;
And all men saw what wondrous signs were showered,
In glory and in blessing, round His path;
Sight to the blind and utterance to the dumb,
Life to the dead, glad tidings to the poor.
Can God's forgiveness ever be for me—
For me, who joined the Pharisees and Scribes
In asking for a greater sign than these?
I might have been among the faithful Twelve,
Who—He hath promised it—shall sit on thrones,
Judging the tribes of Israel.
Why understood I not the Prophet's words,
“A Man of Sorrows, pouring out His soul
Even to death”? And wherefore bowed I not
Before the Saviour's awful purity?
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When for some childish fault I sank rebuked,
Awed by His majesty of gentleness;
And all men saw what wondrous signs were showered,
In glory and in blessing, round His path;
Sight to the blind and utterance to the dumb,
Life to the dead, glad tidings to the poor.
Can God's forgiveness ever be for me—
For me, who joined the Pharisees and Scribes
In asking for a greater sign than these?
I might have been among the faithful Twelve,
Who—He hath promised it—shall sit on thrones,
Judging the tribes of Israel.
And, O Lord,
What means that proverb which I heard Thee speak
When I beheld Thee living from the dead,
“Blessed are they who see not, yet believe”?
Hast Thou no smallest blessing left for me?
What means that proverb which I heard Thee speak
When I beheld Thee living from the dead,
“Blessed are they who see not, yet believe”?
Hast Thou no smallest blessing left for me?
And yet Thou dost not visit to upbraid;
Thy looks were not of anger, but of love;
And I recall another word of Thine,
“God giveth freely, and upbraideth not.”
Freely Thou wilt forgive, my Lord, my God!
The glory and the thrones remain for those
Who shared Thy sorrows and Thy toils on earth;
But grant me Thy forgiveness and Thy love;
And I will follow Thee!
Thy looks were not of anger, but of love;
And I recall another word of Thine,
“God giveth freely, and upbraideth not.”
Freely Thou wilt forgive, my Lord, my God!
The glory and the thrones remain for those
Who shared Thy sorrows and Thy toils on earth;
But grant me Thy forgiveness and Thy love;
And I will follow Thee!
Thou shalt restore
The throne of David and of Solomon;
All nations shall behold Thy glory; kings
From Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts,
And Sheba and Arabia bow the knee,
And Rome pay tribute. I shall see from far;
But grant me in Thy Kingdom to be called
Only the least and lowliest!
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All nations shall behold Thy glory; kings
From Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts,
And Sheba and Arabia bow the knee,
And Rome pay tribute. I shall see from far;
But grant me in Thy Kingdom to be called
Only the least and lowliest!
And, O Lord,
If for Thy Church a time of toil and pain
And trial as of silver in the fire,
Must come before Thy glory is revealed;—
If those who share Thy throne must share Thy cross;—
Oh, take me! let me drain the cup of woe,
So that I suffer and rejoice with Thee!
If for Thy Church a time of toil and pain
And trial as of silver in the fire,
Must come before Thy glory is revealed;—
If those who share Thy throne must share Thy cross;—
Oh, take me! let me drain the cup of woe,
So that I suffer and rejoice with Thee!
Epistle of James i. 5. This Epistle is so full of allusions to the recorded teaching of Christ, that the above may not improbably be one of His unrecorded sayings.
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SAINT PAUL IN ARABIA.
I should have known Thee as the Christ of God.I should have read aright the Prophet's words—
“A face more marred than any face of man;
A sacrifice whereof the poured-out blood
Shall sprinkle many nations; crushed, despised,
Yet strong to bear the sins and woes of all;
A Lamb in silent meekness led to death;—
Therefore Thy God shall set Thee up on high,
And from the mighty Thou shalt wrest the spoil,
And tread the Serpent underneath Thy feet.”
But for the Christ, upon a cross, to die
The death of robbers and of slaves, I deemed
Monstrous, unspeakable; and many a word
Haunted my memory from prophetic Psalms
Of Christ, a priestly monarch, riding on
To victory, with His warriors like the host
Of Heaven; the dew of youth upon His brow,
Jehovah's rod of empire in His hand,
To judge and rule amidst His enemies.
Oh, how unlike to Thee!—to Thee, betrayed,
Rejected, and abandoned by Thine own!
No dew of youth upon Thy holy brow,
But drops of blood!
The death of robbers and of slaves, I deemed
Monstrous, unspeakable; and many a word
Haunted my memory from prophetic Psalms
Of Christ, a priestly monarch, riding on
To victory, with His warriors like the host
Of Heaven; the dew of youth upon His brow,
Jehovah's rod of empire in His hand,
To judge and rule amidst His enemies.
Oh, how unlike to Thee!—to Thee, betrayed,
Rejected, and abandoned by Thine own!
No dew of youth upon Thy holy brow,
But drops of blood!
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Thy martyr Stephen first
Awoke misgiving in my secret soul.
I saw an angel's glory on his face;
I heard his words; they were not like the speech
Of one that pleadeth for his life, but words
Of some majestic teacher, when the crowd
Listens and bows in reverence;—and he spake;—
Awoke misgiving in my secret soul.
I saw an angel's glory on his face;
I heard his words; they were not like the speech
Of one that pleadeth for his life, but words
Of some majestic teacher, when the crowd
Listens and bows in reverence;—and he spake;—
“O stubborn children, deaf and blind of heart,
Ye, like your fathers, do for evermore
Resist the Holy Spirit; and our God
Will at your hands require the blood of all
His saints and martyrs poured upon the earth
From Abel on to Jesus.”
Ye, like your fathers, do for evermore
Resist the Holy Spirit; and our God
Will at your hands require the blood of all
His saints and martyrs poured upon the earth
From Abel on to Jesus.”
Then they stopped
Their ears, and rushed to stone him; but my ears
Would not be stopped; I listened, while I saw
The angel glory brightening on his face,
And he exclaimed—
Their ears, and rushed to stone him; but my ears
Would not be stopped; I listened, while I saw
The angel glory brightening on his face,
And he exclaimed—
“I see the heaven of heavens
Opened, and I behold the Son of Man
Standing beside the throne of God!”
Opened, and I behold the Son of Man
Standing beside the throne of God!”
He fell;
I saw no more, but heard his dying prayer—
“O Jesus, O my Saviour, Lord and God,
Receive my spirit, and forgive their sin!”
Jesus, the Crucified, his Lord and God!
I saw no more, but heard his dying prayer—
“O Jesus, O my Saviour, Lord and God,
Receive my spirit, and forgive their sin!”
I deemed it blasphemy; I onward went
To persecute and kill; but on my way
His dying prayer was ever in mine ear,
And in mine eyes the glory of his face,
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Dying, like Moses, in the light of God.
The more my conscience goaded me, the more
I strove with conscience; and another voice
Spake to my spirit, saying, “Persevere!
Drown thought in action!” and it had prevailed,
Until I heard Thy voice upon the way,
Speaking, O Jesus! from the height of heaven.
I could not hide me from Thy blinding light,
O Thou who knowest all my thoughts from far!
Thy love has conquered, Lord! and I am Thine.
And now, O Christ, the Vanquisher of death,
Who hast ascended far above the heavens,
Leading captivity captive, and received
Gifts from Thy God for men, that Thou mayest dwell
With pardoned rebels!—oh, forgive the past—
Thou hast forgiven it—and accept my life,
And consecrate it, that I may declare
Salvation to the nations, and proclaim
Glad tidings to the lowly and the poor;
Healing to those whose hearts are broken; light
To those who languish in the shades of death;—
And let me tell the promise of the time
When all the principalities and powers,
Thrones and dominions, of the universe
Shall be subdued to Thee, and sin and death
Shall be abolished, and Thou shalt restore
Thy power and Kingdom back to Him who gave,
That God the Father may be all in all.
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SAINT JOHN AT EPHESUS.
[_]
This poem is written on the supposition, which on the whole appears the most probable, that the fourth Gospel and the Apocalypse are both the work of the Beloved Disciple, and that the Apocalypse is by many years the earlier of the two.
The Lord of Glory said not, “John shall live
Till in the clouds of heaven I come again;”
He only said, “What matters it to thee,
O Peter, who shalt glorify thy God,
Like Me, upon a cross, if John shall wait
My coming?” And indeed I cannot tell
What those words mean, although for threescore years
I have held communion with the Lord on high;
And seen His face which shineth as the sun
Shines in his strength; and heard His voice which sounds
Like many waters;—and He gave me words
Which, as ye know, I treasured up, and wrote
In seven Epistles to your Churches seven;—
And then He sent me visions of the night,
And I beheld the doom of Babylon,
The end of time, the harvest of the world;
And sin and death and hell I saw consume
And vanish in the fiery wrath of God.
Till in the clouds of heaven I come again;”
He only said, “What matters it to thee,
O Peter, who shalt glorify thy God,
Like Me, upon a cross, if John shall wait
My coming?” And indeed I cannot tell
What those words mean, although for threescore years
I have held communion with the Lord on high;
And seen His face which shineth as the sun
Shines in his strength; and heard His voice which sounds
Like many waters;—and He gave me words
Which, as ye know, I treasured up, and wrote
In seven Epistles to your Churches seven;—
And then He sent me visions of the night,
And I beheld the doom of Babylon,
The end of time, the harvest of the world;
And sin and death and hell I saw consume
And vanish in the fiery wrath of God.
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And then the visions ceased, but I became
Nearer the Lord than ever; yet more near
Than when I leaned at supper on His breast;
And higher in His grace than when I stood
With James and Peter on the Holy Mount,
And saw the heavenly glory of the Lord;
For by His Spirit now He dwells with me,
And makes me wiser than the saints of old;
For many a prophet, many a saint, has longed
To know and feel what Christ reveals to me,
The crowning truth of all, that God is love.
Nearer the Lord than ever; yet more near
Than when I leaned at supper on His breast;
And higher in His grace than when I stood
With James and Peter on the Holy Mount,
And saw the heavenly glory of the Lord;
For by His Spirit now He dwells with me,
And makes me wiser than the saints of old;
For many a prophet, many a saint, has longed
To know and feel what Christ reveals to me,
The crowning truth of all, that God is love.
But when He cometh, hath been told to none.
For many a year, we deemed He would descend
Before our generation passed away,
Robed with the Father's glory, in the clouds;
And oft I thought on those who died for Him;
On Peter, crucified;—the cross is now
A sign of glory, not a thing of shame;—
On James my brother, slain by Herod's sword;
On James the brother of the Lord, thrown down
From off the Temple's roof; on Paul, who toiled
Most of us all for Christ, and died beneath
The sword of Cæsar; and on those at Rome
Who, like Elijah, passed to God in fire;
And Stephen, who was first to die for Christ;—
I saw him stoned; a glory from the Lord
Fell on his face; the highest height of heaven
Was opened to his vision, and he saw
The Son of Man beside the throne of God
Standing—not seated—standing up to greet
His martyr's entrance into heavenly bliss.
For many a year, we deemed He would descend
Before our generation passed away,
Robed with the Father's glory, in the clouds;
And oft I thought on those who died for Him;
On Peter, crucified;—the cross is now
A sign of glory, not a thing of shame;—
On James my brother, slain by Herod's sword;
On James the brother of the Lord, thrown down
From off the Temple's roof; on Paul, who toiled
Most of us all for Christ, and died beneath
The sword of Cæsar; and on those at Rome
Who, like Elijah, passed to God in fire;
And Stephen, who was first to die for Christ;—
I saw him stoned; a glory from the Lord
Fell on his face; the highest height of heaven
Was opened to his vision, and he saw
The Son of Man beside the throne of God
Standing—not seated—standing up to greet
His martyr's entrance into heavenly bliss.
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And when I thought on these, I said, “O Lord
Jesus, come quickly! wherefore tarriest Thou?
Wherefore must I, who was the best beloved,
Who on the Mount saw Thy transfigured form,
Leaned at the farewell supper on Thy breast,
And to Thy mother was indeed a son,—
Wherefore should I be last to see my God?”
Jesus, come quickly! wherefore tarriest Thou?
Wherefore must I, who was the best beloved,
Who on the Mount saw Thy transfigured form,
Leaned at the farewell supper on Thy breast,
And to Thy mother was indeed a son,—
Wherefore should I be last to see my God?”
Long was I bound to earth by her whom Christ
Gave to my care—His mother, thenceforth mine.
So deep the sword had entered in her heart,
She could not live among the haunts of men;
Jerusalem, Capernaum, Nazareth,—
All cities were alike—all crowds seemed full
Of pointing fingers and of gazing eyes,
Whether of friends or foes. Apart we dwelt
Beside untrodden ways. A messenger
Would sometimes come to tell us how the Church
Suffered or prospered, and how men believed
In Antioch, or in Ephesus, or in Rome.
My spirit burned with longing to proclaim
Jesus the Christ to Israel's scattered tribes,
And to the heathen; but the Mother's mind
With sad and holy memories of the past
Was full to overflowing. She recalled
The Saviour's three and thirty sinless years;
The hope of kingdoms, ending in the Cross;
The Resurrection, and the words He spake,
Mysterious, brief, unsatisfying; and then
The Ascension to the Father, leaving us
As those who mourn the Bridegroom; and her thought
Was ever, “When will He in might return,
And heal the aching sorrow of my soul?”
With weary longing of a lonely heart
She slowly pined. I watched her wasted form
Till I beheld a glory on her brow
As of the woman whom, in after-days,
I saw in heavenly vision, crowned with stars,
Robed with the sun, the moon beneath her feet.
And so the Virgin Mother, full of years,
Of honours, and of sorrows, passed away.
Alone I buried her, and thanked my God
That she was with her Lord in Paradise,
And I was free to serve Him in the world.
Gave to my care—His mother, thenceforth mine.
So deep the sword had entered in her heart,
She could not live among the haunts of men;
Jerusalem, Capernaum, Nazareth,—
All cities were alike—all crowds seemed full
Of pointing fingers and of gazing eyes,
Whether of friends or foes. Apart we dwelt
Beside untrodden ways. A messenger
Would sometimes come to tell us how the Church
Suffered or prospered, and how men believed
In Antioch, or in Ephesus, or in Rome.
My spirit burned with longing to proclaim
Jesus the Christ to Israel's scattered tribes,
And to the heathen; but the Mother's mind
With sad and holy memories of the past
Was full to overflowing. She recalled
The Saviour's three and thirty sinless years;
The hope of kingdoms, ending in the Cross;
The Resurrection, and the words He spake,
Mysterious, brief, unsatisfying; and then
The Ascension to the Father, leaving us
As those who mourn the Bridegroom; and her thought
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And heal the aching sorrow of my soul?”
With weary longing of a lonely heart
She slowly pined. I watched her wasted form
Till I beheld a glory on her brow
As of the woman whom, in after-days,
I saw in heavenly vision, crowned with stars,
Robed with the sun, the moon beneath her feet.
And so the Virgin Mother, full of years,
Of honours, and of sorrows, passed away.
Alone I buried her, and thanked my God
That she was with her Lord in Paradise,
And I was free to serve Him in the world.
But now I know what work for me was left;—
Even the Gospel which my willing scribe
This day has finished. And I now surmise
The coming of the Lord in clouds of heaven
Draweth not nigh. A thousand years with God
Are but a day, and but a watch of night.
And it may be, that yet a thousand years
The Saviour purposeth to train His saints
In patient expectation. Blest are they
Who learn in silent patience to endure;
Endurance worketh hope. Perhaps the book
Which thou, my scribe, hast finished even now,
May be a light through agelong nights of earth,
To witness of the Spirit and the Bride.
Even the Gospel which my willing scribe
This day has finished. And I now surmise
The coming of the Lord in clouds of heaven
Draweth not nigh. A thousand years with God
Are but a day, and but a watch of night.
And it may be, that yet a thousand years
The Saviour purposeth to train His saints
In patient expectation. Blest are they
Who learn in silent patience to endure;
Endurance worketh hope. Perhaps the book
Which thou, my scribe, hast finished even now,
May be a light through agelong nights of earth,
To witness of the Spirit and the Bride.
What once an angel told me, I repeat—
Guard ye the oil and wine! —the wine of Christ,
Which is His life, poured out upon the Cross
To save the world of sinners;—and the oil,
Which is the Holy Spirit, with His gifts
Of light and healing;—see ye keep your lamps
Burning, until the Sun of Righteousness
Arise at last, with healing in His beams.
Guard ye the oil and wine! —the wine of Christ,
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To save the world of sinners;—and the oil,
Which is the Holy Spirit, with His gifts
Of light and healing;—see ye keep your lamps
Burning, until the Sun of Righteousness
Arise at last, with healing in His beams.
To me the times and seasons matter not.
If in the Father's glory Christ appear
While yet I dwell on earth, to me He comes.
But if He cometh in the guise of death,
I shall but fall asleep, and wake refreshed,
And see Him in His glory as He is,
And bear His image, and be satisfied.
If in the Father's glory Christ appear
While yet I dwell on earth, to me He comes.
But if He cometh in the guise of death,
I shall but fall asleep, and wake refreshed,
And see Him in His glory as He is,
And bear His image, and be satisfied.
105
A LOST TALENT.
The summer ended, and the harvest past,
And I not saved! the talent that was Thine
Lost, and for ever! Must I hear the doom
“Wicked and slothful servant!” from Thy lips?
Wicked perhaps, and foolish certainly,
And yet not slothful; no, I did not shrink
In sloth from labour; and I did not hide
Thy talent in the earth for fear of Thee;
Nor was I wicked; for I did not waste
In riotous life the substance that was Thine;
But with Thy gold I built a goodly house—
A house of cedar—to adorn Thy lands.
But was it for thy service that I built?
Or was it but to glorify myself?
Thou only knowest, to Whom all hearts are known!
I built what pleased myself. I should have built
Of stone and marble, to withstand the fire;
I should have built of Thine from base to cope—
Christ the foundation, Christ the crowning stone!
But this seemed slow and costly; and I longed
For praise of men. And I had my reward;
For all men praised my building. But the flash
Fell from the heavens; the beams of cedar burned
Like faggots, hay, and stubble; I was saved
With loss of all, and only saved through fire.
Naked my mother bare me, and I come
Naked before my Judge.
And I not saved! the talent that was Thine
Lost, and for ever! Must I hear the doom
“Wicked and slothful servant!” from Thy lips?
Wicked perhaps, and foolish certainly,
And yet not slothful; no, I did not shrink
In sloth from labour; and I did not hide
Thy talent in the earth for fear of Thee;
Nor was I wicked; for I did not waste
In riotous life the substance that was Thine;
But with Thy gold I built a goodly house—
A house of cedar—to adorn Thy lands.
But was it for thy service that I built?
Or was it but to glorify myself?
Thou only knowest, to Whom all hearts are known!
I built what pleased myself. I should have built
Of stone and marble, to withstand the fire;
I should have built of Thine from base to cope—
Christ the foundation, Christ the crowning stone!
But this seemed slow and costly; and I longed
For praise of men. And I had my reward;
106
Fell from the heavens; the beams of cedar burned
Like faggots, hay, and stubble; I was saved
With loss of all, and only saved through fire.
Naked my mother bare me, and I come
Naked before my Judge.
Yet, O my Lord,
On no foundation did I seek to build
Save that which Thou hadst laid. Behold and see—
The fire has burnt it bare—I based my house
On Thy foundation; but I built the walls,
The pillars, and the arches of the roof,
Of substance unapproved of Thee; and now
I see its worthlessness revealed in fire.
O Judge and Saviour! can it ever be
On no foundation did I seek to build
Save that which Thou hadst laid. Behold and see—
The fire has burnt it bare—I based my house
On Thy foundation; but I built the walls,
The pillars, and the arches of the roof,
Of substance unapproved of Thee; and now
I see its worthlessness revealed in fire.
The ocean of eternity shall roll
Back to my feet the talent I have lost?
'Twere worth an agelong night of doubt and fear
And weary toil in drawing empty nets,
To see Thee stand upon the beach at dawn,
And hear Thy voice, “Let down the net once more!”
And cast, and draw, and find it filled for Thee!
107
ETERNITY.
Eternity is not, as men believe,Before and after us, an endless line.
No; 'tis a circle, infinitely great,
All the circumference with creations thronged:
God at the centre dwells, beholding all.
And, as we move in this eternal round,
The finite portion which alone we see
Behind us, is the Past; what lies before,
We call the Future. But to Him who dwells
Far at the centre, equally remote
From every point of the circumference,
Both are alike, the Future and the Past.
| Sonnets and Other Poems Chiefly Religious | |