 | Poems Old and New by Charles D. Bell |  |
243
MARTIN LUTHER.
Luther! large-brain'd, large-hearted, great of soul,
And brave as he who faced the lions' den,
I would thy loud, indignant voice again
Might with a clarion-tone o'er Europe roll,
And abject Superstition's death-knell toll!
'Twas thine to purge the Church, become a den
Of thieves, who made a merchandise of men,
And opened heaven to sinners for a dole.
And brave as he who faced the lions' den,
I would thy loud, indignant voice again
Might with a clarion-tone o'er Europe roll,
And abject Superstition's death-knell toll!
'Twas thine to purge the Church, become a den
Of thieves, who made a merchandise of men,
And opened heaven to sinners for a dole.
Oh for the thunders of thy tongue to shake
All Christendom from farthest east to west:
She sleeps like poor shorn Samson on the breast
Of Delilah. Dear Christ! for that truth's sake
Which martyrs died for and Thy saints confest,
Another Luther send! bid England wake!
All Christendom from farthest east to west:
She sleeps like poor shorn Samson on the breast
Of Delilah. Dear Christ! for that truth's sake
Which martyrs died for and Thy saints confest,
Another Luther send! bid England wake!
| Poems Old and New by Charles D. Bell | |