 | Dryburgh Abbey and other poems |  |
34
HUMAN PROGRESS.
We are told to look through Nature
Upward unto Nature's God;
We are told there is a Scripture
Written on the meanest sod;
That the simplest flower created
Is a key to hidden things;
But, immortal over Nature,
Mind, the lord of Nature, springs!
Upward unto Nature's God;
We are told there is a Scripture
Written on the meanest sod;
That the simplest flower created
Is a key to hidden things;
But, immortal over Nature,
Mind, the lord of Nature, springs!
Through Humanity look upward,—
Alter ye the olden plan,—
Look through Man to the Creator,
Maker, Father, God of Man!—
Shall imperishable spirit
Yield to perishable clay?
No, sublime o'er Alpine mountains,
Soars the Mind its heavenward way!—
Alter ye the olden plan,—
Look through Man to the Creator,
Maker, Father, God of Man!—
Shall imperishable spirit
Yield to perishable clay?
No, sublime o'er Alpine mountains,
Soars the Mind its heavenward way!—
Deeper than the vast Atlantic
Rolls the tide of human thought;
Farther speeds that mental ocean
Than the world of waves e'er sought!
Mind, sublime in its own essence,
Its sublimity can lend
To the rocks, and mounts, and torrents,
And, at will, their features bend!
Rolls the tide of human thought;
Farther speeds that mental ocean
Than the world of waves e'er sought!
Mind, sublime in its own essence,
Its sublimity can lend
To the rocks, and mounts, and torrents,
And, at will, their features bend!
35
Some within the humblest floweret
“Thoughts too deep for tears” can see;
Oh, the humblest man existing
Is a sadder theme to me!
Thus I take the mightier labour,
Of the great Almighty hand;
And through man to the Creator,
Upward look, and weeping stand.
“Thoughts too deep for tears” can see;
Oh, the humblest man existing
Is a sadder theme to me!
Thus I take the mightier labour,
Of the great Almighty hand;
And through man to the Creator,
Upward look, and weeping stand.
Thus I take the mightier labour,
Crowning glory of His will;
And believe that in the meanest—
Lives a spark of Godhead still:
Something that, by Truth expanded,
Might be fostered into worth;
Something struggling through the darkness,
Owning an immortal birth!
Crowning glory of His will;
And believe that in the meanest—
Lives a spark of Godhead still:
Something that, by Truth expanded,
Might be fostered into worth;
Something struggling through the darkness,
Owning an immortal birth!
From the genesis of being
Unto this imperfect day,
Hath Humanity held onward
Praying God to aid its way!—
And Man's Progress had been swifter
Had he never turned aside
To the worship of a symbol,
Not the spirit signified!
Unto this imperfect day,
Hath Humanity held onward
Praying God to aid its way!—
And Man's Progress had been swifter
Had he never turned aside
To the worship of a symbol,
Not the spirit signified!
And Man's progress had been higher
Had he owned his brother man,
Left his narrow, selfish circle,
For a world-embracing plan!
There are some for ever craving,
Ever discontent with place,
In the eternal would find briefness,
In the infinite want space.
Had he owned his brother man,
Left his narrow, selfish circle,
For a world-embracing plan!
36
Ever discontent with place,
In the eternal would find briefness,
In the infinite want space.
If through man unto his Maker
We the source of truth would find,
It must be thro' man enlightened—
Educated, raised, refined:
That which the Divine hath fashioned,
Ignorance hath oft effaced;
Never may we see God's image
In man darken'd—man debased!—
We the source of truth would find,
It must be thro' man enlightened—
Educated, raised, refined:
That which the Divine hath fashioned,
Ignorance hath oft effaced;
Never may we see God's image
In man darken'd—man debased!—
Something yield to Recreation,
Something to Improvement give;
There's a Spiritual kingdom
Where the Spirit hopes to live!
There's a mental world of grandeur,
Which the mind aspires to know;
Founts of everlasting beauty
That, for those who seek them, flow!
Something to Improvement give;
There's a Spiritual kingdom
Where the Spirit hopes to live!
There's a mental world of grandeur,
Which the mind aspires to know;
Founts of everlasting beauty
That, for those who seek them, flow!
Shores where Genius breathes immortal;
Where the very winds convey
Glorious thoughts of Education,
Holding universal sway!
Glorious hopes of Human Freedom,
Freedom of the noblest kind;
That which springs from Cultivation,
Cheers, and elevates the mind!
Where the very winds convey
Glorious thoughts of Education,
Holding universal sway!
Glorious hopes of Human Freedom,
Freedom of the noblest kind;
That which springs from Cultivation,
Cheers, and elevates the mind!
37
Let us hope for Better Prospects,—
Strong to struggle for the right,
We appeal to Truth, and ever
Truth's omnipotent in might;
Hasten then the People's progress,
Ere their last faint hope be gone;
Teach the Nations, that their interest
And the People's good, are one!
Strong to struggle for the right,
We appeal to Truth, and ever
Truth's omnipotent in might;
Hasten then the People's progress,
Ere their last faint hope be gone;
Teach the Nations, that their interest
And the People's good, are one!
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