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In im'senting the following Poem to the iniblic it might be well to oliseive, that its Author is a person moving in the more humble anil seeliuleil walks of life, and residing on a sniull and not very iiroduc tive farm, near the Ottawa Kiver, in the Province of Quebec. It is not neeessary to stat*', tliat no pretensions wliatever are made to bin jiossessing literary attainments, though it may be safely alleged, that liad it fallen to the Author's lot, as it does to that of many, to have reeeived early edueational advantages, he would doubtless havebecom*" much more than an ordinary proficient in learning. Posses.sed of a good understanding and an original and logical ca.st of mind, together with a very tenacious memory, richly stor HY .Tuiix, r.AiTizi'.i), • • " ■ Tr.MvrKU in tiii: AVii.nr.itNF.ss, riir.ACIllM! AM) 'WoUKlNC Mll'.ACI Sill, MM'. THE TKMri-.sr, ■ r,NTK1!IN(! INTO J Klll'SALKM, ■ r,IVn;AYKI> AM) ClU-CIKIKl), • i; LSI Nil AND AsCKSDlNd, • TiiK .ln)i;K, . • • • 1!KKI,K( lluN^, • • • * 10 11 l:: 11 ir. ir. 17 1!) •21 ■J- ir. 2i) <>. f u i "THE CHRIST." EXPECTED.'' When Ctcsar had imperial power obtain'd, ^ And rule o'er all the minor States maintained. All rival princes from their thrones hud hurl'd, And sent forth his decree to tax the world,— A ruthless tyrant in Judea reign'd, With iron arm his hated rule sustain'd. No Hebrew prince now sat on David's throne,- Tl\e regal power from Jewish hands was gone ; Both piest and people had become profane, And fail'd to apprehend Messiah's reign. Some few, 'tis true, by C briel appris'd, Expected soon to see the promis'd Christ ; The time the Prophets signified drew near. When Shiloh should in Bethlehem appear. The reader will at once perceive the Author's design in not affixing the subject of the Poem head of each part. It nuist be supplied to what is predicled thereof at the t \ 10 "TlIK CIIKIST." ANNOUNCED. For ages slieiilicrds liad l)eeii wont to keep, Hard by this town, iiiglit- watches o'er their sheep; Xo bright aurora lit the northern sky, Nor aught peculiar caught their wakei'ul eye, — The night-owl's shriek might strike the list'ning ear, Or the wild howl of some lone jackal near. They pass the time with anecdote and song. Up to the midnight hour — nor thiidc it long ; But now a light from heaven excites their feiirs, — An angel's glorious form at once ai)pears : His first concern is their alarm to (piell, He then proceeds the joyful news to tell. He speaks in accents mild: " To you I bring (Be glad, O earth ! while wond'ring angels sing,) Tidings of good," — for you and all your race A fuller record of redeemino; "race. To you is born in Davitl's luitive town (But for His name a place of no renown) A Saviour — Christ, yet universal Lord ; Made llesh, but still the all-creating AVord ! Myriads of forms celestial now a]>pear, AVhile songs unearthly fill tlie midnight air: " Gloiy to God !" tlie hymning host ascribes ; " 'Tis meet, men ! give praise, ye ransom'd tribes. Yg warring sons of men we pul)lisli ]ieace, Then let your enmities and discords cease : ' Goodwill to men ! ' commissiou'd from Heaven'? throne, We liaste to make to favor'd mortals known. ^ V- BORK. 11 He comes, the Son of Man, by ties of Llood,— Yet more mysterious still —?Vic Son of God !" " Let us now go and see this thing, of old By patriarchs and prophets oft foretold," The shepherds said : and then, with one consent, I^Iade haste to prove what the announcement meant. They found, as said, a child in lowly mien, And then returned to tell what they had seen. BORJV. In former times, it seems, when queens gave hirth To candidates for coronets of earth. Astrologers presum'd the stars to read. And messengers were sent with urgent speed To make the event to titled houses known,— An heir is horn presuxuptive of a throne ; And gorgeous palaces with lofty dome, Of luxury and ease the stately home, Were often rear'd in honor of the great. Where princes liv'd in all the pomp of state. But when the lowly Brince of Beace appears, Awhile to sojourn in this vale of tears. No room for Him iiie crowded inn supplies,— The world's Kedeemer in a manger lies ! No gaudy trappings mark His humble bed, Nor sign of royalty bedecks His head, Yet Heaven's dread Sovereign, Lord of earth and skies. Is seen in Christ revealed to mortal eyes. 12 THE CHRIST. If to exalt us to a tliroue He came, liow every knee, blush every cheek with shame. If angels came from heaven on swiftest wing, The wonders of redeeming grace to sing, — Shall man, an object of such high regard, Xor burn with ardour to receive his I^rd? He came to bless \is: how was he receiv'd? — Of His own nation, who His word Ijeliev'd ? But Herod, fearing for his dynasty, Xot knowing what this Christ Might grow to be, Ilesolv'd at once to crush it in the bud, And sought some covert way to shed His blood. Chief priests, and scrilxis, and elders of the land, Were summoned hastily at His command : " Where, say you, should this Jewish king born?" This treach'rous ruler asks with inward scorn. Their answer serv'd but to confirm his fears, And hence his edict suddenly appears. Its execution stamps from age to age His name as blackest in all history's page. Mock'd, as he thought, his anger knows bounds, — Tlie wail of grief from every street resounds ; It swells tumultuous, wild, it rends the skies, While frantic mothers, with imploring eyes Look up, and ask for some good reason, Why Their unoffending innocents must die ? — To gratify ambition, hate, and pride, liy bloody hands your lielpless infants died. When God ordains, how vain the wrath of man, To cliange, or turn, or disconcert His plan ! ^^ be no J AT NAZAKETK.. A thousand ways and means can He employ, Man's wisdom to defeat, or to destroy The deepest counsels of the shrewdest minds, And a safe pathway for His chosen finds. 13 con- AT NAZARETH. But little on the Sacred page appears. From the scant records of His earlier years. One heart, at least, was fraught with deep cern. The future of this Heaven-sent youth to learn. His strange career, as yet but dimly seen, — She ponder'd oft what Gabriel could mean. AVhen they had sought, for days without success, The lost child, Jesus,— what was her distress ? But gladness soon lights up her tearful eyes, To find the youth conferring with the wise ; Nor less astonish'd was she, when she saw His words perplex'd the Doctors of the law; Nor does His answer with less force appear When ask'd. What motive could have brought Hiii). there ? But little more of Him the Sacred page Unfolds, till He is thirty years of age.. 1 14 THE CHRIST. HERALDED BY JOHN. TliG eventful 'luediiite years have lied, Of Christ 110 records left for us to read ; 15ut now the promis'd niesjjenger appears, Of ardent mind, — no slave to caitiff fears : Like the old Tislibite, clad with camel's hair. Sent tbrth l»y God, His kingdom to declare. Tiu-ougli all the land this faithful preacher Hies : " Prepare the way ! " in every ear ho cries ; " Forsake ycjur sins, and turn to God, — llepent ! To you, ye Jews, is this salvation sent." Short, hut eventful, was his bold career ; The people heard him, and were niov'd with fear, — Turu'd from their evil ways, and sought to Hee .From future wrath, in deep sincerity. The frieiid of all, to vice alone a foe. This Jceen reprover dealt a faithful blow, Which rais'd against him such vindictive hate, That nothing but his life could satiate. ]\Iisguided child ! the monarch's hasty boast Is soon made good, — but who shall count the cost ? Where ends the loss ? or, Where begins the gain ? — A half a kingdom saved, a peasant slain ! So thought the adultress when the <-leed was done, And blest herself for such a conquest won. No Ibstive board nor house of mirth avails. To avert the dread the crime of blood entails. Dethron'd, exil'd, hated, cm's'd of God, The heartless .villain now nnist feel the rod. Blank guilt, fierce, staring like a spectre still. With frowning aspect, boding future ill ! I- TEMPTED IN THE WILDEIIXESS. 15 BAPTIZED. Excited crowds, of eveiy age and rank, Towards Jordan move, or linger on the bank. But who is this ? Comes He to be baptiz'd ?— Does John not know as yet the very Christ ? Grave, dignified, and meek,— of humble mien ; From Galilee He comes— a Nazareno. Inured to toil obscure, to fame unknown. With no pretensions to an earthly throne. Whatever doubt hung o'er His past career. The time is come, His mission is made clear. A strange phenomenon from lieaven reveal'd : God manifest in flesh, till now concealed ; The Father now, in honor of His Son, Declared Him only His Anointed One. TEMPTED IN THE WILDERNESS. His conflict with the Tempter now l)Cgins,— Where more than Adam lost, for m He wins. P,y strong impulses mov'd, His face He turns To desert solitudes, where fiercely burns A cloudless sun, and wastes of glaring sand No food, nor scarce a shrub affords,— a land Of drought,— a cheerless scene of hazy light ]]y day,' aiul gloomy, dreary bleak by night. Xo man did here his solitude invade ; But Hell's first onslaught on Him here was made. 16 "THE CHRIST." Did e'er the powers of night in conclave meet, To thwart the Only Wise, and God defeat ? They judged the present as the fittest hour In which to put forth all their latent pow'r. Since Adam fell — untempted might have stood- This would-be-Saviour, called the Son of God, Oppos'd, may fail to carry out his plan. And thus redemption prove a blank to man. So thought the fiend supreme, with dire intent, With all the guile that malice could invent; Assay'd, by divers stratagems, to fire His lieart with wild immoderate desire. The most eventful hours beneath this sun, Within those forty days their courses run ; — If the bold Prince of Darkness now prevails. What then for man if his liedeenier fails ? The heaven-born purpose to restore our race Would be o'erturn'd, and prove a foul disgrace : But no ; despite the powers of hell combin a, He shall the work complete to Him assign'd ! He shall accomplish what He came to do. And prove to all His great commission true. Dark legions, — how they dread the fatal hour, That marks the era of their waning power ! Alone, He withstood all their wiles and might, O'ercame His foes, and put them all to flight : The needed food no human hand supplies. But duteous angels hasten from the skies, — Glad to impart some token which might prove The constant tenure of their ardent love ! PREACHING AND WORKING MIRACLES. 17 PREACHING AND WORKING MIRACLES. Now from the desert He returns again, With thoughtful aspect, earnest words, and plain ; Begins to preacli what John had preach'd het'ore, — Eejtentance, — without which hoth rich and poor. Unwise or wise, are to destruction doom'd ; — For all have sinn'd, though many have presum'd To (question His report, as did the Jews Who turn'd away, or heard to little use. To do His Father's will — His greatest care, To teach the people He went everywliere : In all He did and said one aim was clear, — To Ijless mankind was all His business here. Not to display His super-human pow'r, — He cheer'd the wretched, and reliev'd the poor : All maladies acknowledg'd Him and fled, — His word, look, touch, a healing virtue shed ! Lep'rous, decrepid, maim'd, and dumb, and blind, Sought not in vain, nor found Him once unkind. See with what earnestness that mother pleads Her urgent case : " ' Lord, help ! ' my daughter needs. By demons vex'd, tormented night and day, — Without redress send me not away ! " He halts a moment in a thoughtful mood ; She never doubted but her claim was good : Her one concern — no thought of rank, nor race. Nor aught beside — her daughter's desp'rate case. 2 18 "THE CHRIST. Say not, lie seems at least for once unmov'J ; Or is tins Gentile sulf'rer less belov'd ? " I tun ni t sent but to the wand'ring sheep Of Jacob's house, to gather, feed, and keep : To give the children's bread,— it is not meet Tor outcast aliens and dogs to eat." So said the Saviour ; will she yet persist ? When He says all but No !— why not desist ? She couUl not fail: when did He e'er deny His own elect, whose never-ceasing cry He will avenge ? nor will He long delay To grant the real good in His own way. " ' Truth, Lord ! ' the children satisfied can spare, — The falling crumbs I ask with dogs to share." She seeks no more ; here ends her ardent pray'r. My wish obtain'd, — begone ye doubts and care '. Nor stinted blessing was it that He gave,— Was it not all her anxious soul could crave ? Here is the secret of her whole success : One thing she sought, and nothing more nor less ; This one thing more than all the world to her, — When you approach think well what you prefer. If Nature's law, inverted by His hand. And winds and seas obey'd his finn command, — What wonder, then, that He should raise the dead, When fiercest demons at His mandate Hed ? Inur'd to toil, to hardship, want, and pain, — Xot where to lay his head did he retain : Fit emblem was the smitten rock, that gave A plenteous flow, the fainting hosts to save. STILLING TUB TE^Ii'EST. 19 STILLING THE TEMPEST, The air was balmy, and serene the sky, Nor sign apparent that a storm was nigh ; The lake was calm and placid, and the breeze Spoke but in whispers tbrmigh the silent trees ; The sun already set, the ling'ring light Gave place to darkness and the gloom of night : A little craft has left the busy strand, With nothing said about the chief command ; 'Tis true, a Galillean is on board,— So apt to teach, so good,— they call Him Lord. Unlike the hero of the world, who boasts Of blood-stain'd standards won from vanquish'd hosts ; Who, marshall'd on the field of strife, and led Men arm'd 'gainst fellow-men with reckless tread, Finds satisfaction in the mortal strife, Where frenzied men but seek each other's life ; Then turns to Heav'n with thanks for blood thus shed. And leaves behind him twenty thousand dead ! The scene now changes : while our Hero sleeps A fearful storm comes down,— a trembling creeps Through bravest hearts, a monitory fear Takes hold of each, that de-ih is very near. Dark frowning clouds there centr'd and combin'd, Grew darker as their gathering forces join'd,— From which pale light'ning broke, and thus re- veal'd Appalling sights the darkness had conceal'd. 20 " THE CHRIST. Lasli'd into fury hy some deinon might, Tlie waves to mountains rose, with crests of wliite, As if the iiend had thought this phice the best Christ's claim to Godhead once again to test ; Like when Job's sons were met,— the gale came down, To sink the vessel, and the crew to drown. Yet, undisturb'd by the terrific noise, The wearied sleeper wakes not till a voice, — Soft, trenmlous, plaint, and then a touch Wak'd Him from sleep,— and, starting from His conch, He rose like One all-conscious of His power. Oh ! how eventful was that dreadful hour, — It seem'd as if no force on earth could save. And fate hung trembling on the threat'ning wave. But hark ! the wak'd-up Galilean speaks, — The wind is hush'd, anon the tempest breaks : " Be still, thou sea ! " thy Master says, " Be still ! " " Ye winds, be silent ! " 'tis His sov'reign will ; — The waves recede and sink into a plain. And not a dimple marks the glassy main. " Coincidence ! " the sceptic pleads ; the cause He finds in keeping with material laws. The mighty works of Christ are wrought in vain For such philosophers, who still maintain Some freak of Nature, or some hidden force Long latent, but now active in due course." ENTEraXG INTO JERUSALEM. 21 ENTERING INTO JERUSALEM. Tlic Lord's anointed, see ! amidst tliat throng A mounted peasant slowly rides along. Before, behind, on either hand the crowd, Jiy homage and loud acclamations, show'd A latent longing in the common mind In David's house a Prophet King to llnd; lUit Priests and Scriltes, with envy mov'd, no doubt, Demanded what this noise was all about, — Look'd on the whole ai'Hiir with bitter spleen. Denounced it as a farce, low, vulgar, mean : Applied to the meek rider, ask'd him, — Why He did not stop at once the pop'lar cry? Such low accom])animents as He could cLuni But ill comported with his boasted fame, A King, forsooth ! bend low, and let Him pass In regal state — the bum[ikiu on the ass ! To vindicate the people, and complete God's long-predicted purpose, and defeat The vain, conceited Pharisees and Scribes, Those trutli -perverting teachers of the tribes, — Not to reprove, indeed, the excited throng, — He answered to endorse their grateful song : "Know ve, if these restrain'd should hold their peace. What you call ' noise and tumult ' would increase. The honor mort.d tongues refuse to give, Will God, defrauded, not that praise receive ? — If thou refuse to celebrate j\Iy name The stones shall make Hosannas to proclaim ! " 22 "THE CHRIST." BETRAYED AND CRUCIFIED. Of all the multitudes tliat tlirono'd His way But few stood faithful in the evil day; But who e'er thouolit one of the twelve — the chief- Could prove a treach'rous traitor and a thief { For what ?— vile greed of goin, curs'd thirst of gold i For sordid wealth some men themselves have sold. Let avarice the social tie unbind, — A villain of the basest grade you'll find : Such Judas prov'd; ye covetous l)eware, Lest mammon be to you a fatal snare. To gain the coin his mind was fully bent, — He sought the Higli Priest's house with that intent. Well ])leas'd to gain what seem'd so great a pri^e, The Chief Priest scrupl'd not al)out the price ; But paid the sordid traitor for his job, Then sent him forth to lead the heartless mob : Each with his weapon, 1 dudgeon, pike, or sword, As if to take some chieftain of a horde. This false disciple knew his Lord's retreat, Dared t(-) invade it M'ith unliallow'd feet : Approach'd the Searclier of all hearts with guile, Souglit to betray Jliiu v.lrh a treach'rous smile,— Hail'd Him as master \ tlicn presum'd to kiss His sacred cheek ;— was baseness e'er like this? He yielded, else their ibrce could naught avail. He spake, aiid powerless they backward fell : " If me you seek, then let the rest depart,"— For fear and grief had sadden'd every heart. Bound like a felon, helpless here he seems,— Where now His wild pretensions ?— idle dreams ! BETRAYED AND CRUCIFIED. 2S Bold Peter's courage fails, he basely lies, ^ With oatlis and curses his kind Lord denies : Few were His friends, indeed, in that dark hour — Tlie hutt of Jewish hate and Roman pow'r. To Pilate's judgment-hall they l)rought Him, where False witnesses were summon'd to a]ipcar. Tlie rancorous priests, with hitter envy mov'd, Wouhl fain have found some evidence that prov'd, Or seeni'd to prove, Him dang'rous to the State, And thus stir up against Him public hate ; But Pilate knew, that chielly out of spite Tlie priesthood souglit the people to incite. He found Him guiltless,— testified Him so; Sought to release Him,-would i^iot let Him go. But^vhy ? yon k : let Pilate answer. Why In such a case the torturing scourge apidy ^ Poor sycophant: his courage meanly fails,— The ])e<)ple's voice for hlood at last prevails. " Pelease P.arrahas ; hut let Christ be slain, ^^ Ana let His blood henceforth on us remain." They little knew, while thirsting for His blood, That this same Jesus was both Lord and Tied. Though bitterly accus'd, He meekly stands, All sbiin'd with bh)od, with shackles on His hands ; His garments red and stilV with sweat and gore, Which untold anguish forc'd from every pore. To please the people Pilate brought Hini forth,- With full conviction of His moral worth,— Contemptibly array'd, he said : " Behold, The Hebrew Prince your legc.ids have foretold ! A wreath of thorns he wove fut oh : how changerl M^ circumstance and mien . His naming train by every eye is seen ; His visage, once so marr'd with Avounds and Llood, ]S^o^v hccuns ^vitll all the splendour of a God. Ten million angel thrones-a dazzling zone, Encircling ^vide, displays the great white throne. C'ommission'd to announce the end of time. He speaks,-the signal runs through ev'ry clime. And yet, 'tis He who late our Daysman stood,— (3ur Intercessor in the house of God. The dead, Ix.th small and great, of ev'ry age, Unknown to fame or written on the page, Wak'd hy His voice, and starting from the tomb, To nveet with joy or grief the day of doom. To vi-ht and left the summon'd ranks move on By suong impulsion, fronted by the throne. How empty now all human grandeur seems— AH princely honors— unsubstantial dreams. The millionaire's wealth avails him not To buy exemption from tlie common lot,— Here rich and poor one gen'ral level find, When all but moral worth is left behind. The heartless tritler meets with sad dismay,— A full record of time all thrown away. H God regards affairs 'twixt man and man. And keep's in mind events since time began ; If He revenges wrongs not here redrest, And vindicates the cause of the opprest ; 28 "THE CHRIST." If He attends whene'er the humble cry, And marks tlieir sorrow with a gracious eye, Let Him tliat led that little one astray, And tlien abandon'd in the evil day, Not think, since mortals fail'd to meet the case, That time's forgotten ages shall efface From Ood's di'ead diary the full disgrace, — Nor dream, while retrilmtion ling'ring stays. Heaven grows more lenient while His wrath delays. A momentary pause, — the vast expanse His searching eye pervades, and in that glance The tinsel gold grows dim, the genuine gloM\s, While the strong lines are drawn 'twixt friends and foes : While He recounts the work, and love, and faith Of each disciple stedfast unto deatli, And pays them the high compliment — "Well done ! " The ignominious cross insures a throne. Another scene the Sacred Page pourti'ays : An awe struck crowd shrinks Irom the flashing '^aze Of Him, wliose eye so oft with tears suffus'd O'er those who in their day His grace refus'd. What means untried that mercy could devise ? Or what withheld to make them good and wise ? The day of grace vouchsaf 'd to each by Heaven, For ever gone, no respite now is given, — Disown'd by Christ, no further test remains, No expiation waits, but hellish pains. KEFLECTIOXS. 2M REFLECTIONS. 'Wnwarranted we dare not here proceed, So vast the issues of each word and deed ; But if the dread assi