b THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT AND OTHER POEMS. AND OTHER POEMS, CHIEFLY ON HEBREW THEMES. p ,/? BY WILLIAM HALL, M.A. LONDON : SWAN, SONNENSCHE1N & CO., LTD 1896. [ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.] PRINTED BY LANG NEIL, LONDON AND BRIGHTON. CONTENTS. THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT ... ... ... I SUSPIRIA ... ... ... ... ... 41 THE CORRECTED ESTIMATE ... ... ... 49 THE QUIETED SOUL ... ... ... 6l THE PURPOSE OF THE AGES ... ... 67 THE ETERNAL REFUGE ... ... ... QI BEFORE THE BATTLE ... ... ... 103 TRANSFIGURATION THROUGH SUFFERING ... 113 THE REDEEMED CITY ... ... ... 121 THE DISCIPLINE OF PAIN ... -~"77T ... 153 IN EXITU ISRAEL ... ... ... ... 165 A PEOPLE FOR HIS PRAISE ... ... ... 175 EPICTETUS ... ... ... .. 183 THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. AND Jacob was left alone ; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh, and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will riot let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name ? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shal be called no more Jacob, but Israel ; for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him and said, Tell me I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name ? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name 01 the place Peniel, for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. GEN. xxxii. 24-30. THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. IN the great conflict hour of human life That cometh, without fail, to one and all, When the supernal powers are at "Strife, Wrapt is the spirit in sepulchral pall. Hedged is our path as with sharp, thick-set thorns, Walled up the way that we were wont to tread ; Removed far from us all that life adorns, Lover, friend, kinsman, and acquaintance fled. 2 THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. On mourra seul ; the soul's decease alike Evades the vulgar gaze, the general eye : Into gross earth unseen it erst did strike, Viewless it enters on its stage next high. Beneath a canopy of murky dark So dense the hurtling bolts throng the dun air Speeds the fell fight illumined by no spark, Beam from faint tremulous star, or moonlight fair ; So thick the hellish hosts that issue forth From the black womb of the abysmal night ; Thus her cloud-armies pours the cold bleak north, The tender hopes of budding spring to blight. Valley of shadowing death ! arena grand ! There our great crowning victories are won ; Surrendering guilty self a deodand We feel the true, the eternal life begun. THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. 3 Each for himself that desolate vale must tread, No mortal man his brother may redeem From the lone hour's despondency and dread ; No costly ransom price procure for him. There is set up the solemn judgment seat, Immunity from which we thought to win ; Tfio' thro' long years our conscience we should cheat, Inexorably confronted with our sin. The blood-avenger vengeance may delay, But the respite mistake not for reprieve, Breaks to the birth the inevitable day, When we the heaped-up penalty receive. When, sore amazed and saddened e'en to death, Gethsemane's momentous hour draws near, In vain we summon, as with parting breath, Familiar friends and intimates most dear 4 THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. To watch with us through the wild night of woe, Their sense is holden that they cannot see Nor feel the presence of the infernal foe, The grapple of the last great agony, When, in God's wine-press crushed, the heart's life blood Flows freely forth, and streams of blinding tears, Shed with strong cries, our nightly pillow flood Crowded in one short hour the grief of years. THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. II THUS, at the brink of Jabbok's storied brook, For Israel strikes life's fateful crisis-hour ; Profoundly dark the perilous outlook Dread Nemesis asserting her fell power. Expecting when with dawning day shall fall Destruction fell on us and all we love, Nor seeing how the disaster to forestall, Driven desperate we cast our eyes above : THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. Encountered suddenly by one like man Distincter form the gloom gives not to see Quivers the question on our lips all wan, " Art thou for us or our adversary ? " Whose are the arms thus violently seize With unrelenting grasp our trembling frame ? Whose this chill breath the vital stream might freeze ? What mischievous, malign intent his aim ? For that aught else than malice could inspire So sharp an onset past conception seems ; 'Twas sure some eye aflame with vengeful ire Thro' the thick gloom shot those fierce angry gleams. Like Laocoon caught in the encircling coil Of monstrous snakes wreathed round each writh- ing limb ; Those limbs to extricate all vain his toil, Or rid him of the rueful horror grim, THli VICTORY OF DEFEAT. Thus wrestle we with ruthless Destiny, As it appears to our distracted thought ; From high designs of love would set us free, But all our desperate efforts came to nought, - Till on the stronghold of our proud self-will Falls irresistibly the stroke divine ; The broken heart lies passive now and still, Nor of continued struggle gives a sign, But takes to her embrace the suspected foe The adversary proving her best friend Finds healing in the bitter fount of woe, Seeing to what blest goal her labours tend. The hand, whose palsying touch upon us lies, Is that of matchless love's omnipotence ; Tho' nature's courage 'neath its pressure dies, The higher good springs from her indigence. THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. III. The strong man armed keeps his house in peace, Intact his substance, till the stronger one Against him comes, breaks thro' his edifice, Parts the rapt spoil, his fond defence undone. Entrenched in worldly trust, at ease we cry : " Soul, thou hast goods laid up for many years ; In the warm shelter of my nest I'll lie, Away with doubt and melancholy fears ! " Have I not for my pleasure and renown This palace built me scatheless shall endure ? On other folk misfortune fell may frown, In fearless freedom I'll abide secure," THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. Q And while the word is yet upon our lips A watcher and a holy one is by, To summon the disastrous storm that strips Our boughs, and with the branchage strews the sky; " Hew down the tree, waste the well-laden boughs ! Shake off the leaf, and scatter wide the fruit ! No longer 'neath its shade the beast shall browse, Nor herd for shelter gather round its root ; " Yet leave the stump that with the dew of heaven And scent of moisture it may yet revive ; Beauty and strength again to it be given When the long-tarrying spring-time shall arrive ; " When, lessoned in humiliation's school, Brute folly to humaner thoughts gives place ; Till humbly he confess the Heavens to rule, And in the dust his lofty looks abase." 10 .THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. IV. So resolute are set the eternal powers To stain the arrogance of human pride, Casting to earth each haughty thought that towers Vain-gloriously, the vaunts high heaven defied. Yet all that they design from us to reave, Divested of, our state were happier far : More prudent grown such things we gladly leave Impediments the spirit's progress bar The spurious, fleshly hopes that close the way Against the entrance of the supreme good, Gross sensuous bonds the spirit that delay The blinded prisoner of the passions lewd. THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. II So they address them to their desperate task, Prepared to spoil all we esteem most dear, Their gracious purpose hiding 'neath the mask Of angered hate the spirit fills with fear : The prison, not the prisoner there entombed They band them with full intent to destroy He to a lingering hopeless bondage doomed Sound of beginning battle greets with joy. 12 THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. V. Thus wrestled they with him renowned of yore A perfect man and upright in his way, When wave on wave of trouble on him bore, Till, in his bitterness, he cursed his day : " Let the day perish wherein I was born ! The night wherein a man-child was conceived ! May no divine regard greet that dark morn, Its blackness by no star-shine be relieved ! " Since it closed not the cruel gates of life, Nor shut the portals of my mother's womb, 'Gainst me sad wretch ! whose years with ills are rife, Whom swift misfortune hurries to the tomb. THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. 13 " For tranquil now and peaceful had I lain, Buried in sleep of utter nothingness ; Like some untimely birth, a mother's pain Ne'er compensates with infantile caress. " There- from their sore annoy the prisoners rest, The proud-oppressor's voice no more they hear ; The small and great with equal peace are blest, The slave is freed for ever from his fear. " As the worn warrior waits the welcome day, From warfare's hard fatigue shall bring release ; Or hireling-hind the evening's growing grey, From labour's heat and burden gives surcease, " So eagerly I greet the lingering hour, Shall grant me sweet relief from my long pain, Clear the thick clouds o'er my sad pathway lower, And the dark mystery of life explain. 14 THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. " Man that is woman-born hath but few days, Yet are those days of feverish trouble full ; Flower-like he flourisheth, but never stays The same, the fleeting hours his hopes annul. " Why is light given men steeped in misery ? And life those vexed with bitterness of soul ? Who crave for death but unavailingly, To whom oblivion seems a blissful goal ; " Rejoicing with a joy exceeding great, When, after painful quest, they find the grave ; With courage and new-quickened hope elate, The horrors of the tomb prepared to brave. " For now the Almighty's arrows drink my blood, His terrors are arrayed against my soul, He breaketh in upon me, like a flood Bursting its banks, defiant of control. THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. 15 ' What am I that thine eye my path should scan, Nor e'er permit me to escape its gaze ? Perpetually subject to thy ban, That still the threatened fateful stroke delays. " I said of Sheol : ' There would I abide, In her cold gloomy chambers gladly dwell ! Corruption choose as my espoused bride, The worm's companionship shall please me well ! ' " Wilt thou not there in secrecy conceal Me till thy time of wrath be overpast, When, at the last dread trump's terrific peal, The amazed and startled heavens shall stand aghast ! ' Lo ! I go forward but he is not there, And backward but his steps I cannot trace His ear is deaf to my importunate prayer, He veils in vengeance his averted face ! l6 THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. " My path is fenced that I cannot pass, And thickest darkness fallen upon my way ; His troops press on me in dense serried mass, And round my tent their bannered lines dis- play ! " THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. 17 VI. THUS in the vexed, perturbed human breast Deep hoarsely calls to deep, and wave to wave, A troubled sea whose waters cannot rest, But wildly and incontinently rave, Till He appear who stills the sea's proud rage, And maketh quiet where prevailed the storm, The tempest in man's spirit to assuage, And to tranquility its wrath transform ; Till God, arising in the majesty Of awful holiness and matchless might, To teach his fretful child humility, Enrobe him in the insufferable light. l8 THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. All we most valued proves illusive good, Virtue's proud semblance to corruption turns, As the keen fire-flame kindled in the wood Withered and dry quick thro' its substance burns. Needs but a word, a breath, a glance divine Befall the baseless fabric of man's pride, Our vain self-confidence to undermine, Till from their crown the crumbling ruins slide; Needs but that the Almighty's finger point To some small part of his stupendous ways, Our arrogant self-trust is out of joint, Prostrated we adore in silent praise : THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. IQ VII " WHERE, when the huge foundations of the earth Were laid, was thine abode, what thine employ ? The morning stars were jubilant with mirth, Loud shouted all the sons of God for joy. " When the sea issued forth as from the womb, And from her swaddling bands young ocean brake, Didst thou spread o'er her the thick shrouding gloom ? Or of the dark a sable mantle make ? " Didst thou impose a stablished sure decree, Forbidding her to pass the appointed bound ? The restless, vast, ungovernable sea Within strait bars and doors didst thou impound ? 2O THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. " Piling in heaps the innumerable sands To curb her uncontrollable brute rage, Lest the proud surges should usurp the lands, And claim them as their proper appanage ? " Arcturus' path in heaven hast thou defined, Or thro' the twelve signs led the advancing Sun ? The Pleiades' sweet influence canst thou bind ? Or loose the mighty bands of Orion ? " Hast thou the morn commanded since thy days ? Or made the springing dawn to know its place, When, breaking thro' the obscure eclipsing haze, The day's bright orb speeds on its wonted race. " Knowest thou how the bony framework knits Within the womb of one that is with child ? How member to its fellow-member fits, Till all-complete the bodily-structure's piled ? THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. 21 " How, day by day, in the hid inward part, Continually they were fashioned one by one ; And wrought in secret with most cunning art Long ere thy life-career commenced to run ? " 22 THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. VIII. IF thus from thy close search remains concealed The workmanship divine in vulgar clay, How should the deeper mystery be revealed Thy spirit's birth and growth that underlay ? Who guides the planetary spheres thro' space, Aberrant tho' their orbit oft appear, Thy path thro' time's bare wild with care doth trace, Life's labyrinthine maze to him shines clear. THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. 23 The spirit's closely-sealed imprisoning tomb, Wrapt in sepulchral gloom of foulest night, What is it but an all-prolific womb Profusely sown with pregnant germs of light ? Laboratory where creative skill With patience fabricates her works sublime, And renders all-subservient to her will The dark events crowd the rude scroll of time ? From earth's crude moral chaos He can raise Rich in resources of omnipotence A fair, well ordered world, from whence his praise Shall mount like odours of sweet frankincense Subtle the process by which Supreme Love Moulds to its perfect form the immortal soul ; And to high ends doth things untoward move, Submitting them to its complete control. 24 THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. He who its boundaries for the ocean sets, And curbs the unbridled fury of the main, The barriers against which thy proud will frets Ordained thy restless passions to restrain : Hitherto but no further shall they reach, These pains assign the bounds to their wild sway ; And patient self-control so sternly preach Rebellious nature must perforce obey. THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. IX. IF, from the heart of whirlwind, flame, and storm, The Lord address him to our discontent, And, framing his demands in such-like form, Enter with us into high argument, O'erpowered, as the prince of Judah's seers In presence of the fiery seraph choir, Ranged round the argent throne in dazzling tiers, We cry faint, undone, ready to expire : " Now that my eyes have looked upon the Lord The Judge of all the earth, pure, holy, just My soul henceforth is of itself abhorred, Abased I bow before thee in the dust ; 26 THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. " Thou hast chastised me and I was chastised A bullock unaccustomed to the yoke : With troubles sore and labours exercised My stubborn temper yet remained unbroke. " Now I abandon every vain device ; That stiff-necked beast blind, obstinate self- will I freely yield thee up a sacrifice, Its life-blood spare thou not but wholly spill." THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. 27 X. " OH, that my wiser, better thoughts were penned In lasting record on the lettered page ! That iron style and lead their aid might lend My words to carry to a distant age ! " Tho' He should slay me yet in him I'll trust, From the foul grave my hope shall spring more pure; A foiled antagonist from the low dust Invigorate I shall rise of victory sure ; ' From out my weakness grow exceeding strong, More valiant wax as speeds the desperate fight ; Then raise aloft my glorious paean-song Loudest when thickest falls the gloom of night. 28 THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. " Thou my redeemer art, for me thou liv'st, To stand at last my daysman on this earth ! Tho' my worn flesh a prey to worms thou giv'st, Thro' the waste shell the spirit breaks to birth " All freed from blinding film, gross veil 01 sense, Base slavish fear made me thy face to shun, I'll gain the spiritual Pisgah whence The beatific vision shall be won. " Though amid worldly joys complete surcease, Of evil days and few my pilgrimage I reck not, nor tho' 'gainst my present peace The powers of earth and hell conspire to rage. If, a lone outcast, I again embrace The rock for shelter with the naked stone For pillow, from this solitary place Ascend the steps conducting to thy throne. THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. 2 9 " Each desert scene my way-worn feet have trod, From home and hope, from friends and ccmfcit driven, I recognise to be the very house of God, The gateway and the portal of high heaven." 30 THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. XL THUS the day breaks, the shadows flee away, The fair bright dawn reveals with whom we've striven, No power malign, with purpose fell to slay, But a commissioned messenger from heaven : No fiend from the abyss, but from above A friend, a tried well-proven auxiliary, Charged with most blest designs of wondrous love, Tho' wrought thro' pain's ungentle ministry : Changes our fear to joy and rapt surprise, And eagerness to win the boon he brings ; No longer for release the spirit cries, But to this gracious friend and helper clings ; THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. 3! Clings for to wrestle longer power hath none ; Since that miraculous touch was on us laid All nature's strength is ruined and undone, The pillars of self-confidence decayed. So the disciples on vexed Galilee Convulsed by sudden violence of storm, Blind with pale terror, knew not it was he They loved, conceiving some grim ghostly form, When, in the fourth watch of that wakeful night, For their relief and help he walked the wave, Appalled by so unparallelled a sight, Not thus expecting his approach to save. The whispered accents : " Fear not, it is I !" Their spirits' wild affright at once allay : " Lo ! I would come !" is Peter's quick reply, " Tho' thro' the leaping billows lie my way." 32 THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. Still are we troubled entering the cloud Irradiate from the bright Shekinah-shrine ; Thevtabornaolo of the Blessed seems our shroud, V We shudder, called to share in bliss divine : . Let but the curtain lift, the silence break, Our suffering Lord unveil his face all fair, On the lone mount our home we now would make, For nowhere is it good for us but there. THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. 33 XII. His garment the blind beggar flings away That to the gracious healer he may press ; Well pleased the spirit feels the flesh decay, And gladly parts with its gross cumbrous dress, That she may closely press, and firmly hold To the Great Spirit near to her akin ; And with new-wakened faith, resolved and bold, Will not let go till she the blessing win : " I will not let Thee go !" I base my claim Upon no strength or merit of my own, But for that to the claims of the weak and lame Those of the proud and strong thou dost post- pone. 34 THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. " I will not hide my guiltiness and shame, My nakedness and need shun not to tell, Transgressor from the womb my rightful name, Conceived beneath sin's dark unholy spell : ... " E'en when thy favour and thy grace I sued, The birthright and the blessing strove to win,- My very goodness was itself not good, But tainted with immedicable sin : " I claim as birthright now the blessing given To souls submissive, penitent, and meek, Heart-broken suppliants whom the King of heaven As the recipients of his grace doth seek. " Within the precincts of thy sacred courts, E'en on the outcast poor thy grace bestows A place and name, whose signature imports Greater degree than son or daughter knows. THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. 35 " The lowliest task within thy temple, Lord, Tho' but to keep its door, I humbly claim, Which glimpses of thy glory shall afford, Where I may spell the secret of thy name. " In the fair courts by saintly victors trod E'en I may dwell, and glad Hosannas raise, A pillar in the temple of my God, A trophy storied with thy fame and praise ! " Endue me from henceforth with kingly power O'er my base self the mastery to wield ; In this sublime, high consecrated hour, Knight me, my Liege ! upon the battle-field. " The battle-field shall be my Peniel ; There where I met Jehovah face to face The Jacob died, to rise an Israel, The prince the shrewd supplanter did displace. 36 THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. EPILOGUE. PERIODS of sickness ever mark the growth Of increased faculty and added power ; The crisis most reluctantly and loath We enter proves the spirit's natal hour. / The new ideal with its large demands Seeing that we have nought wherewith to pay With weakness, and with imperfection, brands Our most successful, best designed essay : The higher life the spirit brooding o'er With its excessive light makes dark our day, While amid anguish wild, and labour sore It new creates, and glorifies our clay : THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. 37 When the high heavenly powers overshade, And move on us as erst on chaos rude Fear-stricken is the heart, and all-dismayed, Perplexed with horror and incertitude, Not knowing that these inward stirrings deep, These throes wherewith the struggling soul is torn, Our strong outcries, the bitter tears we weep, Tell of the holy thing now being born. 'Tis when deliverance approacheth near In agonised suspense the spirit hangs, E'en as a woman in her pain and fear Groaneth aloud for her sore travail pangs. Exceeding troubled we are fain to cry, As the near trial hour we realise, Spare me at any cost this agony ! Let me but live who will may take the prize ; 38 THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT. Till borne the thought with strong resistless force Upon the hesitating shrinking will That only in this shunned, abhorred course Life's true and lofty purpose we fulfil. O wretched man ! this flesh, this bodily death Put off, its false and clamorous claims eschew ! And let the Spirit's generous quickening breath With larger, fuller life thy being's source renew. SUSPIRIA. PS. LXXXIV. SUSPIRIA. LORD OF HOSTS ! enthroned in glory ! Beauteous are thy courts above, Where the ransomed saints the story Utter of thy boundless love ; Towards thy dwelling All my deepest passions move. Sore unrest my spirit aileth, Whence this inward sharp distress ? Heart and flesh together faileth While, thro' earth's drear wilderness, To thine altars Ardently my soul doth pi ess. 42 SUSPIRIA. Happy birds within the precinct Of those altars that abide, Led by sure unerring instinct 'Neath thy sheltering wings to hide, With the central Source and seat of bliss allied ! Happy they, who, like them dwelling Ever in the heavenly courts, Still the rapturous tale are telling The enravished sense transports ! Each new vision Of the King fresh praise extorts. There the plentiful rich treasures Of his temple are displayed ; With the river of his pleasures Is their feverish thirst allayed ; There the splendent Glory-sheen .dispels all shade. SUSPIRIA. By the cool clear crystal waters Making glad thy house a name Better than of sons and daughters 'Tis their high proud boast to claim How the prospect Does the glowing heart inflame ! They partake a kindred blessing The undaunted pilgrim band, Who with girded loins are pressing To the glory-lighted land, Aye obedient To thine outstretched, guiding hand. Passing thro' the vale ot sorrow Springeth there for them a fount, Vigour from whose wave they borrow As on eagle's wings to mount : Vale of Baca Vale of blessing they account ! 44 SUSPIRIA. From their eyes the copious tear-shower, Shed full oft upon life's way, Filled their cup, but added power In the bitter potion lay : Ever found they Help sufficient for their day, Still increasing strength in weakness Of the suffering fleshly frame, Whose perfected fruit was meekness In endurance ; thro' the name Of the victor- Victim Lamb they overcame. They, thro' pressure of temptation To fall spirit-stature grown, Take their fitting, rightful station Near the effulgent, fiery throne, Rays thence streaming For all sufferings atone. SUSPIRIA. 45 With the Lamb upon Mount Zion, 'Mid the blood-bought martyr host, Now they stand, hell's prowling lion Faileth to make good his boast- From God's hand to Pluck them ; not e'en one is lost. One day in thy courts is better Than a thousand spent elsewhere ; Freed from each enthralling fetter, With the ransomed let me share Thy blest vision, Breathe heaven's clear, fresh, vital air ! On the face of thine anointed Let thy heavenly favour shine ! Perfect now the work appointed, Manifest the face divine ! To thy servant's Passionate request incline ! 46 SUSPIRIA. Thou whose strong right hand of power Still supports the faint and frail ; Who, in life's dread peril hour, Mad'st the patriarch prevail, Thou hast promised : " Jacob's face shall ne'er wax pale !" When my night of strife is ended, May I, like thine Israel, Learn that life's long conflict tended To nn eternal Peniel : If with morning- Dawn I see thee all is well ! SUSPIRIA. 47 Let me but behold the beauty Of thy countenance, my Lord ! Some low place of humble duty, Which shall but a glimpse afford Of thy glory, Let thy grace to me accord ! If my heart but there have leisure On thy love to meditate, Let who will have worldly pleasure, Wealth, vain pomp, and high estate ; This suffices At thy doors to stand and wait ; Catch some far faint transient gleaming From the throne's clear crystalline, Some bright lustrous beam outstreaming From the blest Shekinah-shrine ; All I ask for, All I can desire is mine. 48 SUSPIRIA. Sheltered by the Almighty power Trouble may not reach me there ; In the baleful peril-hour Thou thy strong right arm wilt bare ; Thou wilt snatch me From the tempter's siren snare. For the Lord a sun and shield is In our darkness and distress ; Wondrously hath he revealed his Grace our sorrows to redress ; Glory waits us Safely passed life's wilderness. Nought of good shall be with-holden From the single-eyed and true, This should pilgrim hearts embolden Who Christ's bleeding track pursue ; Press we onward With the vision bright in view ! THE CORRECTED ESTIMATE. Ps. LXXIII. THE CORRECTED ESTIMATE. Truly the Lord is good to Israel Men single-minded and of guileless heart ; Surely it shall be with the righteous well, Tho' frequent grief's quick smart : But, as for me, my feet had almost gone, My treadings slipt beneath me, when I saw The prosperous ease of the ungodly one, Unmoved by shame or awe. Compassed are they, close-wrapped about with pride, And fenced with fierceness and rude insolence ; They haughtily above our bowed heads ride, Be-mock our innocence : 52 THE CORRECTED ESTIMATE. Their eyes with fatness swell, beyond their hope Succeed their schemes of craft and villainy ; Against High Heaven their scornful lips they ope In bitter blasphemy. Then said I : 'Twas in vain I cleansed my heart, And practised purity in word and deed : Their's is the happier lot, the better part, The more convenient creed. For I am stricken sore the whole day long, My chastisement begins with each new morn ; Upon my back the smiters laid the thong, Deep were the furrows worn. In the confused and multitudinous sea Of my vexed thoughts I strove to understand These things ; they proved an unsolved mystery, Refusing to be scanned, THE CORRECTED ESTIMATE. 53 Till, at the last, my inly-burning heat Had well nigh broken forth incontinent In frantic words ; my heart, with grief replete, Found fierce and angry vent : Thy dealings with thy people all forgot As upward-mounting sparks to trouble born With the blaspheming crew had cast my lot, Sat amongst men that scorn. s But when thy sanctuary's courts I trod, And graduated in that sacred school, The gloom grew luminous in Thy light, O God, To me, poor purblind fool ! Fell from mine eyes as it had been thick scales Hid the prospective vision from my view ; My spirit pierced the interposing veils The flesh around it drew. 54 THE CORRECTED ESTIMATE. No longer on the apparent was my gaze Now fixed, nor lingered on the present scene : The vain show penetrating, deep amaze Replaced my envious spleen, Surprise and horror for that giddy height, On which I too had gladly stood, appeared, -- Its glittering splendour and repute despite, For pride's destruction reared. Life's high conspicuous summits now seemed fraught With peril, slippery the paths they tread, At glory's phantom eagerly who caught, Their baffled grasp still fled Swift as the images the dreamer views, In ceaseless, quick succession hurrying by, That for one moment the conceit amuse, Then mock the trusting eye. THE CORRECTED ESTIMATE. 55 The bitter thoughts wherewith my spirit eyed Their grandeur and short lived prosperity, Sprang from my brutish foolishness and pride, My gross fatuity. Yet doth this crude, blind, senseless ignorance But lay the stronger claim on thy kind care, Of thy regard, guidance, and maintenance I need the greater share. Holden by thy right hand, and by thine eye Counselled, and led along life's lowlier way, Henceforth I would refrain from thoughts too high, As a weaned child obey ; And following where my gracious Shepherd leads The least sagacious of his tended train, The living founts, the rich, green, fruitful meads Of heaven's glad pastures gain : 5 56 THE CORRECTED ESTIMATE. There feed my spirit with the prospect fair Of beauty ne'er shall pall, nor fade away ; Breathe of the still, clear, pure, celestial air, Bathe in unclouded day ! The Lord Himself is my inheritance, My everlasting portion ; well the lines Have fallen me by his loving ordinance ; My heart no more repines. Whom have I in the Paradise above E'en for a moment to compare with thee ! The earthly idols I had given my love Proved less than vanity. Henceforth let earth's fond pleasures fade and fail ; My heart and flesh decline, all comforts die : Rent thereby is each intercepting veil Eclipsed thee to mine eye. THE CORRECTED ESTIMATE. 57 I glory in the weakness that ensures The power divine shall overshadow m2, Since 'tis my very helplessness secures Thy gracious sympathy. THE QUIETED SOUL Ps. cxxxi. THE QUIETED SOUL. No longer shall my heart be lifted up, As in my foolish wayward youth ; Since I have drunk of grief's gall-mingled cup My soul is filled with ruth. I exercise myself no more with things too great Above the range of mortal ken, But high conceits, and thoughts with pride elate, Within just limits pen ; 62 THE QUIETED SOUL. Stilling and quieting my weaned soul, Lest back again to earth it turn, And breaking from thy loving, wise control With new-lit passion burn : Lest once more seeking its forsaken nest The home of its nativity, It there search vainly for content and rest Where such can never be. By life's unfathomable, boundless sea I mutely take my humble stand, Well pleased its turbulent billows bow to thee, Submit to thy command ; And, prostrate in admiring wonder, cry : "In silence art thou best adored ! In vain man's purblind wisdom seeks to pry Into thy thoughts, O Lord ! " THE QUIETED SOUL. 63 In presence of life's mysteries that fill The heart with manifold alarms, Let me but feel outstretched beneath me still The everlasting arms ! Set thou, O Israel ! on the Lord thy trust, In childlike, meek simplicity; The Judge of all the earth, most true and just, Rules in strict equity. THE PURPOSE OF THE AGES. ROM. viii. 17-39. THE PURPOSE OF THE AGES. CHILDREN since He deigns to call us Joint-heirs with the first-born child, What though desolate before us Glooms our pathway o'er life's wild ! Small earth's anguish when contrasted With the glory we shall wear, When the image of the heavenly In our souls stands outlined clear ; When all cleansed from earth's accretions- Veiling from us the divine, We shall stand in the High Presence, With the reflex lustre shine ; Proving how these present sufferings Served our nature to refine : 68 THE PURPOSE OF THE AGES. Proving to what spirit freedom Creaturehood may yet attain What a wealth of holy treasure E'en the least endowed may gain- How exceeding rich the harvest Won from soil bedewed with pain. Looking for such high ideal Cranes the creature the stretched neck, As despairing seamen gather On the spar-strewn, wave-swept deck, Eyes upraised for help and rescue From some hapless, desperate wreck : Waiting for the manifesting Of the new born sons of light, For the young, bright, fair immortals Who shall turn the tide of fight, Carve a pathway thro' the darkness Of earth's drear, disastrous night. THE PURPOSE OF THE AGES. 69 II. KNOWEST thou not how all creation Groans in travail pangs till now, 'Neath her awful entailed burden Thro' long ages forced to bow ! Nature throbs with expectation, Thrills of hope shoot through the sphere, Broods o'er earth the conscious feeling Her glad dawn is drawing near ; Presaging this age-long travail Pregnant with some purpose great, Some grand birth of peerless splendour For her pains to compensate : Waiting when the new-create heaven Shall disclose itself to view, 7O THE PURPOSE OF THE AGES. And the earth, a bride impatient, Clothe her in apparel new, Robes of brightness and of beauty For her sackcloth mean indue. We, within whose hearts are working Powers of the world to come, Migratory instincts yearning To the spirit's native home, Eager hopes and aspirations Wing us for our heavenward flight, Sadly call we each to other As we cleave the gulf of night, Wintry cold and gloom forsaking For fair climes of cloudless light : With the grand redemptive movement Linked in closest sympathy Through us all earth's labouring birth-throes Vibrate with intensity ; Feel we every thrill and throbbing For upon the heart and brain THE PURPOSE OF THE AGES. 7; Of each sentient organism Chiefly falls the stress and strain, And each more developed member Is most sensitive to pain. Soiled investiture from off us, Oh ! how gladly would we fling, The defilement to the fleshly Seems inseparably to cling ! That, apparelled in pure raiment, Leaders in the foremost van, We might speed the mighty movement, The triumphal march of man ; Freed ourselves assist our fellows To fling off sin's fatal ban. Ail-reluctantly the creature Was involved in vanity, Every young and budding purpose Nipped in immaturity ; Hopes and instincts baulked and blighted, Schemes most cherished brought to nought, 72 THE PURPOSE OF THE AGES. Efforts baffled and abortive, With defeat and failure fraught ; None as yet of all her children Her deliverance has wrought : Looks she for some strong redeemer From her bale to set her free, Of a nobler generation " Promise, type, and potency," Opening and inaugurating Earth's blest age of jubilee. THE. PURPOSE OF THE AGES. 73 III. FULL of glad anticipation Of this glory yet to rise, Moved to ecstacy the prophet Cries in rapturous surprise : " Unto us is born a man-child, Unto us a son is given, And from off our neck from henceforth The oppressor's yoke is riven : On his shoulder lies the burden Of the broad earth's government, In his name earth's highest titles Into unity are blent." Incommunicable titles If for most part those he bears-- 74 THE PURPOSE OF THE AGES. That of the elect and first-born With his brethren he shares ; For he stamps his likeness on them, Making them the sons of God Leads them by the self-same pathway He their forerunner has trod ; Sanctifies himself for their sake, That they, instinct with his truth, Consecrate themselves for others, For in them he sees the youth Of the yet victorious manhood, Who, thro' him unite with them, The disastrous tide of evil Shall have strength at last to stem. That which Israel failed to accomplish This new Israel shall effect, Antitype of ancient Israel, For this purpose high elect ; Graft of the wild olive planted Jn their place by God reject, THE PURPOSE OF THE AGES. 75 IV. STRANGE new thoughts are kindled in us At the rapt prophetic word, Scarcely conscious whither tending The emotions in us stirred : Dimly seen, stupendous visions Flit before the gaze of hope, All in vain we seek to master Their significance and scope. Thus is left us room for yearnings Vast and vague, for faith and prayer, Auguries and aspirations Which to utter scarce we dare. Little know we what petitions To the throne supreme to send, 76 THE PURPOSE OF THE AGES. What conditions would most further The attaining of our end ; So we give us to the Spirit, Pray that he may trim the sail, Take the helm, assume the guidance, Send the favouring, speeding gale ; 'Gainst the opposing floods of evil Give us power to prevail. With the Will Divine accordant He within us intercedes, And interprets the expression Scarce articulate of our needs ; While harmonious with his workings, And the mind of the Supreme, All events are that befall us, How untoward soe'er they seem ; Aid we hardly could dispense with, They in turn successive lend, Each and all co-operating The divinely purposed end. THE PURPOSE OF THE AGES. 77 V. THEIR'S from earthly dross and grossness Thy rude spirit to refine, Make a living, real experience The Great Artist's high design : The idea ever present To the everlasting will, This thy life's inspired ideal At all cost he must fulfil. Call to mind the things in vision Manifested on the Mount, In the moments when thy spirit Soared to love's own living fount ! 78 THE PURPOSE OF THE AGES. When the pattern there was shown thee Of the heavenly sanctuary, The pure shrine, where the full Godhead Dwells with man perpetually. What this earth but the rude quarry, Whence the shapely stones are hewn, To be placed each in due order In its destined niche full soon ? Here the din of tool and hammer, Seeming waste and foul debris, There the all-fair fabric riseth Noiseless and harmoniously Light affliction for the moment Of life's brief and passing day, By the antagonistic forces Round us now which freely play, Working out a nobler structure 'Neath this crumbling house of clay THE PURPOSE OF THE AGES. 79 VI. THIS the purpose we were called for Wholly to be filled with love, In our measure reproducing The all-perfect type above Flaming seraph, fair bright cherub, Type of the Incarnate Son, Of the many to come after The Elect, the First-born one. Man of sorrows eminently, And through life acquaint with grief, Of his character the features How bring out in full relief, Otherwise than by submitting To the process keen of pain, Which the hand of the great sculptor To perform on us may deign ? This his glorious purpose for us None can hinder nor frustrate ; For its perfect realisation From before time consecrate, Every birth of time must surely Its fulfilment mediate. 8o THE PURPOSE OF THE AGES. VII. ERE He laid earth's dark foundations, Firmly fixed its corner stone, When as yet dwelt the Omniscient In his majesty alone ; In the prime, the first dim dawning Of his ways, when not as yet On the lawless main his measuring Line and compass had been set, While the heavens were yet preparing, The clear crystal firmament, Ere the upper, nether waters Were within strait limits pent ; Ere the mighty mountain summits Were upheaven from the deep, When no form minutest, meanest, In the dust of earth did creep ; THE PURPOSE OF THE AGES. 8l In his all-foreknowing counsels, Ere these labour pangs of earth, Thou his latest, last creation Had'st already come to birth : Present even then thy concept, Fully, perfectly defined, In completest detail imaged, Stood before the Eternal Mind. For his keen, all-prescient wisdom Pierced the chaos wild and rude The preparatory periods Teeming with the uncouth and crude, Till its penetrating vision Rested with supreme delight On the earth fresh-won from chaos, And the dark domain of night ; Fully satisfied it rested Upon all within its ken, But its keenest joy was wakened By the world of ransomed men 82 THE PURPOSE OF THE AGES. Fair bright world the darkening shadow Flung by sin no longer haunts, Peopled to its utmost borders With pure holy habitants, Final aim of his creation, Goal towards which all things tend, Apex of the complex structure, Whither all the steps ascend ; Of immensely greater import Than the means must be the end. THE PURPOSE OF THE AGES. 83 VIII. EACH from each inseparable Are the links of the great chain Which connect thy mean beginning With the heights thou yet shalt gain ; Marshalled for thee stand the forces Of the Lord Omnipotent, Of the God who called thee, chose thee, On thy service all intent, Lest thy feet should slide or stumble, For thy help and succour sent. No array of angry foemen Should affright thee or appal, Chariots and horsemen many Gird thee like a flaming wall. Grace and glory he'll provide thee, Here upon thy pilgrim way, When the flesh and spirit faileth, Be thy strong support and stay ; There, the splendour of his presence Sheds its full refulgent ray. 84 THE PURPOSE OF THE AGES. IX. GREATEST gift ensures the lesser, He who gave for thee his son, Of all other gifts thou needest Grudgeth nor withholdeth one. Who a charge shall lay against thee ? The divine judicature Hath already sealed thy pardon, Thy acquittal then is sure. Thou a brand plucked from the burning, Charred and blackened by the flame, In thine own eyes foul and loathsome, Child of misery and shame, Freed from all that long hath made thee To thyself a thing abhorred, Clad in fair and priestly beauty Yet shalt stand before thy Lord, With the sanctities of heaven All thy being in accord I THE PURPOSE OF THE AGES. 85 X. ONE with Christ thou'st died and risen, Flung thy baser self away, Life eternal greets thy spirit, Welcomes thee to cloudless day. There the mystic Christ abideth Of whom thou art now a part, Flows the life blood to each member From the central, living heart : Since the breach between the human And divine hath been atoned, In the seat of supreme power Thy humanity's enthroned. As the stream blends its glad waters With the great unfathomed sea, Ransomed souls their being mingle With the all-glorious Deity. Spirit union disunites not At the touch of mortal thing, Pain, distress, or tribulation, Nakedness, or famishing, Over all thou art victorious, Vanquished for thee is their sting 86 THE PURPOSE OF THE AGES. XL THOUGH the fig-tree fail to blossom, No fruit grace the blighted vine, Waste the labour given the olive, Tho' all grass and herbage pine ; Tho' no flock at evL be folded, Idle stand the empty stall, In our God we joy and glory, In his love possess we all ! Sharpest sword or deadliest peril Cannot part the living cord, By which, in life's bundle, loving Men are bound with love's own Lord ! Nay, I doubt not, all such mischiefs But defeat their own design, And the spirit-bond draw closer 'Twixt the human and divine, Love from earth's vain hopes thus severed JRound eternal hope doth twine- THE PURPOSE OF THE AGES. 87 XII. HURL we then a proud defiance At all forms of outward ill ! They but execute the purpose Of the Everlasting Will, Which, for highest ends to fashion All adverse events, hath skill. Life and death, angelic powers, Mightiest principalities, Present things and things yet future, Heights and depths through all degrees, But assist the struggling creature To attain its perfect birth, Consummate the evolution Of the promised heavens and earth ; Thro' such painful process only Is accomplished aught of worth. 7 THE ETERNAL REFUGE. Ps. xc. THE ETERNAL REFUGE. THROUGHOUT all generations, thou, O Lord ! A refuge sure hast been in our distress; A shelter from the storm thy wings afford, A succour from the tempest's furious stress, A rock's cool shade in the parched wilderness ; Thro' everlasting ages still the same, The Eternal, Great " I Am " thy changeless name ! Before her travail pangs befell the earth, Or nature, labouring in convulsions sore, Brought the strong mountains forth, that monstrous birth, Ere ocean poured her round each rising shore, Trembling beneath the shock and billowy roar, Thou reign'dst alone, in undisturbed sway, The same now, and for aye, as in the yesterday. 92 THE ETERNAL REFUGE. Thou sitt'st supreme above the works of time, Immutable in thy eternity, Over all chance and change enthroned sublime In unapproached might and majesty ; Caprice, fate, circumstance, affect not thee : Thou keep'st in perfect peace, and undismayed, Whose minds are upon thee the Rock of Ages stayed. Their refuge and abode the Eternal God Beneath them stretch the everlasting arms, So the fond mother-bird spreads wide abroad Her wings, and shields her brood from rude alarms, From day's swift peril, and dread nightly harms ; Though thousands fall around on every hand, Sustained by strength divine, fearless, unmoved they stand. Built on the immutable, unshaken rock, Whose roots stand deep-fixed in eternity, They feel nor fear the superficial shock From which the births of time are seldom free ; When winds and waves beat fierce and vehemently 'Gainst the frail structures founded on the sand, Their utmost violence and fury they withstand. THE ETERNAL REFUGE. 93 The changes we weak timorous mortals dread, O'er-whelming, rude, world-wide catastrophies, When shakes the huge, firm earth on which we tread, And mountains plunge into the abyss of seas, The pangs and fears the peoples' hearts that seize, When into sore confusion all is hurled, They feel to be birth-pains of a better, fairer world. Man in these changes doth participate : Mortal, and frail, fashioned from crude, mean clay He bides not, but removes from state to state ; Continuing never in one fixed stay Doth the stern law of creaturehood obey ; Ever to ruin and destruction turned, As tho' the wrath divine against him fiercely burned. This wrath is love's strange jealous energy, Stronger than death, more cruel than the grave, Eager from sin's fell grasp the soul to free, Thro' fiery judgments the true self to save, From gross and fleshly filthiness to lave ; Love hath her coals of fire, her vehement flame, Which viewed thro' fleshly film we ignorantly mis- name. 94 THE ETERNAL REFUGE. She leads man up from this world's wilderness 'Mid blood, and fire, and pillars of thick smoke ; Thro' stormy dawn dark, doomful, pitiless, The day of God for man hath ever broke, The loud, deep trump his slumber hath awoke ; Then all our past but mere illusion seems, Surprised we start from vain, false, visionary dreams. I All flesh appears frail as the perishing grass, That flourishes for one brief transient hour, Whose bloom into decay doth quickly pass, Soon spent the splendour of its floral dower Beneath fierce noon-day's torrid, fiery power ; At morn in radiant beauty it appeared, The eve beholds its pride scorched, blasted, withered, seared : So all man's beauty, grace, and comeliness Fades in the presence of thy glorious light, Vile dust and ashes we ourselves confess Placed in the focus of thy piercing sight ; Upon our fairest hopes falls foulest blight, When our misdeeds are set in thy full glance, Our secret sins before thine awful countenance. THE ETERNAL REFUGE. 95 The most felicitous and favoured life Seems but one long continued vanity, With disappointment and vexation rife, Our three-score years and ten fond misery ; Our added days from labour sore scarce free ; Life appears tedious as a thrice-told tale, Its interests, aims, and hopes, its pleasures wholly fail. 96 THE ETERNAL REFUGE. II. O make us wise that we may understand Thy purpose herein, and thy high design ! May trace the wisdom that directs thy hand. Discern the workmanship of love divine ; Upon our ignorance and blindness shine ! And show us how, 'mid ruin and decay, The new world's fast foundations firmly thou dost lay! Grant us to see behind the cloudy screen Close veils thy working from the vulgar eye, \Yhat thine impenetrable counsels mean, Thy thoughts for our perception all too high ! Into thy secret things we would not pry The mystic volume that is seven-sealed We seek alone what may to mortals be revealed, THE ETERNAL REFUGE. 97 The inchoate beauty even now being wrought 'Midst this chaotic scene of grief and pain, The strange unearthly colouring oft-times caught By clouds surcharged with tempest, fire, and rain ; The growth that springs from life's sore stress and strain ; How amid anguish and disquietude, The inward man with strength is secretly renewed ; Assured life's sharpest and most desperate grief Is light and momentary when compared With the pure joy surpassing man's belief, The rapturous bliss unspeakable prepared For those, who, as thro' life they patient fared, Meekness, and truth, and righteousness have sought, Waiting to see what love and power divine hath wrought ; Knowing by inward, clear, sure consciousness, Thy spirit bearing witness with our own, That, 'mid the scathes that wreck, the woes oppress This earthly house, and cause the frequent moan, The shocks by which our hopes are overthrown, Some nobler form is coming to the birth, That with some holy thing labours the travailing earth, 98 THE ETERNAL REFUGE. Some fabric all divine, made not with hands, Nor sharing in the common frailty The imperfection that for ever brands Man's best performance with infirmity, A throne and temple for divinity, Where aye abides the presence of the Lord, A shrine where his great name is worthily adored. Impress with power upon us that this life Is to the life eterne the steep straight way, A bud to break in bloom with beauty rife And fragrance ne'er dissolves nor fades away, The stormy dawn that ushers in fair day ; Life's porch ; the vestibule where souls eschew Their garments flesh-defiled, and robes of light indue; Mere scaffolding of temporary use, And platform for the heavenly builder's feet, Swaying with every breath till shaken loose, Blown to all winds, defunct, and obsolete ; Shattered to dust the fabric now complete ; Veiling no longer from our darksome eyne The glorious architect's sublimely grand design. THE ETERNAL REFUGE. gg III. GRANT that the feverish vicissitude Here mocks our hopes of settled rest and peace, Affliction's frequent shocks severe and rude, From which is won nor respite, nor release, Pleasure's uncertain and precarious lease, May from earth's guileful snares our spirits free, And toss our tortured souls on thy eternity ! Grant the bright heavenly vision that transcends The births of time, mounts its vexed troubled stream Earth-soiled as thro' these tracts terrene it wends Gains the pure fount where living waters gleam, Escapes the tyranny of things that seem, The illusion of these cheap, vain, garish shows, The torment of unreal, imaginary woes ! 100 THE ETERNAL REFUGE. In the great purpose nearest to thine heart O make us eagerly co-operate ; Act out on life's brief stage our proper part, Assist in hastening on the blessed state Of earth and heavens sin-purged and new-create ; No self-absorbed spectators let us stand Of the marvels brought to pass by thine Almighty hand ! Thou art the potter, we the plastic clay, Fashion and shape us after thine own will ; Break up our hardness, in the mortar bray Our stubborn pride, thy mind in us fulfil ; Mould us each one a fitting utensil, An honoured vessel for the Master's board, With superscription graved, " Holiness to the Lord ! " O look upon the labour of our hands, And bless our purposes for they are thine ! We seek but to accomplish thy commands, To enter into thy sublime design ; Let the fair beauty of the Lord forth-shine,- That inner glory secretly being wrought Thro' light affliction, past all utterance, all thought ! THE ETERNAL REFUGE. IOI Let some faint gleam thereof at length be seen, Ere closes life's long, dark, tempestuous day ! Like as on evening clouds the golden sheen Shot from the sinking sun's last farewell ray, When on their scattering ranks the light-shafts play ; Now in our eventide let there be light, Ere on us there descend the shades of mortal night ! Comfort us now after the tedious years Wherein thy afflicting hand on us hath lain ! Return to those, who long have sown in tears Soil-harrowed by the cruel rack of pain ! Quicken to life the grief-bedewed grain ! Smile thou upon us, in that smile is spring, So shall our desolate hearts henceforth exult and sing! BEFORE THE BATTLE. Ps. xx. BEFORE THE BATTLE. IN the day of thy distress, When the foemen sorely press, And their threatening front display Marshalled in fierce proud array, Let the God of Jacob hear, Jahveh to thy prayer give ear ! Help thee from the sanctuary, Out of Zion strengthen thee ! From his awful cloudy seat, The dark thunder's close retreat, Home of the consuming flame, Manifest his holy name ! I06 BEFORE THE BATTLE. Thence the volleying levin gleams In swift, livid, torrent streams ! There the fiery tokens see Of his angered jealousy, Eager to protect and save Who his care and succour crave ! In thy day of trouble bring Thine appropriate offering ! Freely tender all thy heart, With thy fondest idols part- All that's dearest in thine eyes, Bind with cords the sacrifice ! Lust from out thy being stamp, Cast that Achan from the camp ! All the blood of self-hood spill, Make thine own the supreme will ! Purge thee from the leaven of pride, Let no lurking evil hide ! BEFORE THE BATTLE. IO7 .These Jehovah cannot brook, Unto this man doth he look Contrite, and in spirit poor, With the pure he shows him pure ; Men of haughty looks and high He beholds with distant eye. He will all thy hopes fulfil When thou makest thine His will, Hearts instinct with heavenly fire See accomplished their desire ; Armoured in celestial light Thou shalt vanquish in the fight. Lo the sacred levin rends Heaven's high vault, and swift descends ! On the proffered sacrifice Falls acceptance from the skies ! Savour of a smell most sweet Riseth to the mercy seat ! 108 BEFORE THE BATTLE. Freely mounts the heart's true prayer, Climbs the gracious golden stair, Entereth the inmost shrine, Where the ministers divine In the heavenly presence stand, Waiting the divine command ! Thence like flashing flames they speed Help to bring thee in thy need ; Put no trust in fleshly force, Chariot or battle horse, Wait upon Jehovah, He Gives alone the victory ! Now know I the Lord is nigh To the saint's distressful cry, Thro' wide earth 'twill yet be known Jahveh careth for his own ; Succour in their need is given Holpen from the highest heaven. BEFORE THE BATTLE. 1OQ The salvation Thou hast sought, Seasonably for thee wrought, We thy followers shall share, Strong through thee to do and dare ; Victory by thee secured For all Israel is assured. We too our free-gift will bring, Blend it with thine offering, By thy high example fired, With a kindred hope inspired ; In thy name our foes defy, Lift the drooping banner high ! Victory our banners crown, They are fallen and cast down ! From the east nor from the west Comes promotion, 'tis confest ; Jahveh, supreme over all, Hearkeneth his people's call. TRANSFIGURATION THROUGH SUFFERING. i PETER in. 18-20. TRANSFIGURATION THROUGH SUFFERING. THE flesh to death abandoned, liberty And life abundant are the spirit's fee, She now obtains her due supremacy ; Her forfeited inheritance regains, Enters upon her rightful, fair domains, Thro' the strait difficult gate of travail pains ; Escapes for ever sin's enslaving mesh Close woven by the witchery of flesh, In heaven's pure life-fount bathes herself afresh. 114 TRANSFIGURATION THROUGH SUFFERING. Ardent she presses upward still and nigher The blest celestial presence, with the choir Seraphic to unite her sole desire. Even He the just, who for unjust men died, His spirit felt with quickening power supplied As from his veins fast ebbed life's purple tide. His spiritual forces were matured Through the deep pain and anguish he endured, Over all flesh full power he thus procured : In that new might thro' death's dark realms he sped, With the glad gospel for the imprisoned dead, For bowed-down souls uplifting of the head. His way thro' all obstructing foes he fought, For universal man deliverance wrought, Not for the quick alone, his victory bought TRANSFIGURATION THROUGH SUFFERING. 115 Freedom for whom dark Sheol's bonds detain, Spirits in that drear prison long had lain, Unhumbled, and unbroke they spurned his reign ; Refused the fiery baptism of pain, Chose the unhallowed, lawless way of Cain, Immersed in pleasure, ease, and greed of gain. They entered not the ark with the righteous few, What time the heavens their dreadful curtain drew, And the wild deluge swept the world from view ; But o'er them the all-whelming waters past, Who wrath against the day of wrath amassed, From the fair rainbow-circled earth outcast. The covering now is rent, the mean disguise Still veils his glory from dim flesh-filmed eyes ; Spirits adore whom mortal men despise : Il6 TRANSFIGURATION THROUGH SUFFERING. Erst disobedient souls rebel no more, Awed by that visage marred, those marks of gore, That tell of the stupendous pains he bore. II. ALIKE for saved men as for him who saves- Avail the fiery baptismal waves, The path to blessing tribulation paves. Witness the malefactor at Christ's side Proffering kingly homage ere he died, Abjured his scornful rage, his rebel pride. TRANSFIGURATION THROUGH SUFFERING. 117 Thro' the rent flesh, by sharpest anguish torn, Breaks the glad dawn of fair redemption's morn, Into Christ's kingdom a blest babe is born : Now lives the spirit as the flesh decays, The gibe of blasphemy is changed to praise, On his late-found prince and chief bent his rapt gaze. Himself already numbered with the dead Of death-doomed men in Christ he sees the head, Deep in his breast bright new-create hopes are bred. His lips e'en now tasting death's bitter wave His monarch greets this man in guise of slave, Sees glory's pathway issue from the grave ; In shame and suffering finds kingly worth, Basis of empire shareth not with earth, But from the abyss of anguish springs to birth. Il8 TRANSFIGURATION THROUGH SUFFERING. The secret from his people kept he knows, Death, insult, torture are no real woes, Nor Greek, nor Roman, Israel's deadliest foes ; And in his t new-born faith ecstatic cries, " Remember me when king !" his king replies : " To-day thou'lt be with me in Paradise." With the meek submissive flock the Shepherd feeds By living waters, and thro v fruitful meads, He finds full-satisfied his wakened needs. Thus must He yet appear to all the race In unveiled majesty, before his face Of awful love sin's hardness melts apace. 'Tis suffering crowns the br6w with aureole, Imprints imperial features on the soul, Empowers frail, feeble man to play the kingly role. THE REDEEMED CITY. Ps. XL VI. to XLVIII. THE REDEEMED CITY. GOD is a refuge sure and strong, Ever at hand to help and save ; E'en when he seems to tarry long, And round his ark the tempests rave,- He reckoneth up his people's tears, With the first dawn his aid appears. Tho' the light mountains leap and skip In wild delirious revelry, And their imperious summits dip Deep in the unplumbed central sea ; While the pale terror-stricken shore Shudders at ocean's maddening roar, 122 THE REDEEMED CITY. Fearless we rest amidst the rage, The shock of the resistless storm, Tho' the fierce war the elements wage The face of continents deform ; Fearless we rest and undismayed, High o'er the storm our hopes are laid. Founded upon the whelming seas, On the wild flood established, Home of tranquility and ease, With living streams celestial fed, By the fell foeman's foot untrod Unmoved remains the Mount of God, The heavenly Jerusalem, Where with his saints Jehovah dwells ; Nor violence nor stratagem Prevails against her citadels ; Her habitants abide secure, Their bread dealt free, their waters sure. THE REDEEMED CITY. 123 Munitions of protecting rocks Encircle her on every side, The steep, sheer, crystal rampart mocks The angry powers 'gainst her allied ; A wall of fire engirds her round, Within 'tis peaceful holy ground. Jahveh himself shall be to her A generous, large, full-brimming stream, On whose still breast no pillager Guides the black brazen-beaked trireme ; Galley with bulwarks towering high Nor gallant bark shall pass thereby. 124 THE REDEEMED CITY. II. BREAKS the impetuous eastern gale On ships of Tarshish in their pride, In vain they spread the bursting sail, Idly the oarsman's art is plied ; In vain they stay the tottering mast, The tacklings yield before the blast : See ! where the meeting tides conflict, 'Mid the loud billows' wild turmoil, The ill-starred, shattered derelict Heaps on the shore the scattered spoil ! Rich is the harvest of the sand, The gathered gains of many a land. THE REDEEMED CITY. 125 Broke is the bow ! and snapped the spear ! The chariot given to the flame, Blood-crimsoned garb, and foeman's gear ! The men of might are put to shame ! Strong stupor, deep perpetual sleep, Earth's heroes in oblivion steep ! For, in the morning watch, the Lord Looked from his tabernacling cloud ; Remembe: ing his plighted word Like a roused lion cried aloud Upon his foes, smit with dismay Melted the foeman's might away. 126 THE REDEEMED CITY III. LIKE tempest- stricken mountain peak, Emerging from the night of storm Ruin thereon had sought to wreak, And all its majesty deform ; The clinging folds of lingering mist Are with the morning's splendour kissed. Nature's kind healing hand inwreathes With strange new grace the landscape lone, On the bleak desolate scene she breathes A beauty all before unknown, Jealous the injury to repair Inflicted on her features fair. THE REDEEMED CITY. 127 So from night's gloom and mantling cloud Shines forth the new Jerusalem, Off-flinging her dark murksome shroud, A royal, sparkling diadem, A jewelled crown in Jahveh's hands Forth to the wondering world she stands, Fair as the clear, unclouded moon Whole-orbed ! bright as the blazing sun Riding in high meridian noon, Joying his arduous course to run ! Terrible, as in the battle day A bannered host in full array ! Her light has come, the light of God Has risen on her obscurity ; Conspicuous it beams abroad For furthest ends of earth to see, Whom shades of darkness still oppress, The prey of bitter, sharp distress. 128 >THE REDEEMED CITY. All that her beauty sought to dim Contributes to enhance her joy, Swells the full choral triumph hymn, Her ransomed people's grave employ ; Gladness is given her for distress, Garments of praise for heaviness. " The day hath dawned, arise and shine ! " She hears the all-creative voice, Wakes from her lethargy supine, Obeys the blest command, " Rejoice ! " The dust and ash from off her shakes, As the bright morn upon her breaks. THE REDEEMED CITY. I2Q IV. SHAME-SMITTEN earth's proud kings pass by Struck dumb with deep astonishment, Gazing askance with sidling eye, These things to alter impotent, For to the Lord belong the shields Of earth, the power supreme he wields. Our adversaries are afraid, Confounded at these dread portents ; On the pale lip the hand they lay, Silent and deep in their laments ; As serpents in the dust that creep, As worms from out their holes that peep. 130 . THE REDEEMED CITY. The hill of Zion hath become The joy of the wide-peopled earth, Of myriad tribes the acknowledged home, Jubilant with high holy mirth ; All nations come to worship there, Their chosen, hallowed shrine of prayer. Around her bulwarks and her walls We walk, mark well the embattled towers, Explore her palaces and halls Thro' days of peace and tranquil hours ; These marvellous events we spell Latest posterity to tell. Like as we've heard we now have seen In the blest city of our God ; The sights that greet our dazzled een Transcend the fame has gone abroad ; Past griefs from memory they blot, The former troubles are forgot. THE REDEEMED CITY. 13! Calmly the past we meditate, How idly puerile appear The apprehensions that so late Filled our weak hearts with coward fear ! The terrors that so great had grown 'Mid night's thick gloom with morn are flown Where is the militant array Late lay encamped around our home, Inspiring such profound dismay None from his place would dare to roam ? Where who about our ramparts hung, The people of strange barbarous tongue ? 132 THE REDEEMED CITY. V. How were my inmost bowels stirred, When, pealing harshly from afar, The trump's deep piercing blast was heard, And all the dread alarm of war ! Visions of horror uncontrolled In crowding billows o'er me rolled. I looked, and lo ! the earth was waste, The heavens all desolate of light ! The mountains shook and fled in haste, The hills had vanished from the sight ! Of man and beast the land was lone, The affrighted fowls far off were flown ! THE REDEEMED CITY. 133 From the frontier of distant Dan Is heard the snorting of his steeds ! As the foe's swift-advancing van On vengeful task of judgment speeds ; Hark ! the destroyer on his way, The ravening lion scents the prey. E'en as a land the Lord doth bless, Dear object of his care, earth smiled Before them, a bleak wilderness, Down-trampled, blasted, and defiled, As where had waged some deadly fray, Marked the fell desolater's sway ! How trembled we from hour to hour, As breathless hurried in the posts With tidings of the invader's power Pressing unhindered thro' our coasts ! With pale, fear-stricken countenance We followed his blood-tracked advance : 134 THE REDEEMED CITY. Here they laid up their carriages, They lodged at Geba for this night Now they are past the passages, And Gibeah has ta'en to flight ! Gallim lifts up a cry of fear, Which Anathoth and Laish hear ! Well we remember that dread day On the hill of Nob he took his stand, Marshall'd war's terrible array, And shook contemptuously his hand Against our bulwarks many-towered, 'Neath which like timorous sheep we cowered. As some wide-spreading vigorous tree Lifts high its head in leafy pride, Of goodly growth and fair to see, Well planted by the river side, That under its usurping boughs Rival or neighbour none allows ; THE REDEEMED CITY. 135 Thus their deep darkening shade they flung O'er Jesse's shorn, truncated stem, When on the mount their banners hung Over against Jerusalem ; As tho' to rob of light and air The nursling of Jehovah's care ; Till roused to jealousy he lops The huge, proud, earth - o'ershadowing bough ; The arm uplifted powerless drops, Jesse's poor stem may flourish now Of the broad forest fairest crown, A plant of large world-wide renown. 136 THE REDEEMED CITY. VI. Silenced the sneer, the taunting gibe, The bitter boast of blasphemy ! Where now the learn'd, the busy scribe, His craft and frustrate industry ? The vaunting utterances he wrote None ventures now against us quote. Their braggart voice they lifted high In scurrilous, blaspheming tone ; The living God they durst defy, Assailed with scorn the heavenly throne ; Dared to compare with the Supreme The figments of their baseless dream : THE REDEEMED CITY. 137 " Shall we not, as we dealt with them Whose hope was placed in other gods, So deal with this Jerusalem, This Jahveh she so loudly lauds What god is there of any land Hath saved his servants from our hand ? ' Boast ye no more, nor vainly mock, Abate your arrogance and pride ! Their Rock was not as our Rock, His people's hope who ne'er belied Our enemies themselves report No god can save in such a sort. The daughter of Jerusalem Thy boastful utterance treats with scorn ; Whom insolently dost thou contemn ? 'Gainst whom exaltest high the horn ? The Holy One of Israel Between the Cherubim doth dwell ! 138 THE REDEEMED CITY. As if the axe should vainly vaunt Against the hand therewith that hews ; The rod with impotency taunt The arm its ministry should use : Jahveh's strange judgment-work complete, Its instruments are obsolete. VII. OUR loss retrieved, we take the prey, Seize on the late recovered spoil ; On our just fief the hand we lay, Win back the fruits of our own toil ; Now that hath ceased the spoiler's rage, Re-enter on our heritage. THE REDEEMED CITY. 139 From Dan to Beersheba the land To us is subjugate again ; The Lord hath issued His command, Her desolate highways flow with men ; Manasseh and far Gilead Avouch Jerusalem their head. Shechem and Succoth's fruitful vale Are measured out for us by line ; Judah their law-giver all hail, Moab ! the menial's task is thine ; Our banners o'er Philistia flew, On Edom we cast out the shoe. The stranger's soil far as the eye Can range hath fallen to our lot ; At our dispose its treasures lie, The wells deep digg'd that we digg'd not ; Vineyards unplanted by our hand, Homes ready-built, at our command. I4O THE REDEEMED CITY. Henceforth we number as our friends Rahab and haughty Babylon ; E'en to the earth's remotest ends The nations' hearts are fixed upon Israel as their true father-land, Where'er hoar ocean laves the strand. The oppressor of the earth hath ceased, Who smote the peoples with his rod ; From spoilure are the lands released By the despot's iron feet down-trod Who made the world a wilderness Hath none to pity his distress. The earth is quiet and at rest, She breaketh forth in voice of song, Since none surviveth to molest, None breathes to do her scathe or wrong ; The forest claps its hands for glee Since from the feller's axe set free. THE REDEEMED CITY. 14! VIII. FOR thee ! thy fame is but a breath, A wind that passeth swift away ; A shameful, ignominious death Waits thy inglorious outcast clay ; In vain thou seekest to secure The customed rights of sepulture ! In vain thou seek'st a burial-place Amongst the honourable dead ; With men of pure, high-lineaged race Would'st rest in peace thy perjured head ! Hades' dark crypt they scorn to share, Challenge thy right of entry there. 142 THE REDEEMED CITY. Thou who did'st erst thyself account A god, and like to the Most High ; Would'st sit upon the holy mount, Erect thy throne above the sky ; Thy pomp is levelled with the grave, The worm consumes thy beauty brave. Sheol at thy approach doth wake, She summoneth her shades to see The conqueror wide earth did shake, They look upon thee narrowly ; They ask " Art thou too fallen thus, Art thou become like unto us ?" THE REDEEMED CITY. OUR Priest-king doth no longer stand Clothed in habiliments of shame, Our mortal foe at his right hand With strong irrefutable claim ; Full expiation hath been made, Our debt e'en to the double paid ! In his full beauty he appears, Benign, majestically meek ; No longer the defacing tears Stream frequent down his channelled cheek ; From his dimmed eyes strange joy hath gleamed, It is the year of his redeemed ! 144 THE REDEEMED CITY. In our prolonged affliction he Felt the affliction as his own, Touched with profoundest sympathy, Flesh of our flesh, bone of our bone ; Our sorrow his, our sore annoy, His the rejoicing in our joy. 'Twas our reproach that broke his heart When came the foe against our wall, And hurled the flaming fiery dart Words steeped in wormwood and in gall ; The taunts against us freely flung His gentle soul with anguish wrung. Our day of trouble and rebuke Was that to him of bitterest woe ; Since our infirmities he took His cup was filled to overflow ; Sore stricken was he for our wound, So finely was his spirit tuned. THE REDEEMED CITY. 145 Our chastisement on him was laid, For our transgressions he was bruised, For us the scapegoat he was made Since for our guilt he stood accused ; His wounds remedial balsam yield, His people by his stripes are healed. In sackcloth clad, foul ashes shed Upon his consecrated brow, In the vile dust his kingly head In meek abasement he did bow ; And called, with strong outcries and tears, On him who saved him from his fears. 146 THE REDEEMED CITY. X. THE spectacle of his great grief Woke our insensibility, In bitter tears we found relief, And wept with him in sympathy, To sorrow and contrition brought As by contagion from him caught. The holy unction on him shed In gracious shower our souls imbues, As the oil on Aaron's sacred head Flowed to his furthest skirt, as dews Falling on Hermon's heights distill Their balmy sweets on Zion's hill. THE REDEEMED CITY. 147 We look upon the wounded one, With anguish and compunction torn, As for a loved and only son, Alone, apart, we sit and mourn, Till opes a cleansing fount divine, Whose waters with our tears combine. From sin's alloy and dross now purged, Regained our prime, our best estate, Wiped out the charge against us urged Rebellious city designate, Transformed are we, create anew, And named Jehovah-Tzidkenu. Sick from foot-sole to crown of head, And to the innermost heart-core ; With the blood of her defilement red, One universal fluent sore ; Behold her now from sickness free, Forgiven her foul iniquity ! 148 THE REDEEMED CITY. XI. Henceforth, O Lord ! thy glorious Name We will exalt, thy praises speak ; Of all thou'st wrought spread wide the fame, Who rightest the oppressed and weak ; All things are present to thy thought, Thy counsels with deep wisdom fraught. Earth's fenced cities are a heap, O'erthrown the Babels of the world ; Perished the impregnably strong keep, Into sheer hopeless ruin hurled ; Those cities ne'er shall be rebuilt Wherein thy servants' blood was spilt ! THE REDEEMED CITY. 149 Thou wast a refuge for the poor And needy in their sore distress, Bulwark and shelter strong and sure 'Gainst the wild raging tempest's stress ; A shadow from the burning heat When fierce the blasting noon-beams beat ! THE DISCIPLINE OF PAIN. HRB. xii. i to 13. THE DISCIPLINE OF PAIN. I. DESPISE not thou the chastening of the Lord, Nor weary of his strong rebuking word ; Strive not the healthful flow of grief to stay, Nor prematurely for deliverance pray. Reckon thy pain no purposeless, vain thing, But as the precious stone on life's dull ring ; Treasure its moments with a miser's care, Thou yet may'st deem them all too few and rare ;- When standing on the brink of heaven's far shore May'st wish thee back on earth to suffer more Once tasted the fair, blest, ambrosial fruit, Brought forth from griefs unpalatable root, 154 THE DISCIPLINE OF PAIN. And sore regret if there regrets could be Where thy will's blent with God's eternally Thy chance of winning has now passed for aye The pearls in sorrow's sunless depths that lay. Thy sorrow as a crown thou then shalt wear, Clasp to thy close embrace the irksome care ; Each tear-drop shall transmute to some rich gem Thou'dst miss from thy consummate diadem. When flesh is pierced with sorrow's sharpest pang,- 'Tis to prepare a place wherein to hang The jewels wherewith they are beautified, Who share the honours of the slain Lamb's Bride. THE DISCIPLINE OF PAIN. 155 II. FAINT not e'en when thy torment grows intense, This momentary grief means gain immense ; When fiercest flames the furnace, then most sure And full the metal's flow, dross-cleansed and pure. Fear not ! who giveth power to the faint With thy great weariness is well acquaint ; 'Tis when our youthful vigour wholly fails, The strength divine for succour most avails. He maketh sore, then binds the broken heart; Wounds to display his wondrous healing art : Puts to his people's lips the bitter bowl, Whose sovereign virtues renovate the soul. 156 THE DISCIPLINE OF PAIN. Regard not chastisement as penalty, Cure rather of sin's baleful malady ; Pleasure's drugged fulsome cup for dregs contains Medicinal and salutary pains. All forms of suffering generate at length A dormant energy and latent strength ; Some strange remedial force still underlies The most o'er-whelming of calamities. The change that ends illusive happiness, And frees us from the world's too-fond caress, Proves the true mystic talisman to ope Vistas of joy transcending utmost hope. Is thine through life the weeping, melting mood, With frequent-starting tears thine eyes bedewed? Griefs film-detergent, purifying flow Of regions far clear vision shall bestow. THE DISCIPLINE OF PAIN. 157 III. ALL chastening for the present grievous seems, Its gracious purpose the chastised mis-deems ; Not while fierce wintry storms lay waste the ground- Fair laughing flowers and fragrant fruits are found :- While still the darkened welkin thunders loud Thy spirit wrapt in thickest earth-born shroud The bright light in the cloud remains unseen, All veiled its inner-lining's silvery sheen. Who goeth forth beneath cold weeping skies, And life's wild rude inclemency defies Sowing in patience and assured belief, Well laden comes with rich, ripe, golden sheaf. 158 THE DISCIPLINE OF PAIN. They who through tedious years were plagued full sore, Whom suffering's long continued stress outwore, On them the beauty of the Lord shall shine, Made manifest thro' weakness and decline ; In them the workmanship divine shall be Shown, for their children yet unborn to see How Heaven from ruin and decay can raise Material? for millenniums of praise. THE DISCIPLINE OF PAIN. 159 IV. LIFT up the hands that hang, the unhinged knees ! Keep the straight path ! lest when thy brother sees Thee halt or turn aside, the strong ! the bold ! On virtue he relax his feeble hold. Consider Him who trod life's dreary road, Bearing for thee sin's dread stupendous load, By vision of the distant and unseen Up-borne, despised things present and terrene; Prince-leader of the faithful martyr band, To whom this earth was a dry barren land ; Who, finding here no true congenial home, Looked for the abiding city yet to come. Encompassed by their cloudy legion host, Henceforth be this alone thy pride and boast, That to thee all-unworthy has been given, With firstborn souls a place and name in heaven. l6o THE DISCIPLINE OP PAIN. V. IF thou endure with patience, as a son God deals with thee ; assure thee that not one True child the rod of discipline escapes, In some one form of pain's oft shifting shapes. To be from chastisement exempt would prove Goodness unwisely kind, defective love : By keenest anguish, pain's most poignant smart, Thy interest thou mayest gauge in Love's great heart. Let sorrow be the royal seal and sign Proclaims thee sprung from parentage divine ; The greatness of thy sufferings presage The glory of the promised heritage. THE DISCIPLINE OF PAIN. l6l VI. THE fathers of our flesh, our worldly weal Consulting, spared us not preferred to steel Their hearts against our passionate outcries, Flesh to its higher ends to sacrifice. Obsequious reverence to them we paid, Unquestioning their every wish obeyed, For nobler ends let us obedience give, Accept the birth-pains by which spirits live. Too often their corrections, through caprice, The faults they sought to cure served but to increase No stroke the All-wise God in love inflicts The highest, wisest purpose contradicts : l62 THE DISCIPLINE OF PAIN. No low ignoble aim he contemplates, But flesh to spirit's claims subordinates, The Father of our spirits his chief care That in the blest, eternal life they share ; That freed from the entanglement of flesh- Its subtle, intricate, close-woven mesh Like birds escaped the fowler's broken snare, We soar to breathe the clear celestial air ; That to the claims of flesh thro' suffering dead We drink, at love's pure living fountain-head, The love divine into our inmost heart, Love which alone true sonship can impart. Lord ! who art light, since fellowship with thee Implies a soul emancipate and free From fleshly thrall, O grant us to possess Participation in thy holiness ; THE DISCIPLINE OF PAIN. 163 By chastisement the power of darkness smite, Meetness bestow, to share with saints in light The kingdom of thy well beloved son ; For this high end no shame no sacrifice we shun. IN EXITU ISRAEL. Ps. cxiv. IN EXITU ISRAEL. WHEN from the house of our bondage we came The Lord went before us in pillar of flame ; Judah was then for Jehovah the shrine, Israel felt the afflatus divine. Backward astonished the startled waves flew, Full-flowing Jordan his waters withdrew ; Leaped the huge mountains like high-bounding rams, Skipped, as in terror, the hills like young lambs. Whence this dismay, thou disquieted sea, Proud-swelling Jordan, why tim'rously flee ? Why quake ye thus, ye strong mountains and hills, Whence is this panic creation that fills ? 12 l68 IN EXITU ISRAEL. Earth trembles sore at the presence of God, Over all nature is stretched forth his rod, Turning the rock into clear living streams, Wonders performing surpassing our dreams. Still is it with the Lord's Israel so, Forth from sin's slavery whene'er they go ; Still is there heard as the shout of a king, When earth's vile shackles from off them they fling. The earth is deep moved : to the heart of the sea The mountains down-hurled ; the little hills flee ; When thou goest forth for thy people, O God ! Thro' the dread wilderness making a road. Day's bright blazing orb is eclipsed at high noon, To sackcloth it turneth, to blood the pale moon, When the Lord's notable, terrible day Breaks, that forbids us in slumber delay. IN EXITU ISRAEL. 169 Then we awake from sin's perilous sleep, With the Lord's Israel our passover keep ; Freely ourselves as his people avow, His will obeying whereto all things bow. All things are possible for Israel, Vanquished the forces of death and of hell ! Faith's potent rod in the babe's feeble hand Victory winneth o'er ocean and land. All that thy heavenward course would impede Must be removed in the day of thy need ; Comes the temptation in whatsoe'er shape Straight is provided a way of escape. When thro' the fire thou passest the flame Plays round thee harmless, impotent, tame ; Though thro' deep waters thy pathway shall lie, All their proud fury thy faith shall defy. 170 IN EXITU ISRAEL. Surely 'gainst Israel enchantment is not, Vain the diviner's contrivance and plot ! No weapon fashioned with purpose to kill Prospers apart from the heavenly will. All things submit to Jehovah's control, Vainly the war-smith enkindleth the coal ! Vainly the waster essays to destroy, Blunted each tool he would 'gainst thee employ Fear not the arrow that flieth by day ! No nightly plague let thy spirit dismay ! Object of care to the Great King of kings Round thee are folded his covering wings. From the fierce glare of the burning noontide God's tabernacle a shade will provide, 'Mid the thick gloom of the sable-hued night The fiery pillar shall furnish thee light. IN EXITU ISRAEL. 171 Askest them, " how should Jehovah prepare Bread in the wilderness, naked and bare ? " Manna shall drop round thy tents like the dew, Food for thy hunger surprising and new. Rageth thy thirst unendurably sore ? Rivers abundant their streams shall outpour, Source most unlooked for refreshment shall bring, From the hard rock living fountains upspring. Jahveh the sword of thy excellency Helper and Shield ! Who is like unto thee Favoured of Heaven, O blest Israel ! Aloud and afar his high praises forth-tell ! A PEOPLE FOR HIS PRAISE. Ps. LXVI. and LXVII. A PEOPLE FOR HIS PRAISE. SING to the Lord, with voice of mirth, Break forth in song, O silent earth ! And bless his sacred name ; Say unto God, " How great art thou ! Thine enemies before thee bow, And kiss the dust for shame." Sublimely throned Jehovah rules, Forbear, ye proud rebellious fools, On high to uprear the horn ; Rather with us your voice unite, Proclaim his all-victorious might, To praise convert your scorn. 176 A PEOPLE FOR HIS PRAISE. Come and behold the works of God, Sustained by his strong arm we trod Dry-foot the threatening wave ; Into firm land he turns the main, O'er earth and sea extends his reign, His chosen saints to save. List, while we tell what he hath wrought, The help to our sore need he brought, Numbered amongst the dead ! Our failing life how he restored, New hopes into our spirits poured, Lifted on high our head. With fear and anguish wild beset, Entangled in affliction's net, Birds taken in the snare ; He broke for us the fowler's toil, The spoiler robbed of his sure spoil, Responsive to our prayer. A PEOPLE FOR HIS PRAISE. 177 Men rode in triumph o'er our head, Deep waters o'er life's path were spread, We passed thro' flood and flame ; As silver from its vile dross tried, In pain's fierce furnace purified, Thro' woe to wealth we came. O, praise ye our prayer-hearing Lord ! Who hath despised not nor abhorred The poor man's mean estate, But bent Him to his feeble cry, With tenderest regard drew nigh, Raised him and made him great. 'Tis fitting we His name should bless, And vows pledged freely in distress Be cheerfully discharged ; Joyful and loud to praise 'tis meet Who set at liberty our feet, Our narrow room enlarged. 178 A PEOPLE FOR HIS PRAISE. When we shall publish wide abroad The wonders our all-gracious God Wrought for our burdened souls ; His way through earth's bounds shall be known, Mankind their idol gods disown, Fling them to bats and moles. From the far climes of furthest earth, Distrest by spiritual dearth, The perishing peoples come Crying : "Our father's hopes were lies, Things profitless and vanities, To our entreaties dumb." Henceforth from wars the peoples cease, Earth yields her plentiful increase, Unstained her rivers glide ; Their spears they turn to pruning hooks, Their swords to plough-shares ; haughty looks And fierce they lay aside. A PEOPLE FOR HIS PRAISE. 179 Exalted now in all men's eyes, See Salem o'er the mountains rise ! The nations thither flow ; " Come let us scale the sacred mount " They cry, " where springs life's full free fount. We too will with you go." EPICTETUS. EPICTETUS. WHATEVER shall befall, Within, without, is all (So spake the Master, in mean guise of slave) Of " good and evil " blent, And " things indifferent ; " His manly counsel take, and prove thee wise and. brave ! " Good " is a thing of mind, In so far as affined Its temper to the true, the pure, the right ; " Evil " the will all prone, Flung from its proper throne, And mastership by force of passion's headstrong might. 13 184 EPICTETUS. Thine is the good or ill, Which, cleaving to thee still, Attests thy value in the scale divine ; The rest is but a loan, Another's ; not thine own ; That which for aye abides that alone reckon thine. Nought else of moment is As source of bane or bliss, Things towards or from which eagerly men run ! Misnamed prosperity, Sickness, loss, poverty, Let not the illusive show tempt thee to seek or shun ; No vain appearance mock Thy hopes, no terror shock Thy high resolve ; but 'neath the hollow mask And show, what each new thing Of good or ill can bring, As fair or frowning form accosts thee, promptly ask. EPICTETUS. 185 'Tis not within thy power To fix thy natal hour Or place, to choose thine earthly destiny ; By circumstances bound, Conditioned all around, Best use to make of things for this alone thou'rt free. Poor toy for hours of mirth, Of scant intrinsic worth, The ball the players lightly toss at will ; All centres in the game, Thence alone praise or blame Accrues proportioned to the player's strength and skill. What luck the dies may bring, When on the board they ring, The gamester knows not, much less can command ; His be it great or small The number that shall fall With utmost skill to employ such chance as comes to hand. 186 EPICTETUS. What but mere balls and dies All to the sealed eyes Of low-browed worldlings stands in most esteem ? Assigning thy reward Thy Master will regard Not the theme given to treat, but how thou treat'st the theme. It boots not whether placed Low in life's scale, or graced With all that beauty, wit, or wealth e'er gave ; In either case thy part Calls for consummate art, Treading time's stage in mask of king, swain, knight, or knave. Man works in various stuff, The delicate or rough, Shaping the material to his taste or whim ; Thine be this task assigned, To mould aright the mind, Her features fashion true, a perfect portrait limn. EPICTETUS. 187 Thy aim to concentrate Give heed, avoid the fate Dogs their uncertain steps who strive to keep Two purposes in view, The illusive and the true ; From such distracted toil but scant the gain they reap. To this true end be leal, If, hourly, things unreal Seduce thee thence, thou'st missed life's one grand aim : Straight to the goal then hie, Accomplish ere thou die The supreme task for which the stern hours lay their claim. Bound for a distant shore, Whence thou return'st no more, Let no base lure of earth tempt thy fond stay ; If gathering shells or weed The shipman call, make speed To re-embark, and fling thy flotsam spoil away. l88 EPICTETUS. With wealth increases care And irksome cark ; they fare The best whom fewest fretful wants disturb : Who multiplies his needs Troubles unnumbered breeds ; True affluence theirs alone unbridled lust who curb. Thy pride and vanity Provoke the enmity Of minds, like thine, still deep immersed in self; His splendour who displays The self-same fault betrays, Prompts the poor thief to steal, base thirst for earthly pelf. Ne'er can true liberty Be thine, until thou free Thy soul from eager greed of grosser good ; Would'st humbly cringe and fawn ? To please the filthy spawn, Hot luxury doth hatch, adapt thy changeful mood ? EPICTETUS. 189 Most vulnerable they, Their lives who subject lay. By fond attachments to rude fortune's blows ; Where best the stroke may tell Of aim directed well, Shielding his shrinking head, the snake instructs his foes. Prepare thee to endure ; The hardship will inure Thy powers, and thy yet lacking strength supply : The painful exercise, Exacting tears and cries, Deprived thee, through disuse sterile thy virtues lie, Reckon thou with the cost Of being wise, nor boast Untimely of the heights thou hop'st to reach : Master thine own task well To others slow to tell Thy lore, apt scholarship secure ere thou dost teach. EPICTETUS. Let thy life speak for thee, Than froth-spume of the sea Lighter thy word, respondent not thy deed ; The law supreme enacts, The fruit of our own acts, Our influence shall spread, wholesome or hurtful seed. Who the Olympian prize Aspire toward despise Inglorious ease and self-indulgent claims; Using such abstinence As thwarts thy grosser sense, Let thy pains their's surpass, as loftier tend thine aims. For nought we nothing win ; Think well ere thou begin The task, if thou hast strength to carry through ; Lest men with mockery greet Thy merited defeat, And the presumption of thine enterprise thou rue. EPICTETUS. igi Think not attainment cheap, Nor hope, with instant leap, Heights by heroic souls hard won to gain : Gradual the fruit matures, Slow patient growth ensures The fibre firm and close of the timber's well-knit grain. The learner's strains strike harsh, The first steps on the march Of the upward slope are difficult and slow ; Ere long to discord's reign Succeeds some dulcet strain ; That desperate steep once past thy path will smoother grow. A different rule is found For sickly men and sound ; The strong attempt what feebler folk forbear : Wait, convalescent soul, Thine invalid frame made whole The strife thou shunnest now undaunted then thou'lt dare. IQ2 EPICTETUS Yet, while thy strength's still weak, Its increase thou must seek By exercise of that at thy command ; The skill the warrior learns On lesser fields, he turns To purpose when there dawns some morn of battle grand. Hast thou received offence, Unkindness, violence ? To reason eitherwise it rests with thee : Intolerable this wrong ; Or, they to me belong, Brothers and kin of blood, who wrought the injury. Would'st grace the board, and make Things mean and vulgar take A glorified aspect, and statelier state ? The impatient thought restrain, From angry heat refrain, Grace with thy gentleness who on thy service wait. EPICTETUS. 193 Seated at life's full board, Bear not thyself toward Thy neighbour with disdain or haughtiness ; But with meek courtly grace To weaker men give place ; Let t#fe rabble crowd and throng, thy claims forbear to press. Be not like low-born boor, Beguiled by the vile lure Of sensuous appetite, who shoves aside, Rudely, as the brute beast, His fellow from the feast ; Till thy allotted turn in calm composure bide. So shalt thou be found fit- With god-like men to sit, Glad, welcome guest in heaven's fair banquet-hall ; Thy lot, however base, If with thy lowly place Content ; " Give this man room," hear the feast- master call. JQ4 EPICTETUS. But if, when at thy feet Earth's delicate arid sweet Are laid, thou look aside and pass them by, In kingly rule thou'lt share, The imperial purple wear, Associate with the powers supreme that reign on high. My soul fires at the thought, How cheaply were it bought With utmost sacrifice this sovereign good ! To taste the joy divine, Drink the new heavenly wine, Love's choicest vintage, feed on pure ambrosial food! EPICTETUS. 195 EPILOGUE. OR ere I was aware, My soul had caught an air Breathed from no portico of Stoic rule ; The thoughts within me mount Sprang from no classic fount, Nor inspiration drew from philosophic school. He felt not suffering A mere indifferent thing, Who groaned in spirit at the loved one's grave, And. with sad cries and tears, From that which man most fears Thrice with strong agony his Father prayed to save. 196 EPICTETUS. His were the sympathies, The susceptivities With which each unsophisticate nature glows ; The fine sensitiveness, Fruit of true nobleness, To pain's keen fire-barbed darts doth the bared breast expose. Reproaches broke his heart, He felt the sword-like smart, The coward disciples' flight, the traitor's kiss ; No arrow from the bow Of sin-embittered woe The Man-of-Sorrows' heart their target true could miss. He crieth : Learn of me, Ye who go heavily, Burdened and bowed beneath life's load of cari : The lowly one and meek Bids the sad souls who seek Contentment and true rest, His cross and passion EPICTETUS. 197 Assured that loss and pain Are fraught with lasting gain, That, through the grave and darkling gate of death, The spirit's parting strife, We pass to fuller life, Drink in immortal air as fails the mortal breath. No dulling opiate, He, Nailed to the accursed tree, Deigned to accept, his feelings to benumb ; To the last dregs would drain The cup of mortal pain, To its lowest depths the sea of human grief would plumb. In no stern austere mood Of haughty fortitude, He bore the cruel cross, despised its shame ; Some strange, deep, secret joy Availed his soul to upbuoy, Through whose supporting power all evil he o'ercame, ig8 EPICTETUS. The joy that underlies Pain, loss and sacrifice, The peaceful, soul-reviving streams upmount From the pierced, stricken heart, Sore rent, and torn apart, Till from its depths upsprings life's renovating fount. And he who followed Christ Nearest, and kept his tryst Most true, all knowledge he had gained of yore At learned Gamaliel's feet, Forsook, ardent to greet Truth's newly-risen sun, its splendours to explore. In the lore initiate Of Christ, he learned to rate Aright the things of sense, life's brief hour lent ; The secret he has found, " To be abased, to abound, In whatsoe'er state befell therewith to be content." EPICTETUS. 199 Yet even this wisdom pales Before the light that hails His dazzled vision, when, upon the cross, In deep profound amaze, Is fixed his steadfast gaze, And prostrate there he learns his gains to reckon loss ; Desires henceforth but this, Prays for no other bliss Than absolute, complete conformity To Him who suffered there, Asks but that he may share His lot who bled for him on that vile shameful tree. Farewell, thrice- honoured sage ! Tho' from thine austere page, Patience and fortitude my soul hath won, This light from Calvary Dims thy philosophy, Pales thy faint glow-worm light before the glorious sun ! JAN 2 7 1986