Through Faith on earth Man holds a Life sublime,
And in the Past and Future, as he lists,
Expatiates and confers with every clime—

Through Faith he knows whereby the frame subsists
Of the expanded Universe, by whom

Created, and whereto it yet exists,

A Stranger and a Pilgrim, . . till the tomb
Open the way to the celestial land

Where God prepares a City, as a womb—

So hopeful o'er the Grave the Faithful stand,
Wherein their Brethren in the dust repose,
Grasped in the Father's Omnipresent hand-

The Grave the Gate of Hope, whereof none knows
Save he who passes inward. There with earth

Earth mingles, changes and more perfect grows,

Sown as a seed, that dieth to have birth
More glorious, meet for spirit to indwell,
Perfect in Love, and consummate in worth-

A spiritual body, . . capable

Of large performance, destined to aspire,
All will and purpose to accomplish well.

Witness the Body, which the Eternal Sire
Prepared for me, who came to do his Will,
Left in the tomb. But thence shall I require

It back, won from corruption, and fulfil
Redemption, captive lead Captivity,
And gifts receive for you. . for all-until

The Kingdom cometh. So in hope wait ye.
---Lo, I am with you ever; and to you
The Gospel now is preached, that ye may be

Adjudged in righteousness, according to
Men in the flesh, but in the spirit live
According unto God. This hear, and do.
-What I receive, that unto you I give."

XIX.

THE FATHER OF THE FAITHFUL.

THUS spake Messiah from his skiey throne
To that innumerable Company,

I' th' presence of the Angels, who thereon

Divinely ministered. Down from on high,
Within the circle of the Rainbow, they
Rejoiced, and clapped their wings triumphantly.

Joy was in all their motions; their array
Was glorious; to and fro, with gladsome speed,
They did their messages of love convey.

Like Transports kindled all. Now hear and heed, What next I saw. Behold, Melchizedek !

And he who for himself and for his seed

Paid tithes to him, and he who thus bespake
His pious Father: "But where is the Lamb
For sacrifice ?"-his dignity partake.

Humbly with Isaac and with Abraham,

The eternal Priest bowed down in silent prayer.
Messiah thus-" Ere Abraham was, I am!

And thou, thou Priest of Salem, who while-ere
Greeted the Faithful from his Victory
With sacramental blessing;.. thou wert heir

Of th' everlasting Order and Decree,

Whence Bread from heaven,.. angelick food for man, . . And Life divine outpoured in Blood. With thee

That sacramental Ordinance began,

Accomplished now.

Be thou a Priest for ever;
I swear, nor shall repent. I will—I can—

After thine Order rule, and it shall never,
In righteousness and peace, surcease to hold
Sway and dominion when and wheresoever.
So sware I unto Abraham of old,

Sware by myself, that from his barren eld
Should issue generations manifold;

Heirs of his faith, the promise that it held,
The City truly based, divinely built,
Whereof unto his seed was oracled-

I will have mercy on unrighteous guilt,
And not remember Sin,--but multiply
Thy Seed, O Abraham!

For whom thou wilt,

I will inscribe upon their hearts, even I,

My Laws, and write them in their minds, and they Shall be my people everlastingly,

99

And I will be their God for ever and for aye.'
-Then Abraham rose, and by the Spirit moved,
Thus reverently answered." Lord, alway,

That thou art gracious I have well approved!
To my dead body thou didst raise an heir,
And from the dead restore my Son beloved-
And, lo, not of my flesh, thou dost uprear
Children to me, and of my bosom name
The Paradise whereto thou dost appear.

More numerous than the stars, which do proclaim
The glory of thy power unto all lands,

Behold, the peoples that of me became,

Hebrew and Greek, the Bond and Free. My hands

Present their acceptable offerings.

Whoe'er loves mercy, whoe'er understands

Thee present in all time and place, and brings

His heart a holocaust, or unto thee

Doth sacrifice a tear ;..oh, for these things,

Receive the Penitent, and let him be
Adopted, and from Sin and Death redeemed!
But chief for him pray I-who barbarously

Wanders the Wild untutored, yet hath dreamed
Of mightier power than Nature, when he sought
To read her volume, that with marvels teemed,

But, uninterpreted and he untaught,
Astonished and o'erwhelmed the excited Soul
With Fear, and unintelligible Thought!

Unseal for him the Mystery, control

The Chaos of his mind, and on his heart
Of thy great Love and Bounty pour the whole-

Unto his Spirit all thy Grace impart !

Was not all Earth baptized on which Man trod?
Oh! is not thine its universal Chart?

What, though blind Ignorance, misdeem of God,
Or poisonous Nurture misdirect the Mind—
Be thou not wroth, nor, with an iron rod,

Take Vengeance-but have mercy on mankind!
Thou laugh'st in heaven-thou laughest in thy love,
And thou for Man hast righteously designed,

Thy tender Mercies all thy Works above!"—
-He spake and there was silence. Every eye
Was on Messiah fixed-if he approve,

Then all is well.

Divine Benignity
Made radiant his celestial Countenance,
So shone abroad that Frequence gloriously.

"My way is in the Darkness. I advance
Upon the wings of Tempest, and in Cloud
Descend, with Terrours compast, and entrance

The souls of men with Awe. My voice aloud
Walks in the Thunder, but its dreadful tone
Hath Blessing to the Universe avowed.

Health and Fecundity from out my Throne
Go forth to Earth; and Peace to Man-I bruise
To heal again-and break to reatone.