But with lightning flash revealing midnight mysteries of

thought.

God was Master, man was servant; right was right, and

wrong was wrong:

Sinners might dream on a little, but the respite was not

long.

Good or evil fruit-trees

whether of the twain? no test

but fruit:

Cut it down; the fire is kindled, and the axe lies at the

root.

Wherefore call themselves the children of the God-like

Abraham?

THINGS THAT ARE alone are precious unto the supreme

I AM.

Generation bred of vipers, wherefore are they pale and

dumb?

Will they flee? oh, who hath warn'd them of the dreadful wrath to come?

Are the dry bones stirring, breathing? God can raise up men from stones.

See the Lamb, the dying Victim! only life for life atones: And the deep red current, flowing from the firstlings Abel

Cries from age to age for mercy,

loud,

louder yet, and yet more

Till the sacrifice be offer'd for the world's stupendous guilt, And the Lamb of God is smitten on the altar God has

built.

Is the hard heart bruised and contrite? Do they weep and

vow and pray?

It is well; let Jordan's waters wash their loathed stains

away.

But the coming One, whose coming now was every moment nigher,

He, the Son of God, baptizes with the Holy Ghost and

fire:

In His hand the fan that winnows; at His feet the harvest

floor;

Chaff the food for quenchless burnings; garner'd wheat for

evermore.

So it was from dawn to sunset, so it was from day to day, Thousands coming, thousands going, till the summer wore

away:

Ever seem'd the voice more solemn, and the message more

sublime:

Jordan's lonesome fords were crowded like God's hill at

Paschal time.

When one eve, the roseate West was watching for the

tardy sun,

Mingling with that throng of sinners came the Only Sinless

One;

And the Master knelt a suppliant, and abash'd the servant

stood,

While the holy Christ demanded baptism in that cleansing

flood.

It is done: Messiah rises from the parted waves; and lo, The blue heavens are rent asunder, and a Dove, more white

than snow,

From the gates of light descending like a crown of glory

glow'd,

Moving towards Him, hovering o'er Him, brooding on His head, abode :

And a Voice more deep than thunder from the everlasting

Throne,

"Thou, my Son, my well Beloved, Thou art my delight alone."

This the Baptist heard. And straightway Love Divine

his soul possess'd.

Henceforth all his yearning spirit found its centre, knew

its rest.

Solitudes no more were lonely, wildernesses were not wild : He had seen the Word Incarnate, seen the Father's Holy Child.

And the

pure

ideal imaged in his heart of hearts was such That no earthly joys could dim it, and no human sorrows

touch.

Let the vex'd waves surge around him! Welcome, weari

ness and strife!

Christ was now his peace, his passion

his life.

the one passion of

He must decrease, Christ must increase, and His kingdom

know no end.

He had heard the Bridegroom's accents, he was call'd the

Bridegroom's friend.

Be it that his days were number'd; this was joy enough for him;

And his

cup of life was mantling to the overflowing brim. Let his lamp grow pale and paler; only let the Sun be

bright,

And the day-star hide its radiance in that perfect Light of

Light.

So his breast grew calm and calmer, less of self and selfish

leaven;

So the fire burn'd pure and purer, less of earth and more of heaven;

And a loftier hope sustain'd him, as his destined path he

trod,

Preaching a world-wide salvation, heralding the Lamb of

God!

And the voice rang in the palace, as in hovel and in tent, "Lo the coming One is come: His kingdom is at hand: repent."

Herod heard him, and Herodias, seated on their ivory

throne.

Something in them craved an audience, and he spake to

them alone;

Spake of sin and death and judgment, things done wrong and undone things.

What to him a royal sinner? He had seen the King of

kings!

Herod trembled: deeds of rapine cluster'd round his by

gone path,

Spectres of departed passions, harbingers of coming wrath.