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. |