Classic Poem

PARABLE XXIII.

The Prophet without Honour in his own Country.

The Lord, as he had made a pause
From all these parables, withdraws,
And as his destination tends,
Seeks his own country, and his friends;
And in their synagogue he taught,
'Till all the throng amazement caught.
And whence (exclaim'd the traitors) springs
This wisdom, and these mighty things?
Is Mary not his mother's name,
Who from the vile mechanic came?
And are not Simon, Joses, James,
And Jude, his brethren by their names?
His sisters too before our eyes?
Whence, therefore, can these things arise?
And they in rank offence decry'd
His works.—But Jesus Christ reply'd,
And said unto them all—‘A seer
‘Is not without respect e'en here,
‘(Unless before his native land,
‘And his own family he stand)’
And there, as they would not believe,
He did few miracles atchieve
?By envy was Christ Jesus try'd,
By envy cast and crucify'd;
This had not been the case at Rome
Or Athens, if one may presume .
Joseph with many-colour'd vest ,
That child o'er all his brethren blest,
A type of Christ our Saviour sent,
God's Son, in whom he was content;
At home condemn'd to death and shame,
In foreign Egypt found his fame ,
'Till he at Pharaoh 's right-hand stood ,
As Christ at God's supremely good.