Classic Poem

PARABLE XLIV.

A House divided against itself.

To Jesus with a man they come
Who was possess'd, both blind and dumb,
And him he cur'd to that degree,
That he could both converse and see;
And all were struck at what was done,
And question'd, ‘Is this David's son?’
But when the Pharisees had heard
This mercy, they blasphem'd and sneer'd,
‘This fellow does not dev'ls expel
‘But by the very prince of hell.’
But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said,
Where'er division makes a-head,
That kingdom to confusion falls;
And ev'ry house, within whose walls
Intestine feuds begin to reign,
Can never for long time remain.
If satan then himself eject,
He is divided in effect,
And how can his dominion hold?
And if, by Beelzebub controul'd,
I cast out devils, by what name
Do these your children do the same?
Wherefore for this, when you're arraign'd,
They shall your judges be ordain'd:
But if I dev'ls themselves command
By God the spirit of my hand,
Then is Christ's kingdom come indeed.
For how can any one succeed
To force a strong man's house, and spoil,
Unless he first his prowess foil?
And when h'has bound him on the spot,
Shall pillage all that he has got.
Whoe'er from me himself withdraws,
Declares against me and my cause:
Who gather not with me, are seen
To scatter all they reap or glean
Wherefore believe my word express,
All blasphemy and wickedness,
Which men commit at any time,
Shall be forgiv'n, except the crime
Against the Holy Ghost alone,
For which no sinner shall atone.
And whatsoever man shall frame
His speech against my word and name,
The Son of God shall that remit:
But him he never shall acquit,
Who shall the Holy Ghost offend,
Nor now, nor in the latter end.
Let things be as they are. The tree
If good, the product good must be;
Or make the tree corrupt, at best
The fruit's the same—that is the test
O race of vipers! bad in grain!
How can ye righteousness maintain?
For from the fulness of the heart
The mouth does all its speech impart
The good, as from a wise man's hoard,
Shall riches of the heart afford:
The bad, as in a miser's hole,
Shall treasure things against the soul.
For ev'ry word which indiscrete,
(I say) ye for the nonce repeat,
The talkers all must stand aghast
Before Christ's judgment-seat at last:
For words well-weigh'd, or misapply'd,
Thou shalt be judg'd, or justify'd.
?This sin (tho' horror of offence)
Does not exclude fair penitence.
For had the monsters, whose conceit
Did strive Christ's mercy to defeat,
And interrupt his ghostly pow'r,
But pleaded guilty the same hour,
And faithful promis'd to amend,
They'd made an injur'd God their friend
For vipers from beneath, that lurk
To thwart God's love about its work,
Are more Christ's hate, and satan's prey,
Than actual sin in open day.