Classic Poem

PARABLE XLVIII.

The Necessity of Self-denial.

Saint John did thus the Lord address,
‘We saw a person dispossess
‘In thy blest name th'infernal pow'rs,
‘And we forbade him, as not ours,
‘Nor following where thou goest before.’
But Jesus said, Forbid no more;
For who does marvels in my name,
Will never lightly Christ defame:
And whosoe'er with hand and heart
Is not against us, takes our part.
And whosoe'er shall bid you take
A cup of water for my sake,
Because you're servants of the Lord,
In no wise shall escape reward
But whatsoever man offends
The least of these my little friends,
Which rest their confidence in me,
Better he fell into the sea,
A mill-stone tied to plunge him in,
For if thy hand offend in sin,
Off with it: for 'tis better meed,
If maim'd, to lively grace you speed,
Than with two hands to go to hell,
Where fiends in fire eternal dwell;
Yea, where the worm shall never die,
And fiends unceasing flames supply.
And if thy foot offending slide,
Off with it: for 'tis on thy side
Rather that halt to life you speed,
Than with two feet to sink indeed,
There where the worm shall never die,
And fiends unceasing flames supply.
And if thine eye offence should see,
Out with it: for 'tis well for thee,
Rather God's kingdom to obtain
One-ey'd, than go to hell with twain;
Yea, where the worm shall never die,
And fiends unceasing flames supply.
For ev'ry man provoking ire,
Must be detain'd in salt of fire;
And ev'ry sacrifice that's pure
Is of the salt that makes endure:
The salt is good; but if it lose
Its savour, who that salt shall use?
The salt of my pure word imbibe,
And to each other peace prescribe.