Classic Poem

PARABLE XLIX.

The Reed shaken with the Wind.

John Baptist having chosen two
Of his disciples, with a view
Of proving Jesus, sent them out
To put the matter out of doubt:
‘Art thou Messias, God's elect,
‘Or some one else must we expect?’
(And many a plague he in that hour
Did cure, and sickness, by his pow'r:
He cast out devils in their sight,
And to the blind restor'd the light.)
Then Jesus answer'd, ‘Go your way,
‘Tell what you have seen and heard to-day:
‘The lame do walk, the blind do see,
‘The lep'rous are in purity,
‘The dead arise, the deaf give ear,
‘And all the poor the gospel hear:
‘And great his blessing and his praise,
‘Who takes no umbrage at my ways.’
And when the messengers of John
Were by the Lord's commandment gone,
He to the people then began
To speak of this amazing man,
‘What went you out in such a press
‘To seek for in the wilderness?
‘A man that wavers in his mind,
‘Like reed, when shaken by the wind?
‘Again, I say, what sought ye there,
‘A man soft-clad in camel's hair?
‘For dainty folk the court's the place,
‘And such as gorgeous vestments grace.
‘But still what went you to explore,
‘A prophet? Yea, and something more
‘For this is he of whom 'tis penn'd,
‘Behold, my messenger I send
‘Before my face, who shall fore-run,
‘The way adjusting for my Son.
‘For know, 'mongst those of women born,
‘No greater seer did e'er adorn
‘The world than John—and yet I say,
‘The man that owns my word and way,
‘The Christian in the least degree,
‘Is of more eminence than he.’
?John own'd our blessed Saviour first,
And should have follow'd him at worst,
Not for himself disciples made,
But been his master's, and obey'd.
This in the infant church did tend
To schism, and his untimely end.
But in Christ's kingdom he shall reign,
Who quick as thought shall Christ maintain,
Nor hope, nor charity shall want,
Whose faith's implicit from the font.