Classic Poem

PARABLE LVIII.

The Stability of Christ's Church.

Christ thus did his disciples try,
As, Who do men alledge that I,
The Son of Man, on earth am come?
Some say, John Baptist; other some,
Thou'rt Jeremias, or a seer
‘But whom to you do I appear?’
Thou'rt Christ (did Peter then declare)
The living God's immortal heir—
To him then Christ himself address'd,
Simon Bar-Jona thou art bless'd:
This flesh and blood could not unfold,
But thee my heav'nly Father told
And unto thee again I tell,
That Peter I have nam'd thee well,
And on this rock my church shall tow'r,
'Gainst which hell gates shall have no pow'r:
And I will give to thee the keys
Of heav'n, and whatsoe'er you please
To bind on earth, in heav'n shall stand,
Or loose, be loos'd at thy command.
Then did he charge them, (as a test
How far their zeal would brook behest)
That they should not their Lord proclaim,
That he was Jesus Christ by name.
Thenceforth the Lord began to show
His foll'wers, how he needs must go,
And at Jerusalem sustain
From priests, scribes, elders, scorn and pain,
And him tho' they to death should doom,
He the third day would life resume.
But Peter took him up, and chid
His master, crying, ‘God forbid!
‘Such things shall never thee betide.’
But turning to him, Christ reply'd,
Satan recede, and get thee hence!
For thou to me art much offence:
Thou dost to carnal things incline,
And savour'st not the things divine
?When Peter found that he was prais'd
By Christ, and o'er his brethren rais'd
In his esteem, he in that hour
Began to dream of wealth and pow'r
For satan, at his elbow, said,
Thou of the church art sov'reign head;
And all mankind, as thou think'st fit,
Thou shalt condemn, or shalt acquit;
In costly garbs thou shalt be drest,
And feast on viands of the best;
Thou shalt from kings exact renown,
And make thyself a triple crown—
But Jesus bade the dev'l recede,
Or Peter had been Pope indeed.