Classic Poem

Their journey called them on; and pleased they trode
That land of solid concord; yet not long
The lower line of progress kept. Aloft
Once more they stretched the light-related wing,
High in the face of Heaven's eternal towers,
Which still immeasurably distant shewed,
Of soul enkindling brilliance, and a power,
Light-uttering splendour, that at first appeared
Enough to quench their lesser beam. But this
As they approached them strengthened, and enlarged,
In heart and effluence. Whilst the happy seven
Were marvelling at such change, inwrapt in thought,
Lost in the labyrinth of boundless love,
Self humbled by the glory on they poured,
They found that Heaven was close to them; and they
The shining basement of the walls had reached
Of the celestial city, which did itself
Enclose, or seemed, the essential universe;—
And standing by the glowing gate of prayer,
About to enter, missed their stranger friend.

In holy wonder lost, still greater now,
Each to the other turned, yet nothing spake,
For silence sealed each tongue. But straight on high
A voice spake for them, saying—Enter ye,
For I am He who led ye hither; I
Who lead ye still, the Son. Then rushed on all,
Like eagre swallowing up its streamy way,
The whole mysterious truth. And they obeyed,
The word magnetic, the divine constraint.
They entered. All was silent. One sole voice,
Through the serene eternity of Heaven,
Streamed upwards towards the Ineffable;—nor harp,
Nor hymn, nor breath beside; nor thought, nor hope
Of all Creation, but therein was bound.

Father, He said, I pray for all the worlds,
Whom Thou by these creating hands hast made,
And linked with mine. Though fallen they be by sin,
Through trusting in themselves and not in Thee,
Let not imperfect nature, tried by Thy
Perfection, their eternal ruin prove.
Rather let me that glory I partake
With Thee, to them dispense, that Heaven's pure light
The darkness of the world may clarify,
And Time impregned by Thy pure Spirit bring forth
Divine eternity; death's bitter flood
O'erpast, the pure regeneration come
To all life, saved and sanctified to Thee.

He ceased; and, issuant from the eternal throne,
Came like a cloud of light, the bright response,
The Godhead in expression, uttering love
In laws more broad than light, which thus were known.

Son! for Thy sake I make the world mine own;
For Thy sake hallowed, and in Thee redeemed,
The universal life exempt from sin.
That love which founded first the skiey stars
Shall see no bound, and so be satisfied
With sempiternal ingrowth. World on world,
The illuminated missal of the skies,
Thou turnest, leaf by leaf, in turn shall close.
Thy spirit only, which Thyself hast poured
Into the worlds of life, shall live for aye,
And in this presence, as the angel man,
Acknowledging his Lord and Thee his love.
In everlasting union all shall dwell
With Thee, who giving up the joys of Heaven,
And union with the One, for life discerpt,
And spheres of shining sadness, madest Thyself,
Sinless, a perfect sacrifice for sin.
Therefore in Thee shall sin and death be sanctified.
And flesh made spirit, human nature made
Divinity, vice virtue, and earth Heaven.
As in creating light, is night destroyed,
So every bodily organ shall be changed
Into a spirit-sense; and human power
Into divinest faculty; each fault
Into a pure possession and stronghold,
Behold! the worlds Thou prayedst for, all are Thine;
And that in chief I gave Thee, recreant once—
To bliss restored and glorified in grace,
Made happier and diviner far than first,
The earnest of the harvest of the skies;—
Behold it at Thy feet: the creature lures
Of mystery and idolatry, become
Pure faith and simple worship; the blazing sword,
Whose firebirth of incendiary sins
Wrapped at the last in pitchy flames, the orb
Of stainless beauty, so created—now
Transformed, the fateful mysteries of the cross
Foreshadows and confirms. Lo there it stands;
And all Thou prayedst for, perfected ere prayed.