Not knew by sight) now come, who was to come Before Messiah, and his way prepare! I, as all others, to his baptism came, Which I believed was from above; but he Straight knew me, and with loudest voice proclaimed Me him (for it was shewn him so from Heaven) Me him whose harbinger he was; and first Refused on me his baptism to confer, As much his greater, and was hardly won. But, as I rose out of the laving stream, He was well pleased: by which I knew the time The authority which I derived from Heaven. I learn not yet. Perhaps I need not know; So spake our Morning Star, then in his rise, Full forty days he passed-whether on hill Nor tasted human food, nor hunger felt, Till those days ended; hungered then at last Among wild beasts. They at his sight grew mild, Nor sleeping him nor waking harmed; his walk The fiery serpent fled and noxious worm; The lion and fierce tiger glared aloof. UT now an aged man in rural weeds, BUT Following, as seemed, the quest of some stray ewe, Or withered sticks to gather, which might serve Against a winter's day, when winds blow keen, To warm him wet returned from field at eve, TH HE people that walked in darkness have seen a great light. For the peace of God is over all the face of the earth. His blessing hath overflowed like a river. For he created all things that they might be: and he made the nations of the earth for health: and there is no poison of destruction in them, nor kingdom of hell upon the earth. He saw approach; who first with curious eye Perused him, then with words thus uttered spake :"Sir, what ill chance hath brought thee to this place, So far from path or road of men, who pass In troop or caravan? for single none Durst ever, who returned, and dropt not here His carcass, pined with hunger and with droughth. I ask the rather, and the more admire, For that to me thou seem'st the man whom late Our new baptizing Prophet at the ford Of Jordan honoured so, and called thee Son Of God. I saw and heard, for we sometimes Who dwell this wild, constrained by want, come forth Where aught we hear, and curious are to hear, To whom the Son of God:-"Who brought me hither Will bring me hence; no other guide I seek." "By miracle he may," replied the swain; Live on tough roots and stubs, to thirst inured Men to much misery and hardship born. But, if thou be the Son of God, command That out of these hard stones be made thee bread; So shalt thou save thyself, and us relieve He ended, and the Son of God replied:- Man lives not by bread only, but each word Whom thus answered the Arch-Fiend, now undisguised :— ""T is true, I am that Spirit unfortunate Who, leagued with millions more in rash revolt, Kept not my happy station, but was driven With them from bliss to the bottomless Deep- By rigour unconniving but that oft, Large liberty to round this globe of Earth, I THE FORMER THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY AM the Lord that hath made all things. And my glory will I not give to another. To be spiritually minded is life and peace. The gift of God is eternal life. For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. He hath done all things well. The Lord hath made all things for himself. And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. Know you not, that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? Or range in the Air; nor from the Heaven of Heavens I came, among the Sons of God, when he To prove him, and illustrate his high worth; Of all his flattering prophets glibbed with lies Or virtuous; I should so have lost all sense. To all mankind. Why should I? they to me I lost not what I lost; rather by them I gained what I have gained, and with them dwell Copartner in these regions of the World, If not disposer-lend them oft my aid, Oft my advice by presages and signs, At first it may be; but, long since with woe This wounds me most (what can it less?) that Man, To whom our Saviour sternly thus replied :— Comes to the place where he before had sat To all the host of Heaven. The happy place |