Thus, Adam, thou beheldst in Paradise
The present God, and felt him in all things;
But most in thine inherent energies,
The heart's expansion and the spirit's wings,
The plastic power of Thought and of Desire,
Delight and Sorrow, Sin and Sufferings,
Knowledge and Death, whose supernatural fire
Kindled and killed, that ye might be redeemed,
And after a far better life aspire.
Therefore Law was, Earth might be less esteemed,
And Imperfection become manifest,
And Nature checked, however good it seemed,
Not wholly good, and Will evolved, when best
Man's Freedom might be chartered, tried and proved,
And Life revealed, and Charity possest.
For dear to God, as I his Son beloved,
The Freedom of the Soul, the Will, supreme
O'er Law, and Love fulfilling what behoved-
This is the Mystery whereof all misdeem
On Earth, but ye are taught by Death and Time
The Truth and Meaning of the immortal Theme.
Through Faith on earth Man holds a Life sublime,
And in the Past and Future, as he lists,
Expatiates and confers with every clime-
Through Faith he knows whereby the frame subsists
Of the expanded Universe, by whom
Created, and whereto it yet exists,
A Stranger and a Pilgrim,..till the tomb
Open the way to the celestial land
Where God prepares a City, as a womb-
So hopeful o'er the Grave the Faithful stand,
Wherein their Brethren in the dust repose,
Grasped in the Father's Omnipresent hand-
The Grave the Gate of Hope, whereof none knows
But he who passes inward. There with earth
Earth mingles, changes and more perfect grows,
Sown as a seed, that dieth to have birth
More glorious, meet for Spirit to indwell,
Perfect in Love, and consummate in worth--.
A spiritual body,..capable
Of large performance, destined to aspire,
All will and purpose to accomplish well.
Witness the Body which the Eternal Sire
Prepared for me who came to do his Will,
Left in the tomb. But thence shall I require
It back, won from corruption, and fulfil
Redemption, captive lead Captivity,
And gifts receive for you..for all—until
The Kingdom cometh. So in hope wait ye.
Lo, I am with you ever; and to you
The Gospel now is preached, that ye may be
Adjudged in righteousness, according to
Men in the flesh, but in the spirit live
According unto God. This hear, and do.
What I receive that unto you I give."
THE FATHER OF THE FAITHFUL.
THUS spake Messiah from his skiey throne
To that innumerable Company,
I'th' presence of the Angels, who thereon
Divinely ministered. Down from on high
Within the circle of the Rainbow, they
Rejoiced, and clapped their wings triumphantly.
Joy was in all their motions; their array
Was glorious; to and fro, with gladsome speed,
They did their messages of love convey.
Like Transports kindled all. Now hear and heed,
What next I saw. Behold, Melchizedek!
And he who for himself and for his seed
Paid tithes to him, and he who thus bespake
His pious Father: "But where is the Lamb
For sacrifice?"-his dignity partake.
Humbly with Isaac and with Abraham,
The eternal Priest bowed down in silent prayer. Messiah thus
"Ere Abraham was, I am!
And thou, thou Priest of Salem, who while-e're
Greeted the Faithful from his Victory
With sacramental blessing;.. thou wert heir
Of th' everlasting Order and Decree,
Whence Bread from heaven,..angelic food for
And Life divine outpoured in Blood. With thee
That sacramental Ordinance began,
Accomplished now. Be thou a Priest for ever;
I swear, nor shall repent. I will--I can—
After thine Order rule, and it shall never,
In righteousness and peace, surcease to hold
Sway and dominion when and wheresoever.
So sware I unto Abraham of old,
Sware by myself, that from his barren eld
Should issue generations manifold;
Heirs of his faith, the promise that it held,
The City truly based, divinely built,
Whereof unto his seed was oracled
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