"A living Will," said Krishna, "in the waste, The wild waste, of a world of chance and fate-- A Will amid it, nay, much more, a Mind, A Heart, present, presiding over all The blind whirl of the things we see, whereof We seem ourselves a petty part, impelled Helpless--whither, who knows?--this is to me A thought greater than the great universe; Yet does it less than that oppress, appal; I feel my spirit in me quickened too While overwhelmed. O were it true indeed! And were this Being whom thou namest God Willing to condescend and think on me! I feel that I could love Him if I could Believe Him--in the teeth of all that seems To swear against Him in this dreadful world!" "The whole creation groaneth, yea," said Paul, "And travaileth under the curse of sin. But the blind-bondman universe awaits With earnest expectation a new day When he shall be delivered from his thrall, To share, we know not how, that liberty Which is the birthright of the sons of God. Meantime the discord and the perjury Thou seest of a distracted universe Forsworn against its Maker! Yet even so Enough abides unshaken from the firm Fair order of the first all-wise design, To testify His everlasting power Who framed it. But, beyond that perjury Thou findest in the janglings of the world Browbeating faith herself to disbelieve, Is the blaspheming atheous spirit in man Which _will_ not God. O strife and warfare strange Within us! Godward-springing instinct fain To answer 'Abba, Father!' to His call, And all the while rebellion muttering, 'Nay!' O wretched, wretched creatures that we are! Who, who is able to deliver us Out of the clinging body of this death? I thank my God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! "Christ's voice against the clamor of the world, His still small voice, heard by the inner ear Of whosoever will heed and obey, Makes music of this roaring dissonance Which dins and deafens every one besides. Hush the gainsaying of the heart within, O Krishna, the dull heart of unbelief, And hearken if thou shalt not presently Hear Him say, Come. It is a heavenly sound, Heard never save by the anointed ear Of true obedience; but once heard thereby It ever after lingers in the sense A haunting invitation still obeyed. And still as we obey it, drawing near And nearer to that Voice forevermore, Forevermore we hear the harmony Evolved from the confusions of the world Grow perfect and the discord die away. Like as a human father pitieth His children, so Jehovah God Most High Pitieth them that fear Him. This long since We heard through one inspired from God to sing It cadenced in our sweet and solemn psalms."