At the first word that fell from Stephen's lips, An overshadowing of the Holy Ghost Hung like a heaven above the multitude; With every word that followed, slow and full, That awful cope seemed ever hovering down Impendent nearer, as when, fold to fold, Droops lower and lower a dark and thunderous sky. The speaker used no arts of oratory; Only a still small voice, not wholly his, Nor wholly human, issuing from his lips, Only a voice, but eloquence was shamed. And Stephen thus his theme premised pursues: "Rightly and wrongly, both at once, have ye This day been taught of God's Messiah; King He is, as Saul has said, but in a sense, And with a highth and depth and length and breadth And reach immense of meaning, that nor Saul, Nor ye, nor any by the Holy Ghost Untaught, have yet conceived. Not of this world His kingdom is. The pageant and the pomp, State visible, and splendor to the eye, Are of this world that vanishes away, And of the princes of this world that come To naught. His glory whose the kingdom is Whereof I speak, no eye hath seen, no eye Can see. That vision is for naked soul. "The lordship and authority which craves Obeisance of the knee, the lip, the hand, And the neck breaks to an unwelcome yoke, But traitor leaves the hidden heart within, Rebel the will insurgent, infidel The mind, the critic reason dissident, And violated conscience enemy-- Such rule is but the hollow show of rule, A husk of vain pretence, the kernel gone. "No earthly kingdom such, Messiah's is, Of nations hating and yet serving Him-- Trampled into the dust beneath His feet, And either cringing or else gnashing rage. A kingdom here on earth of heaven to found, From heaven to earth God's true Messiah comes; A kingdom built of meek and lowly hearts By Monarch meek and lowly to be ruled; A world-wide kingdom and a time-long reign. This kingdom new of heaven on earth commenced Will gather Jew and Gentile both in one, Whereso, of high or low, of rich or poor, Heart ready to receive it shall be found, In time or clime however hence afar. For hear Him speak, the High and Lofty One Who maketh His abode eternity: 'Lo, in the high and holy place dwell I, Likewise with him of meek and contrite mind.'