The poor, the oppress'd, the labourer, and the slave, God said, 'Be light!'--And light was on the Grave! No more alone to sage and hero given, Ope for all life the impartial Gates of Heaven! Enough hath Wisdom dream'd, and Reason err'd, All they would seek is found!--O'er Nature sleeps the Word! "Thou ask'st why Christ, so lenient to the _deed_, So sternly claims the _faith_ which founds the creed; Because, reposed in faith the soul has calm; The hope a haven, and the wound a balm; Because the light, dim seen in Reason's Dream, On all alike, through faith alone, could stream. God will'd support to Weakness, joy to Grief, And so descended from his throne--BELIEF! Nor this alone--Have faith in things above, The unseen Beautiful of Heavenly Love; And from that faith what virtues have their birth, What spiritual meanings gird, like air, the Earth! A deeper thought inspires the musing sage! To youth what visions--what delights to age! A loftier genius wakens in the world, To starrier heights more vigorous wings unfurl'd. No more the outward senses reign alone, The soul of Nature glides into our own. To reason less is to imagine more; They most aspire who meekly most adore! "Therefore the God-like Comforter's decree-- 'His sins be loosen'd who hath faith in me.' Therefore he shunn'd the cavils of the wise, And made no schools the threshold of the skies: Therefore he taught no Pharisee to preach His Word--the simple let the simple teach. Upon the infant on his knee he smiled, And said to Wisdom, 'Be once more a child!'" The boughs behind the old man gently stirr'd, By one unseen those Gospel accents heard; Before the preacher bow'd the pilgrim's head: "Heaven to this bourne my rescued steps hath led, Grieving, perplex'd--benighted, yet with dim Hopes in God's justice,--be my guide to Him! In vain made man, I mourn and err!--restore Childhood's pure soul, and ready trust, once more!" The old man on the stranger gazed;--unto The stranger's side the young disciple drew, And gently clasp'd his hand;--and on the three The western sun shone still and smilingly; But, round--behind them--dark and lengthening lay The massive shadow of the closing day. "See," said the preacher, "Darkness hurries on, But Man, toil-wearied, grieves not for the Sun; He knows the light that leaves him shall return, And hails the night because he trusts the morn! Believe in God as in the Sun,--and, lo! Along thy soul, morn's youth restored shall glow! As rests the earth, so rest, O troubled heart, Rest, till the burthen of the cloud depart; Rest, till the gradual veil, from Heaven withdrawn, Renews thy freshness as it yields the dawn!"