The Christian Triumph.
67
I gaze, and, as I gaze, my mounting Soul
Catches strange Fire, Eternity! at Thee;
And drops the World—or rather, more enjoys:
How chang'd the Face of Nature! how improv'd!
What seem'd a Chaos, shines a glorious World,
Or, what a World, an Eden; heighten'd all!
It is another Scene! another Self!
And still another, as Time rolls along;
And that a Self far more illustrious still.
Beyond long Ages, yet roll'd up in Shades
Unpierc'd by bold Conjecture's keenest Ray,
What Evolutions of surprising Fate!
How Nature opens, and receives my Soul
In boundless Walks of raptur'd Thought! Where Gods
Encounter, and embrace me! What new Births
Of Strange Adventure, foreign to the Sun,
Where what now charms, perhaps, whate'er exists,
Old Time, and fair Creation, are forgot!
Is this extravagant? Of Man we form
Extravagant Conception, to be just:
Conception unconfin'd wants Wings to reach him:
Beyond its Reach, the Godhead only, more.
He, the great Father! kindled at one Flame
The World of Rationals; one Spirit pour'd
From Spirit's aweful Fountain; pour'd Himself
Thro' all their Souls; but not in equal Stream,
Profuse, or frugal, of th' inspiring God,
As his wise Plan demanded; and when past
Their various Trials, in their various Spheres,
If they continue rational, as made,
Resorbs them all into Himself again;
His Throne their Centre, and his Smile their Crown.
Why doubt we, then, the glorious Truth to sing,
Tho' yet unsung, as deem'd, perhaps, too bold?
Angels are Men of a superior Kind;
Catches strange Fire, Eternity! at Thee;
And drops the World—or rather, more enjoys:
How chang'd the Face of Nature! how improv'd!
What seem'd a Chaos, shines a glorious World,
Or, what a World, an Eden; heighten'd all!
It is another Scene! another Self!
And still another, as Time rolls along;
And that a Self far more illustrious still.
Beyond long Ages, yet roll'd up in Shades
Unpierc'd by bold Conjecture's keenest Ray,
What Evolutions of surprising Fate!
How Nature opens, and receives my Soul
In boundless Walks of raptur'd Thought! Where Gods
Encounter, and embrace me! What new Births
Of Strange Adventure, foreign to the Sun,
Where what now charms, perhaps, whate'er exists,
Old Time, and fair Creation, are forgot!
Is this extravagant? Of Man we form
Extravagant Conception, to be just:
Conception unconfin'd wants Wings to reach him:
Beyond its Reach, the Godhead only, more.
He, the great Father! kindled at one Flame
The World of Rationals; one Spirit pour'd
From Spirit's aweful Fountain; pour'd Himself
Thro' all their Souls; but not in equal Stream,
Profuse, or frugal, of th' inspiring God,
As his wise Plan demanded; and when past
Their various Trials, in their various Spheres,
If they continue rational, as made,
Resorbs them all into Himself again;
His Throne their Centre, and his Smile their Crown.
Why doubt we, then, the glorious Truth to sing,
Tho' yet unsung, as deem'd, perhaps, too bold?
Angels are Men of a superior Kind;
Angels
