Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899 edition. Excerpt: ..." it stands " The kingdom of His Heaven, a house not made with hands, " Wherein we too new-born, but in no earthly case, " Shall enter after death." On this fair fragile base 27 E--2 Their sorrow built its nest. It gave a hope to men And pandered to their pride. And lo the world's disdain Was changed to acclamation. Kings and emperors kneeled Before the Crucified, a living God revealed, Who made them heirs with Him of His own glory. Mark The ennobling phrase and title. No base Noah's ark Man's fount of honour now, but God's eternal choice Made of His human race, predestined to His joys From the first dawn of time, --the very Universe Resolved to a mere potsherd, shattered to rehearse The splendour of Man's advent, the one act and end To which Creation moved, and where even we must tend, The spirit hosts of Heaven--Stark mad insolence! Rank blasphemy proclaimed in Rome's halls and Byzance, Through all the Imperial lands, as though, forsooth, Thou, Lord, Couldst, even if Thou wouldst, raise this fantastic horde Of bodies to Thy glory, shapes dispersed and gone As lightly as Time's wracks swept to oblivion! Yet all believed this creed. Space, straightway grown too strait, Shrank from these Christened kings, who held Earth reprobate Save for their own high calling. Heaven had become their throne, A fief for their new pride, in which they reigned alone, In virtue of their faith, above Time's humbler show, And Earth became their footstool. All were masters now Of the brute beasts despised who had no souls to save, And lords too of the heathen doomed beyond the grave. God's kingdom had begun. It compassed all the lands And trafficked wealth and power. It issued its commands, And in default it slew in Thy high holy name, Thine the all merciful!...