The Kingdom of God.

And we, on divers shores now cast,
Shall meet, our perilous voyage past,
All in our Father's home at last.

And ere thou leave him, say thou this, Yet one word more: They only miss The winning of that final bliss,

Who will not count it true that love,
Blessing, not cursing, rules above,
And that in it we live and move.

And one thing further make him know,· That to believe these things are so, This firm faith never to forego,

Despite of all which seems at strife
With blessing, all with curses rife,-
That this is blessing, this is life.

35

A WORLD WITHOUT GOD.

'ER throngs of men around I cast mine eyes,

While each to separate work his hand applies;

The mean who toil for food, the proud for

fame,

And crowds by custom led, with scarce an aim.

Here busy dwarfs gigantic shadows chase, As if they thus could grow a giant race; Unknowing what they are, they fain would

be

Such empty dreams as in their sleep they

see.

Or torn by passion, swoln with falsest pride, Betrayed by doubt that mocks each surer guide,

The rebel heart, in self-enthroned disdain, Its lawless weakness boasts, and penal pain.

A World without God.

37

And yet, O God! within each darkened.

soul

Is life akin to thy creation's whole,

That needs but will to see, and straight would find

The world one frame for one pervading Mind.

In all things round one sacred Power would

know,

From Thee diffused through all thy works below ;

In every breath of life would hear thy call, And All discern in Each, and Thee in All.

A truth too vast for spirits lost in sloth, By self-indulgence marred of nobler growth, Who bear about, in impotence and shame, Their human reason's visionary name.

Oh! grant the crowds of earth may read thy plan,

And strive to reach the hope designed for

man;

Though now, now, shorn, stunted, twisted, withered, spent,

We dare not dream how high thy love's intent.

Oh, God! 'twere more than life to mouldering dust,

The hour that kindled men to thoughtful

trust

That taught our hearts to seek thy righteous will,

And so with love thy wisdom's task fulfil.

Redeemed from fear, and washed from lustful blot,

By faith we then might rise above our lot, And like thy chosen few, restored within, By hearts as morning pure might conquer

sin!

Evil shall end in Good.

39

EVIL SHALL END IN GOOD.

H, yet we trust that somehow good
Will be the final goal of ill,

To pangs of nature, sins of will, Defects of doubt and taints of blood;

That nothing walks with aimless feet;
That not one life shall be destroyed,
Or cast as rubbish to the void,
When God hath made the pile complete;

That not a worm is cloven in vain;
That not a moth with vain desire
Is shrivelled in a fruitless fire,
Or but subserves another's gain.

Behold, we know not anything;

I can but trust that good shall fall At last-far off-at last, to all, And every winter change to spring.