The Christ of Our Poets

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1901 Excerpt: ...blood of guests. Just then the vesper call to prayer was heard. The boy then started from the bed Of flowers where he had laid his head, And down upon the fragrant sod Knelt with his forehead to the south, 'Lisping the eternal name of God From purity's own cherub mouth, And looking, while his hands and eyes ) Were lifted to the glowing skies, Like a stray babe of Paradise Just lighted on the flowery plain, And seeking for its home again. The man of sin saw the child, and was touched profoundly: Memory ran O'er many a year of guilt and strife, Flew o'er the dark flood of his life, back to the long-dead beautiful past when he was a pure boy. He thought of what he once was, and then of what he had become. He hung his head--each noble aim And hope and feeling which had slept From boyhood's hour that instant came Fresh o'er him, and he wept--he wept. Blest tears of soulfelt penitence, In whose benign, redeeming flow Is felt the first, the only sense Of guiltless joy that guilt can know. The Peri caught the tear of penitence shed by this man of sin, and bore it hopefully to the longclosed gate of Eden. The charm prevailed, the gate flew open, and she passed through, shouting, Joy, joy forever! my task is done--The gates are passed and Heaven is won. Not the patriotism that would freely give life itself to save one's native land--and God loves patriotism; not the richest, purest love that ever nestled in a human heart or expressed itself in sublime self-sacrifice--and the very genius of our religion is love; but true, heartfelt contrition over sin is The gift that is most dear to Heaven. So runs the poet's gorgeous song; and the sweet singer of Israel, so long ago, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit of inspiration, sang, The sacrifices of God ...