Before his face-beyond their usual speed,

On pinion of celestial light, were seen,
Coming and going, and their road was still
From heaven to earth, and back again to heaven.
The angel of Mercy, bent before the Throne,
By earnest pleading, seemed to hold the hand
Of vengeance back, and win a moment more,
Of late repentance for some sinful world
In jeopardy. And now the hill of God,
The mountain of his majesty, rolled flames
Of fire; now smiled with momentary love;
And now again with fiery fierceness burned:
And from behind the darkness of his Throne,
Through which created vision never saw,
The living thunders, in their native caves,
Muttered the terrors of Omnipotence,
And ready seemed, impatient to fulfil

Some errand of exterminating wrath.

Meanwhile the Earth increased in wickedness;

And hasted daily to fill up her cup.

Satan raged loose; Sin had her will; and Death

Enough blood trod upon the heels of blood;

Revenge, in desperate mood, at midnight met Revenge; war brayed to war; deceit deceived

Deceit; lie cheated lie; and treachery
Mined under treachery; and perjury

Swore back on perjury; and blasphemy
Arose with hideous blasphemy; and curse
Loud answered curse; and drunkard stumbling fell
O'er drunkard fallen; and husband husband met,
Returning each from other's bed defiled;
Thief stole from thief; and robber on the way
Knocked robber down; and lewdness, violence,
And hate, met lewdness, violence, and hate.
Oh Earth! thy hour was come; the last elect
Was born; complete the number of the good;
And the last sand fell from the glass of Time.
The cup of guilt was full up to the brim;

And Mercy, weary with beseeching, had

Retired behind the sword of Justice, red

With ultimate and unrepenting wrath:

But man knew not: he o'er his bowl laughed

loud;

And prophesying, said: To-morrow shall
As this day be, and more abundant still-

As thou shalt hear. But hark! the trumpet sounds,
And calls to evening song; for, though with hymn
Eternal, course succeeding course, extol
In presence of the incarnate, holy God,
And celebrate his never-ending praise,-
Duly at morn, and night, the multitudes
Of men redeemed, and angels, all the hosts
Of glory, join in universal song;

And pour celestial harmony, from harps

Above all number, eloquent and sweet,

Above all thought of melody conceived.
And now behold the fair inhabitants,
Delightful sight! from numerous business turn,

And round and round thro' all the extent of bliss,

Towards the temple of Jehovah bow,

And worship reverently before his face!

Pursuits are various here, suiting all tastes; Though holy all, and glorifying God.

Observe yon band pursue the sylvan stream, Mounting among the cliffs-they pull the flower, Springing as soon as pulled; and marvelling, pry Into its veins, and circulating blood,

And wondrous mimicry of higher life;

Admire its colours, fragrance, gentle shape;

And thence admire the God who made it soSo simple, complex, and so beautiful.

Behold yon other band, in airy robes

Of bliss-they weave the sacred bower of rose And myrtle shade, and shadowy verdant bay, And laurel, towering high; and round their song, The pink and lily bring, and amaranth ;

Narcissus sweet, and jessamine; and bring

The clustering vine, stooping with flower and fruit;

The peach and orange, and the sparkling stream, Warbling with nectar to their lips unasked; And talk the while of everlasting love.

On yonder hill, behold another band,
Of piercing, steady, intellectual eye,
And spacious forehead of sublimest thought—
They reason deep of present, future, past;
And trace effect to cause; and meditate

On the eternal laws of God, which bind
Circumference to centre; and survey

With optic tubes, that fetch remotest stars

Near them, the systems circling round immense,

Innumerous.

See how-as he, the sage,

Among the most renowned in days of Time,

Renowned for large, capacious, holy soul

Demonstrates clearly, motion, gravity,

Attraction, and repulsion, still opposed;

And dips into the deep, original,