The Christian Triumph.
61
Took Wing, and mounted with Him from the Tomb?
Then, then, I rose; then first Humanity
Triumphant past the Crystal Ports of Light.
(Stupendous Guest!) and seiz'd eternal Youth,
Seiz'd in our Name. E'er since, 'tis blasphemous
To call Man mortal. Man's Mortality
Was, then, transferr'd to Death; and Heav'n's Duration
Unalienably seal'd to this frail Frame,
This Child of Dust,—Man, all-immortal! Hail;
Hail, Heav'n! all-lavish of strange Gifts to Man!
Thine all the Glory; Man's the boundless Bliss.
Where am I rapt by this triumphant Theme,
On Christian Joy's exulting Wing, above
Th' Aonian Mount?—Alas, small Cause for Joy!
What if to Pain immortal? If Extent
Of Being, to preclude a Close of Woe?
Where, then, my Boast of Immortality?
I boast it still, tho' cover'd o'er with Guilt;
For Guilt, not Innocence, His Life he pour'd;
'Tis Guilt alone can justify his Death;
Nor That, unless His Death can justify
Relenting Guilt in Heav'n's indulgent Sight.
If, sick of Folly, I relent; He writes
My Name in Heav'n, with that inverted Spear
(A Spear deep-dipt in Blood!) which pierc'd his Side,
And open'd there a Font for all Mankind
Who strive, who combat Crimes, to drink, and live:
This, only this, subdues the Fear of Death.
And what is This?—Survey the wond'rous Cure:
And at each Step, let higher Wonder rise!
"Pardon for infinite Offence! and Pardon
"Thro' Means, that speak its Value infinite!
"A Pardon bought with Blood! with Blood Divine!
"With Blood Divine of Him, I made my Foe!
"Persisted to provoke! tho' woo'd, and aw'd,
Then, then, I rose; then first Humanity
Triumphant past the Crystal Ports of Light.
(Stupendous Guest!) and seiz'd eternal Youth,
Seiz'd in our Name. E'er since, 'tis blasphemous
To call Man mortal. Man's Mortality
Was, then, transferr'd to Death; and Heav'n's Duration
Unalienably seal'd to this frail Frame,
This Child of Dust,—Man, all-immortal! Hail;
Hail, Heav'n! all-lavish of strange Gifts to Man!
Thine all the Glory; Man's the boundless Bliss.
Where am I rapt by this triumphant Theme,
On Christian Joy's exulting Wing, above
Th' Aonian Mount?—Alas, small Cause for Joy!
What if to Pain immortal? If Extent
Of Being, to preclude a Close of Woe?
Where, then, my Boast of Immortality?
I boast it still, tho' cover'd o'er with Guilt;
For Guilt, not Innocence, His Life he pour'd;
'Tis Guilt alone can justify his Death;
Nor That, unless His Death can justify
Relenting Guilt in Heav'n's indulgent Sight.
If, sick of Folly, I relent; He writes
My Name in Heav'n, with that inverted Spear
(A Spear deep-dipt in Blood!) which pierc'd his Side,
And open'd there a Font for all Mankind
Who strive, who combat Crimes, to drink, and live:
This, only this, subdues the Fear of Death.
And what is This?—Survey the wond'rous Cure:
And at each Step, let higher Wonder rise!
"Pardon for infinite Offence! and Pardon
"Thro' Means, that speak its Value infinite!
"A Pardon bought with Blood! with Blood Divine!
"With Blood Divine of Him, I made my Foe!
"Persisted to provoke! tho' woo'd, and aw'd,
"Blest,
