1 1 Class _lfS?2/i^t Book _J^M _ Copyright N^ COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. CHRIST (CHRISTUS. THE GOD-MAN OR THE LIFE AND WORKS OF JESUS, THE CHRIST AND SON OF GOD A POEM N FIFTEEN PARTS BY Rev. henry LOSCH, M.D. AUTHOR OF " Psalter, Harp and Song," or Translations of many of the Choicest German Hymns, in the Original Metres, with Original Tunes, including Luther's Famous Hymn ; " Poems :" I. Original Poems, II. Translations in the Original Metres of many of the best German Miscellaneous Poems, including Schiller's " Song of the Bell," etc. Translator of most of " Goethe's Poetical Works," in the Original Metres, including the Religious Poem of" Faust," complete. Author and Editor of " Conjoined Interlinear Authorized and Revised Holy Bible." Author of " Fundamental Bible-Truths and Timely Religious ^nd Bihljcal Polemics," etc, , etc; etc. WITH MANY NOTES AND' JLLU^TP^AT/QNS J)I)U(ibel:pl)ia FERRIS & LEACH 29-31 North Seventh Street 1904 L(BRaRV of CONG ',5 ess Tw« Copies Received FEB 25 1904 ^ Copyrignr Pntry . Copyright, 1904, by Henry Losch, M. D. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Contents, ...... Christ's Miracles Stated or Referred to, Illustrations, ..... List of Other Names than God and Christ, Preface, ...... The Life and Works of Jesus, the Christ and Son of God. Dedication, ....... 3 Prologue, ....... 4 PART L Christ the Promised and Expected Messiah, 5-9 IL John the Baptist's Testimony of Christ. Christ proves His Divinity in the Choice of His Apos- tles. Christ begins to work Miracles, . . 10-19 III. Christ working Miracles on condition of Faith demonstrating His Sonship of God, . . 20-29 IV. Christ's Range of Miracles extended through Nature supernaturally, .... 30-42 V. As " Son of God " Christ worked Miracles ir- respective of the Laws of this physical World. Christ's supernatural Origin transcends all Miracles, ...... 43-5° VI. Christ meets the Objections to His Power work- ing Miracles. Other Opponents to Christ men- tioned from early Times, . . . . 5^-65 VII. Christ's Apostles, Jewish Priests, Rulers, and Pharisees, and the so-called Church-Fathers nearest the Apostolic age, Believers in Christ and His Miracles. — Christ the only sinless Man, His Consecration, Baptism- in Jordan, Conquest over Satan, His Transfiguration, . . . 66-80 VIII. Simon Peter's Attestation concerning Christ and Christ's Reply, ..... 81-84 IX. Christ's Testimony of Himself including His Teachings as presented in His Sermon on the Mountain with His "Our Father" model Prayer, etc., etc., 85-97 iv CoJitents. PART PAGi X. Christ's Entrance into Jerusalem, His teaching the Law of Christian Love. The Institution of the Supper-Sacrament. Christ's Conflict in Gethsemane and His Death. Christ's Resurrec- tion from the Dead, His Ascension into Heaven and His first Royal Manifestation from there in the miraculous Outpouring of the Holy Spirit, 98-130 XL The Seeking of sinful Men for God's Pardon answered through Christ's Atonement, . 1 31-136 XIL Christ's Atonement, the Reason for its Accom- plishment, its Completion and Extent, . 137-145 XIIL Assured Christian Faith applying Christ's Redemption He achieved in His God-man Nature, ...... 146-149 XIV. Spiritual Treasures guaranteed to the Believers in Jesus Christ in God's Realm of eternal glory, implying Immortality of man's soul, . . 150-156 XV. Acceptance of Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the only Saviour of the World — irrespective of all other Systems of Religion, Ethics, Philosophies etc., — implies participation in the New Testament promised divine Nature, and of the Glorification like Christ's in Heaven eternally, 15 7-177 CHRIST'S MIRACLES STATED OR REFERRED TO. PAGE 1. The Water made Wine, . . 15 ff., 46, 54, 63 2. The Healing of the Nobleman's Son, ... 20 3. The First Miraculous Draught of Fishes, . . 18 4. The Calming of the Tempest, . . . . 30 ff. 5. The Healing of the Demoniacs in the Gadarene Countiy, . . . . . . 28, 29 6. The Raising of Ja'irus' Daughter, .... 41 7. The Woman's Disease Healed, .... 21 8. The Eyes of the Blind Opened, . . . . 21 9. The Paralytic Healed, 26 10. The Cleansing of the Lepers, .... 22 11. The Centurian's Servant Healed, .... 20 12. The Demoniac in the Synagogue Healed (Implied), 26 13. Peter's Wife's Mother Healed, .... 23 14. The Raising of the Widow's Son, ... 41 15. The Impotent Man at Bethsaida Healed, . . 27 16. The Miraculous Feeding of the Five Thousand, . 17, 18 17. The Walking on the Sea of Christ and Peter, ) 32, 57, 149 Jesus saving Peter from Sinking, / 149 18. The Eyes of the Man born blind opened, . 22, 32 19. The Restoring of a Man's withered Hand, . . 27 20. The Woman with the Spirit of Infirmity healed, . 26 21. The Man with Dropsy healed ( implied) , . . 26 22. The Ten Lepers Cleansed, ..... 22 23. The Healing of the Syrophenician Woman's Daughter, ....... 23 24. The Deaf and Dumb healed, .... 22 25. The Miraculous Feeding of the Five Thousand, 17, 18, 63 26. The Eyes of the Blind opened (at Bethsaida), 21, 22, 26 27. The Sick (lunatic child etc., etc.) healed, . . 26 28. The Finding of the Coin in the Fish's Mouth, . 18 29. The Raising of Lazarus, . . . . 35 ff. , 54 30. / Two Blind Men ( &c) , Blind Bartimeus, near 31. \ Jericho healed, . . . . . 21 32. The Withering of the Fruitless Tree, ... 30 33. The Healing of Malchus' Ear, . , . . 32 34. The Second Miraculous Draught of Fishes, . . 19 35. The Incarnation of Jesus Christ (exceeds all Miracles), 49 36. The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ, . . .79, 80 37. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ, 54, 106 ff., 148, 176 38. The Ascension of Jesus Christ into Heaven, . 55,121 39. The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem, . 123 ILLUSTRATIONS. Christ ( Christus) , The Marriage (Miracle) at Cana, Christ healing all Kinds of sick Men, Christ and Peter walking on the Sea, The Saving of Peter from Sinking, The Raising of Ja'irus' Daughter, The Baptism of Christ by John in Jordan, Christ's Transfiguration, Christ entering into Jerusalem, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary at the " He is Risen as He said," Christ appears to Mary Magdalene after His rection, ..... John (looking into Heaven), PAGE Frontispiece ■ 13, H . 25, 26 • 33, 34 39» 40 • 69, 70 • 78, 79 • 99» 100 Grave, 107, 108 III, 112 Resur- 117, 118 174, 175 LIST OF NAMES BESIDES GOD AND CHRIST. Abram, 90 Abraham, Adam, 85 Adam second, 85 Agassiz, 160 Ambrose, 67 Angel, no Angels, 75, 76, 86, 88, 151 ff. Apollonius, 51 Apostles, II, 18, 67, 81, I2C, 124, 130 Apostolic Fathers, 67 Aristoteles, 131 Athanasius, 67 Augustine, 67 Baer, v., 160 Baptist Congress, 72 Bartimeus, 21 Basil the Great, 67 Bauer, 60 Beale, 160 Beelzebub, 51 Bernard of Clairvaux, 59 Bischoff, 160 Blanchard, 160 Briggs, 62 Browning, 37, 63 Calvin, 146 Cana, 12 Celsus, 52 Centurion, 20 Christians, 51, 66, 67, 83, 84, 147, 173 Church of Christ, 72, 74, 81, 83, 9i> 124, 129, 147, 157, 167, 168, 171 Church-Fathers, 67 Chrysostom, 67 Cicero, 131 Clement, 67 Cyprian, 67 Dana, 160 Daniel, 86, 134 ff. Darius, 134 ff. Darwin, 160 ff. David, 22 Demon, 23 Devils, 29, 49, 51 ff. Duke of Argyll, 164 Eckermann, 66, 149, 171 Eden, 76, 142 Elected, 86, 129 Elijah, 80, 81, 119 Encycl. Brit, 51, 158, 167 Eusebius, 52, 67 Evil Spirits, 28 Ewald, 57 Fechner, 160 Franciscus of Assisi , 59 Galilee, 30, 77 Gellert, 164 Gentiles, 114, 131 Gethsemane, 104 Goethe, 54, 66, 149, 159, 171 Gregory the Great, 67 Hades, 83, 109 Haeckel, 160 ff. Harnack, 57, 59 Hase, 58 Hedge, 54 Helmholz, 160 Herder, 54 ff. Heretics, 68 Hesz, 53 Hierocles, 52 Higher Critics, 60 Hume, 56 Huxley, 160 Vlll Contents. Ignatius, 67 Immanuel, 9, 49 Infidels, 169 Israel, the people, 6, 45 Jairus, 41 James, 62, 154 Jerome, 67 Jerusalem, 7, 98 ff. , 121 Jewish Nobleman, 20 Jews, 88, 114, 131 John the Baptist, 7, 10, 54, 71 ff., 81 John the Evangelist, 19, 62, 129, 148, 174 Jordan, 69, 72 Julian, 51 Justin Martyr, 67 Kant, 52 Lazarus, 35 ff. , 54 ff. Lessing, 53 Lokrian, 135 Longfellow, 37 Luke, 62 Luther, 63 Lyell, 160 Martha, 38, 59 Mary Magdalene, 1 08 ff. , 1 1 6 ff. Mary, 15 Matthew, 62 Milton, 76 Messiah, 5, 80, 92, 119 Moses, 80, 119 Nain, 41 Neander, 12 Nicodemus, 73 Noah, 109 Olivet, 104, 121 Origen, 67 Ovid, 131 Owen, 160 Pantheist, 55 Pantheism, 159 Paul, 62, 64, 131, 155 Paulus, 56 Peter, 19, 23, 81, 84, 102, 107, 128 ff., 149, 156 Pharisees, 94, 97, 150 Plato, 131 Polycarp, 67 Predestinarians, 143 Priests, 66 ff. Publicans, 150 Rationalists, 56 Red Sea, 45 Reimarus, 52 ff. Realm of glory, 150, 154 Renan, 59 ff. Ruler, 67 Rulers, 67 Satan, 24, 49, 51, 74 ff., 76, 127 Sceptic, 56 Sceptics, 36, 169 Schleiermacher, 57, 58, 62 ff. Scribes, 97, 150 Sermon on the Mountain, 85 ff,93ff Sinai, 142 Socrates, 131 Solomon, 45 Spencer, 161 Spinoza, 52 ff. , 55 Stephen, 114 Strausz, 63 ff. Syrophoenician Woman, 23 ff. Taylor, 54 Tennyson, 36 Tertullian, 67 Thomas, 36 Thomas Aquinas, 45 Tuebingen School, 60 Ulrizi, 160 Virchow, 160 Wagner, 160 Wallace, 160 ff. Wesley, 147 Wigand, 160 Wolfenbuettel Fragments, 53 Woolston, 60 Zaleucus, 135 Zinzendorf, 147 PREFACE. By asserting, argumentatively as well as historically, in the following, necessarily, elaborate and extensive Poem, that Jesus is the Christ, the God-sent (Messiah) and God- and Men-attested Son of God, the argument centering first in the proofs of His divine authority and power to perform Miracles, and extending to the far- reaching proofs of His divine character as the only acceptable, appreciated and fully recognized Mediator between God and men. He being, therefore, the exclusive divine Saviour of men who are His followers: the undersigned claims to present distinctively, essen- tially (with many of the foremost Biblical proof- texts, quotations from and references to various authors and their works, in foot-notes), the scriptural and rational answers, not only in regard to some philosophical and scientific problems involved, but also to some of the so-called burning questions of all times in the Christian era, even from the beginning, and, especially, of this our present time and age, focused in the undisguised sceptic questions, asking: *< What of Jesus Christ, His Life, Miracles, Doctrines and Teachings, as presented in the New Testament ? '* — That my work, in its greatly epitomized, and its fluent poetical form and expression, its sublimity and spirituality of its subject-matter from an orthodox Christian point of view, may find acceptance and many readers, and redound to the glory of God and His Christ, is my most sincere desire. Henry Losch. Philadelphia^ Pa. THE GOD-MAN THE LIFE AND WORKS OF JESUS THE CHRIST AND SON OF GOD A POEM DEDICATION. Two thousand years soon will be ended. Since Thou, O Christ, didst come to earth, All previous history suspended. Events from Thy birth date their birth. Whatever, Thou, Lord, hast been achieving In life and death and life in heav'n. We verily must be believing Divinely works as mighty leav'n All generations permeating. Who through Thy gospel hear of Thee, God's Spirit e'er regenerating Each soul that yields submissively To Thee and to God's Will requiring A living faith in Thee, God's Son, Through Thee the liberty acquiring Which for Thy followers Thou hast won. Thy life, so wondrously affirming By well-attested miracles Thee as God's Son, has been confirming All truly God-born oracles. — All this completely to be giving Has been my soul's sincerest aim; Bless, own my work, O Lord, Thou living And saving Christ, to praise God's name. PROLOGUE. I By works divine is indicated That he who works a God-like deed To Him most closely is related. From whom all powers divine proceed. II A Christ-like work, therefore, is claiming That it alone from Him proceeds. Of whom the Prophets are proclaiming That He in might all powers exceeds.^ Ill Is, therefore, what Christ wrought, creation With God's omnipotence impressed: The Primitive Christian Dispensation, With works by God wrought, has been blest! *l Kings 13: 3-7 etc.; Mat. ii: 4, 5 etc. I CHRIST THE PROMISED AND EXPECTED MESSIAH FROM THE BEGINNING. When Christ, God's Son/ put forth endeavor By miracles to show God's might. He neither indolence would favor. Nor manifest a magic sight. II He to the one and all was saying : ** Except ye signs and wonders see," ^ Their lust for marvelous things betraying — ** Ye never will believe in me." Ill It therefore seemed like condescension To slow susceptibility. Instead of their true apprehension To give His words in equity, IV And state : ** Can ye, that in the Father I am and He's in me,^ not see. Believe me for the works' sake rather. For they do testify of me." * V The people Israel ^ awaited Fulfilment of the prophecies. Of old,® in Him, the delegated Messiah, "^ by God's own decrees. 1 Luke I: 35; John 10: 25-38 etc, ^jo^n ^^. ^g etc. 'John 14: II; 5: 36. *John 10: 25-38 etc. ^John 4: 25; Mat- 21: 9. ^ Isa. 29: 18 ff.; 35: 5 ff.; 6l: ij Zeph. 3: 12 ff. etc. 'Deut. 18: 18 ff.; Isa. 40: 3 ff.; Ps. 118:26; Mai. 3: i; Hag. 2: 9; Mat. I: 16; John i: 14 etc. The God-Man. VI God from beginning was providing **The bruiser of the serpent's head;" ^ — ** Ye are, if in my w^ord abiding. My true disciples," ^ God's Son said, VII ** The truth divine ye shall be knowing. And that, indeed, shall make you free," That in the might it is bestowing — ** None e'er of sin bondservant be." ^ — VIII ** The Sun of Righteousness " God sending, ** With healing in His wings," "^ arose ; Thus all, on whom His rays are bending. Receive His bliss and sweet repose.'' IX We need inquire not any longer And say : '* Watchman, what of the night ? " * ** The Day spring from on high " "^ did conquer Illuminating all with light. ^ — X Thus Jesus, God's Son, when appearing With supernatural powers endowed **To raise the dead, "^ **all men were ^''fearing;" — (That Christ as child they saw, some ^^vozved ; 1 Gen. 3:15 etc. ^joh^ g. ^j ff ^^^ 3 John 8: 32-37 (Rev. Vers.) * Mai. 4: 2 etc. ^Mat. li: 28, 29 etc. ^ Isa. 21: II etc. ■'Luke i: 78, 79 etc. ^ Isa. 9: 1-9 etc. ^ Luke 7: 15 etc. ^°Luke 7: 16 etc. ^^ Luke 2: 25-36 ff. Part 1. 7 XI Christ's parents to God's House ^ repairing. To bring — as customs then prevailed — The sacrifice they'd been preparing. Two persons Him as Christ there hailed ; XII Both aged persons, long inquiring For the fulfilments as to Christ, The Holy Spirit was inspiring That they God'' s Christ there recognized.') — XIII And when then John ^ of Christ's works hearing Asked Christ, the question to decide : **Art thou that one,^ or is appearing Another ? ' ' Christ Himself repHed : XIV Tell John the message of my teaching ; ** Tell what you saw, since you are here ; * The gospel to the poor I'm preaching ; The blind do see ; the deaf do hear ; XV The unclean, infirm and lame I'm healing ; The dead, I've raised, — new life commence ; To all God's kingdom I'm revealing ; Blest he is, who takes no offence." '" — ^ Luke 2: 22 ff. etc. ^hn^Le^ 7: 19, 20 etc. ' Ps. 118: 26} Mai. 3: I etc. * Luke 7: 22, 23 etc. = Luke 7: 21, 22 etc. The God-Man. XVI Christ, naturally, this was applying First to the physically blind, ^ Lame, deaf, or those on sick-beds lying, Who hoped through Him full health to find ; XVII Yet also, doubtlessly, included Those doubting that from God He came,^ Those blind ^ and dead,* to whom He alluded. When once His follower one became.^ XVIII Christ never as a vain magician A miracle proposed, or wrought. But as the God-sent,® wise physician He worked and uttered every thought,'' His long-predestined ^ work revealing. His heavenly Father Him assigned. All kinds of sick ^ men to be healing. First such as were of Israel's^" kind. — XX Most wondrous words were ever flowing From His lips charged with truths divine. Balsamic ease to each bestowing. Who yielded to His will benign. ^ Luke 7: 21 etc, ^joh^ g. ^^ etc. ^John 9: 40, 41 etc. *Mat. 8: 22. ^Mzt. 8: 21. ^]6hn 5: 23, 245 12: 44 etc. ^ John 4: 34 etc. ^ Mai. 3: i ff. etc. ^ Mat. 9: 12, 13 etc. 10 Mat. 15: 24 ff. etc. Part I. 9 XXI No words or truths were ever spoken That touched and moved men's hearts as His,^ And every deed He wrought was token Of thoughts divine and heavenly bliss. XXII No wonder, they to Him were bringing Outbursts of homage and loud cheers/ Who oft 'mid miracles^ was ringing His gospel- words into their ears. — XXIII Our utmost thanks belong forever To Jesus Christ, Immanuely'^ For greater majesty shone never Than crowned His every miracle. — ^John 7: 46; Mat. 7: 29; Mark i: 22 etc. ^John 12: 13; Mat. 8: 27 etc. ^ Acts 2: 22 etc. * Mat. l: 23 (Revised Version. ) II JOHN THE BAPTIST'S TESTIMONY OF CHRIST. CHRIST PROVES HIS DIVINITY IN THE CHOICE OF HIS APOSTLES. CHRIST BEGINS TO WORK MIRACLES. I When John the Spirit ^ saw descending And that on Christ it did abide/ He Christ as ** God's Son " ^ was commending And clearly of Him testified : ** Behold, the Lamb of God ! " ^ This hearing Two of John's followers, they came close To Christ, both timid still appearing. As none there to address Him chose, — III The^ Christ, who saw their soul's great yearning In company with Him to be. Turned 'round — that He from them be learning Their wish — and asked them : ** What seek ye?"^ IV And when they : ** Where art thou residing, O Master," said, " For we seek Thee," — Their fate for their whole life deciding — Christ answered : ** Come, and ye shall see." ^ ijohn l: 32. 2 John i: 32, 33. 3 John i: 34-37. ^ Mat. 26: 63, 64. Paul in Col. 2: 2; Eph. 5: 5; Rom. 9: 5; Tit. 2: 10 and 13, calls Christ distinctly " God." ^John i: 38. ^john I- 38) 39- (Revised Version.) Part 11. 1 1 V The more the Christ they had been seeing, The greater their amazement grew. All the appearance of His Being Astonished them each day anew. — VI To others, also, truths revealing Which proved to them a mystery,^ — All this their faith in Christ was sealing That He alone God's So?i must be.— VII And when He others, too, elected To enter His Messiah-sphere, There twelve Apostles were selected ^ As co-workers in His career. — VIII Then all fulfilled to Christ appearing That now as God's Son He be seen. Such days of works divine were nearing As never on this earth had been. — IX When therefore in His revelations All wondered at Christ's oracles, He pointed to the attestations They should see ^ in His miracles. 'John i: 48. 2 Mat. 10: 2 etc. ^John l: 50 ff. etc. 12 The God-Man. X Thus at the first, ^ He was performing In Cana, at a marriage-feast, Christ to the need of wine conforming. Miraculously y wine i?ur eased. — ijohn 2: i-ii. Dr. Neander in his * Life of Jesus Christ ' (6th Edit., p. 208) so entirely different from his otherwise orthodox work here strangely remarks [I translate correctly]: "We are in no wise justified to presume that Christ changed the water into the same which is made out of the fruit of the vine, but we need only to assum:: that He imparted to the water such a higher power as to be able to produce the same effects as strong wine, or imparting ivine-like strength to the water by means of a mere potency. ^^ In a foot-note he then states: "It would be quite welcome to me, if this conception could find support in that of an older churchly one, as B in an old hymn to have found believed : ^Vel hydriis plenis aqua -vini saporem infuderis.'' " To this he added this: "The word sapor here is hardly thus to be emphasized. Vini saporem infundere in the sense of the hymn, indeed, is nothing else than in 'vinum mutare^''^ i. e. to change into nvine, entirely different from his own giving " a mere tuine-like potency.'"'' To this we need but to reply, that if such a deception, to say the least, had taken place, either here, or at any other miraculous performance of Christ, His disciples and immediate followers, doubtless, would have detected and mentioned it, but in absolute want of such a declaration on their part, the above insinu- ation must fall to the ground, as also Neander himself afterwards refers to this making the water into wine as to the '■^ first miracle '* Christ performed. THE MARRIAGE AT CANA. John 2: 1-11. Part II, 1 5 The servants, no more wine possessing. Were charged to Christ's words to attend,^ So that, should He them be addressing. They might assistance to Him lend. — XII That they forthwith jars should be filling With water, Christ of them required ; When filled the jars, then He was thrilling The hearts through wine which all admired. — XIII The water, they from jars were taking. Most wondrously, by power divine, Christ, as the Son of God, was making To genuine y well-accepted ^ wine. XIV That miracle, therefore, presented No beverage to earth unknown ; It wine, a ** good wine " ^ represented. Such as in that land's fields was grown. — As they in Christ faith were possessing To do what He wished done to see. He through that miracle was blessing Their faithful toil effectively. ijohn 5: 2. 2john 2: 10. 1 6 The God-Man. XVI ** His glory Christ thus manifested '* Through His first miracle,^ then done. Which His divinity attested And clearly proved Him as God's Son. XVII Though 'gainst His wilP to act requested, — As show His words in His reply, — In deference of His words protested. He still wrought that ** good wine's ^ " supply. XVIII **And His disciples," John there stated, *^ Believed on Hiniy'' * whereby we see How Christ that feast potentiated By His miraculous Majesty. XIX E'en from the first Christ was outreaching All kinds of men well to prepare To listen to His Gospel's preaching Soon here and there and everywhere,^ 'Tween Him and John, the Baptist, showing A contrast far and wide and clear. Divine light all men's spheres bestowing. As He went on in His career. — ijohn 2: II. 2jo}jn 2: 3 fF. ^'^ohn 2: 9 fF. *John 2: 11. 5 Mat. 4: 17, 23 ff. etc.; Mark i: 38 fF. etc.; John 2: 13 fF. etc. Part 11. 1 7 XXI Christ oft, when miracles performing. Through means within the human sphere,^ His work to men's toil was conforming. That His divinity appear. XXII There in the desert thousands feeding,* Where He some food did multiply. Through human means He men was leading To grasp His doctrines deep and high. The much-implying truth insuring That *« I," said He, *« the bread of God, Am ceaseless life for all procuring. Who eat my flesh and drink my blood." ' XXIV Rare circumstances were requiring A sign of Christ's almightiness. Men by the thousands were retiring To hear Him in the wilderness. XXV The desert was all hope defying For food the multitudes to feed. They on nought else could be relying. Except that He supply their need. Ijohn 9: 6; Mark 7: 33 etc., etc. ^M^t. 14: 15-21; Mark 6: 34-46; Luke 9: 12-17; John 6: 5-1 1. *John 6: 26-58. 1 8 The God-Man. XXVI There He gave thanks ^ the heavenly Father For the miraculous supplies Of w^hich the fragments, they did gather. Large baskets filling/ gave surprise. XXVII This miracle no nevv^ creation Of food reveals, unknown before, ' Twas wonderful ' multiplication Of food from a poor fisher'' s store. XXVIII Few loaves, few fishes scanty measure. By human hands prepared and caught. This human food to such a treasure As *^ fed five thousand wrought ; — XXIX That draught of fishes ^ they were making Miraculously,^ — all confessed ; ^ — That coiriy'^ one from that fish was taking ; — All were but labors Christ had blessed. XXX That fish-draught '^ rightly there beholding. The clear catastrophe we see How fishermen Christ was imbolding Apostles of God's Son to be.^ ^Mat. 14: 19. 'Mat. 14: 20 etc. ^ Compare Mark 8: 6-9. *Luk:e 9: 14; Mat. 14: 21 etc. ^ Luke 5: i-ii. ^ Luke 5: 9, 10. 'Mat. 17: 24-27. ^Luke 5: 9-1 1 etc. Fart II. ^ XXXI For Christ, as this was His own meaning. In working that great miracle, "Thou shalt catch men," ' was intervening As His majestic oracle. XXXII So, too, as postscript 'tis recorded. That after Christ rose from the dead. He similar aid to His afforded. And to a like success them led." — XXXIII When He had, unknown, to those stated. Who toiled all night, but nothing caught. Where many fishes were located, — Great fishes, then, to land they brought. XXXIV At once the miracle discerning John, *' 'Tis the Lord," to Peter said. Who, hastily, to meet Christ yearning. To reach the land full efforts made.^ — XXXV And when the fishes they had counted And found a hundred fifty-three. All their success to Christ accounted. And each His miracle could see.* iLukeS'.lo. 2john2i: 1-23. ^Johnai-.y. *John2i; Ill CHRIST WORKING MIRACLES ON CONDITION OF FAITH DEMONSTRATING HIS SON- SHIP OF GOD. I Faith was the sure qualification For all, who sought Christ to be healed. Each patient, low or high in station. He cured, if they but faith revealed. II This rule oi faith with Christ was binding. And so it is recorded, too. That where in places He was finding **A^(? faith y^ ^* No great works He could do.*'' ^ III So, Christ, though far away, was healing That Jewish nobleman's sick son Through faith ^'^ the father was revealing. Who Christ to bring from home had gone ; IV And finding Jesus, he was pressing The wish that to his son He come. But seeing faith ^ Christ wrought His blessing. Which healed the son there in his home. — V Thus, too, full health Christ was bestowing The slave of the Centurion ; ^ He said, when this one faith was showing : **As thou hadst faith , to thee be it done." ^ Mark 6: 5. '^John 4: 46-54. ^ Mat. 8: 5-13. Part III. 21 So was that woman ^ who was wasting "All that she had," that she be healed From a severe disease, but hasting To Christ by faith in her concealed. — VII She to herself had been confessing : <* My touching Him heals my disease ; " When touched, Christ answered, her addressing : **Thy faith hath healed thee, go in peace." ^ VIII So, too, is each miraculous healing Of many a blind ' man, young and old. The record of the joyful feeling Of each one, who of Christ took hold IX By living faith, — in some created By asking : " Have ye faith in me That I do this ? " * and He then stated : «* Since ye had faith, it to you be." * So, Bartimeus blind ^ perceiving. Through throngs of people passing by — Where he was sitting alms receiving — That Jesus Christ was coming nigh : 1 Mat. 9: 20-225 Mark 5: 25-34; Luke 8: 43-48. ^ Luke 8: S. 3 Mat. 9: 27-31 ; 12: 22; 20: 30; John 9: I etc. * Mat. : 28. 5 Mat. 9: 29. 6 Mark lO: 46. 22 '^The God-Man. XI By faith his voice raised, *' Jesus,'* crying, ** Thou David's Son, have mercy on me; '* Christ halting, called and asked replying: ** What wilt thou, that I do to thee ? " XII And when He heard the blind man's yearning: ** Lord, to receive my sight," I pray, ** Thy faith thee healed " to him returning. Healed, '*he Christ followed in the way."^ — XIII To deaf and dumb,^ e'en to one ne'er seeing From birth, ^ — all men who greatly grieve — The power of hearing, speaking, seeing, Christ gave to each who did believe. — XIV The leper-cleansing,* too, is showing Belief in each the heavenly root. Through which sure health Christ was bestowing The ** lepers, sick from head to foot."'^ — XV As soon as Christ faith* s words was hearing: ** Lord, if thou wilt Thou canst ??iake cka?:^'' No power dared to be interfering His answer: ** / willy be thou clea?i ! " ^Mark lo: 52. ^ Mat. 9: 32 etc. 5 Mark 7: 31-37. ^Juiin 9 : I etc. * Mat. 8 : 1-4 ; Mark i : 40-45 5 Luke 5 : i'-:-:6. ^ Luke 5: IZ5 17: 12-14, 19 etc. Part III. 23 XVI So were the cures of that sick mother Of His disciple, Peter's wife,^ And Canaanitish woman's daughter,^ Bestowed to faith wrestling for life; — XVII One from attacks of fever suffered. And one was vexed by a demon bold. To each one normal health Christ proffered. When pressed hy faith* s tenacious hold; — XVIII They for that mother's cure beseeching, Jt once saw her recovery,^ Thus, both. His miracles and teaching,^ Proved amply that the Christ He be.^ XIX The heathen mother, too, believing That Christ had balm for every wound. In spite of sharp rebukes, was cleaving To Him, until His help she found. XX Though, doubtless, she felt deeply wounded By epithets ^ quite undisguised. She never yet could be confounded In her ^^ great faith'*'' in Jesus Christ. iMat. 8: 14-17; Mark i: 29-31; Luke 4: 38. 2 Mat. 15: 22-28; Mark 7: 25-30. ^ Luke 4: 38, 39. * Mark i: 27 etc. ^ Mark i: 31. (See marginal note of Rev. Version: "Many ancient authorities add to be Christ.'" ^ Mat. 15: 26 etc. 24 "the God-Man, XXI And thus to her Christ was confessing: ** Great is thy faith y it be to thee As asked," then Satan dispossessing Her daughter, left her instantly.^ — XXII Thus all the sick,^ whom was distressing Pain in some way, — the lame, the sore. The infirm,' — wh.oo' qv faith was possessing. To health and strength Christ did restore. — XXIII What insight into each relation Of man^s faith and the gft divine Of sight, or speech, or of salvation Of helpless man in misery's shrine ! — XXIV When Christ once through the roof saw bringing A paralytic,* instantly. In that man's ears His words were ringing: **Be cheered y thy sins are pardoned thee ! " XXV Christ saw \}dl€\x faith. That was sufficient, — They need nor prayer, nor word to say. The help. He proffered, was efficient. Healed, he arose and went his way. — ^ Mat. 15: 28. 'Mat. 9: 35; Mark 3: 1-15; Luke 6: 6-15. 2 Luke 13: 115 14: 1-65 John 5: 1-16 etc. * Luke 5: 18-265 Mat. 9: 2-7; Mark 2: 1-12 etc. CHRIST HEALING THE SICK. Part III, 27 XXVI So in the place, ^ where oft were staying The weak and suffering in the land, Christ's word: ** Stretch forth thy hand!" obeying A man had healed his withered hand. — XXVII So in the porches ^ Christ surveying The sick who suffered deep-felt woe. He to an impotent was saying: ** Arise, take up thy bed and go ! " XXVIII ** And, instantly, he was arising. Took up his bed and went his way." ' This act of healing was surprising The Jews, — for 'twas the Sabbath day. — XIX And answering them God's Son was giving The keynote to His miracles. Assuring that His life here living. All His works and His oracles XXX Were but in closest emulation Of God, of whom He freely said : <* My Father worketh since creation," * And ne'er great pauses He has made, — 1 Mat. 12: 9-13; Mark 3: 1-5; Luke 6: 6-11. ^]oYiTi.^: 1-16. 'John 5: 9. *John 5: 17. a 8 l^he God-Man. XXXI *' And I, God's Son, always conforming To works which wrought by God I see. Such works alone can be performing As prove our mutual harmony." ^ XXXII Here Christ, that God' s Son He /j, stated, — Nought weightier in the Scriptures is; — Most closely they are thus related. Since God's works are the same as His. — XXXIII If God the Father rules creation In constant new activity, Christ proving His full God-relation, Like God, must e'er creative^ be. — XXXIV (Christ also clearly promulgated The doctrine how to keep that day. Declaring it ** for man created," ^ That bliss to man's soul it convey.) XXXV So e'en the prayer to their destruction Of ** evil spirits " ■* Christ approved. And as their prayer met no obstruction. They entered swine w^hich near by moved ; — ijohn 5: 19 ff. etc; 14: 10, 11, etc. 2 John 9: 4, 5, etc. 3 Mark a: 27, 28. * Mat. 8: 28-34; Mark 5: 1-20; Luke 8: 26-39. Part IIL 29 XXXVI (The herd about two thousand numbered; — Those men, by *' devils " there possessed. That region had with fear encumbered Through wrath and madness they expressed.) XXXVII Christ ne'er to ** unclean spirits " ^ suiFered, — Though ** devils e'en believe 'mid fear." "^ That Him by them be homage proffered. Or Him as God's Son they revere; XXXVIII He them "rebuked " ^ severely, saying: " Be still, come out of him and leave ! " And 'mid some wild and strange displaying They left* the souls whom they did grieve. — 1 Mark i: 23-26; Luke 4: 33-36. ^j^rngg ^. i^ ^ Mat. 17: 18; Mark 9: 25; Luke 9: 42 etc, * Mat. 17: 18; Mark 9: 25; Luke 9: 42 etc. IV. CHRIST'S RANGE OF MIRACLES EXTENDED THROUGH NATURE SUPERNATURALLY. I Christ's range of miracles extended Through nature with authority. He, instantly, her laws suspended. When there ^ He dried the fruitless tree. — II When once "^ the winds broke from the mountains. Near by the Sea of Galilee, And everywhere from their deep fountains The waters rose surprisingly; III When, forthwith, wave on wave was rolling With steadily increased uproar. And boatmen every power controlling Their storm-tossed craft, lost more and more; When 'midst those waves one boat was trying To keep with might its steadiness. As Christ asleep ^ in it was lying — Nought feeling of the crew's distress; — v When His own for deliverance sighing, — As frightful waves dashed overboard. Awakened Him for safety crying: ** O Lord, we perish, save us. Lord ! " * iMat. ai: 19. ^ Mark 4: syff.jMat. 8: 24-27. ^ Mat. 1 4 1\^a1- 8. If 24. *Mat. 8: 25. Part IV. 31 VI When Christ's disciples greatly trembled At that severe storm's rage and threat. And all before Him there assembled. To show their fear in timorous fret: — VII And Christ looks calmly at the v^^eather And answers, — ere aught else He saith. To join advice and shame together, — ** Why fear ye, ye of little faith ? " ^ VIII What contrast between Christ's composure And His disciples' fearful fright In like temptation and exposure, All seizing there with equal might ! — IX Unmoving like a rock-bound tower, Christ there withstood the winds and all. Whilst that storm in its raging power Those made of fear the victims fall. — X Then Christ the winds and sea commanded That they be still, — and they obeyed! — That miracle sure faith demanded. Much faith in Christ it there conveyed ! ^- 1 Mat. 8: 26. 2 Mark 4: 41; Mat. 8: 27. 32 The God-Man, XI The ear ^ there, from its body parted. Healed, when Christ touched it, instantly. — To moistened earth ^ Christ strength imparted To heal blind eyes, that they could see, XII When washed with water, ^ Christ was giving The power to open and make whole To a man, till then in blindness living. Whom thus He gladdened heart and soul.* — XIII The laws of nature Christ suspended When He was walking on the sea,^ To Peter the same power extended. Storm-tossed, — he thefe was like a tree. — XIV For * ' by the wind afraid ' ' appearing And ** Lord, O save me," crying out. He sank; but Christ him caught — him cheering Though upbraiding him: *' Why didst thou doubt?" XV All these great miracles are proving — Attesting Christ's God-sovereignty — That He, the world's Lord,*' could be moving In it like God's air — frank and free ! iLuke 22: 50. ^jo^^ ^. 5 3 John 9: 7. *John 9: 30 fF. SMat. 14: 22-33; Mark 6: 45-52; Luke 6: 14-21. ♦'John i: 1-3 etc., etc. JESUS SAVING PETER FROM SINKING. Matt. 14: 31. Part IV, 2>S XVI There at the miracle of raising Dead Lazarus ^ from his dark grave. All that man could do toward upraising The dead, Christ blest, w^hen charge He gave XVII To those. He near the grave was finding And said: ** Take ye the stone away; " ^ — And then: ** Be ye the clothes unbinding " ^ — Which wrapt around the body lay; — To God uplooking for His blessing, 'Mid heart-felt grief, most deeply moved. The dead with powerful voice addressing, Christ's efforts superhuman proved! XIX According with the four days * lying Already in that grave interred. Such strength divine Christ was supplying To Lazarus as new life conferred! — XX The dead, the voice of Christ thus hearing, ** Came forth;" — raised from the dead was found ! — They saw him in full life appearing. All clothes bound 'round him still unbound; *^ — ^John II: 1-54. 2 John u, ^^ 3joJ,n jj. ^^; *John II: 17, 39. ''John II: 44 ff. ^John ii: 44. ^6 The God- Man. To loosen these God's Son was leaving To sceptics who might be about. That Lazarus in their care receiving They free their mind from every doubt. How faintly ^ have some poets striven To glorify Christ's miracles. Though, God-like, He in them has given Divine proof of His oracles, ^Alfred Tennyson, e. g., in ' In Memoriam ' (considered his best and longest religious poem) concerning Lazarus' resurrection fictitiously and sceptically says in Canto 3 1 : *' When Lazarus left his charnel-cave, And home to Mary's house return'd, Was this demanded — if he yearn' d To hear her weeping by his grave ? * Where wert thou, brother, those four days ? ' There lives no record of reply, Which telling what it is to die Had surely added praise to praise," — * ' Behold a man raised up by Christ ! The rest remaineth unreveal'dj He told it not, or something seal'd The lips of that Evangelist. ' ' Compare also Canto 96, where disregarding Christ's rebuke to doubting Thomas (John 20: 26 ff. ) who seeing the risen Christ and testing the wounds in his hands and side belie'vingly exclaimed: " My Lord and my God," he still unbelievingly declares: " You tell me, doubt is Devil-born. I know not," etc., etc. " There lives more faith in honest doubt Believe me, than in half the creeds." etc., etc. Part IV, 37 When bitter enemies objected That sins to pardon He presumed, The sick man's healing He effected By a change ^ of words He at once assumed. — And Robert Browning in his * An Epistle ' also writes fictitiously concerning the miracle of Lazarus' resurrection another's estimate, saying: " 'Tis but a case of mania — subinduced By epilepsy, at the turning point Of trance prolonged unduly some three * days: When by the exhibition of some drug Or spell, exorcization, stroke of art Unknown to me and which 'twere well to know, The evil thing out-breaking all at once Left the man whole and sound of body indeed," — etc. ** The man—it is one Lazarus, a Jew, Sanguine, proportioned, fifty years of age," etc. ** This grown man eyes the world now like a child." etc. And what Henry W, Longfellow in his ' Christus ' of Lazarus' resurrection says is this: ** He hath called Lazarus of Bethany Out of his grave and raised him from the dead.** *' The people say that here in Bethany He hath raised up a certain Lazarus, Who had been dead three * days. ' ' 1 Mat. 9: 4 ff. * Lazarus had been dead "four days," when Christ raised him from the dead (John n : 39). 38 ne God-Man, XXIV To Martha Christ said — all foreseeing — ** Thy brother dead shall rise again. The Life and Resurrection being Through me, by faith life he'll regain." ^ — XXV Death of man's body comes by reason Of sin,^ which is apostasy From God, or man's soul's spiritual treason Against God, to be falsely free.^ — XXVI To those in Christ, God's Son, believing, Christ is the fountain of fall life. Since they in death, e'en, are receiving The life with endless blessings rife/ — XXVII Christ Lazarus knew and loved ^ him dearly. — At His love's retrospect *' Christ wept," '' He raised^ him — His love's seal most clearly — Though he in death o'er ** four days " slept. "^ — XXVIII All circumstances manifested This miracle's sublime degree. It Christ's divinity attested And proved His God-like majesty. 'John II: 23 ff. etc. ^ Rom. 5: 12, 14, 19 etc. ^ Rom. 6: 20-23 sfc. *John II: 25 ff. etc., etc. ^jo^n jj. ^ cjohn II: 35. ^John II: 43, 44. ^John ii: 17, 39. ^1 ■m. • g^^,^,.-^:. 1 X ^^m^ Iflll^H THE RAISING OF JAIRUS' DAUGHTER. Matt. 9 : 25. Part IV, 41 XXIX More power was needed evidently In this than in a case, where one Was newly dead, and words, said gently. The dead raised, as the widow's son,^ XXX To whom, — first her, with *' Weep not^" greeting, — Christ said: *' I say to thee, arise." ** And he arose," — Christ's summons meeting, — ** And all filled fear " - — 'mid great surprise:, XXXI As Jairus' daughter," the death-laden, *' Though she was dead," when in repose Christ her addressing: ** Rise, O maiden," *' She " — like a rose blown down — XXXII Though here ^ the contexts might be admitting Each as a cataleptic case. Where Christ's hand's touch, or voice befitting. The apparent dead from sleep did raise. — XXXIII But could Omniscience surely knowing The coma, wherein Lazarus lay — If death's resemblance clearly showing — Still metaphorically say : '' iLuke 7: 11-16 etc. 2 Luke 7: 16. 3 Mat. 9: 18 ff.; Mark 5: 22, 35 ff.; Luke 8: 49 ff. * In those miracles of resurrections from the dead. ^John 11:4. 42 l^he God-Man. XXXIV <* Our friend's disease is not to dying. But for God's glory, verily. That it God's Son be glorifying ? " — Or could but metaphor this be: XXXV ** He sleeps, our friend, but I am going That out of sleep him I awake ' ' ^ The power of God through His Son show- ing; ''=— Whereas *' all of his death He spake r"' ^ — ^ John II: II. 2 John I J. ^^ 3john ii: 13 ff. V AS "SON OF GOD" CHRIST WORKED MIRACLES IRRESPECTIVE OF THE LAWS OF THIS PHYSICAL WORLD. CHRIST'S SUPER- NATURAL ORIGIN TRANSCENDS ALL MIRACLES. I Though nature's laws thus are expanding. Perchance exceptions to admit. It mast be stated notwithstanding That laws exceptions ne'er permit! II Christ's miracles were certain breaches Of nature's laws ; each did suspend When it the general law o'er-reaches To gain a wiser, nobler end.^ Ill It is this subject ill befitting Adducing reasons misinformed In bringing arguments admitting That God's Son miracles performed IV And state, that this world is constructed On law-excepting principles. And from wrong premises deducted Give reasons for Christ's miracles.' — V The physical world nowhere is showing To law exceptions in its spheres. No law a better rule bestowing Than in the general law appears. 1 John 6: 26 fF, etc. ^ The primary reason for Christ's miracles is this, that He had authority to work miracles as the Son of God^ He Himself declaring: '* I must work the works of Him that sent me." (John 9: 145 4: 34 etc.) 44 The God-Man. VI When water, or some fluid, freezing. Instead of growing dense, compact. And heavier, — all contraction ceasing, — Swells and gets lighter, as to fact : No law of nature is requiring That ice, formed on the top, must sink. For sunken ice more layers acquiring Must soon make ice-mounts, link by link ; VIII For frozen water is remaining On top,^ conformed to nature's law ;^ And water still 'neath the ice maintaining Its fluid state prevents the awe IX Which followed, if the ice were sinking. And filled with blocks of ice one saw All streams — the ocean interlinking — Which only many suns could thaw. — X Christ's wonders were not violations Of nature's laws ; they rather proved To excel through God-like operations, Bv which all ills He at once removed. — 1 As ice has a density of about .09, one ninth of its volume fioati abo-ve the water. 2 The reason that ice formed on the top of water dnki not, is not an exception, as some think, but it is in full accord with nature's latv, because its density is less than that of water. Part V, 45 XI He nature's laws aside was setting The supernatural to reveal. And thus a heavenly aim begetting. He God"* s ^///wrought for woe^ or weal^ XII He nature's courses off'' suspended. Whilst drawing the earthly veil aside. And nature with a moral * blended That God's power might be magnified. XIII A miracle ^ thus interfering With this or that of nature's dow'r That facts, unheard of, were appearing Exhibiting almighty^ pow'r, XIV Should yet be incongruent never With Him, who all things did create,"^ Though puzzling to man's best endeavor To find some reason adequate. ^ Mat. 8: 32 etc. ^ Mat. 9: 4 fF. etc. ^John ii: 475 Acts 2: 22 etc., etc. *John 6: 6, 25-41 etc. ^ ** Those rightly are to be termed miracles which are wrought by divine power apart from the order, usually observed in nature," argues Thomas Aquinas (Con. Gentiles II. 102). *' In the Wisdom of Solomon (19: 6) the author remarkably describes how at the passage of the Red Sea all nature in its variety was created anew, that it might serve the LORD'S purposes for the safe deliverance of His people Israel and for the severe punishment of their enemies, the Egyptians. ''John I: 3 etc., etc. 46 The God-Man. That man, besides bread, too, be living By beauty, seems God's law to be. Since he for beauty has been giving To man great sensibility. — XVI The miracle bread multiplying,^ And water into wine refined,' The beautiful was nullifying. Which God to corn and vine assigned. — XVII But though a loss, as all reflection On nature's work abruptly ceased. The miracle yet in perfection Mature fruit, instantly increased. — XVIII The gain it, therefore, was producing. Was from our human standpoint great ; The end, for which Christ it was using. Was yet of infinite more weight. — XIX Wherefore to those, who had been eating Those loaves increased and had been fed. With emphasis Christ was repeating That He is the divine life-bread.^ 1 Mat. 14: 15-215 Mark 6: 35-44; Luke 9: 12-17; John 6: ■14. 2john 2: i-ii. 3john 6: 35, 48 etc. Part V, 47 XX Earth's beauty, even from beginning When seed is sown, in growths expressed. Till one in harvest fruit is winning. By miracles appears suppressed ; — XXI The smallest and the slow unfolding Of blade and stem and ear, and each Leaf, flower and fruit, whilst them beholding, The soul of man divine truths teach ; ' — XXII The blossoms and the fragrant flowers. The shades of foliage green and bright. Amid refreshing dews, and showers Of rain, fill men's heart with delight.^ — XXIll The thoughts on heavenly things suggested By walking through a harvest field,' Or vineyard with ripe fruit invested, A miracle will hardly yield, — XXIV Experience of full reliance Upon the Lord and solid Rock,* Gained in long sufferings, find defiance In miracles, — to faith a shock. — ^Mat. 6: 28, 29 etc., etc. ^V$d\m 104: 10-15 ^^^-i 'John 4: 35 ff. etc. * Isa. 26: 4 etc., etc. 4 8 The God-Man. XXV Christ out of nothing naught effected. His miracles a base required : The dead were to be resurrected. All sick healed, as true faith ' desired. XXVI Christ povi^er divine e'er was applying To heal all sick and raise all dead. But Satan's prayer He was denying And out of stones would make no bread ! ^ XXVII To senseless wishes Christ objected And would no miracles perform. Desires o^ faith He ne'er neglected. To cries for help He calmed each storm. XXVIII Christ's miracles oft were perverted By those who could not comprehend How He in them God's power exerted. Whilst this to them did not extend.^ XXIX As natural texts to spiritual speeches Christ's oracles* like God's voice rang That whom through faith His gospel reaches Should, saved ^ from sin, lose his heart's pang.^ 1 Mat. 9: 27 fF. etc. 2 Mat. 4: 1-4. 3 Yox want of faith, John 6: 41; 7: 12, 21,43 etc., etc. * John 6: 44 ff.; 7: 16 ff.; 12: 44 ff. etc., etc. 5 Luke 5: 18 fF.; John 8: 31 flF. etc., etc. ^ Luke 8: 485 19: 20; John 9: 25, 31, 38 etc. Part V. 49 XXX But who is capable of telling How many ^ men Christ has made whole. How many His words were repelling ^ From faith in Him to save their soul ? — XXXI What earthly flowers He obliterated ? — What processes of growth ^ He o'erstepped ? — What fancies through Him were created ? — What wild dreams into men's minds crept ? * — XXXII Of all God's miracles transcended In matchless worth the miracle : '* God*s So?i made Jieshy'' ^ — to heaven ascended,* Men'' s Saviour y Immanuel? XXXIII This miracle of Incarnation Itself in Christ did manifest Through His divine unique salvation As the sublimest and the best. XXXIV Christ's work and works were well succeeding ! ** In Christ's name bowed the devils e'en," ^ Christ's might was Satan's power exceeding ! *'As lightning Satan fell from heav'n ! " — ijohn 8: 31 ff. etc., etc. 2 John 7: 12, 21 etc. ^ Mark 10: 18 ff.; Mat. 19: 17 ff. *Mat. 20: 20 ff. ^John i: 145 Mat. i: 21 ff. etc. *Acts I: 9-12. ''Mat. i: 23 etc. ^ Luke 10: 17, Ig etc. 50 The God-Man. XXXV God's love in Christ now culminateth In this, that w^ho is " born again " ^ And by true faith participateth In God's love's gift ^ shall heaven obtain. XXXVI Men's troubles to compassion moving Christ's heart so that He wept/ groaned, sighed. His strength e'en to the utmost* proving. Their woes beholding on each side : xxxvii Christ's love exhaustless is revealing ; His was self-sacrificing strife. Through bitt'rest death His labours sealing Imparting men ** eternal life-^'' ^ XXXVIII His foes and sinners pardon giving ® Till *' It is finished," "^ He had said,— As God's Son ever to be living ** With God who raised Him from the dead." ^ ^John 3: 3 ff. etc. 2 John 3: 16 etc., etc. ^John ii: 35, 38} 12: 27; Luke 19: 41 etc. * Luke az: 43. ^John 3:16 etc., etc. *Luke 23: 34, 43. ''John 19: 30. ^ Acts 2: 24, 32-365 5: 30, 31 etc., etc. VI C HRIST MEETS THE OBJECTIONS TO HIS POWER WORKING MIR.ACLES. OTHER OPPO- NENTS TO CHRIST MENTIONED FROM EARLY TIMES. I The objections which Christ's power disputed As ** God's Son " to work miracles,^ Christ e'er with arguments strong refuted By uttering striking oracles. II ** If I," said He, — whom ye' re accusing — ** Cast out the devils through their chief. By whom, then, do your children, — using My power, — cast devils out ? " — In brief: III ** If Satan does this, he's divided. And how, then, shall his kingdom stand ? — But if I'm through God's Spirit guided, To you God's kingdom is at hand ! " - — IV A heathen,^ too, the cry was raising Against God's Son, the Christ, as one Who wonders wrought, another * praising. Who similar wonder-works had done. V ** Yet we are not," he says, **him claiming A God, but man, by gods beloved. Although the Christians are proclaiming Their Jesus as a God ; " — approved ! ^ * Mat. 12: 24-28; Mark 3 : 22-275 Luke 11 : 15-22 etc. 2 Mat. 12: 28; Mark 1:15 etc. ^ Hierocles, whose book and chief arguments are known from the extracts in the refutation by Euse- bius in his history of the Primitive Christian Church. Celsus, Hierocles and Julian were some of the foremost heathen enemies of Christianity from the middle of the second to the fourth century. * Appolonius of Tyana in Cappadocia, (Encyclop. Brit. 9th Edit., vol. xi, p. 708). ^ Coloss. 2: 9 etc., etc. 52 l^he God-Man, Just this : Christ is God'' s 8on!^ For ever Perplexed His foes as stumbling block In their assaults and fierce endeavor To crush this adamantine Rock. >» Few through the *' Dark " and ** Middle Ages Rose 'gainst the miracles, Christ vt^rought. But through two centuries past, some sages Soon here, soon there, advanced the thought,' The true ideal in Christ giving, — The nature huma?i and divine He perfectly on earth was living, — «* Man's reason could alone define." ijohn lo: 35-38 etc., etc. 2 Spinoza (in his twenty-first letter), Reimarus (in his work on Natural Religion ), Kant ( in his ' Religion within the limits of mere Reason,' and Edition, p. 73 ff. etc. ) declared something like this : Every man must strive to know Christ as the highest ideal of a perfect man, not by exterior history-knowledge, but by reason- knowledge, and this ideal of a God-well-pleasing humanity is innate in human reason, to which one-self to elevate is the duty of every man, not so much by personal faith in Christ, as by striving to make one-self like Christ, etc. Part VI, SZ But Christ's life humanly dissected, Moreo'er, on the pragmatic base. To which some men's lives are subjected. Who have adorned the human race. And in Christ's life but that including What human is and natural. The supernatural excluding : Must make His power miraculous fall.^ ^Lessing, e. g., (since 1770 Librarian of the ducal library in Wolfenbuettel) in the so-called ' Wolfenbuettel Fragments by an unknown,' published, in reality, fragments (though he did not agree with their contents) from the written work of Reimarus concerning Natural Religion, and which fragments, especially in the part published 1777, contained such mighty attacks upon the Bible and Christianity, that Hesz, e. g., in the edition of 1779 of his, since 1768 published * Life-history of Jesus,' plainly indicated that his faith regarding the miraculous, in Christ's life, more or less, was rationalistically infected. — It needs, however, to be stated, that Leasing, in response to many severe criticisms, answered, saying, e. g. : '*As there must be storms in nature to purify the atmosphere, notwithstanding the fearful destructions following their course, so likewise these seemingly severe attacks can neither injure the Bible, nor true Christianity, but on the contrary, serve the good purpose of sifting the wheat from the chaff," etc. 54 The God-Man. XI One/ therefore, ** in Christ's hfe and teaching Religion's essence," did discern ** Instead of miracles " — beseeching : ** Let us to know God's kingdom learn." XII As thus his faith somewhat was shaken And clipping his seraphic thought. He but as ** types of truths " had taken The ** miracles " which Jesus wrought. XIII To him Christ's ** wonder of wine-making " Was *< type of greater than John's ^ pow'r ; " And ** Lazarus' wonderful awaking " Meant ** Jesus' resurrection-hour."^ ^ Herder, one of the greatest educators and theologians of the 1 8th century in Germany, ^joj^^i the Baptist. ^ The miracle of Christ's resurrection, Herder fully believed, saying: " Faith now can boldly exclaim: What do I care, whereby God has brought Christ back into life ? Sufficient, He returned into life and showed Himself to His own; the story truthfully is told and is neither deceit nor fable." Note. — Goethe, one of Herder's best friends, was in full accord with Herder's belief regarding Christ's resurrection, which is proved by his most artistic dactylic * Easter Chorus ' in ' Faust ' (in my translation Vol. I, pp. 43, 44) beginning: Christ^ is arisen ! ( " Christ' ist erstanden ! Joy (Praise) to the Mutable ^ Freude dem Sterblichen,'^ Whom the pollutable,^ Den die verderblichen,^ Moving,* imputable^ Schleichenden,* erblichen ^ Ills ^ did imprison. Maengel^ umwanden.") 1 The ist, 5th and other lines in this chorus are based on the old German hymn : " Christ (for Christus) ist erstanden," i. e., Christ is risen. ? Meaning vwrtal, referring to Christ's mortal body. 3 Cor- ruptible, perishable, or pollutable, but never " unmerited," as Hedge and Bayard Taylor following, 7'ncorrectly translated. * In a medical sense, moving like poison, working corruption. 5 Inheritable or imputable, but not " inherited," as Hedge and Bayard Taylor follow- ing, iticorrectly translated. ^ Frailties investing also Christ's human body. Part VI. 55 XIV The endeavor critics were pursuing. From early to our present time. In varied forms it e'er renewing. Aimed Christ to rob of power sublime, XV By miracles to show God's glory. As never a mere man has done. And to proclaim the gospel's story That Jesus is the Christy God* s Son, XVI Whom God the Father had been sending ^ That He His saving work should do, And who to heaven again ascending," God's work being done,^ to God withdrew.* XVII Thus miracles one ^ was denying As philosophically untrue And great disharmony implying In God's laws, from a rational view ; ijohn 17: 3, 4, 8, 21, 23 etc., etc. 2 Mark 16: 19; Luke 24: 51; Acts 1 : 2, 9, 10 etc. » jo^n jy. 4 etc. *Johni7:ll, 135 14: 12, 28, etc. ^ Spinoza, the pantheist (at the close of the 17th century) says in ' Tract. Theol. Pol.' VI. — If we admit the miracles as true — " We must presume that God has created nature and her laws and rules so inadequate, that, often. He must assist her to be preser\'ed, etc., and this," he concludes, " I consider to be a ver/ unreasonable conclusion." And in his 21st letter he declares regarding Christ: " For salvation it is not necessary to know Christ after the flesh, but with that eternal Son of God, namely, the di-vine Wisdom, which in all things especially in the human heart ( or mind) appears, and in excellent form in Jesus Christ hai appeared, it is another thing ; for without this none, indeed, will obtain salvation, because this alone teaches what is true and false, good and evil." — S6 fhe God-Man. XVIII Though otherwise ^ he was admitting That in Christ Jesus had appeared '* God's wisdom greatly," — thus befitting He e'en himself God's Son revered. — XIX The sceptic's^ mind with doubts pervaded. Found *' Miracles improbable. Since nature's laws, by * change ' invaded. Be wholly inconceivable." — XX No moral kingdom they were knowing ; They apprehended not Christ's strife. Through wonders^ God's ways to be showing. And men to fit for heavenly life. — XXI The Rationalists * have been denying That Jesus miracles has wrought. Since natural means He w^as applying, ** By which," they said, ** He ever sought XXII ** Through sympathetic friendly feeling And medical skill. He thus applied. As some, skilled in the art of healing. To heal all, who through faith Him tried." ^ In his 2 1 St letter (see note 5 on previous page). "^IriwTCiZy about the middle of the i8th century. ^ Mark i: 14, 25, 26, 34, 39, 41, 42 etc., etc. 5 John 9 : 4 etc. ■* The Rationalists are represented mostly by Dr. Paulus in his commentary, published 1804, and in his ' Life of Christ,' published 1828. Part VI , SI XXIII The Bible-records they were readmg To find of miracles no trace Their exegesis ne'er conceding That '* miracles could e'er take placed XXIV Thus they presumed that ** Jesus rather Walked on the shore" — as they could see, *< Since from the records they this gather: ** He walked beyond^ not on the sea." XXV Some eminent Rationalist,^ believing That Christ was human and divine. Held, that ** each patient was receiving From the * divine ' in Christ benign ^ /. f., He walked beyond on the shore, they rendering «•/>/, like the Latin Bible (Vulgata), "super," beyond or above, '^e.g.^ Schleiermacher, Ewald etc., etc., and also, since 1901, Prof. Dr. Harnack, of Berlin, Germany, who in his late work, " What is Christianity .? " notably excludes everything that is miraculous from the Bible, and in his opening chapter faintly stating : " The Chris- tian religion is something simple and sublime, it means one thing and one thing only — Eternal life in the midst of time by the strength and under the eyes of God," gives to the Christian religion an entirely different character and destiny than that which Jesus Christ Himself states, declaring : (John 17: a ff . ) " Father, glorify thy Son, that the Son may glorify thee : even as thou gavest him authority over all flesh, that whatsoever thou hast given him, to them he should give eternal life. And thii is life eternal, that they should knoiv thee the only true God and him ivhom thou didst send J e'ven Jesus Christ.'''' 58 The God-Man. XXVI And powerful forces which imparted At once of strength such new-born wealth That in man's sickly organs started A process of quick normal health." ^ XXVII Thus one ^ most confidently stated That '* If within this form is brought What to Christ's miracles^ related. Its meaning easily is caught; XXVIII But to explain, what's not admitted Within this form " — though confident Be the decision, 'tis submitted, — ** Great difficulties will present." * ^ Schleiermacher in his lectures on the Life of Jesus, still unpub- lished, but quoted and verified by many, who heard them. (Strausz' 'Life of Jesus,' vol. Ill, pp. 23-28). Hase likewise states: " Vielleicht alle Heilungen Jesu beschrankten sich aufs Gebiet, wo die Macht des Willens iiber den Korper bemerkbar wird," i. e., Perhaps all the healings of Jesus were limited to the sphere, where the power or influence of the will (of another) over the body is observed. — 'Life of Jesus ' § 48, 4th Edition. 2 Schleiermacher in his lectures on the Life of Jesus. ^ Christ's miracles recorded in the gospels of the N. Test. *e. g., Christ's resurrection and all the resurrections from the dead, attributed to Christ. For, neither Schleiermacher, nor his followers, believed those resurrections, but explained them as mere " apparent deaths." Part VI, 59 XXIX One,^ too, to prove was vainly trying — Though as a man he Christ much praised'^ — By mere presumptions all denying That Christ, as God's Son, dead \i2is raised. XXX Of Lazarus raised,^ he v^^as contriving A story of intrigue this wise: ** Recovered, ere Christ was arriving They Lazarus buried in disguise." — XXXI ** When Christ came, Martha herself tasking To lead, met him ; ^ when they arrive,* — To see once more his friend — Christ asking. When moved the stone, met him alive." ® XXXII But was to such a fraud Christ yielding ? — That critic says : ** Like some,'' instead Of 'gainst the rage for wonders wielding His power, Christ homage to it paid.'* * — ^ Renan, ' Vie de Jesus,' p. 359. ^JustasProf. Dr. Harnack in his book, * What is Christianity ? ' to a high degree bestows great praise upon Christ as a man and a teacher, etc. ^John ii: 44. *John II: 20. ^At the grave John ii: 38. ^ Renan 'Vie de Jesus,' p. 359. '^ He means, e. g., Abbot Bernard of Clairvaux and Franciscus of Assisi ( near Naples ), a pious monk, both of whom performed many marvelous deeds, and for this reason received many extraordinary honors from the people in their immediate neighborhood and from strangers who came to see them. 6o The God-Man. XXXIII Then are those critics^ who' re presuming ** Mere myths " ^ to be, what is confest Of Christ, and thus e'er are assuming That Christ stands not the critics' test.^ 1 These are not the so-called ' Higher Critics ' who seek con- scientiously and devoutly by proper literary and historical investiga- tions and tests to ascertain the genuine texts of the Sacred Scriptures, but, on the contrary, their opposites, who under the same name, rather more or less by unscrupulous and profane methods, mostly by mere presumptions and vain assumptions eliminating boldly the supernatural from all the prophecies and miracles etc., degrade the Bible-records to the level of mere human productions etc. These critics had their origin already in the early part of the i8th century, e. g., in the English deist Woolston, conspicuous through his blasphemous writings, especially in his attempts through his allegorical interpretations to undermine the reality of Christ's miracles, mostly in his six notorious ' Letters on the Miracles,' (published in London, first in pamphlets, between I 727-1 729). In the 19th century are especially notable, Bauer, and the so-called '■Tuebingen-School,^ on account of their destructive criticisms of many books of the whole Bible, and also, particularly, Strauss, in his philosophic-mythic 'Life of Jesus,' etc., and various other similar writers in our times, both in Europe and also in this country, altogether too numerous and too complicated in their statements and publications, to be mentioned further here. - Strausz' 'Life of Jesus,' vol. Ill, p. 185 : "We leave to the Scriptures their miracles, but for us we look at them as mere myths.'' ^ 3 Strausz' ' Life of Jesus,' vol. Ill, e. g., p. 204 ff. etc. Part VI. 6 1 XXXIV They searched Christ's life as pretext claiming To find the truth it can but show/ But Christ a ** man " ^ alone proclaiming. They failed as God's Son Him to know. XXXV Whilst with the human in Christ dealing Preferringly, they avoid to allude To spiritual truths, Christ is reveaHng Of God and his great Fatherhood. XXXVI As "■ man'' ^ alone, they e'er are claiming To judge Christ in His acts and words. To ** heavenly things," He is proclaiming. No wisdom's key them light affords. — XXXVII They say: ** We're not as true receiving What Jesus of Himself does teach. Nor as divine can be believing What is beyond researches' reach." * i< to H H Q Part X. 109 You ask: Where was Christ's spirit going On leaving His dead body here ? The answer Peter giveth showing That Christ went there to Hades' sphere. ^ III At death His spirit Christ commending Into His heavenly Father's care,^ The Father forthwith Him was sending There to the spirits' prison, where, IV As Peter states, the Christ was preaching To that benighted spirit-host The gospel's essence, them, too, teaching That without faith in Christ they're lost.^ il Pet. 3: 19 ff. 2 Luke 23: 46. ^ This passage of the Apostle Peter ( i Pet. 3:19 ff.)— though, doubtless, false doctrines have arisen from it— proves but chiefly this: first, that in Hades among the many departed spirits ( including the vast number hurled there at the flood in Noah's rime) there may be such as may not be incurably lost and for whom even there redemption is possible. To such also srill in the prison of Hades, then, once for all times, the gospel was preached by Christ Himself, that they also, if possible, through /a/M in Christ might be saved; and, second, as on earth to the living, so also in their separation from the body through His spirit Christ proclaimed His gospel of redemption to the departed spirits in Hades, that as the Apostle Paul asserts, " In the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father. '' Philip, i: 10, II etc. Compare Acts 2: 27, 31; i Cor. 15: 55; Rev. I: 185 20: 13, 145 Mat. 16: 18; Luke 16: 23 etc. no The God-Man. V Christ's death, seal of redemption giving To men. His rising from the grave The third day, as foretold,^ He living: As pledge of ceaseless life He gave? VI The fact that Christ died, had confounded The many who in Him believed; They o'er Christ dead, by rocks surrounded. Stone-sealed — and watched by soldiers, grieved. VII When they had seen their dear Lord dying. They died themselves almost of fear. Not knowing what was underlying Christ's death for their own Hfe's career. VIII His friends in grief forsook Him wholly. Whilst buried in the vault He lay,^ — Night's shadow there one could see slowly Give way the light on that third day. — IX A quick sound on that rest was falling; A mighty earthquake shook the ground;* The guard fell down through fear appalling; ^ An Angel® was sole witness found; — 1 Luke 1 8: 33; John lO: 17 etc. ^John 3: 15; i Pet. i: 3, 4 etc. 3 Mat. 2,8: 56. * Mat. 28: 2 etc. ^ Mat. 28: 4 etc. 6 Mat. 28: 2-8 etc. HE 18 RISEN, AS HE SAID. Matt. 28 : 6. Part X, 113 X In snow-white dress with features shining. He there had come like lightning's flame. And Christ, the grave had been enshrining. Arose and King o^er death became ! XI Raised from the dead and in transition From earth to heaven, progressively,* Christ passed the line of the partition Which must 'tween th' earthy and heavenly XII Christ's resurrection thus did vary From that He wrought in other men. Their raising was but temporary. They, soon or later, died again. — XIII In resurrection-form appearing, Christ glorified rose from the tomb. His glory to completion nearing Transformed Him with immortal bloom. XIV The resurrection-body wholly. Progressively,^ He had put on. The immortal human form and holy,* In which He now sits on heaven's throne.^ — 1 John 20: 17. ^ I Cor. 15: 48, 49 etc. ^ John 20: 17. * Rev. I: 7, 13; John 19: 37 etc. ^ Eph. i: 18-23; R^^- 5= ^j Acts 7: 56; I Pet. 3: 22 etc. 114 ^he God- Man. XV All people, Jews and Gentiles gazing. Saw Christ, when He was crucified. That they Christ risen saw — amazing! — Above Jive hundred testified ! ^ — XVI So Stephen, Christ's first martyr, dying, That he Christ saw alive y gave word,'^ And Paul, at last, was testifying As witness for the risen Lord.^ — Could greater argument be given To attest ** the life Christ brought to light * Than His and that of those in heaven. Who dwell with Christ in glory bright ? ^ — XVIII That Christ's foes never Him were seeing Raised from the dead, some e'er thought strange. — How could they recognize Christ's Being In His divinely transformed change ? !— XIX They once their King, the Christ, rejected,^ All miracles had proved in vain. Though they had seen Him resurrected From death,'' they'd murdered Him again. ^ 1 Acts i: 35 lo: 41; i Cor. 15: 5-8 etc. 2 Acts 7: 55. ^ i Cor. 15:8 etc. *2 Tim. l : 10 j i John 3: 2. ^John 14 : 2, 3 etc. * Mat. 27: 21, 25. "Luke 16: 31. ^ See note 2 on page 171. Part X. 115 XX Moreo'er the fact they ne'er refuted That Christ was risen from the dead; They left the story indisputed. As by Christ's followers told and spread.^ The effects of it they saw increasing In His disciples who Christ's fame Proclaimed, and who with zeal unceasing Did preach and ''heal in Jesus' name.'''' XXII But what now was the change producing In Christ's disciples who had fled When witnessing His foes' abusing And after they had seen Him dead ? — XXIII It was the fact that Christ was living, — His new life indisputable! The certain proofs which had been giving His resurrection-miracle ! — XXIV Some shortly after He was rising From death, saw Christ assuredly.^ This news so much all was surprising, T\vz.i filled with it one all could see. — ^ Acts 2: 31, 32. 2 Acts 3: 15, 16; 4: 10, 14, 29, 30 etc. John 20: 15-18; Mark 16: 9, 10. 1 1 6 the God-Man. So, as each other they were meeting, ** The Lord is risen i?ideed! " ^ they said. Thus through their resurrection-greeting The glorious news to all they spread. — XXVI In its divine glorification, As it went on progressively, Christ's body met no limitation. So far one outwardly could see. XXVII He still with His communicated,"'^ They saw and heard and touched' Him e'en. He fully to them vindicated His life's career in God's word* giv'n. And when He made clear prohibition ^ That He be touched by Mary there, He to the perfect exhibition Of human nature •"' did refer. — For this maturing consummation Christ forty days on earth had stayed. Ere He returned for coronation As in the Psalmist's words'^ portrayed. 1 Luke 24: 34 etc. ^ Luke 24: 17 ff. 3 John 20: 20, 27 ff. etc. *Luke 24: 27 ff., 45 etc. ^John 20: 17. «John 14: 2, 3 etc., etc. 'Psalm 24; 1 10: i etc. CHRIST APPEARING TO MARY MAGDALENE AFTER HIS RESURRECTION. Part X. 119 XXX This process of glorification In Christ, the Saviour of mankind. Remarkably in illustration To men of God is seen consigned. So Moses was with God remaining For forty days there ^ on the mount. The people's leadership obtaining From God the great ''I am " ^ Life- Fount. XXXII So was Elijah a sojourner For fortv days, to see God's light And to become himself a learner God's government to view aright.' And Christ spent forty days * reviewing The scenes of His Messiah-sphere, To see complete success ensuing The measures of His high career. Those forty days,^ then, too, included Another fact of highest worth, Christ's followers — more or less — secluded. Were summoned once more to come forth. 1 Exod. 24: 18. 2 Exod. 3: 14 fF. 3 I Kings 19: 8 ff. * Mat, ['. 2 ff. ^ Acts 1 : 3 etc. I20 The God- Man. XXXV 'Twas, too, a gathering for th' existence And the continuance of Christ's cause. Lest all His enemies' persistence Create a Church-destroying pause. — xxxvi Then, Christ's Apostles, not yet rooted In all things, Christ Himself had taught For the proclaimed and instituted ** God's Kingdom," ^ He Himself had brought, — xxxvii Were by Himself to be directed: How all the prescripts should be served. By which ** God's kingdom " ' was affected. And all, as He wished, be observed.^ XXXVIII Then they were also days preparing The Apostles' mind for the command. In which Christ charged them, when declaring That the fulfillment was at hand XXXIX Of the long-prophesied outpouring ** Of e'en my Spirit," ^ ** saith the Lord," ^ And ** 'mong the remnant* — sure restoring — Those whom he shall call " * — by His word.^ 1 Acts l: 3. 2 Acts 2: 16, 17. 3 Jog] 2,: 12. *Joel 2: 28 ff. 32 (Revised Version.) ^ Acts 2: 39. Part X. 121 XL Christ charged them that they should be waiting ** For God the Father's promise, ye From me have heard," He had been stating, ** Which not long hence fulfilled shall be." ^ — XLI And when the forty days were ended. To be with God, as once, the same,^ — Christ from sweet Olivet ^ ascended To heaven, ** whence down to earth He came." * — XLII Christ His disciples had assembled Nigh unto dear Jerusalem,^ The mystery in balance trembled. That now again He should leave them. — XLIII And as all Him there were beholding^ With blessing hands depart and rise Toward heaven, — a cloud Him there enfolding — They worshipped Christ in yonder skies. ^ — XLIV Then, 'mid great joy they were returning^ To await the longed-for miracle. For which they all were greatly yearning Through Christ's long-promised oracle.' iAct8i:4: 2 John 17: 5. ^^(-tsizgff. *John6: 38,51 etc. ^ Acts I: 12. ^ Acts i : 9 fF. "'Luke 24: 52. ^ Luke a4: 52. ^John 14: 16 fF. 122 'The God-Man, XLV All now of Jesus' resurrection And Godhead had full certainty, And none could think of any objection That promise soon fulfilled to see. They all to God prayers were addressing With one accord continually ^ That soon the Holy Spirit's blessing From there on high sent forth might be.' The festival of Coronation We now in Christ's asc( Then held in grand commemoration On His return in victory. XLVIII There at the right hand o'i the Father He sitteth on God's matchless throne. And ever since around Him gather Heaven's hosts who Him as their King own.* XLIX But, though Christ was in heaven, surrounded By glories indescribable, 'Mid songs and ecstasies unbounded. He sent His glorious miracle: ** 1 Acts I: 14. 2 Luke 24: 49 etc. ^ Psalm no: i etc. * Rev. 5: I ff. etc. -'John 14: 165 15: 26; 16: 7, 16 etc. Part X, 123 L The Holy Spirit's gift from heaven. In which all now can recognize The royal first deed Christ has given To men from His throne in the skies. LI When all the heavens o'er Christ exulted. There sitting on His Father's throne. From that grand triumph then resulted The miracle till then unknown. LII Christ's royal Majesty, befitting. He proof gave unmistakable. That God the Father was permitting To work the Spirit's miracle. — LIII Thus through the air from heaven ^ was rushing A sound, — upon heaven's King's demand, — Streams of the Spirit there were gushing And nothing could their power withstand. LIV As from an Alp-stream's waves was filling The Spirit's power that^ house entire. New light its inmates' souls was thrilling, ** Tongues sat on each like as of fire." »Acts a: 2 ff. 2 Acts 2: 1 fF. 124 The God-Man. LV This miracle was glorifying Christ of His Church the God-crowned ^ Head In His disciples magnifying Him who for them His blood had shed. LVI The Holy Spirit thus was sealing ^ All Christ had said and He had done. All comforting/ whom Christ was healing Through His redemption for all * won. LVII Their King there to His Church was sending His gracious gift abundantly. Their numbers wondrously extending That fruits in thousands they should see.^ — LVIII The Holy Spirit e'er is giving Each soul regenerating power For Christ its Saviour to be living In every sphere and every hour. — LIX The Holy Spirit thus was wielding His power in Christ's Apostles' soul That they entirely e'er were yielding Their heart and mind to His control. 1 Heb. 2: 9, 10 etc., etc. ^JqJjjj y, ^g^ ^^ ^^^ ^'^ohn 14: 16, 26 etc. * Heb. 2: 9, 10 etc., etc. ^ ^cts 2: 41 etc, etc. Part X. 125 LX Their soul was differently aiFected, When first in Jesus they believed; Their faith was more and more perfected. When they God's Spirit had received. — LXI At first, they were to errors leaning; By spiritual things they were unmoved. And oft mistook Christ's words' true meaning;* Some of their views Christ disapproved.^ — LXII But afterwards how elevating Was Peter's sermon,^ when he said What Prophets spake, correctly stating And in its true light God's word read.* — LXIII When thus the Holy Spirit coming From heaven upon them, and His light Like fire-flames was withal becoming The Guide of leading them aright: Their night in spiritual things was falling Like scales ^ of darkness from their eyes. And ignorance their mind enthralling Was changed to knowledge heavenly wise. 1 Acts I: 6 etc.; Luke 24: 25 etc. ^ Mat. 16: 23 etc. ^ Acts i: 14 ff. etc. * Acts 2: 34 ff. etc. & Acts 9: 18 etc., etc. 126 The God- Man. LXV And though unlearned, they notwithstanding Conversed in tongues to them unknown. And uttered with clear understanding The words the Spirit them had shown. ^ LXVI The Holy Spirit was, moreover. To teach them all things Christ had taught. And lead them new things to discover In things to their remembrance brought.'^ — LXVII The Holy Spirit was removing From their mind each dark element And all their faculties improving Through His divine enlightenment. — LXVIII The Spirit them also was making To heroes true not counting loss To follow Christ and gladly taking Upon themselves the heaviest cross. ^ LXIX Before the Spirit's gift receiving How timid was their conduct then. When danger * they had been perceiving. How stern, when they met hostile men ? ^ — 1 Acts 9: 18 etc., etc. ^jo^^ ,^. 26 etc., etc. 'Acts 9: 16} \\. 6: 14 etc., etc. ^ Mat. 8: 24 ff. ^ Luke 9: 52 fF. Gal. 6 Part X. 127 LXX When Jesus was Himself preparing To go to suffer and to die. He Peter Satan called declaring: — With thee not God's, but men's things vie ! ^ — LXXI When mothers ' were their infants bringing To Jesus that them He might bless. Unwelcome in their ears were ringing The words of their unkind address LXXII Rebuking them for their endeavor To come to Jesus and to find For little children their Lord's favor. Too small, they thought, for His great mind; — The question often they disputed Who among them might the greatest be,^ Though pride before Christ stood reputed A hideous iniquity.* — LXXIV How now the Apostles makes appearing The Pentecostal miracle ?! — They're joyfully to Christ adhering. Believing every oracle 1 Mat. 16: 23 ff. 2 Mat. 19: 14 ff. 'Mark 10: 43 etc. *Mat. 18: 4 ff. etc., etc. 128 'The God-Man. LXXV Concerning Him by Prophets given; Now with the Holy Spirit filled. Their heart and mind by naught is riven To serve Christ, e'en should they be killed! * — LXXVI This contrast saw most evidently Their enemies, when their charge malign The sanguine Peter answered gently,'^ Denying that them filled new wine, — LXXVIl And then most eloquently stated The record ' oi the miracle. By Scripture-words which indicated That God spake every oracle. — LXXVIII With what great boldness they were standing Before that Jewish Council there,* When Peter, in Christ's name commanding. To a lame, to walk, did power confer ! — LXXIX When all that Council had admitted: ** A miracle, indeed, they've wrought," — And threatening them— had not permitted That e'er in such work they be caught, — ^ Acts 7: 54 ff. etc. 2 Acts 2: 15 fF. ^ Acts 2: 17 fF. * Acts 4: 8 ff. Part X, 129 LXXX Then John and Peter answered, stating: ** If God or you to obey, judge ye. We cannot cease communicating The things we heard and we did see. ' ' ^ — LXXXI When to their number they reported ^ The sequel of this miracle And all by God's word had exhorted ^ — Inspired by every oracle — LXXXII And then had prayed: the place was shaken. Where all the company gathered were. And with the Spirit filled, they'd taken Great courage, and preached everywhere. — LXXXIII And wheresoe'er they Christ were preaching The Spirit them electrified With wisdom, them in all things teaching. And followers greatly multiplied ! * — LXXXIV They thus continued and rejected All honors for themselves beneath; They worked for Christ, for God's Elected, Christ's Church, outlasting all— e'en death !^ 1 Acts 4: 19 ff. 2 Acts 4: 23 ff. '^ Acts 4: 25 ff. * Acts 6; 7 etc., etc. ^ Rev. 20: 145 21: 18 etc., etc. 130 '^he God-Man. LXXXV In Christ's Apostles were performing Such changes God's own miracles As made them each to all conforming According with God's oracles.^ LXXXVI The Apostles holy lives were living. Entirely irreproachable. To Christ's work they themselves were giving As devotees unmovable ! '"' — LXXXVII No wonder, therefore, that thus minded They conquered many obstacles Whereby their judgment might be blinded To thwart the Spirit's ^ oracles, LXXXVIII To adhere to Christ, God's Son, forever Of whom assurance them was giv'n From which them naught on earth could sever That Christ as Lord* had entered heav'n.- LXXXIX Thus one by one could be confessing In fullest meaning of the words. What in our lives we are professing: ** We live or die,^ we are the Lord's." 1 Acts 9: 4 ff. etc., etc. ^ Acts 8: 20. 7: 55 ff. ° Rom. 14: 7-10 etc., etc. 3 Acts 4: 31. * Acts XI THE SEEKING OF SINFUL MEN FOR GOD'S PARDON ANSWERED THROUGH CHRIST'S ATONEMENT. The fact that each man ^ by transgression Of God's law is God's enemy. His question: How get 1 possession Of pardon for my sins ? ^ — must be. 1 Rom. 3: 9-12 etc., etc. The Jews as well as the Gentiles have ever shown, that in a spiritual point of view they are lost. God's law has a blessing for the doers of it: " The doers of the law shall be justified " ( Rom. 2: 13)} but this is added: " Accursed is evtry one, that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." (Gal. 3: 10.) The Gentiles, although they possess not an objective law, are a *' law to them- selves showing the work of the law written in their hearts." ( Rom. 2: 15.) But, " both, Jews and Gentiles, are all under sin: there is none righteous, none that doeth good, no, not one." (Rom. 3: 9-23.) — Socrates, Plato, Aristoteles, Cicero, Ovid, etc., have confessed and testified of the spiritually lost condition of men by nature.— Plato, e. g., argues (in Meno) that if children were good by nature [phusei), it would need to shut them up by themselves in order to keep them good. Cicero ( de amicitia 24) and Ovid (metam. VII, 20 seq.) say almost one and the same, stating that they acknowledge and approve of the better, but do the worse: '■'■Video mdiora proboque, deteriora sequor^ And all this is in full accord with Paul's expression (Rev. Version) " That which I do, I know not: for not what I would, that do I practise, but xvhat I hate, that I do." (Rom. 7: 15.) ^ Rom. 3: 22-245 Acts 2: 37 etc. 132 T^he God-Man, II And this implies faith in Christ's merit. The spiritual new -birth ^ realized. Effected by the Holy Spirit, And in God's Name to be baptized.'^ — III Who now for guidance is applying: How can Christ's merit I know aright ? — Is Christ's Salvation mine implying? Does He to heaven me, too, invite ? — IV Moreo'er, as God's word is declaring: " Each man by nature serveth sin," ^ And all men are full witness bearing ** That sin does dwell in man within: " * V The question, naturally, occurring How God makes y'^^j-/ who in Christ believed;' — The answer in Paul's words incurring: *^ Through Christ* s atonement zve^ve re- ceived: ' ' ^ VI It needs to prove God's truths proclaiming That men by grace are justified Through Christ* s complete redemption "^ claiming God"* s pardon^ for whom God^s Son died. — ^John 3: 1-21 etc. ^ ^ctg a: 38; Mat. 28: 19, 20. ^ Rojj^ 7: 25; John 8: 34. * Rom. 7: 17, 18 etc. ^ Rom. 3: 26 etc. * Rom. 5: II etc. Christ's atonement is ascribed specifically to His death, Rom. 5: 10; to His cross, Eph. 2: 16; and to His blood, Col. I: 20 etc. '^ Rom. 3: 24-26. ^ Mat. 20: 285 Eph. i: 17; I Cor. i: 30 etc., etc. Part XL 133 VII Who into his administration Brings law which penalty suspends With still sufficient demonstration Of awe — as to all law appends — To punish who the law transgresses With but a part of penalty. And still no wrong for him expresses. Whose right to punish all must see: IX This is atonement terminated. Which limits penalty's extent. The law transgressors indicated In any righteous government. — Yet into a realm's administration Atonement none can introduce. Save justly,^ lest by dispensation Of grace, law's majesty he abuse. XI If thus an officer is feeling To give not penalty, but grace. The law its due to sin revealing. Makes penalty take favor's place. Rom. 6: 15-22; Gal. 3: 19-29 etc. 134 '^^^ God- Man. XII If in a realm's administration A fair atonement ne'er is made. The law must give its vindication: ** Trangressed law must its dues have paid ! " — XIII The idea — in point of illustration — The Prophet Daniel's^ case conveys — Darius made a proclamation: ** All must to me pray thirty days ! " ' XIV When told that Daniel still was praying Thrice daily, ^ in spite of his decree. He ordered penalty, this saying: «*Thy God, thou serv'st, deliv'rth thee !"* Thus, when the law he was transgressing. Law's rights were due, by law confessed,— With no atonement ^ both professing, — The law and Daniel safe: — he expressed XVI His guilt, — him in the den ^ was casting. Where God, the Prophet's mighty Friend, The lions, — trained for prey by fasting, — Like lambs before him made to bend.'^ — iDan. 6: i ff. ^ Dan. 6: 7 ff. ^ Dan. 6: 13. * Dan. 6: 16. 5 Dan. 6: 14. ^ Dan. 6: 16. ^ Dan. 6: 22 etc. Part XL 135 XVII Another such case is reported In ancient Lokrian history. The King ^ by statute thus retorted: ** Bereft oi sight each guilty be ! ** — XVIII Unfortunately, the king's son being The first transgressor of that law. By love, the father, wisely seeing The atonement, — it applied with awe; — XIX With the transgressor therefore sharing Half of that statute's penalty. He lost one eye himself, thus sparing His son's one eye, that all might see, XX Who of that favored son were hearing The reasons for afforded grace. And none think he be interfering With penalty in any case. — XXI That father's sacrifice in giving Good cause for grace, to government. And subjects in that kingdom living. Atonement was to all intent. ^ The name of the King was Zaleucus, living about 660 before the Christian Era. 136 The God-Man. XXII But though atonement substituted In an economy of grace. Is more than law has instituted. It ne*er against^ law must take place. — XXIIl Into a realm's administration A good atonement must be brought. For Daniel's crime ^ for expiation. One of his slaves availed to nought ! — XXIV A prince the point might have been reaching. If to the government he said: ** Seeing Daniel's worth, 1 am beseeching: Do punish me in Daniel's stead! " — XXV A good atonement is demanding An equal y what the law requires; For this the ruler is commanding The punishment, the law desires! ^ " Without shedding of blood is no remission," ( Heb. 9: 2a.) Underlying this principle, rather than to have no redemption, it required the shedding of Christ's innocent blood " that cleanseth us from all sin." ( i John i: 7.) ^ Dan. 6: 13. XII CHRIST'S ATONEMENT, THE REASON FOR ITS ACCOMPLISHMENT, ITS COMPLETION AND ITS EXTENT. I The world for an atonement waited By which God might be satisfied. To make man just, though not, as stated. He ^v the law be justified} II The great atonement was completed. For which four thousand years men prayed. Which long was typified, repleted With offering- services arrayed.^ Ill For when the God-man, sinless,^ holy. Whom they ** Thy holy servant " * named. At last said: "It is finished! " ' — wholly ** With God we reconciled " ** are claimed. This sacrifice God was ordaining Before the world was," that it be A sinless ^ man, to be maintaining All things divine, most perfectly.'* V The Scriptures therefore predicated Like as to God to this his Son Who by Himself^" has mediated And reconciliation won," ^Gal. 3: 10-13. 2Heb. ii: ii. ^i Pet. I: 19. * Acts 4: 27 (Rev. Version.) ^John 19: 305 Heb. 10: 10. "Rom. 5: 10, llj Heb. 10: 10-17. ^l Pet. i: 19, 20. » Heb. 4: 15; 7: 26. 9 Heb. l: 2j 2: 8-10. i" Heb. i: 3. "Rom. 5: 8-1 1 etc. 138 "the God-Man. VI Like attributes and adoration/ E'en as the ** guiltless Lamb once slain," That through His blood ^ complete salvation For ally for ever. He obtain.^ VII No government can be presuming To force a man the friend to be Of him in debt, to be assuming His place as his security. VIII But if one by his choice desireth Security to be esteemed. And gives his pledge as law requireth. Until the whole sum is redeemed; IX 'Tis right, if, what the debtor oweth. Law can no ways adjusted see. Though of the bondsman aught it knoweth. It takes him, his security,* X From him the debt's amount demanding. The debtor owes, but met no way. And which the law now is commanding His substitute to adjust and pay. — ^Heb. l: 3-13; Rev. 5: 8-14. 2 Heb. 9: 12-15; Col. i: 20. 5 Heb. 2: 9, 10 — "for every man," etc. * Rom. 4: 25; 5: i, 8-10 etc. Part XII. 139 XI Now Jesus Christ Himself^ presented, — In want of justness of mankind. Their holy substitute He unbented Has proved in His own soul and mind, — XII **A11 Godhead in Him bodily dwelling,^ Of principalities and power The head," of whom Heaven's hosts are telling,^ Men's Saviour with us every hour* — XIII To God, the world's just Ruler duly, — Though penalty He could not pay. Not knowing ceaseless misery truly: — ** The bond ^ — He took out of the way; " XIV *« The handwriting of ordinances, 'Gainst men," predicting final loss, — He spoiling every power's high chances To harm, **//'■ Argument against Darwinism. -God, the Creator, Gen. 1-2; John i: 1-4 etc. ^ Gen. i: 11 ff. etc. 164 The God-Man. XXIII That Gody at first, laws instituted In all creations, by His Will Organic or else constituted, God'' s aims for ever to fulfil? XXIV That God for men laws was ordaining. Whom He in ** Kis own image made," ' That heirship '^ in God's Kingdom gaining. Celestial bliss Christ's hosts pervade ' ? ! — XXV If wheels and spring the clockwork moving, So that the exact time we can see. An intellect's designs are proving To adjust the clockwork accurately: XXVI Must not the wondrous world's creations. As all designs shozv,*" surely be God's grand creative demonstrations To prove His mind's aims perfectly ?! ■* — 1 Gen. 1: 26; 5: i, z etc. ^ ]ohn i: 12; 3: 3, 5, 16; Rom. 8: 14, 16, 17 etc. ^ Rev. 21: 3-7 etc., etc. ♦ In a Glasgow lecture the Duke of Argyll said: " In the last year of his life Mr. Darwin visiting me, answered to the worJs I said, in the course of conversation, that it was impossible to look at the wonderful processes of nature which he had observed, without seeing that they were the effect and expression of mind: ' Well, it often comes over me with overpowering force, but at other times it seems to go away.' " (Modern Medical Science, vol. XIII., No. 2, p. 92.) ■'' The great German Poet Gellert, therefore, sang religiously, in his still most popular hymn, entitled: ( " Wie grosz ist des Almacht'gen Giite ?) in the first stanza: How great is the Almighty's goodness ? Is he a man who feels it not ? Who through a hardened mind, in crudeness, Withholds due thanks, though not forgot ? etc. — (Hymn 51 in my ' Psalter, Harp and Song.') Part XV. 165 XXVII (His^ writings are, with small exception — As in the sea some water-drops — Atheistic in their whole conception. If them to read with sense one stops.) — XXVIII Thus, as their ^ schemes, profusely stated. Are still hypotheses unproved. The fact remains: God has created The world; it He Himself approved !^ XXIX What contrast now to men do offer The Sacred Scriptures which bestow The comfort through the facts they proffer Which men's creation-records show.* XXX God's word inspiringly is saying That God man's being long foreknew. Each man's construction was surveying When first he wonderfully grew; ^ XXXI That everywhere ^ man meets God's Being, No matter where man may be found; That God minutely all is seeing. Without Him naught falls to the ground.' — ^ i. e., Darwin's writings, although he is considered a theist and not an atheist, or materialist, as his writings evidently imply. ^ Xhe doctrines or schemes of Darwin and his followers. '^ Gen. 1:31 etc. *Ps. 139: 1-18, 23, 24 etc., etc. 5 ps. j^^; 15^ 16. 6 pg 139: 7-125 Jcr. 23: 24 etc. ^ Mat. 6: 28; 10: 29, 305 Luke 12: 6 etc. 1 66 T^he God-Man. XXXIl What now great scientists are saying. Some ^ long ago in part have said. When they the Universe surveying Saw much — still to our view outspread. — XXXllI Hypotheses still are prevaihng In fields wherein all science deals. Great mysteries, still unsolved, are veiling This world and none can break the seals XXXIV Unlocking all the secret forces. Whereby this Universe is run. To show the labyrinthic courses Through which God's ruling work is done, XXXV In covered favor and disfavor ^ Adjusting human destinies In keeping with His justice, ever Rewarding man's iniquities.'" — xxxvi If fibrin* in some duct prevented The blood to bring the brain supplies. No science help yet has invented, — The sick soon senseless grows — and dies. — ijob 38; Ps. 19: 1-6 etc., etc. ^ Exod. 33: 19; Rom. 9: 15 fF. etc. ; Eccles. 9: II, 12. ^ Exod. 20: 5 etc. * If in man's heart-troubles, most commonly from a diseased cardiac valve, mostly, moreover, from the mitral valve, an embolus, i. e., some loosely attached piece of fibrin, is separated and carried into a vertebral artery, vein, or sinew, sudden paralysis ensues, and then most patients losing consciousness soon must die. — Part XV. 167 xxxvn Men try the mysteries to be knowing In which are rapt the heavens afar. And with great telescopes are showing The heavens adorned with star on star; ^ XXXVIII And yet the hosts of lights there shining. They cannot touch, nor e'en all see; And none could ever be defining Our sun,^ what kind of orb he be! — XXXIX The extermination-records shading The Lord God's dealings with mankind,' — From rashness critics dissuading — By God's Son justified* we find. XL No where — this fact is worth while minding — Such impulse for heroic strife As in God's word we e'er are finding. Whose goal presents eternal life. — XLI There are men who' re philosophizing How far God's kingdom's lines should go. But should we e'er be minimizing The work Christ charged His Church to do ? ' — 1 Ps. 19: 1-6 etc. 2 Vol. II., p. 787, 9th Edit., Encycl. Brit.— whether the sun be liquid^ solid or "vaporous. ' Gen. 19: 24, 25 etc. ♦Mat. 10: 15; II: 24. ^lAdX. 28: 19 etc. 1 68 The God-Man. XLII ** Go into all the world! " ^ Christ charging His followers, when He left this earth. To thoughts His Realm to be enlarging In His disciples' mind gave birth. — XLIII Christ's Church ** Thy kingdom come! " ^ e'er praying Through those past nineteen centuries. Should now our trust we be betraying. Because some obstacles increase ? — XLIV By no means! but in such proportion As hindrances are multiplied. The remedy needs strong supportion And carefully to be applied. XLV O that expansion were extending To all lands steeped in bigotry! And to all Gentiles we be sending God's word, through Christ to make all free! XLVI This problem long ago was solving God's Son, when He so truly said — The rescue of all me?i involving — The trial amply e'er repaid: — Mat. 28: 19 etc., etc. ^ i\|at 6: 10, Part XV. 169 XLVII * * The children ^ never be forbidden. But suffer them to come to me. From them God's kingdom is not hidden. Its membership of them shall be." — XLVIII A young tree thus may be directed That it its right shape may obtain. Bat if its growth once is perfected. All power to change it proves in vain! — XLIX The youth must be indoctrinated In genuine Christianity, In God's word - fully educated. As taught by Christ, from errors free! — L In God's word all men are receiving The light which lights their path of life. It is for them who are beHeving With safest, wisest counsels rife.' — LI Were infidels and skeptics reading God's saving work in history From step* to step in its proceeding: A wise and just God they must see ! iJVfark 10: 14; Luke 18: 16. 2 John 5: 39. ^ Ps.ig-. y-i^j Mat. 5: 3-48; 6: 1-345 7: 1-27 etc., etc. * Gen. 3: 15 etc., etc. 170 i:he God-Man. LII They, too, the great truth would be reaching That All to God is fully hiozvn ! ^ The self-conceit of men impeaching. Who trust the seen and known alone. — LIII No doubt, great spiritual foundations Of all that God and man concerns,^ Are seen in Bible-revelations By him, who spiritual things discerns.' LIV The Bible, wholly it beholding. The most divine Book proves to be. And in it, in its full infolding. The Book most human all can see. LV And why r— Because 'tis ever showing A panorama manifold Of scenes and living pictures glowing In beauties, marvelous to behold; LVI From Genesis through Revelation, Like star on star in heaven above, God proves to men His full relation Through wondrous deeds of power and love. 1 Psalm 139: I-18 etc. 5 Mat. 6: 8, 32; John 16: 30; 21: lyj Acts 15: 18; Rom. 8: 27 etc. ^ Psalm 90 etc. ^ i Cor. 2: 14 etc. Part XV. 171 LVII The Bible fully is revealing Of God his perfect Entity, And of mankind nought is concealing. Though most depraved and vile it be. — LVIII As one ^ salvation is provided And one inheritance for all, Christ's followers ne'er should be divided,^ But one prevent the other's fall; — LIX Christ's Church in branches still divided, — This in itself should not prevent The Spirit-Unity, provided. When Christ the Holy Spirit sent.* — LX Great Unity be their endeavor Here in this world of sin and strife. Extending e'er good will and favor Each spirit seeking ceaseless life; — LXI Seek not for oneness of devotion. And not for words and forms contend; — For not in this or that emotion Consists religion's holy end. — etc. John 2: 7 etc. 5 i Cor. I: 30; Rom. 8: 32 etc.j Col. 2: 3 ... 2 << Said I," relates Eckermann ('Goethe to Eckermann, .829'), "There were need of Christ's conaing for the second time, to deliver us from the austerity, discomfort and tremendous pressures under which we live." "To which,'' he continues, " Goethe answered: * Yes, the people would crucify him a second " — 3 Acts 2: ^ ff. etc. time. 172 'The God-Man. LXII Are there not things e'er done and spoken. And still in vain, as one grace: love^^ The brightest motor, heavenly token. Does not all words and actions move ? — LXIII For, love to God and men to cherish. Of all commandments is the chief,^ Must then not those, who this break, perish And seek in bitter shame relief? — LXIV These human lives were not intended That uniform here they should be. But that e'er soul with soul be blended. And live in peace and harmony. — LXV Thus Unity of Spirit renders The Lord and all His members one; Each man who here to Christ surrenders Finds hosts for whom Christ life has won, LXVI But though on earth we must be living By faith and hope, not yet by sight,' Sufficient insight God is giving To win * His life and see ^ His light. ^ I Cor. 13: 13 etc. 2 jv/jark 20: 30, 31 etc., etc. '2 Cor. 5: 7 etc. * John 3:16 etc., etc. ^ Heb. 6: 4, 5 etc. Part XF. 173 LXVII Not on mere sentiment relying Will be the genuine Christian's creed. Who worships God — Christ's rule applying — ** In spirit and in truth " ^ indeed. LXVIII Not any creed's strict orthodoxy. Short o^ sound faith in Jesus Christy^ No substitute for Christ, no proxy. E'en in the saintliest forms disguised, — LXIX Secures us our divine * relation God's Children,* saved ^ to be in heav'n: For Christ's name ^ for complete salvation Alone 'neath heaven to us is giv'n. LXX In Christ, God's Son, the Mediator,^ The only Saviour of mankind. The most approved ^ divine testator, , Our legacy to heaven we find. LXXI Our heritage with Christ receiving Through God, who raised Him from the dead,^'^ And in Christ's heirship ours perceiving. Like Him world's victors being made,^^ ijohn 3- Pet. 7 Acts 4: 9 Col. i: 4: 24. i: 4. Hff. 2 John *Rom. 8: 8 Rom. 8; 10 Rom. 3 • 17- : 345 11: 16 etc. 5 6 : 5 I Pet. 1 I Tim.. 2: 29, 32. ^' 35 } Rom. [: 18. 62 55 Heb. 8: 'Rom. 8: I 5: II e Pet. i: 1 6; 12: : 7, 37 etc. 174 ^^^ God-Man. LXXII When following Jesus' resurrection There in a form renewed and bright. And clothed upon ^ with Christ' s perfection. Our soul and body re-unite,'^ When up and onward we are going Into yon heaven's most glorious sphere,' We in the bliss from God outflowing. Like Christ shall glorified appear; * LXXIV There shall for ever we be seeing All truths for which we here much yearn. For e*er with Christ and with God being From cloudless light we ne'er shall turn; LXXV There God and Christ and all things ^ knowing. With life eternal crowned and blest, "^ In glory for God's glory glowing, In God all-wise our bliss shall rest; 1 2 Cor. 5:4. 2 I Cor. chapter 15 etc. ^ Heb. 9: 24; 2 Cor. 12 : 25 I Tim. 6 : 16 etc. * i John 3:2. -^2 Pet. i : 2 ff. ' I Pet. I: 34 etc. JOHN LOOKING INTO HEAVEN. Part XV, 177 LXXVI There with the Choirs celestial singing The songs exalting God supreme And anthems, hymns and worship bringing With Cherubim^ and Seraphim; "■^ LXXVII There perfect Hallelujah ^ raising In holy spheres, all holy then: In perfect strains we shall be praising God through Eternity ! — Ame?i ! — iQen: 3: 24. ^ Rev. 5: 1 1 fF.j Isa. 6: 2 ff. ^ Rev. 19: 3, 4, 6; 21: 6, 7 etc. FEB 29 1904 LIBRARY CONGRESS