^J. v^' 4^ ■^^. A^' -^ ^■^' ^> „•>"'■' 4^% .^^ -"t. vOo. "^.^ ^^ v-^' x^^ '- ^\^ Joseph Ware. THE DIVINE MAN A NEW EPIC By JOSEPH WARE The True Light Publishing Company mtcmanicsburg. ohio. l. s. a. AND LONDOK, ENGLAND 1905 LIBRARY of CONGRESS Two Copies Received DEC 7 1905 Copyright Entry CLASS ex. X)lc, No. / f d~V/ COPY B. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1905 BY JOSEPH WARE in the oficc of the Librarian of Congress at Washington Registered at Stationers' Hall, London, England Crekd THt: IRUTH IN LOVE WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE TRUE, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE HONEST, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE PURE, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE LOVELY, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE OF GOOD REPORT; THINK ON THESE THINGS Ritual LOVING OBEDIENCE PREVIEW The Theme of this poem is the progressive creation and the coronation of the highest life in man. The dawning of the day of rational evangehsm begins. Truth is Truth, as God is God; man is fallible. Astronomical facts are the same whether Ptolemy or Copernicus teach ; so the verities of the Kingdom of Heaven are not in the least affected by our beliefs or unbeliefs. Although our minds arc not infallible, they are the highest court in our natures to which we can appeal. God in His law and word is . over all ; equally true is it that only through our intellects can He be known and certified to us. That there is a law of gravity is reasonably certain ; that there is a law of universal progression is no less sure. The dis- covery and acceptance of the first required a complete change in what seemed to be actual, observed facts ; no less the acceptance of the other and greater law, will require a complete reversal of many of our former beliefs. The interpretation of the beautiful allegory in the first chapters of Genesis as being literal may be considered a mistake. That two insignificant persons by a single act could thwart the purposes of an Almighty God, and involve in endless ruin countless millions of human lives, seems to be both brutal and absurd. (5) PREVIEW That eternal duration is eternal progressive creation ; that the laws of God are His very nature ; and that they have been work- ing from the beginning to bring the life of man up to the high estate of love, even to God, accords with reason. That the suf- fering of Christ was to change the nature of God, and make His laws forbear their natural consequences, is not reasonable ; but that he came to save from disobedience is the highest concep- tion of mercy. Look everywhere and you will find that growth for a pur- pose is an unfailing attribute of life. The slightest permanent retrogression under the operation of this law might be regarded as an impeachment of Divine Power. Nowhere in the bible have we been able to find the expression, "the fall of man." If the Omni- potent is having His will (if not, He alone is at fault) how could He consistently be angry? Would it not relieve us of many absurdities should we interpret the expression, "the wrath of God," to mean, the uncompromising spirit of His laws against the evil and the harmful ; and to interpret "Heaven," as the ex- pression of the highest good to us in our harmony with God's will, by perfect obedience to His laws, especially to the all compre- hending law of love ? Therefore heaven is in us, nay, we are our heaven. Obedience is love, is worship. Cannot the entire world come together on this simple and yet fundamental creed and ritual, Trinitarian, Unitarian, Universalist, and those who have hereto- PREVIEW fore been called Atheist, Sceptic, Agnostic? I forbear to mention the merely denominational differences. Has it ever impressed you that our disagreements are largely about matters in which wo have no voice, atui very few of thcni about our own duties and privileges? These have been ridden over and trampled down in our fierce battles about such questions as election, free grace, future punishment, etc. Let us cease our puny invasion of God's domain and enlist, one and all. under the glorious banner of all-conquering Love. The aspiration of my life is to put this law of universal pro- gression into a worthy Epic form. No man could successfully execute such an undertaking without a special call, and inspira- tion, also adaptation, and preparation ; a preparation not in schools and theological seminaries, but in the constant accumulation of relevant facts, in untrammeled thought, and in constant reliance for truth on direct inspiration. Many times have I awakened from a sound sleep, not only with the thought, but with the arrangement of the lines in perfect order. Classical allusions have not been sought, however poetical. Common religious expressions have been avoided, though of long and hallowed usage; also the too common expressions of God's vengeance on sinners, whirling them from hottest flames of sulphur into Arctic beds of ice. con- fining them in vats oi white hot metal, with the lids shut down — only reflections of the cruelty of barbarism. You may regret to lose tlie crystal walls of heaven, the pearly gates and golden PREVIEW Streets ; yet these are low and earthly estimates, born of covetous- ness ; they are not even the most precious symbols of value. Some- thing infinitely better is yours. The Kingdom of heaven is not a distant promise, but a most blessed and present realization. Neither is the war in heaven with spear and shield, horses and chariots from the stabled hills, or cannon belching nitre, boasting of angel leaders, bombastic speeches of the Father and Son, but it is waged by the helpful and the adverse in our daily lives. Heretofore it has been the fault of those who have lost their faith in the old, to ruthlessly tear down, burying in the ruins the most sacred treasures of the human heart — an unrequited labor, for they have only received the dust and moil upon themselves. The right endeavor vt^ill be to build of truth a temple beautiful. The unworthy will be stimulated to better thinking and living; the devout worshipper will be happy to realize God's immanence ; the deist will rejoice to have his God divested of unworthy human attributes ; the atheist will accept a deity that accords with reason. "And it came to pass, about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Tvloses and Elias : who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and they that were with him PREVIEW 9 wcrt- heavy with sleep : and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two njcn that stood with him. And it came to pass, as they df|)artc<| from him, Peter said unto Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to he here : and let us make three tabeniacles ; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias :" not knowing wiial he said. While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and over- shatlowe«l liiem : and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, 'This is my be- loved Son : hear him." .And when the voice was past, Jesus was fomid alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen." Luke IX, 28-36. On this short narrative is founded the argument of the poem. Moses and Elijah came early to the mountain, and very naturally turned to the scenes of their former lives on earth, also conversed of their hcavtniy occupations. Many other spirits came to par- ticipate in the scenes of the world's greatest event. Here, by con- .sent, Jesus gave himself a willing sacrifice to love; on Calvary, he only carried out his part of the covenant now agreed upon. At this lime he "entered into that within the vail." Hence the transfiguratiou is the crowning point in his history, and in the salvation «»f tlie race. The whole poem hears witness to its supreme importance. Therefore his resurrection and ascension follow as natural consequences. "ytbout an ci(^ht days." Jesus uses this important time in a complete consecration for his glorification. The disciples occupy 10 PREVIEW it in noting and recording his birth and boyhood, and some typical events in his ministry. In this interval the Sanhedrin meets and condemns him to death. "And the fashion of his countenance was altered." He is the first in his humanity to enter into the perfect state. "But Pcicr and they that zvere zvith him ivere heavy ivith sleep" — inspired visions of the progress and final triumph of the new kingdom. The theme of the Iliad is the contention of gods and of heroes, for the destruction of Troy; the Aeneid, its re-establishment; Paradise Lost, the fall of man ; The Divine Man, or New Epic, the progress of man to final perfection in the kingdom of heaven. Not until novv' could the transfiguration be told, because the world was not prepared to receive it ; not enough advancement had been made in this new kingdom of life to make it explainable. Trace carefully through all the poem the law of universal progression. In the first book, the foundation of our confidence is laid in the nature of Divine Love. In the second, we follow this progression through the creation of the world, and the growth of life from a single cell to man, as Adam. The third advances it from the faintest moral perception, guided by the most obscure promises, through the mists of superstition and idolatry up to the clear prophecies and revelations. The fourth links progress with the dominion of the world and the universe. The fifth is the incarnation of the Divine Love. The sixth gives some glimpses PREVIEW II of its power. The seventh hook, in the debate of the Sanhcclrin, shows the futility of the endeavor to hinder it. The eiglitli book opens the door into the kingdom of heaven. In the ninth Jesus teaches of tliis kingdom. In Uu- tenth is the coronation of the hfc. In tiic eleventh and twelfth you have some glimpses of its future progress. In humbleness of spirit I have told you what to look for in the poem. If you find it even so, give to God the glory. INDEX OF BOOKS ti -a PREVIKW 5 Invocation 15 I — Mki:tin«; ok Mosi-.s and I".iii\ii 16 II — CkKATlUN 37 III riATIIKKINC OK EaKTHLV Si'lUliS 57 IV — AssKMKLiNr, OK i UK Hkavknlv Hosts ... 79 V — Birth and r.oviiooi) ok Jk.^ls loo VI — KvKNTS i.N Tin. LiKi: ok Jksls 123 Vn — Mkktinc; ok tiik Saniikdkin 144 \'III — CONSKl RATION OK JkSI S 167 IX JoiRNKV TO TIIK MOINTAIN 1 8.^ X — Transkicluation 206 XI — \'isi()Ns OK Pktkr and Jamk-s 22S Xn — Vision ok John 233 EriTHALAMILM 278 (13) INVOCATION « <; A virgin is my love, twin-born of Trutli. O conic witli nie, nor stay, thou fairest One. Thy sunny tresses bound with nature's flowers. Kirtled in light, as plain as angel robe. One song, only one song, T crave of thee ; Though of the earth, it first was sung in heaven, Ar.tiphonal with stars and angel shoui ; Chanted it was in ancient prophecy, And by the multitude o'er Judah's hills. That in the clouds shall shout the glad Amen. T cannot plead that God will give thee me, Less than the least ; it may be that I lis love Will honor love. If He should give me thee, The glory shall be Tlis alone. (15) BOOK I ARGUMENT Jesus, as a representative of the Iiuman race, is about to be glorified on the mount of transfiguration. Moses and Elijah, the representatives of law and prophecy, are summoned as special wit- nesses. In their eagerness to re-enter their beloved land, they have come somewhat in advance. Naturally, they first take a view of their native country, and then converse of their glorious occupations before coming. The ardent Elijah gives an a{)Ostro- phe to Divine Love, as a climax to his description of a satellite of Sirius, which resembles the earth in its conditions, but has attained a perfect development. Moses then recounts his efforts to dis- cover the bounds of God's loving presence. Elijah further illus- trates this love by the notes of the musical scale; also in' his experience in the cave of Mount Sinai. The book concludes with a psalm. I sing the one great Epic theme, The coronation of the Son of Man, The apotheosis of human life, And the creative purpose when the earth Was called from chaos dark to form and light. The scenes beheld within that highest realm Shall raise our groveling thoughts to spirit life. Who think of God as of a man enthroned (16) Book I THE DIVINE MAN 17 In a mysterious heaven ; but this is truth, God is eternal spirit, infinite, As are His works; nothing can he so small, But smaller is ; not boundless ether fields Can bound the infinite ; and every place Is therefore central to the universe ; God dwelleth then in every i)art alike, Or truer, dwelleth everything in God. Why should we long for an exclusive heaven. Even a city walled with precious stones. Having twelve gates of solid pearl, that swing On golden hinges with sweet harmony, A few elected saints to welcome in To golden streets and diamond palaces? The truth is this, there are no walls of heaven, But our capacities ; no gates, but faith ; Xo locks or bars, but will ; no key, but love. Things of the spirit, though intangible. Are truest, most enduring, and sublime; Almost impossible to be expressed ; Only the spirit has the power at will. S l8 THE DIVINE MAN Book i When the occasion justifies, to appear Or disappear ; as did the risen Christ. Sweet spirit, show to us these hidden truths. How God assumed our flesh, became the Word Expressing the Eternal, telhng love Divine ; and, entering in himself, became A door in heaven opening floods of light. * * * * High and apart doth honored Tabor lift His wooded sides above Esdraelon's plain ; Touches with purpling top the clouds of heaven, Outspread it forms an ample theatre. As if by power divine 'twas shaped to be Where heaven the most should flood the earth with light, And life and love supreme be crowned of God. There, to the open vision could be seen Two figures standing in the evening glow. Viewing the spreading scene magnificent. One had upon his noble brov; a light, The horn of power, and on his kingly face The saint's shekina shone. The ample folds Of his great purple robe denoted strength ; Book I THE DIVINi: MAN 19 His sandals worn had walked the wilderness ; In his ripht hand he held a shepherd's crook, Was miphtier than the sceptre of the Nile. A prince he was, the loader of his race, The jurist of all time, warrior and sage, Inspired historian, and friend of God ; And yet he was the meekest man of men. Moses had now assumed his fleshly form, Had come at last into the Promised Land. The other was in coarser garments clad, And yet the crimsoned clouds no more ohscure The rising sun, than these his character. He had in hand a much used traveller's staflF; His hair and beard falling upon his breast And shoulders framed a face of fiery zeal. Elijah had assumed his former self, Had come a witness to his prophecy. And they had come ere the appointed time To view their much loved country and converse On worthy themes. The sun first met their gaze 20 THE DIVINE MAN Book I As he would quench his fiery nature in The western sea. Green Carmel stood before The glow ; and here had been the prophet's watch For the expected rain. Half turning, then They saw great Hermon's hoary head above The northern hills. Nearer, Genneseret, The deep blue lake held in its loving hills, Was whitened with the sails of fishing ships ; Thence Jordan's winding course of watered green Goes downward to the silent Sea of Death. Beyond, and south, they saw the wilderness ; From here the prophet had been swept to heaven In chariot of fire. Great School of God, Here Moses led his people forty years. From Pisgah viewed the last of earthly hopes, Over against Beth-Peor was laid to rest. This barren desert of volcanic rocks, Steep mountains, hills with scanty pasturage, And valleys watered by uncertain streams, Extendeth down to the Egyptian Sea. Book I THE DIVINE MAN 21 Of j^eatest interest was Sinai, With head uncovered to the setting sun ; Here, hidden in a cloud of mystery, Jehovah gave the ceremonial law, Gave the appointment.s i>f His curtained liouse, Engraved the tables of the moral law, Foundation stones of universal law. Here Moses sees in fondest memory The beautiful young mother of his sons Standing before their tent at evening time ; He sees his sweet-voiced sister, timbrel raised, Leading the vesper hymn ; the white-robed priest, His mother's son, offering sacrifice ; He sees the nation worshipping, and hears Their swelling voices chanting praise to God. The prophet's voice broke in his revcry. "Behold! the city of Jerusalem I" Only three wild and brushy hills it was When Moses looked uj)nn the Promised I^nd. Mere now the sacred walls of Zion stand, 22 THE DIVINE MAN Book I And here the temple, glorious to see, Is glistering before the setting sun; The altar smoke rises into the heavens. O what a tableau then upon the mount, Of Law and Prophecy personified ! Seeing the sacrificial smoke ascend, Prefiguring the perfect offering, Love's perfect token given once for all. The great Lawgiver stands with hand upraised, As if he would resign his covenant, Its many laws unite in one great law Of love; like as the many lesser streams Into the deep, wide-flowing river join. The prophet with enraptured vision stands, The Holy Spirit's representative, As through the ages past His work has been To preach, to teach, to comfort, warn, invite. He sees the Christ upon this honored mount, Exemplar of the love of God, received Book I THE DIVINE MAN 23 Into tlic heavenly realms, shine with its hght, Prophetic of a race redeemed. Of these Important themes the better to converse, They now in oriental posture sit ; The mountain is their grand divan, the heavens Their starry canopy. They not alone For information speak, but love and praise To Him who merits all. And as the speech Of the immortals is direct and true, Omitting compliment and flattery, So they in the loved language of their race Did of the mission of their coming speak. And of eternal love in law, and whence They came, and how engaged in loved employ. Elijah said. "How strange our spirits are, Though filled, they still admit of vast increase; For to our perfect joy is added joy In coming here, such great occasion calls. Since this our earth has turned but once around, 24 THE DIVINE MAN Book I I left yon orb — so eager was my flight, For God's requirements are supreme delight. That light, so far away it shows a star — Men call it Sirius — is central sun Unto a satellite, most like our earth, And, as our planet, it is third in place, With axis so inclined unto that sun, Or was, it now a dual turning has, As though a whirling ball was in a frame, And frame and all did turn another way, Only a seventh as fast; this makes the weeks Distinct, and every day is different. O'er all that world is now perennial spring Of leaves and flowers, with autumn's ripened fruits. There are no frozen poles, equator's heat, Chill nights, or burning noons. Redeemed, they have Their blest millenium ; for in the clouds. No longer used for inconvenient rain, Has their Redeemer set his shining throne; And all his saints are herald ministers. Book I THE DIVINE MAN 25 And all his people arc redeemed from toil, For exercise is greatest pleasure now. Neither necessity compels, nor greed Incites ; nor need they clothes for modesty, For all are innocent, and surely not For ornament. Their heaven.^; arc new. at least In show. Their world is new and old indeed, The sea as though it was no more, for one Can see and hail the distant shore, and tamed, Holds on its hosom cities, farms, and gardens ; Also the dweller on the rock singeth For vintage ripe. The atmosphere subdued Is made a highway smooth, direct, and wide, Up to the all enclosing clouds of heaven, The capital in which the Prince of Peace Reigneth forever in the heart and life. One law governs, the perfect law of love. Hither the ransomed shall go up with joy And gladness, for no fear is in the way. Nor sickness, sorrow, pain, nor death arc there. 26 THE DIVINE MAN Book I How grand the prophecy in all of this Of when our earth shall have millennial bliss. O Love Divine ! incomprehensible Even to Cherubim and Seraphim ! Greatest archangels, in wisdom nearest God! Thy nature finds itself in others good, Great ruling motive in the universe, Creating, governing, sweet influence That doth create an earthly paradise. To make us fitted for that blessedness. Thy silent, calm, and constant wooing stills The wrecking turmoil in the human heart, Sweeteneth hate, unroofs the darkest hell. Eternal — time with thee can have no span ; And Omnipresent — space has no extent; For God is love." Then Moses, waiting not, Replied, "Prophet, as one that journeyeth Sees only what is most upon liis mind, So you observe the future of his grace; Book I THE DIVINE MAN 27 So I, the past, and Law, — persistent force Of love, order and harmony of all. By this attractive force of love we sec Atom to atom, substance to substance, world To world, system to system, drawn. Were it not so, each atom touched by force Would fly forever on its selfish course. This Infinite is in a blade of grass, As in the glories of eternal space. The very highest joy spirit can feel Is knowing God ; nor can we go amiss, Familiar things are all so beautiful. Are so designed for blessed use, are all So ordered by this perfect law of love. I sought to know the limits of this power, Passing into the farthest realms of space That could be reached in boldest spirit flight. Swifter than human thought I passed beyond Our planetary fields, here paused to view The solar system, a harmonious whole. 28 THE DIVINE MAN Book I I wondered not that some worship the sun, Seeing him hold his ponderous satellites In yearly orbits, giving liglit and heat To all. So perfect their adjustment showed That not a single atom might be changed. In size and motion, place and brilliancy. It was a scale of harmony of thirds And sevenths. The colors of the rays were like Unto the scale of sounds, in unison, With sweet attune, in one great system bound By the attractive power of Love Divine. And then I onward passed to where the stars To man change not their place ; and here I saw Seven kindred systems with our own, around A common center move in orbits vast, Each sang a note in Love's sublimest hymn. And as I onward passed, the scene became O'erwhelming to my view, systems of systems Book I THE DIVINE MAN 29 Without end, each scaled in harmony, And all in true accord. What glory thrilled My spirit as I thought, tlo I behold The scheme of all God's universe? Yet on, Consumed to know the full extent, I sped Into an interval so wide, no ray Could penetrate its blank and desert gloom — Blackness of darkness — silence absolute — Dreadful nonentity — a sudden stop! Was this to be my state eternally? Annihilation? End of being? Lost? And would a numbing fear enchain mc here For aye? — unless — O the supremest bliss! A loving God was even here ! Inspired My farther flight within that chasm of space Where the persistent light wearies and dies, Until another world-field came in view, An order of creation different. And then I knew these fields of infinite Variety, divided as they are 30 THE DIVINE MAN Book I By awful spaces, never would have end. My spirit sank in wonder and amaze. And here the summons of His Spirit bade Me haste to view something as wonderful, Upon this mount a human being crowned And raised into divinity, of all The race the promise and the prophecy ; Where love, the motive in the universe. Finds its expression in the gift of God — True way of life, not for the great alone. But for the least ; not for the truest, best, But for the false and base." Elijah said, "We trace the evolution of this law In human heart and life. Gamut of Love/' The prophet's finger here drew in the air The lines and spaces of harmonious sound. "The first and lowest note that can be made, Deep diapason underlying all, Is Love of Self, the first great breath of God Book I THE DIVINE MAN 31 In living things, lie lovctli not at all Who lovelh not himself, not all in all, One constant note l)cconics monotony. Sweet, in the blessed symphony of life. Then, strike the note above, the Luvi-: 01 Own. In mother instinct first this note is heard ; Without it life would stay in dismal flats And discords horrible. Another step Above is Friendship's note, tender and sweet, The calling and the answering of love. The first and third are closest harmony, Bringing that easier transition called, Love of the Beautiful, almost divine. Next in the scale is tender Charity, That makes us neighbor unto every one Who needs our help, touches the minor chord Of pity, breathes the softest sympathy. Here would we linger, but the Christ has come To lead us up to Love Our Enemies. These higher notes too hard for us alone 32 THE DIVINE MAN Book I To reach, he by example teaches us; This, and the higher, noble Brotherhood, The soul that maketh all the world akin. And then the highest note, including all. Key to the swelling psalm of life wc reach In Love to God. This can we never reach Until we pass the ascending scale below. There is no theme in all the universe Grander than this ; for the inanimate Obeys unquestioning the sacred force, The quickened spirit chooses the divine, Knowing as Gods the evil and the good It makes the blessed choice, honored the more, Joins in the universal hymn of love And praise. For this has our Redeemer come To upward lead the way." Then Moses said, "The colors show an equal harmony, And yet each shade is but a partial light ; So the discordant things of human life Book I THE DIVINE MAN 33 Arc the refractions of accordant love. Rvil is incompleteness in the hfe. The crimson ray alone, is love of self; Blended with every other love it makes The perfect and completed light of God. The sun is glorious in giving light. Giving without restraint, and not one ray Is lost, hut meets response sometime, somewhere, In God's great universe. Its light withheld, 'Twould only be a blacker spot in heaven. Jesus has come to live that perfect life Of giving, though not practical as yet, For gospel giving now is sacrifice; Naught of its sacred influence shall he lost, In the eternal somewhere it will find JResponse. I'y his example we shall give And gain alike, then all things shall be ours." Elijah then. "Nine hundred years ago Back-slidden Israel made it appear As if the world was lost to love and God. 8 34 THE DIVINE MAN Book I To show His power and give encouragement He bade me go to Sacred Sinai. My cloistered dwelling place was in that cave Where thou six hundred years before had seen The God of love — like vision for like cause. And praying far into the night I too His glory asked to see. Now was there heard The distant rumbling of a mountain storm. I looked, the sky was suddenly o'ercast — Mountains are not below but in the clouds — The awful Spirit of the tempest drives The furious blasts, with streaming lightning lashed, O'er riven craig, across the blasted peaks ; Beneath his wheels the flying rifts are whirled; With rolling thunder shakes the mountain firm. Although my heart was strong, the coming storm Gave me no vision but destruction. Then The crashing thunders made the earth to quake, I only feared ; the constant Slashes set The heavens ablaze, but in the blinding fire Book I THE DIVINE MAN 35 The world had no assurance of His care. The sudden storm as suddenly had passed. The stars came f(jrth. the distant rumblings ceased, And all was still again. I stood without, With mantle wrapped about my face, and heard A still, small voice calming my troubled soul, Stilling the awful storm of doubt and fear, Giving assurance of His saving grace. I recognize that quiet voice to-day In his who speaks the raging sea to calm. Nor shouts, nor cries, but speaks the words of God, Comforts with gentle words the sorrowing, And heals disease, and calls the dead to life. And as a shepherd with familiar voice Calleth to pastures green, by waters still." Now, they together sang, spontaneously, A psalm such as the wise immortals sing. O God, whose name is unpronounceable, And glorious presence unapproachable, 36 THE DIVINE MAN Book I Thy dwelling place is all eternity, And thy possession is the universe. Even the dazzling and enormous suns Are only glittering mote dust unto Thee. The planets and the earth on which we stand Appear as less than nothing in Thy sight; Yet the infinitesimal is formed And kept with equal and unfailing care, Also the poor and weak Thou dost regard, Helpeth the poor and needy when they cry. The lowly contrite heart dost not despise, And lifteth up the humble from the dust. And the begotten life is to be raised To share Thy throne forevermore, Amen. J BOOK II it « ARGUMENT Moses continues the conversation witii Elijah, f^iving an account of his vision of the Divine Glory, in the progress of life from chaos to Adam. Now time, As measured by the cycles of the earth, Grew toward its fulness, when creation comes Unto its meaning, axis of duration. The grand and living present, where tlie past Has end, the future takes its date : And yet, One quarter of the hour only had passed, So swiftly the immortals move and speak. Moses continued the great theme. "I, too. Kneeling in that same cave, most ardently Desired to know the presence of the I^ord. And suddenly the cavern's mouth was closed As by the placing of a giant hand. (37) 38 THE DIVINE MAN Book II Shut in the darkness of that cave, I saw Only the skirtings of His power; no man Can in his body greater see and Hve. Awhile, mine eyes intent could nothing see, No ray came from a chaos dark and void. Then, o'er the formless, silent, cold, abyss The brooding spirit moved upon the deep; By the attractive influence of love Together drew the primal elements; And in their union said, "Let there be light," And there was light, condensing energy. Then far within that chasm there was a tint Of color; soon great streams of crimson light Shot swiftly outward to the far extremes. And fronded, gathering in the darkness, then Fell back in sweeping clouds of swirling mist. Ever the outward grew and inward brightened, Then, a misty point of light appeared, As when a star is seen within the glow Of early dawn, increased until it was Book II THE DIVINE MAN J9 A dazzlinp and enormous globe of light, That robbed mine eyes of vision. I awoke. Darkness, I called the nij.;ht ; the light, called day. And God approved tin- nature of the light, By which His purposes are served in life. Yet the duration passed cannot be told, I'^or time had not begun. Darkness and light Made the first day my vision had advanced. Again it seemed as if that giant hand The entrance closed. A tremor shook my I'cing, That fiery ball had burst ; had there been air. The shock of the explosion would have made All other sounds a silence absolute. Out of that whitehot mass the fragments flew In blazing tracks, as they were flashing spokes Of monster chariot wheel. Before the wrack They would have made, unchecked, conception falls. But see ! they turn ! Their fiery energy Weighed to a grain is met liy gravity ; 40 THE DIVINE MAN Book II Into their yearly orbits they are turned, Upon their daily axes whirled ; in form Are held by this same force. The central ball, Our sun, has also had an impetus That sends him with his new formed worlds around A path where aeons are its years. I marked The world of greatest interest to us, The earth, the third in distance from the sun. What time it had been cooling God doth know. In wildest tumult tost, your mountain storm An April shower, in which the sun appears. Would be to this, wherein the elements In wild confusion fought for mastery. Truly, the waves leaped high into the heavens; Below did swirl the sediment of rocks ; In lieu of winds, exi)Ioding gases tore; And vast electric currents burst their way. Then had the awful war perpetual been If left alone; the laws of God subdued I ill- iiioil.'tli'r I'lli'nS ('/ titHliilt'lUs lifi'iiSC. .hid (>ushi-d the Hoods into thr drf>tlis <•■//<•(/ s.'o.i. .hid many strciiiii.'! /•.>ii/r(/ down their ihi/^fiiifi sides. Book II THE DIVINE MAN 41 Tliciii. so the liphtcr air escaped and rose And licld the clouds of vapor liii^li above The turbid waters underneath, and made The lower firmament. The epoch i)assed Cannot be told, for time not yet was born. And Gou approved. That hand again removed, The light crept in the cavern's gloom; evening And morning made my vision's second day. The shadowless darkness came, with it returned My dream insjjired. The heavy metals first Sank down ; ami then the igneous rocks became A solid crust around the heart of fire ; On this was placed the sediment of lime. The monster backs of continents uprose, And pushed the Hoods into the depths called seas, And many streams poured down their dripping sides. The inner fires, impatient of restraint. Burst through their rocky prison walls, and heaved Them into slanting trends of lica[)s and piles, 42 THE DIVINE MAN Book II Mountains and hills, and ladled into them The precious metals and the useful ores. And now, the purpose of our talk begins, The mystery of life, a single cell Appears ; here Christ the life begins his work, Only begotten of the Father God, All else created was. He is the way, Beginning at this narrow point of life. Doth widen ever to the heavenly realms, Within whose lifted gates he entereth As man today. He is the truth, telling The Father's blessed meaning in it all ; And is the quickening life in every form, However crude in its environment. Into that esoteric potency The angels would desire to look. That cell, Rocked in the roughest cradle, but preserved, Is mother to another cell attached, And grows at last into a minute plant; Book II THE DIVINE MAN 43 Tender and colorless, it only lives Upon the tranquil l)ottoni of the seas ; And propagates hy simply l>reakin|::j off, The male imto the female j;ivin^ birth. I cannot stop to tell of its advance Through countless apes of development, To the earth-feeding roots, and blades and stems; To bodies, branches, leaves and colored flowers, And fruit-enclosing seed ; and forests high Their columned trunks upreared, for nature then Was prodigal, enrobing earth in green. -And as the work advanced God was well pleased. Again that hand withdrawn made day the third. Another night the vision likewise came. The lights of heaven appear : the sun is first To pierce the murky atmosphere, the inoon Follows, at last the stars ; and actual nights And days begin. How glorious these lights Set in the deep blue firmament appear 44 THE DIVINE MAN Book II Unto the new born earth, mantled in green. The prince of day kisses her fair younp: face, The silver moon as her companion walks Among the stars ; they minister with lic^ht : The seasons now take up their yearly rounds. And soon the moving, sentient forms appear ; The great warm sea is the prolific womb Of living things. At first the swaying plants Are fixed, gathering plenteous sustenance ; After long time they grow to greater needs, Requiring motion in and for themselves. Though at the first they do but slightly aid The impulse of the wave, they ever grow In strength and purpose, and now spurn its aid, And of themselves can move their jelly forms On oozy bottom or on slippery rock. Stomach and mouth they are, their every want Is appetite, therefore they need defense. The Life, intelligent to every cry, Protects them with calcareous shell, spiral Book II THE DIVINE MAN 45 ( )r hinged, two lobctl or three, with hues or smooth. Uit now the waves, heaved by volcanic fires, Submerge again the continents. It seemed \s if the earth to chaos would return, \nd God had lost control. As I have seen \ prince of Egypt in his chariot, With bit and rein govern the harnessed steeds, Or with the lash urge them to greater speed; So God above the cloud-capped waves, with laws (Governed the raging elements, drove back The seas. His wise designs were then revealed; Superimposed were other beds of rock. Making the earth less insecure, with mines Of carbon stored therein for future use. .So perfect this that even God approves. Darkness and light compassed the fourth day's view. Into the cave of vision came a gloom That framed a living picture wonderful, 46 THE DIVINE MAN Book II Just in the middle of this period. The seas are filled with sprawling, wallowing, things ; Leviathans, and horrid dragon shapes With turbulence the murky waters stir ; Of water-breathing fish are multitudes ; And through the frightened air, on leathery wings Huge bellies drag behind long winding tails. Of lesser creatures the insatiate maw. Short legs they have, with dreadful claws are armed ; Their slender necks have flattened heads, all jaws; Great flying serpents with their glittering scales, Startle the earth. The hissing, snapping, strife, Clangorous flapping, screams, and bellowing Make hideous the days, horrid the nights. Great monsters crawling on the slimy earth Leave their long furrowed trails; with necks upstretched They browse upon the foliage of the trees; Insects, in size alone less terrible, Darken the air. "And hath the precious life Book II THE DIVINE MAN 47 No better use.'" I .saitl. And then I saw They well accortleil with environment. Though terrible, they were a great advance Above the low and flabby life before. The building temple i.s not beautiful. Supreme Intelligence progressive works, As a wise masterbuilder laycth stone To stone, anil wood to wood, as there is need. And yet necessity createth not. The need is but our cry to God. And He Above archangel aspiration is ; Ami is beneath the faintest cry of need. The working of His law in postulates Seems hard and stern at times, in ultimates It always is beneficent and wise. For now behold the wisdom infinite ; The points most used, grown callous and enlarged, Formed into legs and feet, more speed supply; Or arms, or fins, or wings, enlarge the fields Tn which to satisfy their appetites. 48 THE DIVINE MAN Book II A need arose of more intelligence; About the central ganglion grew a head, Above the mouth, center of interest then. They now to seize their prey, or to escape Their foes, must windows have convenient. The light produced a dim sensation first, That sensibility increased, until The eye of mechanism wonderful Appeared, wisely designed in every part, Full of expression and so beautiful ; Mark, in its turning how adaptable. Protected by the lubricated lids, Its opening self adjustible, lenses Focussed to give perspective true, casting Upon the brain pictures of light and shade, In colors manifold, of objects near, Or starry distance inconceivable ; How very like an attribute of God! Another sense is needed, and behold The wise supply. The atmospheric waves Book II THE DIVINE MAN 49 Impinge upon this nervous matter; lo! The ear as funnel spread to catch tlic sounds, Or high, or low, or long, or short, or loud, Or soft, as hammer upon anvil heats. The tensile drum vibrating gives alarm. Or heeds the sweet and tender call of love, And shall the thoughts convey in human speech ; In future, tuned to sweetest harmon\ , It shall the soul with heaven-born iriusic thrill. Another sense will guide their appetite; Strong o