STANZAS. Shall Belgium feel, and gallant France, The impulse of our cheering call? Oh, say, shall Prussia's banner be By Baikal's lake and Neva's wave? Shall every flap of England's flag Proclaim that all around are free, Go let us ask of Constantine To loose his grasp on Poland's throat; From turbaned Turk, and scornful Russ: "Go, loose your fettered slaves at home, Then turn, and ask the like of us!" Just God! and shall we calmly rest, The Christian's scorn the heathen's mirthContent to live the lingering jest And by-word of a mocking Earth? 2 10 Shall our own glorious land retain That curse which Europe scorns to bear? Shall our own brethren drag the chain Which not even Russia's menials wear? Up, then, in Freedom's manly part, Scatter the living coals of Truth! Oh! rouse ye, ere the storm comes forth The gathered wrath of God and man- When hail and fire above it ran. Up now for Freedom! - not in strife The glory and the guilt of war: Down let the shrine of Moloch sink, Nor longer let its idol drink His daily cup of human blood: But rear another altar there, To Truth and Love and Mercy given, And Freedom's gift, and Freedom's prayer, Shall call an answer down from Heaven.! ។ CLERICAL OPPRESSORS. II J CLERICAL OPPRESSORS. UST God! - and these are they Who minister at thine altar, God of Right! Men who their hands with prayer and blessing lay What! preach and kidnap men? Bolt hard the captive's door? What! servants of thy own Merciful Son, who came to seek and save Pilate and Herod, friends! Chief priests and rulers, as of old, combine! Paid hypocrites, who turn Judgment aside, and rob the Holy Book Of those high words of truth which search and burn Feed fat, ye locusts, feed! And, in your tasselled pulpits, thank the Lord How long, O Lord! how long Shall such a priesthood barter truth away, And, in thy name, for robbery and wrong At thy own altars pray? Is not thy hand stretched forth Visibly in the heavens, to awe and smite? Shall not the living God of all the earth, And heaven above, do right? Woe, then, to all who grind Their brethren of a common Father down! Woe to the priesthood! woe To those whose hire is with the price of blood - Their glory and their might Oh! speed the moment on When Wrong shall cease- and Liberty, and Love, And Truth, and Right, throughout the earth be known As in their home above. THE CHRISTIAN SLAVE. 13 A THE CHRISTIAN SLAVE. CHRISTIAN! going, gone! Which that poor victim of the market-place My God! can such things be? Hast Thou not said that whatsoe'er is done In that sad victim, then, Child of thy pitying love, I see Thee stand A Christian up for sale! for his grace Wet with her blood your whips o'ertask her frame, A heathen hand might deal Back on your heads the gathered wrong of years, No dangerous tale of Him who came to save The outcast and the poor. But wisely shut the ray Of God's free Gospel from her simple heart, One stern command - OBEY! |