And lo, that recipient of the spirits, it is some aerial

world,

An oasis midway on the desert space, separating earth from heaven,

A prison-house for essences incorporate, a limbus vague and wide,

Tartarus for evil, and Paradise for good, that intermediate Hadës.

Death, what art thou? a Lawgiver that never altereth,

Fixing the consummating seal, whereby the deeds of life become established:

O Death, what art thou? a stern and silent usher, Leading to the judgment for Eternity, after the trial scene of Time:

O Death, what art thou? an Husbandman, that

reapeth always,

Out of season, as in season, with the sickle in his

hand:

O Death, what art thou? the shadow unto every sub

stance,

In the bower as in the battle, haunting night and

day:

O Death, what art thou? Nurse of dreamless slum

bers

Freshening the fevered flesh to a wakefulness

eternal:

O Death, what art thou? strange and solemn Alchymist,

Elaborating life's elixir from these clayey crucibles : O Death, what art thou? Antitype of Nature's marvels,

The seed and dormant chrysalis bursting into energy and glory.

Thou calm safe anchorage for the shattered hulls of

men,

Thou spot of gelid shade, after the hot-breathed desert,

Thou silent waiting-hall, where Adam meeteth with his children,

How full of dread, how full of hope, loometh inevitable Death:

Of dread, for all have sinned; of hope, for One hath

saved;

The dread is drowned in joy, the hope is filled with immortality!

-Pass along, pilgrim of life, go to thy grave un

fearing,

The terrors are but shadows now, that haunt the vale

of Death.

182

Of Immortality.

Gird up thy mind to contemplation, trembling inhabitant of earth;

Tenant of a hovel for a day,-thou art heir of the universe for ever!

For, neither congealing of the grave, nor gulphing waters of the firmament,

Nor expansive airs of heaven, nor dissipative fires of Gehenna,

Nor rust of rest, nor wear, nor waste, nor loss, nor

chance, nor change,

Shall avail to quench or overwhelm the spark of soul within thee!

Thou art an imperishable leaf on the evergreen baytree of Existence;

A word from Wisdom's mouth, that cannot be un

spoken;

A ray of Love's own light; a drop in Mercy's sea; A creature, marvellous and fearful, begotten by the fiat of Omnipotence.

I, that speak in weakness, and ye, that hear in

charity,

Shall not cease to live and feel, though flesh must see corruption;

For the prison-gates of matter shall be broken, and the shackled soul go free,

Free, for good or ill, to satisfy its appetence for

ever:

For ever,-dreadful doom, to be hurried on eternally to evil,

For ever,-happy fate, to ripen into perfectness-for ever!

And is there a thought within thy heart, O slave of sin and fear,

A black and harmful hope, that erring spirit dieth? That primal disobedience hath ensured the death of

soul,

And separate evil sealed it thine-thy curse, Annihi

lation?

Heed thou this; there is a Sacrifice; the Maker is

Redeemer of his creature;

Freely unto each, universally to all, is restored the privilege of essence :

Whether unto grace or guilt, all must live through

Him,

Live in vital joy, or live in dying woe:

Death in Adam, Life in Christ; the curse hung upon the cross:

Who art thou that heedest of redemption, as narrower than the fall?

All were dead,-He died for all; that living, they might love;

If living souls withhold their love,-still, He hath died for them.

Eve stole the knowledge; Christ gave the life: Knowledge and life are the perquisites of soul, the privilege of Man:

Mercy stepped between, and stayed the double theft; God gave; and giving, bought; and buying, asketh

love:

And in such asking rendereth bliss, to all that hear and answer,

For love with life is heaven; and life unloving, hell.

Creature of God, his will is for thy weal, eternally progressing;

Fear not to trust a Maker's love, nor a Saviour's

ransom:

He drank for all,—for thee, and me,-the poison of

our deeds;