"And oft supported so as shall amaze "Their proudest persecutors; for the Spirit, "Poured first on his apostles, whom he sends "To evangelize the nations, then on all 'Baptized, shall them with wondrous gifts endue "To speak all tongues, and do all miracles, "As did their Lord before them. "Great numbers of each nation to Thus they win receive "With joy the tidings brought from Heaven: at length, "Their ministry performed, and race well run, "Their doctrine and their story written left, 66 They die: but in their room, as they forewarn, "Wolves shall succeed for teachers-grievous wolves, Though not, but by the Spirit, understood. "Then shall they seek to avail themselves of names, "Places, and titles, and with these to join "Secular power, though feigning still to act By spiritual; to themselves appropriating "The Spirit of God, promised alike, and given "His consort Liberty? what but unbuild "Whence heavy persecution shall arise 500 510 520 530 "Bestruck with slanderous darts, and works of faith 'Rarely be found. So shall the world go on, "To good malignant, to bad men benign; "Under her own weight groaning; till the day 66 Appear of respiration to the just, "And vengeance to the wicked, at return "Of him so lately promised to thy aid, "The Woman's seed; obscurely then foretold, "Now amplier known thy Saviour and thy Lord; Last, in the clouds, from Heaven to be revealed "In glory of the Father, to dissolve 66 Satan, with his perverted world; then raise "From the conflagrant mass, purged and refined, "New Heavens, new Earth, ages of endless date, "Founded in righteousness, and peace, and love; "To bring forth fruits, joy, and eternal bliss!" He ended, and thus Adam last replied: "How soon hath thy prediction, seer blest, "Measured this transient world, the race of time, "Till time stand fixed! Beyond is all abyss"Eternity, whose end no eye can reach. 66 'Greatly instructed I shall hence depart; "Greatly in peace of thought; and have my fill 66 66 66 Accomplishing great things-by things deemed weak By simply meek: that suffering for truth's sake "Is fortitude to highest victory; 66 And, to the faithful, death the gate of life; Taught this by his example, whom I now "Acknowledge my Redeemer ever blest." To whom thus also the Angel last replied: "This having learned, thou hast attained the sum |