Page:Redemption, a Poem.djvu/308

 302 REDEMPTION.

Yet of more worth for use, when deem'd aright; Though heat not wanting here, if heat contain Of virtue aught, to liquidate from dross, Depurative of souls, renascent clean. Not weening these, but quite outside their scope, Beyond the zodiac, whose luminous rays, A roseate belt throw, ambient the sphere ; Or where solstitial colure cuts the point Of farthest declination south its course, Or that through Aries and Libra pass'd, Whose equinoctial grades oppose their signs, Beyond the lacteal way, an endless route, Down southern pole celestial, where it points The verge of chaos, Anarch's reign, and night No morning knows, no star illumes, remote From aught to bless, or lead imprison'd souls, To read the signs, which guided earth to greet The dawning ray, that told redemption near. Thither He speeds, with love and mercy fraught, And to the spirits there imprison'd, preach'd, Who sometime, being incredulous, did wait God's patience, in the days of Noe just, What time the ark he built, when few were saved. Nor preach'd in vain, as he, with suff'ring long, But fruits received in righteousness, joy, peace, To souls imparted, there severely tried, And now free saved ; yet so saved as by fire, As each man's work shall manifest be made, Whether of silver, gold, or precious stones, Or built of wood, hay, stubble, still by fire Of judgment, manifest reveal'd. Those pure, Withstand, but these be burnt; be burnt, yet saved,

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