Page:The Christian Year 1887.djvu/155

 Sees deep within that dazzling field His persecuted Lord revealed, With keen yet pitying glance:

And hears time meek upbraiding call As gently on his spirit fall, As if th' Almighty Son Were prisoner yet in this dark earth, Nor had proclaimed His royal birth, Nor His great power begun.

"Ah! wherefore persecut'st thou Me?" He heard and saw, and sought to free His strained eyes from the sight: But Heaven's high magic bound it there, Still gazing, though untaught to bear Th' insufferable light.

"Who art Thou, Lord?" he falters forth:- So shall Sin ask of heaven and earth At the last awful day. "When did we see Thee suffering nigh, And passed Thee with unheeding eye?  Great God of judgment, say!"

Ah! little dream our listless eyes What glorious presence they despise, While, in our noon of life, To power or fame we rudely press. - Christ is at hand, to scorn or bless, Christ suffers in our strife.

And though heaven's gate long since have closed, And our dear Lord in bliss reposed, High above mortal ken, To every ear in every land (Thought meek ears only understand) He speaks as he did then.

"Ah! wherefore persecute ye Me? 'Tis hard, ye so in love should be  With your own endless woe. Know, though at God's right hand I live, I feel each wound ye reckless give   To the least saint below.

"I in your care My brethren left, Not willing ye should be bereft