It Is Impossible
Of tempting others. Forgiveness, Faith, Service.
(The Gospel History, Section 113)
And he said unto his disciples, It is impossible but that occasions of stumbling should come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were well for him if a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble. Take heed to yourselves: if thy brother sin, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he sin against thee seven times in the day, and seven times turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
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(The Saviour of the World, Vol VII Book I Poem V)
“It is impossible”—ah, Lord that we
Should use this word is fitting, but with Thee
All things are possible, and all shall be.
“E’en as Thou bidd’st!” Lo cried the man perplex’t,
Already ruffled by new teaching, vexed
That Christ should scorn the great ones; “Nay, what next?”
“We thought He could do all things at a word!
And now, behold, our very ears have heard
‘Impossible’ from the lips of Christ our Lord!”
“‘Offences’ which be they to cause men’s fall?
Of riches speaks so still, desired of all,
Sure hindrances to hear Mammon’s luckless call.
A poor man stumbles sore disgrace;—
If such an one his tale of misery trace
To a rich neighbor, shame on that man’s face!
“Better a millstone around his neck and he
Sudden engulfed in the overwhelming sea
That he should offend My poor and Me!”
“Aye, shall He not defend the simple folk,
Release the poor man from oppression’s yoke
The simple from his hunger that malice would provoke?
“Nay, sure, this is the King, Messias, come
To raise the poor, set down the rich, for some
Indignity in his luxurious home,
“Done to our humble soul! We take our part
With Him who knows the poor, the rich, man’s heart,—
And when to raise, to humble, knows the art!”
St. Luke xvii. 1-4