The controversy (continued)
Jesus the Son of God, Himself God.
(The Gospel History, Section 79)
He that is of God heareth the words of God: for this cause ye hear them not, because ye are not of God. The Jews answered and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye dishonour me. But I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my word, he shall never see death.
The controversy (continued)
(The Saviour of the World, Vol V Book IV Poem XLVI)
The Lord. Nay, ye that hear the truth nor yet believe,
Know ye not, truth must needs compel a man
To know, for truth is mighty.—How is it, then,
Ye hear the truth and deny? A mystery’s here:
He that is of God heareth the words of God,
And all the words of God be very truth,
And every word of truth is a word of God;
Truth is the language common to all souls
Who are of God: they hear and must believe:
But ye believe not for ye are not of God:
Truth is as home-bred speech to foreign ear
To you who’ve not grown up by the Father’s hearth,
Accustomed to that language of the home:
To you, ’tis senseless gabble.
The Jews. A Samaritan
Art Thou and hast a devil! Said we not well
In that? How else couldst reckon us aliens,
Us, the Jews—God’s chosen?
The Lord. I have not a devil,
But I speak the truth to ears that cannot hear;
I honour the Father, and ye dishonour Me
Who come forth from the Father—Son of His love;
But let that be; My glory seek not I:
Mine honour is with the Father,—He shall judge;
But, O ye Jews, fall ye not into the hands
Of the living God for judgment! Take ye thought
Ere final doom against you be pronounced!
There is a way of escape: keep ye My word,
And, lo, e’en death shall you pass by unhurt;
He never shall see death who keeps My word!
(A timid soul crept up: “Lord, what is ‘keep’?
How shall we keep Thy word as ’twere a thing,
A jewel in a casket?” And the Lord,—
“As jewel keep it, ponder, love to look,
Take it and gaze on it as dear to thee,—
The word thou cherishest: so thou shalt live,
Nor ever taste of death.” Then, that poor soul;—
“What then is ‘death,’ good Lord? I know amiss:”
“Aye, Death is when the soul goes out from God;
The soul’s and body’s parting, that is nought!”)
St. John viii. 47–51.
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