The disciple dreams that he seeks instruction
(The Saviour of the World, Vol III Book I Poem VII)
One night I dreamed I asked things of the Lord
And straight He answered me.
Disciple
Master, forgive Thy rash presumptuous one,
But in me is no rest if any word
Spoken by Thee sound harshly in men’s ear!
The Master
What troubleth thee?
Disciple
Thy word concerning John:
Thou know’st he watched for Thee, with cryings strong
Besought God for Thy kingdom, taught all men
They must repent, prepare them for the Lord;
And on that day Thou camest, lo, he knew!
Proclaimed Thee, Lamb of God; chose for himself
To lessen day by day so Thou increase;
Knew Thee, the Bridegroom; all his joy to be
Friend of the Bridegroom, should rejoice for Him!
The Master
Thou hast said well; all this the Baptist did,
And more thou know’st not of; was not My word,
No greater born of flesh hath ever been?
What wouldest thou?
Disciple
Master, Thou saidst of him
Another word: “Greater than John is he
Who least in the Kingdom is.” What meaneth this?
Why then is John, who served as none besides,
Not in Thy kingdom, graced with highest place
At Thy right hand?
The Master
Thou know’st not what thou askest;
Nor understand’st conditions of the Kingdom;
Kings of the world give place to whom they will,
Invite within their borders, honours give,
As they shall choose. But, hast thou understood—
The Kingdom suffereth violence, the violent take?
See ye, they take; not God Himself bestows;
The Kingdom is no gift for easy souls
To get by grace of God. By force, a man
Must take and hold ’gainst multitude of foes.
Disciple
But took not John the Kingdom? Thou, my Lord,
Art merciful! Wilt visit his offence,
And take Thy kingdom from him?
The Master
Nay, My son,
Not yet thou comprehend’st; I can, nor give,
Nor take away. Life, grace, the love of friends,
Honour and victory, praise, beauty, joy,
Virtue, and peaceful days—all these are Mine
To give My servant; this one thing alone,
The Kingdom, gets and keeps he by his prowess.
Disciple
What, then, the Kingdom?
The Master
Where a King rules, is loved,
Trusted and served—the Kingdom. Though but one
Subject so hold him, yet is he a King,
King to that one; ten million subjects his,
Yet by himself doth each swear fealty
And pledge him to the King as though none else
Than he within the Kingdom; he must will
Steadfast allegiance though his life the pledge;
All else I give him; this must he bring Me;
Nay, might I give the Kingdom, what were’t worth,
The man a prisoner to his loyalty,
Not free to love and serve?
Disciple
Then, Lord, can he
Who wilful quits Thy Kingdom meek return?
The Master
Behold, I stand at the door to bring him in!
But who goes out is fenced about with foes
To hinder his returning; few there be
Who, going forth, have grace to come again,
And hard the way they tread!
Disciple
But, John, my Lord,
Returned not he to his old loyalty?
If John not in the Kingdom, who may hope?
The Master
And think’st thou lovest more than I? Canst trust
That I do watch and pray for them who err
As John hath erred? Thou, too, shalt pray and watch;
To know is not for thee; leave then the end!
No righteousness that man hath wrought is lost,
Forgotten before God! Many there be
Slow to believe in that they may not see,
Who yet are righteous; leave the rest to Me,
And know that love subsists eternally!
John gave Me love; and I, do I love less?
Why fear for him held in eternal love
And graced beyond others by My word, Well done!
Of what shall be, knows no man, not the Son!
The Disciple
Forgive Thy slow disciple, dull of heart!
They took Thy word to John, and, all at once,
Conviction broke his heart, and to Thy feet
His alien thoughts, abased, crept sorrowful;—
He knew Thee, King, and shamed him for his doubt!