The Return of the Seventy
Return of the Seventy.
(The Gospel History, Section 87)
And the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us in thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan fallen as lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. Howbeit in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
The Return of the Seventy
(The Saviour of the World, Vol VI Book I Poem XIII)
“See, Lord, with joy we come,” the Seventy cry;—
“The powers of hell sufficient to defy,
We cast out devils in Thy name,
Disease bade we to disappear,
Restored poor souls oppressed with shame,
Made blind to see, the deaf to hear;
O Lord, our Lord, what might of Thine is this
That Thou hast dower’d us with for poor men’s bliss!”
And Christ was glad; rejoiced for one rapt hour
In their bold witness to His saving power:
“I saw, and lo, upon a day,
That yet shall dawn, did Satan fall;
Bright, transient, as the lightning’s play,
His glamour doth the world enthral;
Ye trace the lightning’s course by ruin black,
So, devastation marks his blighting track,—
“The enemy of men. But there is hope;
Each passing day sets limits to his scope;
Discern ye not the light aglow?
The kingdom cometh among men,
The Father’s love finds course to flow
Towards His hapless sons again:
Who hind’reth men is vanquish’d, overthrown,—
Now shall they turn them to their God alone.
“See you, a battle throngeth all the air,
And in the conflict shall ye ‘Seventy’ share:
Go forth with My Authority;
No deadly thing shall do you harm,
Pain and distress before you flee,
No terrors shall your heart alarm;
But not in singular powers abides your joy—
Whose name is writ in heaven meets no annoy.”
St. Luke x. 17–20.
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