The Samaritan Village
Samaritan Villagers. Three Answers to Disciples.
(The Gospel History, Section 84)
… and sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he were going to Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we bid fire to come down from heaven, and consume them? But he turned, and rebuked them. And they went to another village.
The Samaritan Village
(The Saviour of the World, Vol VI Book I Poem V)
Not wholly without state Messias went
On this last progress to His capital:
Messengers ran to seek place for the Church,—
The Lord and His twelve friends.
The passover
Was nigh, and multitudes with faces set
Towards Jerusalem filled the ways; so when these came
To buy bread, hire chamber, the villagers
With fury set on them and drave them thence!
Men should behave with modest deference
Who visit foreign places; had these erred?
Nay, but Samaria would have none of them,—
Journeying towards Jerusalem; for old
Animosity moved every peasant’s breast.
See we the Lord, austere and merciful,
Turn to regard the inhospitable crew;
A look convicted them of shameful act,
A glance to haunt and grieve in days to come.
But James and John were of another mind—
Those Sons of Thunder! “Lord, shall we call down
The lightning to consume these haughty men,
E’en as Elijah did? Thou’rt great as he,
Thou, too, commandest heaven’s artillery,
Let their offence be punished!”
But the Lord
Spake grievous word: “Have ye been with Me, then,
These many months, these years, nor learned ye aught?
Can ye discern the spirits, whose they be,
That urge, compel, a man? Perceive ye not
Whence murderous anger comes, o’erwhelming hate?
A child conning his lessons knows these things,
Else, how guides he his life? Ye teach him first
That gentle motions from God’s Spirit flow;
That anger, wrath, all sullen hate, from him—
The murderer from the beginning. Go,
Get ye the lesson set you on that day
When Peter asked, How oft? Not yet know ye
What spirit ye are of.”
Then James and John
Perceived, abashed, how great their hasty fault;
The Samaritan’s offence was not for them
To judge: of hostile spirit were those men,
Hating and hateful? See, a curtain raised
In th’ inmost chamber of each saint revealed
A heart of murderous wrath! The holy two
Would fain excuse them, “’Twas for Jesus’ sake!”
But He will none on’t—that excuse, nor dare
The men ope lips to voice the futile plea.
Thenceforth and evermore they knew this thing;—
Two spirits wait to dominate each man;
One of the twain shall rule; the choice is his;
Would he, malicious, hurt and hate a man
For any wrong to him or them he loves?
All hate, all black resentment’s sudden flood,
O’erwhelming, from one spirit emanates,
The guest solicited of envious hearts.
Would he, benevolent, forgive the wrong
And seek to serve that other wronging him?
The man hath opened to the Spirit of God
Who cometh as a fertilizing flood
And fills his heart with overflowing peace!
St. Luke ix. 52–56.
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