Collected Works (Vol. II)

158 THE SWORD OF SONG Will Satan be saved? Who pardons Judas ? God's fore- knowledge of Satan's fall and eternal misery makes him re- sponsible for it. It he and Judas are finally re- deemed, we might perhaps look over the matter this once. Poet books his seat. Creator in (Granting him Godhead) merciless To all the anguish and distress About him—save to him it clung And prayed. Give me omnipotence? I am no fool that I should fence That power, demanding every tongue To call me God—I would exert That power to heal creation’s hurt ; Not to divide my devotees From those who scorned me to the close : A worm, a fire, a thirst for these ; A harp-resounding heaven for those ! And though you claim Salvation sure For all the heathen ®—-there again New Christians give the lie to plain Scripture, those words which must endure ! (The Vedas say the same !) and though His mercy widens ever so, I never met a man (this shocks, What I now press) so heterodox, Anglican, Roman, Methodist, Peculiar Person--- all the list !— I never met a man who called Himself a Christian, but appalled Shrank when I dared suggest the hope God’s mercy could expand its scope, Extend, or bend, or spread, or straighten So far as to encompass Satan Or even poor Iscariot. Yet God created (did he not ?) Both these. Omnisciently, we know ! Benevolently? Even so! Created from Himself distinct (Note that !—it is not meet for you To plead me Schelling and his crew) These souls, foreknowing how were linked The chains in either’ Destiny. “You pose me the eternal Why?” Not I? Again, “ Who asks doth err.” But this one thing I say. Perchance There lies a purpose in advance 535 540 645 550 656 560 565 _ 575