Now went the old man up to the altar; — and straightway transfigured (So did it seem unto me) was then the affectionate Teacher. Like the Lord's Prophet sublime, and awful as Death and as Judgment Stood he, the God-commissioned, the soulsearcher, earthward descending. Glances, sharp as a sword, into hearts, that to him were transparent Shot he; his voice was deep, was low like the thunder afar off. So on a sudden transfigured he stood there, he spake and he questioned. "This is the faith of the Fathers, the faith the Apostles delivered, This is moreover the faith whereunto I baptized you, while still ye Lay on your mothers' breasts, and nearer the portals of heaven. Slumbering received you then the Holy Church in its bosom ; Wakened from sleep are ye now, and the light in its radiant splendor Rains from the heaven downward;-to-day on the threshold of childhood Kindly she frees you again, to examine and make your election, For she knows nought of compulsion, only conviction desireth. This is the hour of your trial, the turning-point of existence, Seed for the coming days; without revocation departeth Now from your lips the confession; Bethink ye, before ye make answer! Think not, O think not with guile to deceive the questioning Teacher. Sharp is his eye to-day, and a curse ever rests upon falsehood. Enter not with a lie on Life's journey; the multitude hears you, Brothers and sisters and parents, what dear upon earth is and holy Standeth before your sight as a witness; the Judge everlasting Looks from the sun down upon you, and angels in waiting beside him Grave your confession in letters of fire, upon tablets eternal. Thus then, believe ye in God, in the Father who this world created? Him who redeemed it, the Son, and the Spirit where both are united ? Will ye promise me here, (a holy promise!) to cherish God more than all things earthly, and every man as a brother? Will ye promise me here, to confirm your faith by your living, Th' heavenly faith of affection! to hope, to forgive, and to suffer, Be what it may your condition, and walk before God in uprightness? Will ye promise me this before God and man?" With a clear voice Answered the young men Yes! and Yes! with lips softly-breathing Answered the maidens eke. Then dissolved from the brow of the Teacher Clouds with the thunders therein, and he spake on in accents more gentle, Soft as the evening's breath, as harps by Babylon's rivers. Hail, then, hail to you all! To the heir dom of heaven be ye welcome! Children no more from this day, but by covenant Yet, brothers and sisters! for what reason not children? Of such is the kingdom of heaven. Here upon earth an assemblage of children, in heaven one father, Ruling them as his own household, — forgiving in turn and chastising, That is of human life a picture, as Scripture has Strong as a man and pure as a child, is the sum of the doctrine, Which the Godlike delivered, and on the cross suffered and died for. O! as ye wander this day from childhood's sa |