ASCENSION DAY 155
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One year’s effect, one moment’s cause ;
What mind could estimate such laws?
Who then (much more !) may act aright
Judged by and in ten centuries’ sight?
(Yet I believe, whate’er we do
Is best for me and best for you
And best for all: I line no brow
With wrinkles, meditating how.)
Well, but another way remains. Caird's inter-
Shall we expound the cosmic plan Heese his
By symbolising God and man identification
And nature thus? As man contains of it with ohris-
Cells, nerves , grey matter in his brains, to be mystical.
Each cell a life, self-centred, free His interpreta-
Yet self-subordinate to the whole tion false.
For its own sake—expand !—so we
Molecules of a central soul,
Time’s sons, judged
by Eternity.
Nature is gone—our joys, our pains,
Our little lives—and God remains.
Were this the truth—-why ! worship then
Were not so imbecile for men!
But that’s no Christian faith! For where
Enters the dogma of despair?
Despite his logic’s silver flow
I must count Caird ® a mystic! No!
You Christians shall not mask me so
The plain words of your sacred books
Behind friend Swedenborg his spooks !
Says Huxley ® in his works (q. v.)
“The microcosmic lives change daily
In state or body ”—yet you gaily
Arm a false Hegel cap-a-pie—
Your self, his weapons—make him wear
False favours of a ladye fayre,
(The scarlet woman !) bray and blare
A false note on the trumpet, shout :
‘““A champion? Faith’s defender! Out!
Sceptic and sinner! Seeme! Quail I?”
I cite the Little-go. You stare,
And have no further use for Paley !