The writings of John Greenleaf Whittier, Volume 3.
John Greenleaf Whittier, Ed.

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[328] In your dark ages, since ye fell asleep,
     Much has been done for truth and human-kind;
Shadows are scattered wherein ye groped blind;
     Man claims his birthright, freer pulses leap
Through peoples driven in your day like sheep;
     Yet, like your own, our age's sphere of light,
Though widening still, is walled around by night;
     With slow, reluctant eye, the Church has read,
Skeptic at heart, the lessons of its Head;
     Counting, toooft, its living members less
Than the wall's garnish and the pulpit's dress;
     World-moving zeal, with power to bless and feed
Life's fainting pilgrims, to their utter need,
     Instead of bread, holds out the stone of creed;
Sect builds and worships where its wealth and pride
     And vanity stand shrined and deified,
Careless that in the shadow of its walls
     God's living temple into ruin falls.
We need, methinks, the prophet-hero still,
     Saints true of life, and martyrs strong of will,
To tread the land, even now, as Xavier trod
     The streets of Goa, barefoot, with his bell,
Proclaiming freedom in the name of God,
     And startling tyrants with the fear of hell!
Soft words, smooth prophecies, are doubtless well;
     But to rebuke the age's popular crime,
We need the souls of fire, the hearts of that old time!

1849.