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

---

[274] On man, as man, retaining yet,
     Howe'er debased, and soiled, and dim,
The crown upon his forehead set,
     The immortal gift of God to him.

And there is reverence in thy look;
     For that frail form which mortals wear
The Spirit of the Holiest took,
     And veiled His perfect brightness there.

Not from the shallow babbling fount
     Of vain philosophy thou art;
He who of old on Syria's Mount
     Thrilled, warmed, by turns, the listener's heart,

In holy words which cannot die,
     In thoughts which angels leaned to know,
Proclaimed thy message from on high,
     Thy mission to a world of woe.

That voice's echo hath not died!
     From the blue lake of Galilee,
And Tabor's lonely mountain-side,
     It calls a struggling world to thee.

Thy name and watchword o'er this land
     I hear in every breeze that stirs,
And round a thousand altars stand
     Thy banded party worshippers.

Not to these altars of a day,
     At party's call, my gift I bring;
But on thy olden shrine I lay
     A freeman's dearest offering: