Poems (Gould, 1833)/The Black at Church
THE BLACK AT CHURCH.
God, is thy throne accessible to me— Me of the Ethiop skin? May I draw nearThy sacred shrine, and humbly bend the knee, While thy white worshippers are kneeling here?
May I approach celestial purity, And not offend thee with my sable face?This company of saints, so fair to see, Behold! already shrink from the disgrace!
Yet, in thine earthly courts, I'll gladly bow Behind my fellow-worms, and be deniedCommunion with them, will my Lord allow That I may come and touch his bleeding side!
In that blest fount have I an equal claim To bathe, with all who wear the stain of sin?Or, is salvation by another name Than thine?—or, must the Ethiop change his skin?
Thou art our Maker, and I fain would know If thou hast different seats prepared above,To which the master and the servant go To sing the praise of thine eternal love!
There will my buyer urge the price of gold, Which here, for this uncomely clay he gave,That he my portion may appoint, and hold In bondage still, the helpless, trembling slave?
Or, will the dearer ransom, paid for all, A Saviour's blood, impress me with the sealOf everlasting freedom from my thrall, And wash me white and this crushed spirit heal?
Then, will I meekly bear these lingering pains, And suffer scorn, and be by man opprest,If, at the grave, I may put off my chains, And thou wilt take me where the weary rest!