Poems (Kimball)/"The Blessed Company of all Faithful People"
"THE BLESSED COMPANY OF ALL FAITHFUL PEOPLE."
BETWEEN the gray dawn and the golden day Methought low murmurs troubled all the land,—Disquietude and strife where should be peace, In the white tents of that sweet Prince of Peace Whose hosts encamp amidst "a naughty world." As swelled the murmurs, under all I heard The sighing of the leaders, men of prayer,Steadfast in faith, though sometimes faint of voice,Worn with the heat and burden of the day, And the half-hearted zeal of many a rank; And harsh above their sighings louder rose The sounds of party and opposing speech, And louder yet the petty-tongued complaints Of such as had not learned obedience, That first, last law for these rebellious hearts,Given of God and taught of Holy Church. Anon, and piercing all the clamor through, The Lord's own heralds blew their bugle-notes;For He would set the faithful in array. Then sudden silence made a little space For the One Voice that fills the universe, And Christ's own roll-call swept the white camp through. And lo! the faithful noiseless moved as thought Responsive, yet unconscious of response, Their rapt eyes lifted to the shining morn,As seeing Him who is invisible. He named them, clan by clan, His chosen ones: The poor in spirit, and the souls that mourn, The meek, and those for righteousness athirst, The merciful, the pure in heart, the just, The valiant, the forbearing, named He thus. For every clan a benediction sweet, And sweeter promises of victory, thus:—
Blessed are the poor, Jesus spake; Poor in spirit for My sake; Who seek the glory of this world no more, Nor gather riches that shall fly away; Of the heavenly kingdom heirs are they.
Blessed, Blessed they who mourn, He said; Precious are the tears they shed, The ashes on the bowèd head. All their sins confessèd, They shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, Who seekThe Father's will in quietness and peace, Caring little for all things beside; They shall increase, And with the fulness of the earth be satisfied. Blessed they, He said, After righteousness an-hungerèd; Blessed they whose thirst The pleasures of this world accurst Have not stilled; With My bread Shall the famishèd be fed; With My wine the parchèd lips be filled.
Blessed, blessed they The merciful, whose ears Are swift to hear the crying of distress; Soft as the rain in summer fall their tears; Their place is found beside the fatherless. Yea,Blessed they To whom the outcast and the poor complain Not in vain; Mercies numberless They hereafter shall obtain.
Blessed are the pure in heart, He said, Whose feet the paths of holiness do tread, Whose looks are God-ward, and whose hands are clean; Through glories manifold Shall they behold Him whom no eye hath seen.
Blessed they who seek To turn all strife to peace, Whose words are as a covert to the weak, Who make the anger of the strong to cease; Children of God shall they Be called for aye.
Blessed they who steadfast stand Through persecutions dread, Though on every hand The wicked bend the bow To lay them low; Theirs the kingdom never vanquishèd.
Blessed ye when men revile And persecute you falsely for My sake; Ye who, walking without guile, With Me partake Shame and scorn awhile.
Yea, rejoice, Ye who fly not from the arrows of the strong; Be exceeding glad, for unto you is given Great reward in heaven; Even now lift up your voice In victorious song; For so persecuted they The prophets in their day: Again rejoice.
Then all the winds of heaven: Amen! Amen!