With a self-blown inspiration,

Scorned the rein of healthy rule.

They had God's Book for their teacher, They had LUTHER for their guide; And he came with fervid shrewdness To rebuke the windy pride

Of each brainless preaching braggart.
And the word of soundness grew,

And new thousands mustered daily,
Swore allegiance to the true.

Popes were raging; kings and kaisers
Counsel took against the Lord;

But the Book, the Book was stronger
Than the crosier and the sword.

Wars had been, and wars were brewingWar and strife will ever be;

But the truth of God will triumph

When the Word of God is free.

LUTHER triumphed with the Bible; And the Bible, now as then,

Peals the knell of death to despots,

Peals the psalm of life to men.

145

CROMWELL

I WILL sing of English OLIVER,
Who, when kings were led by fools,
Led by fools, and served by brainless
Pedants trained in priestly schools,

When the ship of State was tossing,
And the storm-wings were abroad,
Seized the helm and gave it guidance,
With a right direct from God.

Not in softly-curtained cradles

Kings are nursed who claim from God, But in labour's school He trains them,

And He lifts them from the sod.

K

In the marshes of the Eastland,

Where the gently-gliding Ouse

Creeps through fringe of sedge and willow, Grew the boy whom God did choose.

Erect he grew, of goodly stature,

With strong limbs well knit together, And stout ruddy cheeks that borrowed Freshness from the breezy weather.

As a yeoman's son might well be,
Manly-browed with flowing hair,
Nose of power, and eyebrows shaggy,
With keen lightnings lurking there.

Hot was he for bold adventure,

Quick to share the riskful joy, When a dovecot or an orchard

Tempted any daring boy.

But not merely in the dash

Of venture he would lead the van;

Thoughts of mighty mark grew with him,

As the boy grew to the man.

Oft at evening you might find him
Pacing by the grassy fen,

Pondering o'er God's mystic counsel,
And the tangled ways of men;

Brooding o'er life's strange enigma,
Spirit mingled with the clay,
Devils wrestling with good angels

For the young heart's doubtful sway.

There he brooded, prayed and pondered,
O'er the passioned yeast within,
Till by grace divine he trampled
Out each lustful creeping sin,

And stood forth a God-devoted
Victor o'er the carnal man,

To build up for lofty uses

A new life with godly plan.