September 26

Strive for the truth unto death, and the Lord shall fight for thee.

ABOVE all, where thou findest Ignorance, Stupidity, Brute-mindedness,—yes, there . . . attack it, I say; smite it wisely, unweariedly, and rest not while thou livest and it lives; but smite, smite, in the name of God! The Highest God, as I understand it, does audibly so command thee; still audibly, if thou have ears to hear. He, even He, with His unspoken voice, awfuller than any Sinai thunders, or syllabled speech of Whirlwinds; for the SILENCE of deep Eternities, of Worlds from beyond the morning-stars, does it not speak to thee? The unborn Ages; the old Graves, with their long-mouldering dust, the very tears that wetted it now all dry—do not these speak to thee what ear hath not heard? The deep Death-kingdoms, the Stars in their never-resting courses, all Space and all Time, proclaim it to thee in continual silent admonition. Thou too, if ever man should, shalt work while it is called To-day. For the Night cometh, wherein no man can work.

THOMAS CARLYLE

THE WISE ICONOCLAST

A cloud received Him out of their sight.

N O God, no Truth, receive it ne'er,— Believe it ne'er—O Man!

But turn not then to seek again

What first the ill began;

No God, it saith; ah, wait in faith

God's self-completing plan;

Receive it not, but leave it not,

And wait it out, O Man!

"The Man that went the cloud within Is gone and vanished quite;

He cometh not," the people cries,

"Nor bringeth God to sight:

Lo, these thy gods that safety give,

Adore and keep the feast!"

Deluding and deluded cries

The Prophet's brother-Priest;

And Israel all bows down to fall

Before the gilded beast.

Devout, indeed! That priestly creed, O Man, reject as sin;

The clouded hill attend thou still,

And him that went therein

He yet shall bring some worthy thing

For waiting souls to see;

Some sacred word that he hath heard

Their light and life shall be;

Some lofty part, than which the heart

Adopt no nobler can,

Thou shalt receive, thou shalt believe,

And thou shalt do, O-Man!