I asked, "Is this the true church, then?"
"Nay," answered he, "a sect of men:
"And sects that lock their doors in pride
Shut God and half His saints outside.
"The gates of heaven, the Scriptures say,
Stand open wide by night and day:
"Whoso shall enter hath no need
To walk by either church or creed:
"The false church leadeth men astray;
The true church showeth men the way."
--Whereat I still more eager grew
To shun the false and find the true;
And, naming all the creeds, I sought
What truth, or lie, or both, they taught:
Thus,--"Augustine--had _he_ a fault?"
My friend looked up to yon blue vault,
And cried, "Behold! can one man's eyes
Bound all the vision of the skies?"
I said, "The circle is too wide."
"God's truth is wider," he replied;
"And Augustine, on bended knee,
Saw just the little he could see;
"So Luther sought with eyes and heart,
Yet caught the glory but in part;
"So Calvin opened wide his soul,
Yet could not comprehend the whole:
"Not Luther, Calvin, Augustine,
Saw half the vision I have seen!"
--Then grew within me a desire
That kindled like a flame of fire.
I looked upon his reverent brow,
Entreating, "Tell me, who art thou?"
When, by the light that filled the place,
I knew it was the Lord's own face!
Through all my blood a rapture stole
That filled my body and my soul.
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