This digitization project was supported by Regional Bibliographic Databases and Interlibrary Resources Sharing Program funds, awarded by the New York State Library.
This digitized edition is part of Syracuse University Library's Gerrit Smith Broadside and Pamphlet Collection. It has been OCRed using OmniPage Pro, version 11 by Scansoft® and proofed using WordPerfect version 9. The following layout changes have been made:
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Peter D. Verheyen, Project Manager
Debra G. Olson, Digital Project Assistant
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Library
© 2003 This work is the property of the Syracuse University Library. It may be used freely by individuals for research, teaching and personal use as long as this statement of availability is included in the text.
[p. 1, col. 1]
1. For near two thousand years, have shone
The light and love of Jesus' life:
Yet over all this world are known
Deep darkness and satanic strife.
2. Blind superstition holds its reign ;
Ambition, war, and lust rage still;
And slavery and greedy gain
The cup of human misery fill.
3. Then has not Jesus' life the power
To save this world from sin and woe ?
Where is the fault - that to this hour
The world does not salvation know?
4. It is that faith in Jesus' life
Has given place to faith in creeds:
And doctrines and dogmatic strife
Are welcomed more than christian deeds.
5. Hasten, Oh God, the blessed time
When party walls shall be no more ;
When Jesus' love and life sublime
Shall draw all hearts, the broad earth o'er.
6. And when all hearts these magnets draw
To Jesus' heart and Jesus' deeds,
Then this "fulfilling of the law"
Will leave no work for sects and creeds.
2. Nor Methodist, nor Baptist more
Nor Presbyterian name,
Nor bigot-hate and barred door
Our quarrels would proclaim.
3. Nor shameless Democratic cheats
Could then affect our state,
Nor sly Republican deceits
Our bosoms penetrate.
[p. 1, col. 2]
4. But then from demagogues set free
And cunning priestly thrall,
>In this great truth we'd quick agree -
That Christ is all in all.
5. And then, if ask'd a sect to be,
And thus divide Christ's sheep,
We'd ask the question - Would not He
O'er such division weep?
6. And then if ask'd to vote for men
Who dramshops will maintain,
Or those who slave laws don't contemn
We'd go to Christ again :
7. And ask Him our poor souls to save
In this temptation's hour:
And let us not betray the slave,
Nor swell the huge rum power.
8. Thrice happy they who've grace to throw
All party in the sea :
Thrice happy they whose hearts do know
The truth alone makes free.
1. To love our God and all mankind
Is the religion which we preach
The same religion that we find
Our Savior came on earth to teach.
2. The heart in which this love resides
Is full of peace and blessedness:
The life which this religion guides
Is beautiful with righteousness.
3. The man controlled by this true love
Finds in his soul his daily food ;
>Is ever harmless as the dove;
Spends all his days in doing good.
4. No sect his sympathies can bind;
No party spirit him can sway;
No tempter reach his heav'nly mind ;
No passion cloud his perfect day.
[p.1, col. 3]
5. He casts no vote for men who own
That rum for bev'rage may be sold :
Nor either those who are not known
"NO LAW FOR SLAVERY" to hold.
6. With priests, who make their iron creeds
The test of ev'ry human heart,
And thus disparage Christ-like deeds,
His righteous soul can have no part.
7. Oh when shall men the sure truth weigh
That reason is religion true?
And that our reason to obey
Is to obey the great God too ?
1. Sad was the clay for man,
When the blind led the blind;
And creeds of schools, and priestly ban,
Enslaved the human mind.
2. When Reason was dethroned,
And Book and mystic scroll
And schemes, that free-soul'd thought disowned,
Were God's voice to the soul!
3. Backward we look in vain,
Along the track of Time,
To see the march of Truth's bright train,
And Virtue's reign sublime.
4. We turn from heartless priest
And cankering creed away,
Unto the Star which lit the East
With reason's lucid ray.
5. Blessing that "inner light"
That gilds life's troubled scene,
We mark with joy the footsteps bright
Left by the Nazarene.
6. And let us crowd each day
With Christ-like words and deeds;
While peacefully up God's highway
We walk where Reason leads.
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URL: http://libwww.syr.edu/digital/collections/g/GerritSmith/716.htm Last modified: January 21, 2003 11:19 AM |
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