Progress
The
Master
stood
upon
the
mount,
and
taught.
He
saw
a
fire
in
his
disciples’
eyes;
‘The
old
law’,
they
said,
‘is
wholly
come
to
naught!
Behold
the
new
world
rise!’
‘Was
it’,
the
Lord
then
said,
‘with
scorn
ye
saw
The
old
law
observed
by
Scribes
and
Pharisees?
I
say
unto
you,
see
ye
keep
that
law
More
faithfully
than
these!
‘Too
hasty
heads
for
ordering
worlds,
alas!
Think
not
that
I
to
annul
the
law
have
will’d;
No
jot,
no
tittle
from
the
law
shall
pass,
Till
all
hath
been
fulfill’d.’
So
Christ
said
eighteen
hundred
years
ago.
And
what
then
shall
be
said
to
those
to-day,
Who
cry
aloud
to
lay
the
old
world
low
To
clear
the
new
world’s
way?
‘Religious
fervours!
ardour
misapplied!
Hence,
hence,’
they
cry,
’ye
do
but
keep
man
blind!
But
keep
him
self-immersed,
preoccupied,
And
lame
the
active
mind!’
Ah!
from
the
old
world
let
some
one
answer
give:
‘Scorn
ye
this
world,
their
tears,
their
inward
cares?
I
say
unto
you,
see
that
your
souls
live
A
deeper
life
than
theirs!
‘Say
ye:
The
spirit
of
man
has
found
new
roads,
And
we
must
leave
the
old
faiths,
and
walk
therein?—
Leave
then
the
Cross
as
ye
have
left
carved
gods,
But
guard
the
fire
within!
‘Bright,
else,
and
fast
the
stream
of
life
may
roll,
And
no
man
may
the
other’s
hurt
behold;
Yet
each
will
have
one
anguish—his
own
soul
Which
perishes
of
cold.’
Here
let
that
voice
make
end;
then
let
a
strain,
From
a
far
lonelier
distance,
like
the
wind
Be
heard,
floating
through
heaven,
and
fill
again
These
men’s
profoundest
mind:
‘Children
of
men!
the
unseen
Power,
whose
eye
For
ever
doth
accompany
mankind,
Hath
looked
on
no
religion
scornfully
That
men
did
ever
find.
‘Which
has
not
taught
weak
wills
how
much
they
can?
Which
has
not
fall’n
on
the
dry
heart
like
rain?
Which
has
not
cried
to
sunk,
self-weary
man:
Thou
must
be
born
again!
‘Children
of
men!
not
that
your
age
excel
In
pride
of
life
the
ages
of
your
sires,
But
that
you
think
clear,
feel
deep,
bear
fruit
well,
The
Friend
of
man
desires.’
