LIVINGWITHOUTGODINTHEWORLD

livingwithoutgodintheworld

(?1798)

mysteryofgod!thoubraveandbeauteousworld,

madefairwithlightandshadeandstarsandflowers,

madefearfulandaugustwithwoodsandrocks,

'dprecipice,blackmountain,seainstorms,

sun,overall,thatnoco-rivalowns,

butthro'heaven'spavementridesasindespite

ormockeryofthelittlenessofman!

iseeamightyarm,bymanunseen,

resistless,nottobecontroul'd,thatguides,

insolitudeofunsharedenergies,

allthesethyceaselessmiracles,oworld!

armoftheworld,iviewthee,andimuse

onman,who,trustinginhismortalstrength,

leansonashadowystaff,astaffofdreams.

weconsecrateourtotalhopesandfears

toidols,fleshandblood,ourlove,(heaven'sdue)

ourpraiseandadmiration;praisebestowed

bymanonman,andactsofworshipdone

toakindrednature,certesdoreflect

someportionofthegloryandraysoblique

uponthepoliticworshipper,—soman

extractsapridefromhishumility.

somebraverspiritsofthemodernstamp

affectagodheadnearer:thesetalkloud

ofmind,andindependentintellect,

ofenergiesomnipotentinman,

andmanofhisownfateartificer;

yeaofhisownlifelord,andofthedays

ofhisabodeonearth,whentimeshallbe,

thatlifeimmortalshallbecomeanart,

ordeath,bychymicpracticesdeceived,

foregothescent,whichforsixthousandyears

likeagoodhoundhehasfollowed,oratlength

moremannerslearning,andadecentsense

andreverenceofaphilosophicworld,

relent,andleavetopreyoncarcasses.

butthesearefanciesofafew:therest,

atheists,ordeistsonlyinthename,

bywordordeeddenyagod.theyeat

theirdailybread,anddrawthebreathofheaven

withoutorthoughtorthanks;heaven'srooftothem

isbutapaintedceilinghungwithlamps,

nomore,thatlightsthemtotheirpurposes.

theywander"looseabout,"theynothingsee,

themselvesexcept,andcreatureslikethemselves,

short-liv'd,short-sighted,impotenttosave.

soontheirdissolutespirits,soonorlate,

destructioncometh"likeanarmedman,"