Thou seek it, it is not; when God doth will,
’Tis seen to be. On trees their leaves, on thorns
The rose, the seeds on plains, are dead and fail,
310 And rise again, new living. For man’s use
These things doth God before his eyes recall
And form anew—man’s, for whose sake at first
The wealthy One made all things bounteously.
All naked fall; with its own body each
315 He clothes. Why man alone, on whom He showered
Such honours, should He not recall in all
His first perfection to Himself? man, whom
He set o’er all?
Flesh, then, and blood are said
To be not worthy of God’s realm, as if
320 Paul spake of flesh materially. He
Indeed taught mighty truths; but hearts inane
Think he used carnal speech: for pristine deeds
He meant beneath the name of “flesh and blood;”
Remembering, heavenly home—slave that he is,
325 His heavenly Master’s words; who gave the name
Of His own honour to men born from Him
Through water, and from His own Spirit poured
A pledge; that, by whose virtue men had been
Redeemed, His name of honour they withal
330 Might, when renewed, receive. Because, then, He
Refused, on the old score, the heavenly realm
To peoples not yet from His fount re-born,
Still with their ancient sordid raiment clad—
These are “the dues of death”—saying that that
335 Which human is must needs be born again,—
“What hath been born of flesh is flesh; and what
From Spirit, life;” and that the body, washed,
Changing with glory its old root’s new seeds,
Is no more called “from flesh:” Paul follows this;
340 Thus did he speak of “flesh.” In fine, he said
This frail garb with a robe must be o’erclad,
This mortal form be wholly covered;
Not that another body must be given,
But that the former one, dismantled, must
345 Be with God’s kingdom wholly on all sides
Surrounded: “In the moment of a glance,”
He says, “it shall be changed:” as, on the blade,
Dispreads the red corn’s face, and changes ’neath
The sun’s glare its own hue; so the same flesh,
350 From “the effulgent glory” borrowing,