

1844-54' ATHANASIUS CONTRA MUNDUM. 213 



light of that love of God, and that love of our neighbour 

 as ourselves, which are the fulfilling of the law. I rejoice 

 that I have a creed with which I can face death and eter- 

 nity, and which makes this life often a joyous worship, and 

 always a patient endurance. My prayer is for a closer 

 union to Christ my Saviour; to be able to say as St. 

 Thomas did, with my whole heart, l My Lord and my 

 God;' to realize to the fullest His personality and His 

 humanity; and to walk in His steps as a lowly follower, 

 and disciple, and servant. For all my friends, as for myself, 

 I ever ask this blessing. It includes everything, and will 

 open in good time all the locked secrets of Providence, 

 and furnish not a but the theory of the universe. I am 

 glad you liked ' Athanasius ; ' I shall perhaps send you 

 another little thing one of these days ; but till I am clear 

 of my present book-writing, I cannot let my thoughts go 

 forth in the way they must do to beget poetry." 



The verses alluded to will not be unacceptable to many : 



ATHANASIUS CONTRA MUNDUM. 



O, Athanasius ! thy too subtle creed 



Makes my heart tremble when I hear it read, 



And my flesh quivers when the priest proclaims 

 God's doom on every unbeliever's head. 



Yet I do honour thee for those brave words 

 Against the heretic so boldly hurled, 



" Though no one else believe, I'll hold my faith, 

 I, Athanasius, against the world." 



It was not well to judge thy fellow men, 

 Thou wert a sinful mortal like us all ; 



Vengeance is God's ; none but himself doth know 

 On whom the terrors of his wrath will fall. 



