And Demon hosts were shattered like to mist-
Yea, even quicker than they thought, or wist,
All beaten back from where the crosses stood-
And around the crosses an angelic flood
Of Cherubim and Seraphim and those
Who in God's Highest service face GOD's foes.

And Satan surely then discomforted—
For surely all of his vile minions fled
Nor dare to stand in all that heaven lit path-
They knew not when may burst Angelic wrath.

So all day long, until the evening came, That mount was litten by angelic flame, And not one enemy may come anigh

As Michael watched where VICTIM still nailed high.

And as Earth's loved ones mourning of their loss Came in the eve and took HIM from the Cross, Love laid HIM in the sepulchre of stone. Surely the Human never was alone But Angels, the most Excellent, and Great, Watched o'er that Body in most regal state, The Mightiest of Created stood around, Three days and nights it was most Holy GroundA Bivouac of Angels held the placeAnd never nigh came any demon's face Nor none to do HIM ill of Human race.

Why should it for Humanity alone That Christ in Dying only should atone

Surely His Death had higher, vaster scope—
Not of the critic's foolish Larger Hope
For when The Blood of Christ men will despise
They then are reprobates before God's eyes—
They who despise The Blood that Christ once shed
Have condemnation hanging o'er their head-
And if in such a state they pass away

From earth-for them-come no repenting day-
No other chance, no hope, No saving grace-
But ignomy, and terrors and Disgrace-
There is no Larger Hope in the Hereafter-
Such Hope is only fit for demon's laughter.

But may I think, O Demon, to thy Race
CHRIST once revealed a pardoning free grace,
And all who stood repentant HE would save—
For the three Days His Body in the grave
Did HE not go to Hades to proclaim
That all who trusted in His Blessed name-
That every Demon who would turn from sin
In HIM would find a Saviour even then.
And Thou most certainly must have been there-
In that vast spacious Chamber of Despair

The Conquering CHRIST came with Imperial Grace
And all the Demons saw HIM face to face.
There Lucifer and Princes of his realm
The many million Sin did overwhelm
In far-off ages-one and all now stood,
As CHRIST proclaimed Salvation by His blood,
Gave Royal Proclamation of Sweet Peace

Three days, three nights His pleadings did not cease

And truly I am hopeful some Believed,
And truly I am hopeful some Received
Pardon of Sin-and free Salvation felt;

Shall we not say, that millions gladly knelt
Acknowledging HIM THEIR SAVIOUR and their Master!
How Satan must have fumed at such disaster
And shrieked disdain—and made the lying boast
That even now the Christly soul was lost-
His was no better than the meanest soul
That Death and Hades held in their control-
And in the Flesh He would not go again-
That He too victim to the thrall of sin-
His birth miraculous a silly lie-
That He was nothing but a base Deceiver-
And woe to him who would be a Believer
Hell not too deep, and Heaven not too high,
But Satan's hand would find, and not relent
'Til on that soul an awful punishment.

Did CHRIST'S Words make you quiver, hesitate—
Did you appalled at blackness of your fate.
Listen, and felt a stirring in your breast,
A longing for the Blessing and the Rest
That you had known so well in days of yore-
And did there come a wishing to deplore
Your former sins-in peace with GOD once more—
And had you put out foot to go to HIM-
And did not Satan with a fury grim

Look with sharp eyes as they a molten crater
And sneering said, "You surely not a traitor!"
"Pay homage to a Man-naught else is He-

Whom I have crucified on Calvary-
Has any spirit broke this prison place-
Hast thou on Earth found man of

any Race Confined here once, now living on the earthFrom out yon portal never second birth.

Were he GOD'S SON He would not now be here,

And of His body now I can declare,

The Worms are eating what the gases rent,
And now He tells the lies that GOD has sent
Him as Ambassador.-If this is so

Now let Him come in Body here below

In flesh and Blood and then we will receive-
And even I-myself on Him Believe.

He cannot, nay, He's but a human soul

To Hades sent-and under Death's control-
And now He seeks to wreck this realm of Ours,
Would fain distract and rend out vital Powers,
Would stop our growth-for surely 'twas my sin
That brings to Hades myriads of lost men-
We waxeth great-and who may tell the hour
We shall not blossom to a strength and Power
To scale the heights of Heaven and take its throne-
And Lucifer be King-and King alone-

When have I ever failed you in the past

And to Eternity my rule shall Last!"

Was it such words had turned thy soul away

Believing Lucifer you still would stay
Faithful to him and all his evil Powers.

Then was there not an ending to the Hours

That Mercy offered-CHRIST no more would plead—
You were so blinded by Satanic screed-

You turned away your face and hissed your hate,
For you believed the Devil's lie-and deemed the fate
That followed all Humanity the same-

And CHRIST as far as Earth concerned but a name-
He could not pass the portals of that place.

And then did CHRIST grow silent for a space
And, ah, so sorrowful the look on face
As if His heart were breaking with great pain-
And once more, lo, the hands outstretched again
As He would circle and would take all in;
And cleanse them from their sorrow and their sin,
Then did HE give last offer of His Peace—

Then a dead stillness, silence-pleadings cease-
The Hour had passed-In Hades not a sound-
He slowly, very slowly, turned around,
As if He listened eagerly to hear

The faintest sound of pleading to His ear-
Then suddenly the place He stood grew dim—
Then lost as if the night had swallowed HIM
He went with the Repentant in His train-
But never did, nor shall, return again.

Say, did you not with Satan and his Host
Feel in that Hour that all were doubly lost-
And Mercy's door was closed forever tight-
Nor in most distant ages bless their sight.
Resolved that Sin no bitterness should slake