p. 1 | ALL FOR HEAVEN

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 2, 1856

ALL FOR HEAVEN.

They who, seeking bliss hereafter, Keep their being's end in view, Strive with steadfast, holy purpose, Grosser passions to subdue; Love not with that fiery feeling, Eager after sensual joys; But with constant, holy fervor, Which no thought impure alloys.

Strange that man—creation's master; Man, the heir of highest good; He by whom the pure and lovely Can alone be understood; Man, with rich endowments favored, Reason, intellect and speech, Temporal blessings round him scattered, Bliss immortal in his reach;

Truth Divine revealed to teach him What to follow, what to shun, What he is, and what he must be, Saint redeemed, or wretch undone.

Strange indeed! that such a being Should by passion's voice be swayed; Sink himself, by base excesses, To the brute's unhonored grave: Madly forfeit that fruition To the "pure in spirit" given, Bartering for Satan's baub'es, Earthly peace, and rest in heaven.

Vainly, knowledge, reason, conscience, Strive to check a vicious course; Nothing but the "new creation" E'er can reach its stubborn source.

Thus alone may man, ennobled, Spurn the path of sin he trod, Quench the flame of hell-born impulse, And proclaim the power of God.