Bionopsis; a true vision of life

Dedication

TO THE

WISE COUNSELLOR, BEtOVED COMPANION,

AND

Preface

This book is commended especially to thouglitful youth. Its aim has been not to amuse an idle fancy with delicate and ingenious conceits, but rather to engage the heart with tlie love of truth; for truth, even when least adorned, is more truly wonderful and beautiful than fiction. Its purpose as its title implies, is to give a true view of life.

It does not treat life, as, on the one hand, a jest, or a song, or an hour of foolish sport, nor, on the other hand, as a penal term of ^'hard and stern realities," nor even as an opportunity for selfish emolument or aggrandizement, or a season of belittling cares, and vanishing hopes. It seeks to make manifest its true character, its sublime relations, its wonderful opportunities, its unspeakably glorious destiny. There can be no question in the mind of one who lives a true life, ^' Is life worth living? "

The book is also humbly commended to those who have no need of the author's instructions, but are, nevertheless, ready to rejoice, with him, in the review of the blessed things here gathered from the Fountain of Truth, and who, — though their heads may be now putting on the silver (ere they put on the gold of the JSTew Jerusalem), — find their hearts still young with love, and glowing with immortal hope. May all who read it share in the life described is the prayer of the

AUTHOE. (vii.)

INVOCATION.

Aid us, O Father, rightly to declare

Thy thought sublime, in this strange life of ours. So bright with promise, in its opening fair,

So soon beset with dark and adverse powers. Creation holds the thought too well concealed.

Declaring not thy purpose, good or ill ; But in thy "Word we see thy mind revealed.

Our hearts with love and loftiest hopes to fill.

Oh grant me, Lord, the wisdom to discern The wisdom of thy thoughts, in work and word,

And may my tongue with holy rapture burn To speak the glory of my gracious Lord.

LECTORI.

Imagination's free aspiring wing

Bears us aloft, and, as we fly, we sing.

Wide through the realms of space and time we trace

The source and end of our illustrious race.

Attend, fair students of the good and true,

And mount with us. Together we shall view

Events so strange, and scenery so sublime,

The crowding wonders of momentous time,

That unassisted human thought must fail

Their heaven-hid heights of mystery to scale,

Or, with a measurement of sense, to sound

Their dark, inscrutable abyss, profound.

Pass we the eras of chaotic void.

Eras immense, with speculations rife. Our humbler thoughts more usefully employed

With the grand problems of our human life.

(xiii.)

PROEM.

'Tis said that, in the ages of the dateless past, This world, a vapor from some glowiug centre cast,

Moved through the realms of space, A mere chaotic void, a vast profound abyss Of jarring elements, or formless emptiness;

And darkness veiled its face.

But o'er that deep profound, and through that rayless night.

Echoed the brooding Spirit's voice.— ^' Let tJierebe light ! "

At once light chased the gloom !

Whence came it, none could tell, or, how a word alone

Evoked it, none could guess, unless from Him it shone Who doth all worlds illume.

But from the wonder-working of that mighty word. And from the blessed light and presence of the Lord,

Beauty from chaos grew ; And forces most diverse were brought to unity ; God's glory shone through all the vast diversity,

As light shines through the dew.

BIONOPSIS.

Book First

Behold the glories of that radiant morn, When man, proud master of the world, was born. O day of wonders ! Long expected day ! When all the mists of chaos rolled away, And from her womb, at last, old Mother Earth, Touched by God's hand gave forth this wondrous Ye Sister Planets ! In your courses stay, [birth. To hail the advent of this glorious day ! Hark ! While the morning stars together sing ! And all God's Sons, with joy, make heaven ring ! Kejoice, O Earth ! Ye mountains ! and ye hills ! Thou loud-mouthed ocean ! and ye laughing rills ! Ye sighing forests, change your sighs to song. Ye distant echoes, soft, your strains prolong. Heard Heaven the tidings f Heard she, from afar, The rushing wheels of God's triumphal car? In expectation hushed, with ear attent. Heard she the distant strains of music blent ? They hail the advent of a new born race, The heirs, on earth, of God's amazing grace! New heirs of Heaven itself, and love divine I Destined at last, at God's right hand to shine ! Lowly, and yet sublime was Adam's birth, An uncrowned king, first monarch of the earth.

No palace, realm, nor retinue,

No sceptre, throne, nor royal pomp he knew.

No mother's tender ministry was his,

No home affections filled his youth with bliss.

Cast early on the world's cold charities,

A stranger, in a strange world, lone, and wild,

Friendless, and fatherless was God's own child.

In some dim cave, perchance, he opened first

His wondering eyes, when on his senses hurst

The consciousness of being, and strange thought

At once began, with weighty questions fraught, —

" Who am I ? whence •? and where ? and how % and

why?

And what is this strange place, wherein I lie? " At once he rose, with manhood's thoughtful mind At every step new mysteries to find. And (first and fairest of God's works) sweet light Greeted his soul, and lured his charmed sight. That light the gloom of chaos first dispelled. And now appears, by man with joy beheld. Glancing through jewelled drops along the way. To lead his willing steps, with gentle ray. To Heaven's bright splendors, in the open day. And so may God's true light befriend each soul Who takes her guidance and who seeks her goal. All hail bright essence ! What, or who, art thou? Thyself unseen, thy gleams all things endow With form and beauty to the wondering sense. Like Him ! — And surely yet not He % — but whence ? Oh tell from what bright realm thou com'st to bless My lonely soul, in this dark wilderness ?

Book First — Opening Life. 19

Thou art a glimmer of the same great thought, That into life my thinking soul hath brought. This dim and lonely grot thy smile doth cheer, While shades of night dissolve and disappear. Lead on ! I follow ! Guide my steps aright. My soul is glad ! I am a child of light ! "

Beaching, at length, the grotto's open door, Amazed he stands to gaze and to adore. For, wide outspread to his astonished eyes, Lay the fair fields of Earth's first Paradise ! Behold the man ! Formed by the hand divine, To image forth his God, how doth he shine, As fair and ruddy as the morning light, Chasing the shades and mists of chilly night. Athwai't the dark mysterious cave he stands. In naked grandeur, sovereign of all lands. Begirt with rocks, with trailing vines o'erhung. By nature's fairy fingers lightly flung. In graceful fringes from the the cliffs o'erhead. And with a flower- decked, grassy carpet spread In front, the cave looks forth upon a view As wide and fair as ever mortal knew ; But fairer, grander, more sublime is he Who looked o'er all this vast expanse, to see If, anywhere, his wondering eyes may find The Author of it all, that causal Mind, That first conceived and formed the wondrous plan, And then, to view it, called forth thinking man. A stately man is he, kingly and grand, — The perfect workmanship of God's own hand.

His form unmatched, for beauty, strength and grace,

Sweetness, and dignity dwell in his face

(For cold distrust, dark envy, pride, and scorn,

Sad fruit of sin, in man are not yet born).

Health tints his cheeks and forehead broad and high,

Pure innocence, and bliss illume his eye.

Locks dark, and clustering, crown his noble head.

And manhood's honors o' er his face are shed.

But far above them all, to crown the whole.

Beams radiant forth, a pure and noble soul.

This gives to man his high pre-eminence

O'er all the works of God, sublime, immense —

Sublimer still the spirit breathed in man,

From God, like God, end of God's wondrous plan.

And now, to view his work, God leads his child,

Untaught of ill, by sin yet undefiled,

Out from the darkness by a thread of light,

His soul astonished at the marvellous sight.

Wonder, and awe, and rapturous surprise Beam from his face, and sparkle in his eyes. " O realm of light ! How beautiful ! " he cries. *^ Emerging from this cave, a low walled room, Dismal, and close, and shrouded deep in gloom. Where first I drew my breath, — my earliest home, — I enter this vast vaulted hall, whose height. Beyond my touch, exceeds my wondering sight. O arch sublime ! ethereal, built of light ! And far away, on either hand, I view Above, a depth of clear translucent blue, Below, a vast expanse of varied hue j —

Book First — Opening Life. 21

Behind me rocks, on towering rocks, arise, A central column to support the skies ; Beneath me woods, and precipices steep. And roaring brooks, and chasms dark and deep.

" This scene of solemn grandeur holds my soul In awe profound. I trace, throughout the whole, A hand invisible, of infinite might, A mind Supreme o'er Earth, and Heaven's great

height.

With mystery hemmed in on every side, I tremble in my heart, and yet rejoice. I cry aloud ; but hear no answering voice. Amidst this marvellous scene alone I stand, Myself the work of that same unseen hand That formed all else, and yet himself conceals. While wisdom, goodness, might, his work reveals. Thou world, with wonders filled ! An endless store ! My curious mind thy treasures longs t' explore. 'Tis mystery all ! By what enchantment wrought, Or when, or why, exceeds my highest thought ; But this thought claims and fills my inmost mind, Whatever end, or purpose, was designed, 'Twas wise, and good, and worthy of that source Whence all things sprung. 'Twas no blind aimless

force.

Yet not the only unseen power I find Th' invisible supreme, creative Mind ; For manifest are subtle forces too. Where'er I turn, whatever I may do.

I pause and list. What is it now I hear?

What force is borne to my attentive ear?

I cannot touch it.— If I smite this rock,

My hand and body feel the answering shock :

But when I si^eak^ or list to other sound,

I see no substance, feel no strong rebound,

Yet to my mind a power is manifest.

Which pleasures sweet, and teeming thoughts attest.

"I pluck this flower, so beautiful and bright It seems some fair ethereal child of light. I'll ask it *Claimest thou thy humble birth, Akin to me, from this same mother, earth?' It answers not, yet to my soul there steals Sensation strange, which hidden force reveals. With wondrous power it penetrates and thrills My very soul, and with keen pleasure fills. Wee flower I love thee ! For in thee I find First trace of life, to greet my longing mind. Does then some spiritual essence rare Eeside within thy fragile form so fair ? I list in vain. The blossom still replies, '• I only breathe of Him, who rules the skies.' Be my breath also spent to speak His praise ! To know and serve Him may I spend my days.

* 'Again, what force, mysterious, dwells in light That by it far-off objects reach my sight. Borne swiftly on its noiseless, viewless wings, While each new messenger new pleasure brings ! These images but messengers I deem,

Book Fh^st — Opening Life. 23

And not the substance of the forms they seem ; But what true essence theirs I cannot guess, Or how aught real can come from nothingness. "Yet this I know, these forms are true as light, — Their message, too, my mind may read aright. Tell me ye messengers that light has caught, And to my curious mind has strangely brought, Speak ye alone of forms far off and dim, Eeflecting light, or speak ye more of Him, Whence ye proceed?

I know I read ye right — ^ We bear God's truth. We shine in His own light ! Be I, too, bearer of the light divine, In God's own splendor, evermore to shine.

"But Oh to find out more and more of God !

For this my thoughts spring up, and fly abroad.

On every side his wondrous hand I trace,

I long to hear him and behold his face.

And can he see me % Can he hear my speech %

Then low I'll bend. His favor I'll beseech.

" O Thou, Supreme, who thought and being gave. Thee I adore, and this great boon I crave. Show me thyself! Oh let me hear thy voice. Be near, and let my soul in Thee rejoice. Or if to learn by dim reflected light Must be my lot, 'twill still be my delight. 'Tis bliss to learn of Thee. Thy works all praise To learn and praise Tliee, let me spend my days.''

No voice replied to Adam's earliest plea,

No stranger sight than aught yet seen appeared. And yet, through all his soul, there came a sense Of presence most divine, delight most sweet. His heart rejoiced in God, as near and dear, And long he knelt and lingered at the spot. Where this sweet consciousness was first enjoyed.

Then, rising, he looked forth again to see If yet, the world, so soon forgot, remained. Sweeter than first fair sight of Paradise, Sweeter than melody of human voice, Or all the imagery of human thought Was that pure, deep, unspeakable delight. From God's approving presence in his soul.

And yet he still rejoiced that Earth remained ;

For man has twofold elements of bliss :

His spiritual joys transcend the power

Of sense to reach, or earthly things to give,

Even as a lark soars singing up at morn.

And flowers and fruits below are all forgot

But as the lark once more descends with joy

To feast on things below, midst fruits and flowers,

So man has pleasures in the things of earth

So pure that angels might be glad to share.

Material things afford sincere delight,

"When rightly used (their Author unforgot).

For, when man's spirit takes true cognizance

Of inward meaning in these outward forms.

It joys in Him from whom all joy proceeds.

Book Fi7'st — opening Life. 25

Alas for those who find no joys above

The things of sense ; for, groping all their days,

They walk in darkness, and know not the light.

Material things reflect the light of God.

They make light visible to mortal eyes.

By it themselves in beanty bright arrayed.

He who despises them reproves his God,

Who made them all, i^ronohncing all things good.

But he, who, groping by the sense of touch,

Heeds not the light in which they shine from God,

Loses their meaning, and their chief delight.

And now began the quest of Adam's life. Leaving the heights, and contemplative thought. He started forth to seek the God of all, At every step met by some new surprise.

Descending from his lonely cavern home, With careful steps along the mountain side, Eock-built, and beautiful with vines and ferns. He reached a mossy bank o'erhung with trees. And saw, below, a strange mysterious sight.

At first appeared a smooth and empty space. Yet many hued, and bright with silvery light ; — Its surface gently moved, and yet remained. And as he gazed, with wonder in his eyes, He seemed to catch, as through a cleft in earth, A glimpse of other skies and other clouds. Floating in strange and silent majesty. And, 'neath the other bank, inverted there, Were rocks and tiees, twin mates of those above.

26 Bicmopsis.

And suddenly !— (He started at tlie sight ! )— Below Ills feet lie saw a human form ! (Ah how his heart did flutter with surprise.) Just like his own, the body and the limbs, And gazing straight in his inquiring eyes, He saw a face of wondrous beauty there. A-down the mossy bank at once he slid. The mystery to solve, and welcome, meet. To give to him who waited there belovf. — The splashing waters laughed at his mistake !

He, too had laughed ; — but disappointment felt To find that form, mere image of his own ! And yet with wonder, now, he gazed, to see More of himself than he had known before.

How beautiful, the eyes that God had given To see the wonders of his wondrous world ! What majesty, and beauty in his face ! Yet scarcely paused he now, to think of self. With curious interest filled to trace the cause Of this deceit in this new element.

Standing in water midway to his knees,

Through the pellucid stream he saw his feet

Firm on the sands below, and farther on,

Were rocks, and shells, and pebbles in the depths.

Yet on the surface, still, he saw the forms

Of floating clouds, and waving boughs o'er head.

Stooping, he smote it with his open hand.

Then watched the sparkling rings that spc.d away

Book First — Opejiing Life, 27 On every hand, e'en to the further shore

The grateful coolness of the limpid waves

Was pleasant to his limbs. He dipped again,

Then from the hollow of his hand, he drank.

And was refreshed. Then stooping down he

scooped The glittering sands, all bright with grains of gold.

He gazed with wonder on the shining scales. But Oh how little thought he of the worth One day to be attached to such dead dust. Behold him as with scrutinizing eyes He scans the meaning of these golden types. O Adam, if, with keen prophetic sight, Thou now couldst read the long sad tale of sin, And woe, and crime, these symbols might foretell, — The dreadful fruit of undue love of gold, — Methinks, with sudden, shuddering horror filled And sore dismay, and agony of grief. And wrath, thou quick would' st hurl those glittering scales, As some foul reptile, from thy trembling hand !

" Eoot of all evil " is the love of gold.

Thus speaks God's Word ; and history records

Evils unnumbered on the human race.

Which love of gold rather than love of God,

And trusting more in gold than God, have wrought.

O metal, " precious " thou art called by men. And deemed the key of mortal happiness ! And rightly used, thou art a useful link

To bind in fair exchange and mutual weal

The universal brotherhood of man.

Nor canst thou e'er be charged with human crime.

But how perverted is the soul of man,

That thinks in thee, his happiness resides.

And makes of thee his God. From such mistakes

There flows a flood of human misery.

We gaze with trembling on the awful scenes

That rise like dreadful dreams in long review,

Before our aching eyes, and anguished hearts.

We look on landscapes, beautiful and sweet.

With peace and plenty from a bounteous heaven.

But suddenly, behold ! the clouds of hell

Have wrapped us in ! And hell itself appears !

O horrid fields of blood, and hellish wrath !

Can these be men % They rage like fiends let loose !

Sporting with death itself ! As if in league

With him who holds the power of death and hell !

Whence art thou, dreadful wrath % From love of

gold !

And whence thou horde of dark, malignant crimes % Ye midnight plottings, and ye deeds of shame ; Ye cabals of the so called great and wise ; Ye petty cheatings of the low and mean ; Ye frauds and thefts of high and low degree ; Ye base oppressions of the poor and weak ; Thou "sum of villanies," imbruting men ; And, oh ! chief instrument of hell's deceit, — Thou cup of ruin, fell despair, and death, Destroying human souls ; and last, not least,

Book First — Openmg Life. 29

Tliou foul betrayal of the Lord himself ! Whence came ye all % From sinful love of gold !

But oh how little, in his innocence,

As Adam gazed upon these glittering sands

Dreamed he of all this catalogue of woes.

So, casting from his hand the unprized wealth,

He waded to the lakelet's further side,

And sought new wonders in its rocky banks.

And still new treasures met his curious quest, Most precious gems, of hue and lustre rare, Amidst the sands or in the clefts of rock, Diamonds and sapphires, rubies, amethysts, The topaz, and the emerald, and the quartz, In clustering crystals, beautiful and clear. As beautiful to him, these common gems As th' uncut diamond's richer, rarer light.

But leaving all behind, he climbed again

The sloping bank, his studies to pursue, —

A world of unknown wonders to explore.

Glancing along a sunny field, he saw

A pleasing sight, of rich and clustering fruit,

Springing direct from lap of Mother Earth,

And peering from a mass of emerald green

With ruddy brightness in the morning light

Stooping, with curious wonder filled.

He plucked and tasted with a keen delight.

Then lying at full length along the grass.

He courteously addressed the wellspread feast :

" Bright little berries ! Some remorse I feel To spoil your beauty, and your life to quench 5

But he who made yon, sure will not forbid To satisfy my hunger with your sweets. And wherefore made % no sentient life is yours, Your own delightful sweetness to enjoy, — Your pain had else been minister of pain, — To minister delight must be your end. For this ye shine in ruddy splendor bright. For this your leaves, their emerald hues display.

"And not delight alone, nor needful food,—

Instruction too, for each attentive mind,

Ye have in store, nor can the store be won

By any passing glance ; but deep research

Will find still deeper truths to lure it on

To deeper search, and truths still more profound.

The more I learn, still more I find to learn.

And as I trace the shining stream of truth.

To find its secret fountain, while convinced.

Still more and more, it has a hidden source.

Too high for me to scale, too deep to sound,

I also learn still more, and more of God.

I see his wisdom, goodness, power displayed

On every side, where'er I turn my eyes.

Behold this feast, delighting every sense.

'Tis not alone a bounty most profuse ; —

On every leaf I read the lines of thought.

Of well linked thought, revealing mind to mind

What if I cannot reach the forming mind,

Or see the tracing hand ? Must I infer

There is no thought expressed, no mind its source"?

Absurdity profound ! Folly supreme !

Book First — Opening Life. 31

By plainest inference, in me the fault ! And mine the weakness ! Still 'tis mine to learn, (^N'or rest content with aught save highest truth), To learn of God ! Deepest of all delights !

'' How curious too the texture of these leaves, Their shape and frame-work all so aptly planned ! How beautiful in hue and form their fruit ! How rich its juicy sweetness! and how strange That all this life and varied beauty springs From this same soil, this cold and lifeless earth.''

While reasoning thus, he saw, with new surprise,

A host of other guests attend the feast.

In varied forms and costumes rich and gay.

And first the tiniest of these creatures gay,

Came gathering in, a strange and motley crowd,

On foot, in air, and some by flying leaps ;

Some dressed in green and gold, and some in black,

And some with wings in rainbow colors dyed.

Adam looked on with wonder and delight. To hail the advent of a higher life Than plants and fruit fast anchored in one spot ; And, watching for a while their gay antics Half in soliloquy, he thus began :

" Strange world ! Are these your proper citizens % Quaint little people ! Come ye all as friends % And fit companions of my solitude ? Have ye, then, souls, like mine? And have ye speech

To tell your thoughts % Or have ye minds to think? Some strange intelligence directs your course. Tell me, I pray you, whence and why ye are % Have ye no message to my longing soul % Vouchsafe ye no reply % And come ye then, To complicate the problem strange of life % "

Thus, while he spoke, he lifted up his eyes, And lo ! A creature fair, with outspread wings, White as the driven snow, came fluttering down, From some ethereal height, and lighting near. Looked up in Adam's face, with curious eyes. But spoke no word, and uttered forth no sound. Till, following her, another came, and then — With gentle cooings, and with kind caress Of crossing bills, they told their tale of love. But Adam looked, and marvelling, longed to know The happy secret ; yet he asked in vain. They spoke a language all unknown to him.

These were but couriers of the coming host That gather from the skies, from woods and fields. Of every shape, and size, and plumage fair, From the tall crane with stately steps, and slow. E'en to the humming-bird with wings like light.

With growing wonder, Adam named them all. O'er all the winged hosts himself the king. And yet two things he almost envied them. The one the power to mount on soaring wings. To heaven's blue height, and range the wide world o'er,

Book First — Opening Life. 33

The other, mated love ; for quick he saw He lacked an element of soul's delight, Which they, without his loftier soul, possessed.

And while he meditated and admired, (The whole scene full of beauty, and the air Vocal with music, woi*thy Paradise), He saw new forms approaching from the woods ; The graceful, gentle deer, with timid steps And eyes so large and full of liquid light, With wonder watching Adam's wondering eyes, And close behind, the lion, king of beasts ; The tall giraffe, and merry little lamb ; And countless hosts of living creatures came To own their king : and Adam named them all.

And yet for Adam no helpmeet was found.

And no congenial soul to share his joys.

And when he saw the happy mated love

Of insects, birds, and beasts, and witnessed too

Their sweet, mysterious intercourse of thought

His own great solitude oppressed his soul.

A God-like empire o'er created things

Is not enough to satisfy the heart.

And God himself might weary of a realm.

Where love met no response of happy love.

Thus musing on his isolated lot. He saw the sun glide slowly down the west. The birds and beasts retired to darkening woods^ And left his lonely soul to solitude.

Tlie parting splendors of the dying day

Now caught his eye, and filled his raptured thought

The clouds that gathered in the western skies

To bid the sinking king of day farewell,

Arrayed in pomp and splendor waited there,

Silent and grand. High up the arch of heaven,

And far along the broad horizon spread,

Bright fleecy forms in crimson and in gold

They seemed a host attendant on their king.

And from these forms a mystic glory fell

That tinted trees and hills with rosy light,

So beautiful, and yet so quickly gone,

It seemed that earth blushed at the kiss of heaven !

But soon the king of day sank out of sight.

The morning clouds were now in sack-cloth dressed

And night her sable pall drew o'er the skies.

Adam, at first with solemn awe beheld

The fading day, and gathering shades of -night.

And deeper loneliness came o'er his soul.

"Is this the end % Shall light no more return % And is my life one strange and fleeting day % Surely the Power Divine that placed me here. Hath some high end in view, and will reveal, To patient waiting, his all wise design." Then bowing low he lifted up his prayer:

"Infinite mind! Thy wisdom I adore ! I marvel at the wonders of thy hand. I thank thee for the distant view of thee I have this day beheld in all thy works.

Book First —Opening Life. 35

Yet long to learn far more, and nearer still Be brought to thee. O grant me this request : If yet from me thou wilt thyself conceal, At least reveal thy will, that I may do All that thou would' st, in glad obedience. And oh reveal some likeness of thyself To represent thee, whom my soul may love, And with whom, sweet communion hold, of thee."

He ceased, and looking, wondered much to see

The deepening darkness of the gathering night ;

But, glancing up to heaven, he saw, amazed,

A wondrous sight ! the glittering hosts above,

Filling the dark blue vault with eyes of light;

And high above them all, serene and clear.

The silver moon sailed midst the moving clouds.

With new delight, Adam beheld them all,

And long he gazed, and wondered at the sight;

Then, when the dews of night fell damp and chill.

And drowsiness assumed her gentle sway

(Gentle, but strong as triple bars of steel).

He sought a shelter of embowering trees.

And made a couch of leaves and feathery twigs,