That Phrygian slave did not companionless His way Colossæ-ward pursue; he went By Tychicus accompanied, who bore Another letter written from the lips Of Paul to the Colossian church at large. This gloried and exulted in sublime Prophetic visions of far future things-- Things future far and other quite than these. Paul's hand was manacled, but not his soul; That, given the freedom of the universe, Ranged as at will on wing omnipotent Through all the heights and depths of space and time, And saw unutterable things, which he Seeking to lade upon expression made The very pillars of expression bend And sway and totter, like to sink, beneath The burden insupportable they bore.
Great soul and free, free in a body bound, So soaring those empyreal altitudes Winged with his native vigor but upborne On a strong-breasted gale of power divine Inspiring and enabling him, who took Undazzled, like an eagle in full gaze Upon the sun, insufferably bright Glimpses of heavenly glory, he yet deigned-- Nay, he ascended but to condescend The mightier by his lofty lowliness, From exaltation such beheld come down!-- Deigned to the level of the mean degree Of men that needed to be counselled thus: "Lie not one to another, seeing ye Have put off the old man that late ye were, Him with his deeds, and the new man put on, The man made new through knowledge to become Once more the image, long so far defaced, Of that God who at first created him. Put ye on, therefore, as elect of God To be His holy and belovéd, all Sweet meltingness of heart, kindness and love, A lowly mind most meek, long-suffering, Forbearing one another, and should ever, But that be far! some man among you have Complaint or quarrel against any, then, As Christ forgave you once, forgive so ye; And over all these vestments of the soul, Completing them and binding them secure, Put ye on love, girdle of perfectness. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.
"Ye wives, to your own husbands subject be, So yielding as befits you in the Lord. Ye husbands, love your wives and nourish not Against them any bitterness of heart. Children, obey your parents in all things, For this well-pleasing is unto the Lord. Fathers, good heed give ye not to provoke Your children unto wrath, lest they lose heart. Servants, your masters in the flesh obey, Not with eye-service as men-pleasers, this, But single-heartedly as fearing God. And whatsoever be the thing ye do, Heartily do it, as if doing all For the Lord Christ in heaven and not for men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive Guerdon of that inheritance reserved For your true bond of service is to Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall for that wrong Due recompense receive; and with the Lord Is no respect of person or degree. Ye masters, to your servants what is just And equal render; for a Master ye, Ye also, have who watcheth from the heaven."