Expiation

Philip Bourke Marston

13 August 1850 to 13 February 1887 (~37)

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Where all man's strength comes utterly to nought.

But damn me utterly; and should Christ turn

O LOVE! if I have ever in thee wrought

The slightest grief, or for the smallest space

Then may my soul be blasted by the thought:

To stand at length before God's judgment place,

And say, "Nay, God, 't is just; Lord, even so!

To plead, His intercession I will spurn;

Then, though on earth I had grown good as Christ,

Through nights of anguish and through bitter days,

Myself for man, God shall no mercy show,

Done all fair, righteous things, and sacrificed

May it be made my curse, till I am brought,

Troubled the happy calmness of thy face,

Stanza 1

O LOVE! if I have ever in thee wrought

The slightest grief, or for the smallest space

Troubled the happy calmness of thy face,

Then may my soul be blasted by the thought:

May it be made my curse, till I am brought,

Through nights of anguish and through bitter days,

To stand at length before God's judgment place,

Where all man's strength comes utterly to nought.

Stanza 2

Then, though on earth I had grown good as Christ,

Done all fair, righteous things, and sacrificed

Myself for man, God shall no mercy show,

But damn me utterly; and should Christ turn

To plead, His intercession I will spurn;

And say, "Nay, God, 't is just; Lord, even so!

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Expiation

by Philip Bourke Marston

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