The Ancient Banner. Unknown

The Ancient Banner / Or, Brief Sketches of Persons and Scenes in the Early History of Friends

      "Thou hast given a banner to them that feared thee,

      that it may be displayed because of the truth."

Psalm 60,—4.

      ANCIENT BANNER

      In boundless mercy, the Redeemer left,

      The bosom of his Father, and assumed

      A servant's form, though he had reigned a king,

      In realms of glory, ere the worlds were made,

      Or the creating words, "Let there be light"

      In heaven were uttered. But though veiled in flesh,

      His Deity and his Omnipotence,

      Were manifest in miracles. Disease

      Fled at his bidding, and the buried dead

      Rose from the sepulchre, reanimate,

      At his command, or, on the passing bier

      Sat upright, when he touched it. But he came,

      Not for this only, but to introduce

      A glorious dispensation, in the place

      Of types and shadows of the Jewish code.

      Upon the mount, and round Jerusalem,

      He taught a purer, and a holier law,—

      His everlasting Gospel, which is yet

      To fill the earth with gladness; for all climes

      Shall feel its influence, and shall own its power.

      He came to suffer, as a sacrifice

      Acceptable to God. The sins of all

      Were laid upon Him, when in agony

      He bowed upon the cross. The temple's veil

      Was rent asunder, and the mighty rocks,

      Trembled, as the incarnate Deity,

      By his atoning blood, opened that door,

      Through which the soul, can have communion with

      Its great Creator; and when purified,

      From all defilements, find acceptance too,

      Where it can finally partake of all

      The joys of His salvation.

      But the pure Church he planted,—the pure Church

      Which his apostles watered,—and for which,

      The blood of countless martyrs freely flowed,

      In Roman Amphitheatres,—on racks,—

      And in the dungeon's gloom,—this blessed Church,

      Which grew in suffering, when it overspread

      Surrounding nations, lost its purity.

      Its truth was hidden, and its light obscured

      By gross corruption, and idolatry.

      As things of worship, it had images,

      And even painted canvas was adored.

      It had a head and bishop, but this head

      Was not the Saviour, but the Pope of Rome.

      Religion was a traffic. Men defiled,

      Professed to pardon sin, and even sell,

      The joys of heaven for money,—and to raise

      Souls out of darkness to eternal light,

      For paltry silver lavished upon them.

      And thus thick darkness, overspread the Church

      As with a mantle.

      At length the midnight of apostacy

      Passed by, and in the horizon appeared,

      Day dawning upon Christendom. The light,

      Grew stronger, as the Reformation spread.

      For Luther, and Melancthon, could not be

      Silenced by papal bulls, nor by decrees

      Of excommunication thundered forth

      Out of the Vatican. And yet the light,

      Of Luther's reformation, never reached

      Beyond the morning's dawn. The noontide blaze

      Of Truth's unclouded day, he never saw.

      Yet after him, its rising sun displayed

      More and more light upon the horizon.

      Though thus enlightened, the professing Church,

      Was far from many of the precious truths

      Of the Redeemer's gospel; and as yet,

      Owned not his Spirit's government therein.

      But now the time approached, when he would pour

      A larger measure of his light below;

      And as he chose unlearned fishermen

      To spread his gospel when first introduced,

      So now he passed mere human learning by,

      And chose an instrument, comparable

      To the small stone the youthful David used,

      To smite the champion who defied the Lord.

      Apart from human dwellings, in a green

      Rich pasturage of England, sat a youth,

      Who seemed a shepherd, for around him there

      A flock was feeding, and the sportive lambs

      Gambolled amid the herbage. But his face

      Bore evidence of sadness. On his knee

      The sacred book lay open, upon which

      The youth looked long and earnestly, and then,

      Closing the book, gazed upward, in deep thought

      This was the instrument by whom the Lord

      Designed to spread a clearer light below

      And fuller reformation. He appeared,

      Like ancient Samuel, to be set apart

      For the Lord's service from his very birth.

      Even in early childhood, he refrained

      From youthful follies, and his mind was turned

      To things of highest moment. He was filled

      With awful feelings, by the wickedness

      He saw around him. As he grew in years,

      Horror of sin grew stronger; and his mind

      Became so clothed with sadness, and so full

      Of soul-felt longings, for the healing streams

      Of heavenly consolation, that he left

      His earthly kindred, seeking quietude

      In solitary places, where he read

      The book of inspiration, and in prayer,

      Sought heavenly counsel.

      In this deep-proving season he was told,

      Of priests, whose reputation had spread wide

      For sanctity and wisdom; and from these

      He sought for consolation,—but in vain.

      One of these ministers became enraged,

      Because the youth had inadvertently

      Misstepped within his garden; and a priest

      Of greater reputation, counselled him

      To use tobacco, and sing holy psalms!

      And the inquirer found a third to be

      But as an empty, hollow cask at best.

      Finding