God's Grace

Though over all the earth a man held sovereign sway,
Though he had powers more marvellous than tongue could say,
Though problems never solved he could unravel;
Though Fortune bore him up aloft to Heaven's height,
Though he could mark, and test, and number, too, aright
Each separate star, each grain of ocean gravel;
And though his strong and valiant hand
Could lay a thousand giants low in slaughter;
Though rocks and hills at his command
Fell down; though he could win from earth and water
And air and fire all they bring forth
From lowest depths up to the sun's high station;
And though a wife of peerless worth
He wedded for his mirth and delectation,
One fairer than the fairest, chaste and gentle in behaviour;
And though till thousand years were past
His life should last,—
What were all that, unless he gained the grace of God, his Saviour?