God's World is worthy Better Men

BEHOLD! an idle tale they tell,
And who shall blame their telling it?
The rogues have got their cant to sell,
The world pays well for selling it!
They say the world's a desert drear, —
Still plagued with Egypt's blindness!
That we were sent to suffer here, —
What! by a God of kindness!
That since the world hath gone astray
It must be so for ever,
And we should stand still, and obey
Its Desolators. Never!
We'll labour for the better time,
With all our might of Press and Pen;
Believe me, 'tis a truth sublime,
God's world is worthy better men.

With Paradise the world began,
A world of love and gladness:
Its beauty may be marr'd by man
With all his crime and madness.
Yet 'tis a brave world still. Love brings
A sunshine for the dreary;
With all our strife, sweet Rest hath wings
To fold o'er hearts a- weary.
The Sun in glory, like a God,
To-day in heaven is shining;
The flowers upon the jewell'd sod
Are sweet love-posies twining,
As radiant of immortal youth
And beauty, as in Eden; then
Believe me, 'tis a noble truth,
God's world is worthy better men.

O! they are bold, knaves over-bold,
Who say we are dooni'd to anguish:
That men in God's own image soul'd,
Like hell-bound slaves, must languish.
Probe Nature's heart to its red core,
There's more of good than evil;
And man, down-trampled man, is more
Of Angel than of Devil.
Prepare to die? Prepare to live!
We know not what is living:
And let us for the world's good give,
As God is ever giving.
Give Action, Thought, Love, Wealth, and Time,
To win the primal age again;
Believe me, 'tis a truth sublime,
God's world is worthy better men.