Verses on Various Occasions · Chapter
CIX: The Gift of Tongues explained
The speaker reflects on being among people of different languages and creeds, observing how their conversation shifts to sacred topics.
What happens
The speaker reflects on being among people of different languages and creeds, observing how their conversation shifts to sacred topics. He longs for the gift of tongues to bear witness, but feels his weakness prevents him. He questions whether the loss of this gift is due to a lack of faith and prayer, or if it is only granted at rare seasons before returning to heaven.
Themes in this chapter
Faith and Doubt
The speaker questions whether the gift of tongues has been lost due to a dearth of faith and prayer.
Transience and Eternity
The gift is described as being sent at rare seasons and then flitting back to heaven, emphasizing its fleeting nature.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“Once cast with men of language strange And foreign-moulded creed, I mark’d their random converse change, And sacred themes succeed.”
Once placed among people of different languages and beliefs, I noticed their casual conversation shift to religious topics.
The speaker observes how secular talk turns sacred among strangers.
“Lord! has our dearth of faith and prayer Lost us this power once given, Or is it sent at seasons rare And then flits back to heaven?”
Lord, have we lost the gift of tongues because we lack faith and prayer, or is it only granted occasionally and then returns to heaven?
The speaker questions the cause of the apparent loss of the gift of tongues.