451.
Life, a Race.
1
The life of man, on earth,
Is one continuous race;
Our footsteps, from our birth,
No efforts may retrace:
Whether our crown be lost or won,
Noble, or mean, we forward run!
2
Now Honour's voice inspires,
So little understood!
But this, at length, retires
Before some greater good!
Successive objects we pursue,
Restless, in search of idols new!
3
Now Riches charm our eyes,
Whose pearls before us dance;
To gain each glittering prize,
Impatient, we advance:
Oh, that we might such toils endure,
To make our heaven, our calling, sure!
4
Now Pleasure is our goal,
And, to the point, we press;
But man commands a soul,
And he that soul must dress
In heaven's immaculate array,
Through faith in Christ, the Living Way.
5
All these our grasp elude,
Yet, while such zeal we show,
We are, ourselves, pursued
By a relentless foe:
Behind us, Death still hurries fast!
And he will overtake, at last!
6
Our Father! make us wise!
Teach us the truest gain!
May we the world despise,
Its pomp, its pageants, vain!
Our great ambition, may it be,
To follow Christ, and honour thee!
7
If we in wealth delight,
What riches may compare
With those in regions bright,
Where happy spirits are?
With treasures in that world of joy,
Which moth and rust can not destroy!
8
And if our last dread foe
The victory must obtain,
What transport, him, to know,
Vanquish'd, and spoil'd, and slain:
To see our captain still precede,
On earth, to fight; in heaven, to plead!
9
To God and glory bound,
Below, heaven's joys begin;
If faithful we are found,
We all the race shall win,
And, standing round the mercy seat,
Prostrate our crowns at Jesus' feet.
