Devotional Verses Founded on and Illustrative of select Texts of Scripture [by Bernard Barton] |
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HEIGHTS AND DEPTHS. |
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161
HEIGHTS AND DEPTHS.
“But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day.”
—Matthew, xxiv. 20.
Those who have watch'd the changeful forms
Of clouds and sunshine, calms and storms,
Unto the christian pilgrim known,
Will often make this prayer their own.
Of clouds and sunshine, calms and storms,
Unto the christian pilgrim known,
Will often make this prayer their own.
Dark hours there are of doubt and fear,
With scarce one ray of light to cheer,
When hope appears for ever fled,
And every holy feeling dead.
With scarce one ray of light to cheer,
When hope appears for ever fled,
And every holy feeling dead.
When gourds we rear'd around us die,
And winter rules o'er earth and sky;
'Till languishing for happier bowers,
We wish the dove's fleet pinions our's.
And winter rules o'er earth and sky;
'Till languishing for happier bowers,
We wish the dove's fleet pinions our's.
Yet perilous our flight might be,
If at such seasons we could flee;
Safer it is to seek, by prayer,
The root within, and center there.
If at such seasons we could flee;
Safer it is to seek, by prayer,
The root within, and center there.
162
Hours, too, there are, more blest and bright,
When all around, above, seems light;
Moments, whose influence can impart
A sabbath feeling to the heart.
When all around, above, seems light;
Moments, whose influence can impart
A sabbath feeling to the heart.
In that sweet sabbath of the soul,
We think we near our heavenly goal;
And, too impatient of delay,
Our thoughts would soar from earth away.
We think we near our heavenly goal;
And, too impatient of delay,
Our thoughts would soar from earth away.
Yet, in such thought-transporting thrill,
Wisdom's safe watch-word is, “Be still!”
Dwell deep in faith, trust not to sight,
Nor venture on unbidden flight.
Wisdom's safe watch-word is, “Be still!”
Dwell deep in faith, trust not to sight,
Nor venture on unbidden flight.
O Lord! in each extreme we know,
Thy will, our only signal, show;
In heights, in depths, be Thou our stay,
In winter, or in sabbath day.
Thy will, our only signal, show;
In heights, in depths, be Thou our stay,
In winter, or in sabbath day.
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