Poems By John Moultrie. New ed |
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FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT.
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FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT.
FROM THE EPISTLE.
I
Rejoice in Christ alway—When Earth looks heavenly bright,
When joy makes glad the livelong day,
And peace shuts in the night.
11
The fainting soul oppress,—
When tears at wakeful midnight flow,
And morn brings heaviness.
II
Rejoice, when festal boughsOur winter walls adorn,
And Christians greet, with hymns and vows,
The Saviour's natal morn.
Rejoice, when mourning weeds
The widow'd Church doth wear
In memory of her Lord who bleeds,
While Christians fast to prayer.
III
Rejoice in hope and fear,—Rejoice in life and death,—
Rejoice, when threatening storms are near,
And comfort languisheth.
When should not they rejoice,
Whom Christ his brethren calls—
Who hear and know his guiding voice
When on their hearts it falls?
IV
Yet not to rash excessLet joy like ours prevail;—
Feast not on Earth's deliciousness,
Till faith begin to fail.
Our temperate use of bliss—
Let it to all appear;
And be our constant watchword this—
“The Lord himself is near!”
V
Take anxious care for nought,—To God your wants make known,
12
Tow'rd His eternal throne.
So, though our path is steep,
And many a tempest lours,
Shall His own peace our spirits keep,
And Christ's dear love be ours.
FROM THE GOSPEL.
I
“Wanderer in the desert bare,—Man of pale and thoughtful brow,
With thy robe of camel's hair—
Tell us who and what art thou?
Art thou He for whom we wait—
He who, as we fondly deem,
From their low and lost estate
Shall our weary tribes redeem?”
II
“Not Messiah's self am I,”(Straight the Baptist did confess,)
“But a voice that loud doth cry
In the echoing wilderness—
Haste, prepare Jehovah's way—
Such the message which I bear;—
Disobedient hearts obey!
Stubborn knees be bent in prayer!”
III
“Thou art not Elias then,Nor the prophet yet to be;
Wherefore should the sons of men
Come to be baptized of thee?”
13
Did the Pharisees reply;—
Straightway gleams of heavenly fire
Kindled in the Baptist's eye.
IV
“Yea,” he cried, “right well ye say,I with water now baptize;
But among you stands to-day
One, yet hidden from your eyes—
One who doth all worlds control,
Heavenly Son of heavenly Sire;
He shall wash the sinful soul
With the Holy Ghost and fire.”
V
Jesu!—the baptismal rite,Ere we knew thee, made us thine;
With thy Spirit's gentle might
Come, our carnal hearts refine!
Purify and light and heat
All the darksome depths within;
Heal, in nature's last retreat,
All her sickness—all her sin!
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