 | [Poems by Cary in] The Poetical Works Of Alice and Phoebe Cary |  |
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RELIGIOUS POEMS AND HYMNS.
MANY MANSIONS.
Her silver lamp half-filled with oil,
Night came, to still the day's turmoil,
And bring a respite from its toil.
Night came, to still the day's turmoil,
And bring a respite from its toil.
Gliding about with noiseless tread,
Her white sheets on the ground she spread,
That wearied men might go to bed.
Her white sheets on the ground she spread,
That wearied men might go to bed.
No watch was there for me to keep,
Yet could I neither rest nor sleep,
A recent loss had struck so deep.
Yet could I neither rest nor sleep,
A recent loss had struck so deep.
I felt as if Omnipotence
Had given us no full recompense
For all the ills of time and sense.
Had given us no full recompense
For all the ills of time and sense.
So I went, wandering silently,
Where a great river sought the sea;
And fashioned out the life to be.
Where a great river sought the sea;
And fashioned out the life to be.
It was not drawn from book or creed,
And yet, in very truth and deed,
It answered to my greatest need.
And yet, in very truth and deed,
It answered to my greatest need.
And satisfied myself, I thought,
A heaven so good and perfect ought
To give to each what all have sought.
A heaven so good and perfect ought
To give to each what all have sought.
Near where I slowly chanced to stray,
A youth, and old man, worn and gray,
Down through the silence took their way;
A youth, and old man, worn and gray,
Down through the silence took their way;
And the night brought within my reach,
As each made answer unto each,
Some portion of their earnest speech.
As each made answer unto each,
Some portion of their earnest speech.
The patriarch said: “Of all we know,
Or all that we can dream below,
Of that far land to which we go,
Or all that we can dream below,
Of that far land to which we go,
“This one assurance hath expressed,
To me, its blessedness the best—
‘He giveth his beloved rest.’”
To me, its blessedness the best—
‘He giveth his beloved rest.’”
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And the youth answered: “If it be
A place of inactivity,
It cannot be a heaven to me.
A place of inactivity,
It cannot be a heaven to me.
“Surely its joy must be to lack
These hindrances that keep us back
From rising on a shining track;
These hindrances that keep us back
From rising on a shining track;
“Where each shall find his own true height,
Though in our place, and in our light,
We differ as the stars of night.”
Though in our place, and in our light,
We differ as the stars of night.”
I listened, till they ceased to speak;
And my heart answered, faint and weak,
Their heaven is not the heaven I seek!
And my heart answered, faint and weak,
Their heaven is not the heaven I seek!
Yet their discourse awoke again
Some hidden memories that had lain
Long undisturbed within my brain.
Some hidden memories that had lain
Long undisturbed within my brain.
For oft, when bowed earth's care beneath,
I had asked others of their faith
In the life following after death;
I had asked others of their faith
In the life following after death;
And what that better world could be,
Where, from mortality set free,
We put on immortality.
Where, from mortality set free,
We put on immortality.
And each in his reply had shown
That he had shaped and made his own
By the best things which he had known:
That he had shaped and made his own
By the best things which he had known:
Or fashioned it to heal the woe
Of some great sorrow, which below
It was his hapless lot to know.
Of some great sorrow, which below
It was his hapless lot to know.
A mother once had said to me,
Over her dead: “My heaven will be
An undivided family.”
Over her dead: “My heaven will be
An undivided family.”
One sick with mortal doubts and fears,
With looking blindly through her tears,
The way that she had looked for years,
With looking blindly through her tears,
The way that she had looked for years,
Told me: “That world could have no pain,
Since there we should not wait in vain
For feet that will not come again.”
Since there we should not wait in vain
For feet that will not come again.”
A lover dreamed that heaven would be
Life's hour of perfect ecstasy,
Drawn out into eternity!
Life's hour of perfect ecstasy,
Drawn out into eternity!
Men bending to their hopeless doom,
Toiling as in a living tomb,
Down shafts of everlasting gloom,
Toiling as in a living tomb,
Down shafts of everlasting gloom,
Out of the dark had answered me:
“Where there is light for us to see
Each other's faces, heaven must be.”
“Where there is light for us to see
Each other's faces, heaven must be.”
An aged man, who bowed his head
With reverence o'er the page, and read
The words that ancient prophets said,
With reverence o'er the page, and read
The words that ancient prophets said,
Talked of a glory never dim,
Of the veiled face of cherubim,
And harp, and everlasting hymn;—
Of the veiled face of cherubim,
And harp, and everlasting hymn;—
Saw golden streets and glittering towers—
Saw peaceful valleys, white with flowers,
Kept never-ending Sabbath hours.
Saw peaceful valleys, white with flowers,
Kept never-ending Sabbath hours.
One, who the cruel sea had crossed,
And seen, through billows madly tossed,
Great shipwrecks, where brave souls were lost.
And seen, through billows madly tossed,
Great shipwrecks, where brave souls were lost.
Thus of the final voyage spake:
“Coming to heaven must be to make
Safe port, and no more journeys take.”
“Coming to heaven must be to make
Safe port, and no more journeys take.”
And now their words of various kind
Come back to my bewildered mind,
And my faith staggered, faint and blind,
Come back to my bewildered mind,
And my faith staggered, faint and blind,
One moment; then this truth seemed plain,
These have not trusted God in vain;
To ask of Him must be to gain.
These have not trusted God in vain;
To ask of Him must be to gain.
Every imaginable good,
We, erring, sinful, mortal, would
Give me belovèd, if we could;
We, erring, sinful, mortal, would
Give me belovèd, if we could;
And shall not He, whose care enfolds
Our life, and all our way controls,
Yet satisfy our longing souls?
Our life, and all our way controls,
Yet satisfy our longing souls?
Since mortal step hath never been,
And mortal eye hath never seen,
Past death's impenetrable screen,
And mortal eye hath never seen,
Past death's impenetrable screen,
Who shall dare limit Him above,
Or tell the ways in which He 'll prove
Unto his children all his love?
Or tell the ways in which He 'll prove
Unto his children all his love?
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Then joy through all my being spread,
And, comforted myself, I said:
O weary world, be comforted!
And, comforted myself, I said:
O weary world, be comforted!
Souls, in your quest of bliss grown weak—
Souls, whose great woe no words can speak—
Not always shall ye vainly seek!
Souls, whose great woe no words can speak—
Not always shall ye vainly seek!
Men whose whole lives have been a night,
Shall come from darkness to the light;
Wanderers shall hail the land in sight.
Shall come from darkness to the light;
Wanderers shall hail the land in sight.
Old saints, and martyrs of the Lamb,
Shall rise to sing their triumph psalm,
And wear the crown, and bear the palm.
Shall rise to sing their triumph psalm,
And wear the crown, and bear the palm.
And the pale mourner, with bowed head,
Who, for the living lost, or dead,
Here weeps, shall there be gently led,
Who, for the living lost, or dead,
Here weeps, shall there be gently led,
To feel, in that celestial place,
The tears wiped softly from her face,
And know love's comforting embrace.
The tears wiped softly from her face,
And know love's comforting embrace.
So shall we all, who groan in this,
Find, in that new life's perfectness,
Our own peculiar heaven of bliss—
Find, in that new life's perfectness,
Our own peculiar heaven of bliss—
More glorious than our faith believed,
Brighter than dreams our hope has weaved,
Better than all our hearts conceived.
Brighter than dreams our hope has weaved,
Better than all our hearts conceived.
Therefore will I wait patiently,
Trusting, where all God's mansions be
There hath been one prepared for me;
Trusting, where all God's mansions be
There hath been one prepared for me;
And go down calmly to death's tide,
Knowing, when on the other side
I wake, I shall be satisfied.
Knowing, when on the other side
I wake, I shall be satisfied.
THE SPIRITUAL BODY.
I have a heavenly home,
To which my soul may come,
And where forever safe it may abide;
Firmly and sure it stands,
That house not made with hands,
And garnished as a chamber for a bride!
To which my soul may come,
And where forever safe it may abide;
Firmly and sure it stands,
That house not made with hands,
And garnished as a chamber for a bride!
'T is such as angels use,
Such as good men would choose;
It hath all fair and pleasant things in sight:
Its walls as white and fine
As polished ivory shine,
And through its windows comes celestial light.
Such as good men would choose;
It hath all fair and pleasant things in sight:
Its walls as white and fine
As polished ivory shine,
And through its windows comes celestial light.
'T is builded fair and good,
In the similitude
Of the most royal palace of a king;
And sorrow may not come
Into that heavenly home,
Nor pain, nor death, nor any evil thing.
In the similitude
Of the most royal palace of a king;
And sorrow may not come
Into that heavenly home,
Nor pain, nor death, nor any evil thing.
Near it that stream doth pass
Whose waters, clear as glass,
Make glad the city of our God with song;
Whose banks are fair as those
Whereon stray milk-white does,
Feeding among the lilies all day long.
Whose waters, clear as glass,
Make glad the city of our God with song;
Whose banks are fair as those
Whereon stray milk-white does,
Feeding among the lilies all day long.
And friends who once were here
Abide in dwellings near;
They went up thither on a heavenly road;
While I, though warned to go,
Yet linger here below,
Clinging to a most miserable abode.
Abide in dwellings near;
They went up thither on a heavenly road;
While I, though warned to go,
Yet linger here below,
Clinging to a most miserable abode.
The evil blasts drive in
Through chinks, which time and sin
Have battered in my wretched house of clay;
Yet in so vile a place,
Poor, unadorned with grace
I choose to live, or rather choose to stay.
Through chinks, which time and sin
Have battered in my wretched house of clay;
Yet in so vile a place,
Poor, unadorned with grace
I choose to live, or rather choose to stay.
And here I make my moan
About the days now gone,
About the souls passed on to their reward;
The souls that now have come
Into a better home,
And sit in heavenly places with their Lord.
About the days now gone,
About the souls passed on to their reward;
The souls that now have come
Into a better home,
And sit in heavenly places with their Lord.
'T is strange that I should cling
To this despised thing,
To this poor dwelling crumbling round my head;
Making myself content
In a low tenement
After my joys and friends alike are fled!
To this despised thing,
To this poor dwelling crumbling round my head;
Making myself content
In a low tenement
After my joys and friends alike are fled!
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Yet I shall not, I know,
Be ready hence to go,
And dwell in my good palace, fair and whole,
Till unrelenting Death
Blows with his icy breath
Upon my naked and unsheltered soul!
Be ready hence to go,
And dwell in my good palace, fair and whole,
Till unrelenting Death
Blows with his icy breath
Upon my naked and unsheltered soul!
A GOOD DAY.
Earth seems as peaceful and as bright
As if the year that might not stay,
Had made a sweet pause in her flight,
To keep another Sabbath day.
As if the year that might not stay,
Had made a sweet pause in her flight,
To keep another Sabbath day.
And I, as past the moments roll,
Forgetting human fear and doubt.
Hold better Sabbath, in my soul,
Than that which Nature holds without.
Forgetting human fear and doubt.
Hold better Sabbath, in my soul,
Than that which Nature holds without.
Help me, O Lord, if I shall see
Times when I walk from hope apart,
Till all my days but seem to be
The troubled week-days of the heart.
Times when I walk from hope apart,
Till all my days but seem to be
The troubled week-days of the heart.
Help me to find, in seasons past,
The hours that have been good or fair,
And bid remembrance hold them fast,
To keep me wholly from despair.
The hours that have been good or fair,
And bid remembrance hold them fast,
To keep me wholly from despair.
Help me to look behind, before,
To make my past and future form
A bow of promise, meeting o'er
The darkness of my day of storm.
To make my past and future form
A bow of promise, meeting o'er
The darkness of my day of storm.
HYMN.
How dare I in thy courts appear,
Or raise to thee my voice!
I only serve thee, Lord, with fear,
With trembling I rejoice.
Or raise to thee my voice!
I only serve thee, Lord, with fear,
With trembling I rejoice.
I have not all forgot thy word,
Nor wholly gone astray;
I follow thee, but oh, my Lord,
So faint, so far away!
Nor wholly gone astray;
I follow thee, but oh, my Lord,
So faint, so far away!
That thou wilt pardon and receive
Of sinners even the chief,
Lord, I believe,—Lord, I believe;
Help thou mine unbelief!
Of sinners even the chief,
Lord, I believe,—Lord, I believe;
Help thou mine unbelief!
DRAWING WATER.
He had drunk from founts of pleasure,
And his thirst returned again;
He had hewn out broken cisterns,
And behold! his work was vain.
And his thirst returned again;
He had hewn out broken cisterns,
And behold! his work was vain.
And he said, “Life is a desert,
Hot, and measureless, and dry;
And God will not give me water,
Though I strive, and faint, and die.”
Hot, and measureless, and dry;
And God will not give me water,
Though I strive, and faint, and die.”
Then he heard a voice make answer,
“Rise and roll the stone away;
Sweet and precious springs lie hidden
In thy pathway every day.”
“Rise and roll the stone away;
Sweet and precious springs lie hidden
In thy pathway every day.”
And he said, his heart was sinful,
Very sinful was his speech:
“All the cooling wells I thirst for
Are too deep for me to reach.”
Very sinful was his speech:
“All the cooling wells I thirst for
Are too deep for me to reach.”
But the voice cried, “Hope and labor;
Doubt and idleness is death;
Shape a clear and goodly vessel,
With the patient hands of faith.”
Doubt and idleness is death;
Shape a clear and goodly vessel,
With the patient hands of faith.”
So he wrought and shaped the vessel,
Looked, and lo! a well was there;
And he drew up living water,
With a golden chain of prayer.
Looked, and lo! a well was there;
And he drew up living water,
With a golden chain of prayer.
TOO LATE.
Blessings, alas! unmerited,
Freely as evening dews are shed
Each day on my unworthy head.
Freely as evening dews are shed
Each day on my unworthy head.
So that my very sins but prove
The sinlessness of Him above
And his unutterable love.
The sinlessness of Him above
And his unutterable love.
And yet, as if no ear took heed,
Not what I ask, but what I need,
Comes down in answer, when I plead.
Not what I ask, but what I need,
Comes down in answer, when I plead.
So that my heart with anguish cries,
My soul almost within me dies,
'T wixt what God gives, and what denies.
My soul almost within me dies,
'T wixt what God gives, and what denies.
For howsoe'er with good it teems,
The life accomplished never seems
The blest fulfillment of its dreams.
The life accomplished never seems
The blest fulfillment of its dreams.
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Therefore, when nearest happiness,
I only say, The thing I miss—
That would have perfected my bliss!
I only say, The thing I miss—
That would have perfected my bliss!
When harvests great are mine to reap,
Too late, too late! I sit and weep,
My best belovèd lies asleep!
Too late, too late! I sit and weep,
My best belovèd lies asleep!
Sometimes my griefs are hard to bear,
Sometimes my comforts I would share,
And the one dearest is not there.
Sometimes my comforts I would share,
And the one dearest is not there.
That which is mine to-day, I know,
Had made a paradise below,
Only a little year ago.
Had made a paradise below,
Only a little year ago.
The sunshine we then did crave,
As having almost power to save,
Keeps now the greenness of a grave.
As having almost power to save,
Keeps now the greenness of a grave.
To have our dear one safe from gloom.
We planned a fair and pleasant room,
And lo! Fate builded up a tomb.
We planned a fair and pleasant room,
And lo! Fate builded up a tomb.
An empty heart, with cries unstilled,
An empty house, with love unfilled,
These are the things our Father willed.
An empty house, with love unfilled,
These are the things our Father willed.
And bowing to Him, as we must,
Whose name is Love, whose way is just,
We have no refuge, but our trust.
Whose name is Love, whose way is just,
We have no refuge, but our trust.
RETROSPECT.
O Loving, One, O Bounteous One,
What have I not received from thee,
Throughout the seasons that have gone
Into the past eternity!
What have I not received from thee,
Throughout the seasons that have gone
Into the past eternity!
For looking backward through the year,
Along the way my feet have pressed,
I see sweet places everywhere,
Sweet places, where my soul had rest.
Along the way my feet have pressed,
I see sweet places everywhere,
Sweet places, where my soul had rest.
And, though some human hopes of mine
Are dead, and buried from my sight,
Yet from their graves immortal flowers
Have sprung, and blossomed into light.
Are dead, and buried from my sight,
Yet from their graves immortal flowers
Have sprung, and blossomed into light.
Body, and heart, and soul, have been
Fed by the most convenient food;
My nights are peaceful all the while,
And all my mortal days are good.
Fed by the most convenient food;
My nights are peaceful all the while,
And all my mortal days are good.
My sorrows have not been so light,
The chastening hand I could not trace;
Nor have my blessings been so great
That they have hid my Father's face.
The chastening hand I could not trace;
Nor have my blessings been so great
That they have hid my Father's face.
HUMAN AND DIVINE.
Vile, and deformed by sin I stand,
A creature earthy of the earth;
Yet fashioned by God's perfect hand,
And in his likeness at my birth.
A creature earthy of the earth;
Yet fashioned by God's perfect hand,
And in his likeness at my birth.
Here in a wretched land I roam,
As one who had no home but this;
Yet am invited to become
Partaker in a world of bliss.
As one who had no home but this;
Yet am invited to become
Partaker in a world of bliss.
A tenement of misery,
Of clay is this to which I cling:
A royal palace waits for me,
Built by the pleasure of my King!
Of clay is this to which I cling:
A royal palace waits for me,
Built by the pleasure of my King!
My heavenly birthright I forsake,—
An outcast, and unreconciled;
The manner of his love doth make
My Father own me as his child.
An outcast, and unreconciled;
The manner of his love doth make
My Father own me as his child.
Shortened by reason of man's wrong,
My evil days I here bemoan;
Yet know my life must last as long
As his, who struck it from his own.
My evil days I here bemoan;
Yet know my life must last as long
As his, who struck it from his own.
Turned wholly am I from the way,—
Lost, and eternally undone;
I am of those, though gone astray,
The Father seeketh through the Son.
Lost, and eternally undone;
I am of those, though gone astray,
The Father seeketh through the Son.
I wander in a maze of fear,
Hid in impenetrable night,
Afar from God—and yet so near,
He keeps me always in his sight.
Hid in impenetrable night,
Afar from God—and yet so near,
He keeps me always in his sight.
I am as dross, and less than dross,
Worthless as worthlessness can be;
I am so precious that the cross
Darkened the universe for me!
Worthless as worthlessness can be;
I am so precious that the cross
Darkened the universe for me!
I am unfit, even from the dust,
Master! to kiss thy garment's hem:
I am so dear, that thou, though just,
Wilt not despise me nor condemn.
Master! to kiss thy garment's hem:
I am so dear, that thou, though just,
Wilt not despise me nor condemn.
Accounted am I as the least
Of creatures valueless and mean;
Yet heaven's own joy shall be increased
If e'er repentance wash me clean.
Of creatures valueless and mean;
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If e'er repentance wash me clean.
Naked, ashamed, I hide my face,
All seamed by guilt's defacing scars;
I may be clothed with righteousness
Above the brightness of the stars.
All seamed by guilt's defacing scars;
I may be clothed with righteousness
Above the brightness of the stars.
Lord, I do fear that I shall go
Where death and darkness wait for me;
Lord, I believe, and therefore know
I have eternal life in thee!
Where death and darkness wait for me;
Lord, I believe, and therefore know
I have eternal life in thee!
OVER-PAYMENT.
I took a little good seed in my hand,
And cast it tearfully upon the land;
Saying, of this the fowls of heaven shall eat,
Or the sun scorch it with his burning heat.
And cast it tearfully upon the land;
Saying, of this the fowls of heaven shall eat,
Or the sun scorch it with his burning heat.
Yet I, who sowed, oppressed by doubts and fears,
Rejoicing gathered in the ripened ears;
For when the harvest turned the fields to gold,
Mine yielded back to me a thousandfold.
Rejoicing gathered in the ripened ears;
For when the harvest turned the fields to gold,
Mine yielded back to me a thousandfold.
A little child begged humbly at my door;
Small was the gift I gave her, being poor,
But let my heart go with it: therefore we
Were both made richer by that charity.
Small was the gift I gave her, being poor,
But let my heart go with it: therefore we
Were both made richer by that charity.
My soul with grief was darkened, I was bowed
Beneath the shadow of an awful cloud;
When one, whose sky was wholly overspread,
Came to me asking to be comforted.
Beneath the shadow of an awful cloud;
When one, whose sky was wholly overspread,
Came to me asking to be comforted.
It roused me from my weak and selfish fears:
It dried my own to dry another's tears;
The bow, to which I pointed in his skies,
Set all my cloud with sweetest promises.
It dried my own to dry another's tears;
The bow, to which I pointed in his skies,
Set all my cloud with sweetest promises.
Once, seeing the inevitable way
My feet must tread, through difficult places lay;
I cannot go alone, I cried, dismayed,—
I faint, I fail, I perish, without aid!
My feet must tread, through difficult places lay;
I cannot go alone, I cried, dismayed,—
I faint, I fail, I perish, without aid!
Yet, when I looked to see if help were nigh,
A creature weaker, wretcheder than I,
One on whose head life's fiercest storms had beat,
Clung to my garments, falling at my feet.
A creature weaker, wretcheder than I,
One on whose head life's fiercest storms had beat,
Clung to my garments, falling at my feet.
I saw, I paused no more: my courage found,
I stooped and raised her gently from the ground:
Through every peril safe I passed at length,
For she who leaned upon me gave me strength.
I stooped and raised her gently from the ground:
Through every peril safe I passed at length,
For she who leaned upon me gave me strength.
Once, when I hid my wretched self from Him,
My Father's brightness seemed withdrawn and dim:
But when I lifted up mine eyes I learned
His face to those who seek is always turned.
My Father's brightness seemed withdrawn and dim:
But when I lifted up mine eyes I learned
His face to those who seek is always turned.
A half-unwilling sacrifice I made:
Ten thousand blessings on my head were laid:
I asked a comforting spirit to descend:
God made Himself my comforter and friend.
Ten thousand blessings on my head were laid:
I asked a comforting spirit to descend:
God made Himself my comforter and friend.
I sought his mercy in a faltering prayer,
And lo! his infinite tenderness and care,
Like a great sea, that hath no ebbing tide,
Encompassed me with love on every side!
And lo! his infinite tenderness and care,
Like a great sea, that hath no ebbing tide,
Encompassed me with love on every side!
VAIN REPENTANCE.
Do we not say, forgive us, Lord,
Oft when too well we understand
Our sorrow is not such as thou
Requirest at the sinner's hand?
Oft when too well we understand
Our sorrow is not such as thou
Requirest at the sinner's hand?
Have we not sought thy face in tears,
When our desire hath rather been
Deliverance from the punishment,
Than full deliverance from the sin?
When our desire hath rather been
Deliverance from the punishment,
Than full deliverance from the sin?
Alas! we mourn because we fain
Would keep the things we should resign:
And pray, because we cannot pray—
Not my rebellious will, but thine!
Would keep the things we should resign:
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Not my rebellious will, but thine!
IN EXTREMITY.
Think on him, Lord! we ask thy aid
In life's most dreaded extremity:
For evil days have come to him,
Who in his youth remembered thee.
In life's most dreaded extremity:
For evil days have come to him,
Who in his youth remembered thee.
Look on him, Lord! for heart and flesh,
Alike, must fail without thy grace:
Part back the clouds, that he may see
The brightness of his Father's face.
Alike, must fail without thy grace:
Part back the clouds, that he may see
The brightness of his Father's face.
Speak to him, Lord! as thou didst talk
To Adam, in the Garden's shade,
And grant it unto him to hear
Thy voice, and not to be afraid.
To Adam, in the Garden's shade,
And grant it unto him to hear
Thy voice, and not to be afraid.
Support him, Lord! that he may come,
Leaning on thee, in faith sublime,
Up to that awful landmark, set
Between eternity and time.
Leaning on thee, in faith sublime,
Up to that awful landmark, set
Between eternity and time.
And, Lord! if it must be that we
Shall walk with him no more below,
Reach out of heaven thy loving hand,
And lead him where we cannot go.
Shall walk with him no more below,
Reach out of heaven thy loving hand,
And lead him where we cannot go.
PECCAVI.
I have sinned, I have sinned, before thee, the Most Holy!
And I come as a penitent, bowing down lowly,
With my lips making freely their awful admission,
And mine eyes raining bitterest tears of contrition;
And I cry unto thee, with my mouth in the dust:
O God! be not just!
And I come as a penitent, bowing down lowly,
With my lips making freely their awful admission,
And mine eyes raining bitterest tears of contrition;
And I cry unto thee, with my mouth in the dust:
O God! be not just!
O God! be not just; but be merciful rather,—
Let me see not the face of my Judge but my Father:
A sinner, a culprit, I stand self-convicted,
Yet the pardoning power is thine unrestricted;
I am weak; thou art strong: in thy goodness and might,
Let my sentence be light!
Let me see not the face of my Judge but my Father:
A sinner, a culprit, I stand self-convicted,
Yet the pardoning power is thine unrestricted;
I am weak; thou art strong: in thy goodness and might,
Let my sentence be light!
I have turned from all gifts which thy kindness supplied me,
Because of the one which thy wisdom denied me;
I have bandaged mine eyes—yea, mine own hands have bound me;
I have made me a darkness, when light was around me:
And I cry by the way-side: O Lord that I might
Receive back my sight!
Because of the one which thy wisdom denied me;
I have bandaged mine eyes—yea, mine own hands have bound me;
I have made me a darkness, when light was around me:
And I cry by the way-side: O Lord that I might
Receive back my sight!
For the sake of my guilt, may my guilt be forgiven,
And because mine iniquities mount unto heaven!
Let my sins, which are crimson, be snow in their brightness;
Let my sins, which are scarlet, be wool in their whiteness.
I am out of the way, and my soul is dismayed—
I am lost, and afraid.
And because mine iniquities mount unto heaven!
Let my sins, which are crimson, be snow in their brightness;
Let my sins, which are scarlet, be wool in their whiteness.
I am out of the way, and my soul is dismayed—
I am lost, and afraid.
I have sinned, and against Him whose justice may doom me;
Insulted his power whose wrath can consume me:
Yet, by that blest name by which angels adore Him—
That name through which mortals may dare come before Him—
I come, saying only, My Father above,
My God, be thou Love!
Insulted his power whose wrath can consume me:
Yet, by that blest name by which angels adore Him—
That name through which mortals may dare come before Him—
I come, saying only, My Father above,
My God, be thou Love!
CHRISTMAS.
O time by holy prophets long foretold,
Time waited for by saints in days of old,
O sweet, auspicious morn
When Christ, the Lord, was born!
Time waited for by saints in days of old,
O sweet, auspicious morn
When Christ, the Lord, was born!
Again the fixèd changes of the year
Have brought that season to the world most dear,
When angels, all aflame,
Bringing good tidings came.
Have brought that season to the world most dear,
When angels, all aflame,
Bringing good tidings came.
Again we think of her, the meek, the mild,
The dove-eyed mother of the holy Child,
The chosen, and the best,
Among all women blest.
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The chosen, and the best,
Among all women blest.
We think about the shepherds, who, dismayed,
Fell on their faces, trembling and afraid,
Until they heard the cry,
Glory to God on high!
Fell on their faces, trembling and afraid,
Until they heard the cry,
Glory to God on high!
And we remember those who from afar
Followed the changing glory of the star
To where its light was shed
Upon the sacred head:
Followed the changing glory of the star
To where its light was shed
Upon the sacred head:
And how each trembling, awe-struck worshiper
Brought gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh,
And spread them on the ground
In reverence profound.
Brought gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh,
And spread them on the ground
In reverence profound.
We think what joy it would have been to share
In their high privilege who came to bear
Sweet spice and costly gem
To Christ, in Bethlehem.
In their high privilege who came to bear
Sweet spice and costly gem
To Christ, in Bethlehem.
And in that thought we half forget that He
Is wheresoe'er we seek Him earnestly;
Still filling every place
With sweet, abounding grace.
Is wheresoe'er we seek Him earnestly;
Still filling every place
With sweet, abounding grace.
And though in garments of the flesh, as then,
No more He walks this sinful earth with men;
The poor, to Him most dear,
Are always with us here.
No more He walks this sinful earth with men;
The poor, to Him most dear,
Are always with us here.
And He saith, Inasmuch as ye shall take
Good to these little ones for my dear sake,
In that same measure ye
Have brought it unto me!
Good to these little ones for my dear sake,
In that same measure ye
Have brought it unto me!
Therefore, O men in prosperous homes who live,
Having all blessings earthly wealth can give,
Remember their sad doom
For whom there is no room—
Having all blessings earthly wealth can give,
Remember their sad doom
For whom there is no room—
No room in any home, in any bed,
No soft white pillow waiting for the head,
And spare from treasures great
To help their low estate.
No soft white pillow waiting for the head,
And spare from treasures great
To help their low estate.
Mothers whose sons fill all your homes with light,
Think of the sons who once made homes as bright,
Now laid in sleep profound
On some sad battle-ground;
Think of the sons who once made homes as bright,
Now laid in sleep profound
On some sad battle-ground;
And into darkened dwellings come with cheer,
With pitying hand to wipe the falling tear,
Comfort for Christ's dear sake
To childless mothers take!
With pitying hand to wipe the falling tear,
Comfort for Christ's dear sake
To childless mothers take!
Children whose lives are blest with love untold,
Whose gifts are greater than your arms can hold,
Think of the child who stands
To-day with empty hands!
Whose gifts are greater than your arms can hold,
Think of the child who stands
To-day with empty hands!
Go fill them up, and you will also fill
Their empty hearts, that lie so cold and still,
And brighten longing eyes
With grateful, glad surprise.
Their empty hearts, that lie so cold and still,
And brighten longing eyes
With grateful, glad surprise.
May all who have, at this blest season seek
His precious little ones, the poor and weak,
In joyful, sweet accord,
Thus lending to the Lord.
His precious little ones, the poor and weak,
In joyful, sweet accord,
Thus lending to the Lord.
Yea, Crucified Redeemer, who didst give
Thy toil, thy tears, thy life, that we might live,
Thy Spirit grant, that we
May live one day for thee!
Thy toil, thy tears, thy life, that we might live,
Thy Spirit grant, that we
May live one day for thee!
COMPENSATION.
Crooked and dwarfed the tree must stay,
Nor lift its green head to the day,
Till useless growths are lopped away,
Nor lift its green head to the day,
Till useless growths are lopped away,
And thus doth human nature do;
Till it hath careful pruning too,
It cannot grow up straight and true.
Till it hath careful pruning too,
It cannot grow up straight and true.
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For, but for chastenings severe,
No soul could ever tell how near
God comes, to whom He loveth, here.
No soul could ever tell how near
God comes, to whom He loveth, here.
Without life's ills, we could not feel
The blessèd change from woe to weal;
Only the wounded limb can heal.
The blessèd change from woe to weal;
Only the wounded limb can heal.
The sick and suffering learn below,
That which the whole can never know,
Of the soft hand that soothes their woe.
That which the whole can never know,
Of the soft hand that soothes their woe.
And never man is blest as he,
Who, freed from some infirmity,
Rejoices in his liberty.
Who, freed from some infirmity,
Rejoices in his liberty.
He sees, with new and glad surprise,
The world that round about him lies,
Who slips the bandage from his eyes;
The world that round about him lies,
Who slips the bandage from his eyes;
And comes from where he long hath lain,
Comes from the darkness and the pain,
Out into God's full light again.
Comes from the darkness and the pain,
Out into God's full light again.
They only know who wait in fear
The music of a footstep near,
Falling upon the listening ear.
The music of a footstep near,
Falling upon the listening ear.
And life's great depths are soonest stirred
In him who hath but seldom heard
The magic of a loving word.
In him who hath but seldom heard
The magic of a loving word.
Joy after grief is more complete;
And kisses never fall so sweet
As when long-parted lovers meet.
And kisses never fall so sweet
As when long-parted lovers meet.
One who is little used to such,
Surely can tell us best how much
There is in a kind smile or touch.
Surely can tell us best how much
There is in a kind smile or touch.
'T is like the spring wind from the south,
Or water to the fevered mouth,
Or sweet rain falling after drouth.
Or water to the fevered mouth,
Or sweet rain falling after drouth.
By him the deepest rest is won
Who toils beneath the noonday sun
Faithful until his work is done.
Who toils beneath the noonday sun
Faithful until his work is done.
And watchers through the weary night
Have learned how pleasantly the light
Of morning breaks upon the sight.
Have learned how pleasantly the light
Of morning breaks upon the sight.
Perchance the jewel seems most fair
To him whose patient toil and care
Has brought it to the upper air.
To him whose patient toil and care
Has brought it to the upper air.
And other lips can never taste
A draught like that he finds at last
Who seeks it in the burning waste.
A draught like that he finds at last
Who seeks it in the burning waste.
When to the mother's arms is lent,
That sweet reward for suffering sent
To her, from the Omnipotent,
That sweet reward for suffering sent
To her, from the Omnipotent,
I think its helpless, pleading cry
Touches her heart more tenderly,
Because of her past agony.
Touches her heart more tenderly,
Because of her past agony.
We learn at last how good and brave
Was the dear friend we could not save,
When he has slipped into the grave.
Was the dear friend we could not save,
When he has slipped into the grave.
And after he has come to hide
Our lambs upon the other side,
We know our Shepherd and our Guide.
Our lambs upon the other side,
We know our Shepherd and our Guide.
And thus, by ways not understood,
Out of each dark vicissitude,
God brings us compensating good.
Out of each dark vicissitude,
God brings us compensating good.
For Faith is perfected by fears,
And souls renew their youth with years,
And Love looks into heaven through tears.
And souls renew their youth with years,
And Love looks into heaven through tears.
RECONCILED.
O years, gone down into the past;
What pleasant memories come to me,
Of your untroubled days of peace,
And hours almost of ecstasy!
What pleasant memories come to me,
Of your untroubled days of peace,
And hours almost of ecstasy!
Yet would I have no moon stand still
Where life's most pleasant valleys lie;
Nor wheel the planet of the day
Back on his pathway through the sky.
Where life's most pleasant valleys lie;
Nor wheel the planet of the day
Back on his pathway through the sky.
For though, when youthful pleasures died,
My youth itself went with them, too;
To-day, aye! even this very hour,
Is the best time I ever knew.
My youth itself went with them, too;
To-day, aye! even this very hour,
Is the best time I ever knew.
Not that my Father gives to me
More blessings than in days gone by;
Dropping in my uplifted hands
All things for which I blindly cry:
More blessings than in days gone by;
Dropping in my uplifted hands
All things for which I blindly cry:
But that his plans and purposes
Have grown to me less strange and dim;
And where I cannot understand,
I trust the issues unto Him.
Have grown to me less strange and dim;
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I trust the issues unto Him.
And, spite of many broken dreams,
This have I truly learned to say,—
The prayers I thought unanswered once,
Were answered in God's own best way.
This have I truly learned to say,—
The prayers I thought unanswered once,
Were answered in God's own best way.
And though some dearly cherished hopes
Perished untimely ere their birth,
Yet have I been beloved and blessed
Beyond the measure of my worth.
Perished untimely ere their birth,
Yet have I been beloved and blessed
Beyond the measure of my worth.
And sometimes in my hours of grief,
For moments I have come to stand
Where in the sorrows on me laid,
I felt a loving Father's hand.
For moments I have come to stand
Where in the sorrows on me laid,
I felt a loving Father's hand.
And I have learned, the weakest ones
Are kept securest from life's harms;
And that the tender lambs alone
Are carried in the Shepherd's arms.
Are kept securest from life's harms;
And that the tender lambs alone
Are carried in the Shepherd's arms.
And, sitting by the way-side, blind,
He is the nearest to the light,
Who crieth out most earnestly,
“Lord, that I might receive my sight!”
He is the nearest to the light,
Who crieth out most earnestly,
“Lord, that I might receive my sight!”
O feet, grown weary as ye walk,
Where down life's hill my pathway lies,
What care I, while my soul can mount,
As the young eagle mounts the skies!
Where down life's hill my pathway lies,
What care I, while my soul can mount,
As the young eagle mounts the skies!
O eyes, with weeping faded out,
What matters it how dim ye be!
My inner vision sweeps untired
The reaches of eternity!
What matters it how dim ye be!
My inner vision sweeps untired
The reaches of eternity!
O Death, most dreaded power of all,
When the last moment comes, and thou
Darkenest the windows of my soul,
Through which I look on Nature now;
When the last moment comes, and thou
Darkenest the windows of my soul,
Through which I look on Nature now;
Yea, when mortality dissolves,
Shall I not meet thine hour unawed?
My house eternal in the heavens
Is lighted by the smile of God!
Shall I not meet thine hour unawed?
My house eternal in the heavens
Is lighted by the smile of God!
THOU KNOWEST.
Lord, with what body do they come
Who in corruption here are sown,
When with humiliation done,
They wear the likeness of thine own?
Who in corruption here are sown,
When with humiliation done,
They wear the likeness of thine own?
Lord, of what manner didst thou make
The fruits upon life's healing tree?
Where flows that water we may take
And thirst not through eternity?
The fruits upon life's healing tree?
Where flows that water we may take
And thirst not through eternity?
Where lie the beds of lilies prest
By virgins whiter than their snow?
What can we liken to the rest
Thy well-beloved yet shall know?
By virgins whiter than their snow?
What can we liken to the rest
Thy well-beloved yet shall know?
And where no moon shall shine by night,
No sun shall rise and take his place,
How shall we look upon the light,
O Lamb of God, that lights thy face?
No sun shall rise and take his place,
How shall we look upon the light,
O Lamb of God, that lights thy face?
How shall we speak our joy that day
We stand upon the peaceful shore,
Where blest inhabitants shall say,
Lo! we are sick and sad no more?
We stand upon the peaceful shore,
Where blest inhabitants shall say,
Lo! we are sick and sad no more?
What anthems shall they raise to thee,
The host upon the other side?
What will our depths of rapture be
When heart and soul are satisfied?
The host upon the other side?
What will our depths of rapture be
When heart and soul are satisfied?
How will life seem when fear, nor dread,
Nor mortal weakness chains our powers;
When sin is crushed, and death is dead,
And all eternity is ours?
Nor mortal weakness chains our powers;
When sin is crushed, and death is dead,
And all eternity is ours?
When, with our lover and our spouse,
We shall as angels be above,
And plight no troths and breathe no vows,
How shall we tell and prove our love?
We shall as angels be above,
And plight no troths and breathe no vows,
How shall we tell and prove our love?
How can we take in faith thy hand,
And walk the way that we must tread?
How can we trust and understand
That Christ will raise us from the dead?
And walk the way that we must tread?
How can we trust and understand
That Christ will raise us from the dead?
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We cannot see nor know to-day.
For He hath made us of the dust;
We can but wait his time, and say,
Even though He slay me, will I trust!
For He hath made us of the dust;
We can but wait his time, and say,
Even though He slay me, will I trust!
Swift to the dead we hasten now,
And know not even the way we go;
Yet quick and dead are thine, and thou—
Thou knowest all we do not know!
And know not even the way we go;
Yet quick and dead are thine, and thou—
Thou knowest all we do not know!
CHRISTMAS.
This happy day, whose risen sun
Shall set not through eternity,
This holy day when Christ, the Lord,
Took on Him our humanity,
Shall set not through eternity,
This holy day when Christ, the Lord,
Took on Him our humanity,
For little children everywhere
A joyous season still we make;
We bring our precious gifts to them,
Even for the dear child Jesus' sake.
A joyous season still we make;
We bring our precious gifts to them,
Even for the dear child Jesus' sake.
The glory from the manger shed,
Wherein the lowly Saviour lay,
Shines as a halo round the head
Of every human child to-day.
Wherein the lowly Saviour lay,
Shines as a halo round the head
Of every human child to-day.
And each unconscious infant sleeps
Intrusted to his guardian care;
Hears his dear name in cradle hymns,
And lisps it in its earliest prayer.
Intrusted to his guardian care;
Hears his dear name in cradle hymns,
And lisps it in its earliest prayer.
Thou blessed Babe of Bethlehem!
Whose life we love, whose name we laud;
Thou Brother, through whose poverty,
We have become the heirs of God;
Whose life we love, whose name we laud;
Thou Brother, through whose poverty,
We have become the heirs of God;
Thou sorrowful, yet tempted Man—
Tempted in all things like as we,
Treading with tender, human feet,
The sharp, rough way of Calvary;
Tempted in all things like as we,
Treading with tender, human feet,
The sharp, rough way of Calvary;
We do remember how, by thee,
The sick were healed, the halting led;
How thou didst take the little ones
And pour thy blessings on their head.
The sick were healed, the halting led;
How thou didst take the little ones
And pour thy blessings on their head.
We know for what unworthy men
Thou once didst deign to toil and live;
What weak and sinful women thou
Didst love, and pity, and forgive.
Thou once didst deign to toil and live;
What weak and sinful women thou
Didst love, and pity, and forgive.
And, Lord, if to the sick and poor
We go with generous hearts to-day,
Or in forbidden places seek
For such as wander from the way;
We go with generous hearts to-day,
Or in forbidden places seek
For such as wander from the way;
And by our loving words or deeds
Make this a hallowed time to them;
Though we ourselves be found unmeet,
For sin, to touch thy garment's hem;
Make this a hallowed time to them;
Though we ourselves be found unmeet,
For sin, to touch thy garment's hem;
Wilt thou not, for thy wondrous grace,
And for thy tender charity,
Accept the good we do to these,
As we had done it unto thee?
And for thy tender charity,
Accept the good we do to these,
As we had done it unto thee?
And for the precious little ones,
Here from their native heaven astray,
Strong in their very helplessness,
To lead us in the better way;
Here from their native heaven astray,
Strong in their very helplessness,
To lead us in the better way;
If we shall make thy natal day
A season of delight to these,
A season always crowded full
Of sweet and pleasant memories;
A season of delight to these,
A season always crowded full
Of sweet and pleasant memories;
Wilt thou not grant us to forget
Awhile our weight of care and pain,
And in their joys, bring back their joy
Of early innocence again?
Awhile our weight of care and pain,
And in their joys, bring back their joy
Of early innocence again?
O holy Child, about whose bed
The virgin mother softly trod;
Dead once, yet living evermore,
O Son of Mary, and of God!
The virgin mother softly trod;
Dead once, yet living evermore,
O Son of Mary, and of God!
If any act that we can do,
If any thought of ours is right,
If any prayer we lift to thee,
May find acceptance in thy sight,
If any thought of ours is right,
If any prayer we lift to thee,
May find acceptance in thy sight,
Hear us, and give to us, to-day,
In answer to our earnest cries,
Some portion of that sacred love
That drew thee to us from the skies!
In answer to our earnest cries,
Some portion of that sacred love
That drew thee to us from the skies!
PRODIGALS.
Again, in the Book of Books, to-day
I read of that Prodigal, far away
In the centuries agone,
Who took the portion that to him fell,
And went from friends and home to dwell
In a distant land alone.
I read of that Prodigal, far away
In the centuries agone,
Who took the portion that to him fell,
And went from friends and home to dwell
In a distant land alone.
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And when his riotous living was done,
And his course of foolish pleasure run,
And a fearful famine rose.
He fain would have fed with the very swine,
And no man gave him bread nor wine,
For his friends were changed to foes.
And his course of foolish pleasure run,
And a fearful famine rose.
He fain would have fed with the very swine,
And no man gave him bread nor wine,
For his friends were changed to foes.
And I thought, when at last his state he knew
What a little thing he had to do,
To win again his place:
Only the madness of sin to learn,
To come to himself, repent, and turn,
And seek his father's face.
What a little thing he had to do,
To win again his place:
Only the madness of sin to learn,
To come to himself, repent, and turn,
And seek his father's face.
Then I thought however vile we are,
Not one of us hath strayed so far
From the things that are good and pure,
But if to gain his home he tried,
He would find the portal open wide,
And find his welcome sure.
Not one of us hath strayed so far
From the things that are good and pure,
But if to gain his home he tried,
He would find the portal open wide,
And find his welcome sure.
My fellow-sinners, though you dwell
In haunts where the feet take hold on hell,
Where the downward way is plain;
Think, who is waiting for you at home,
Repent, and come to yourself, and come
To your Father's house again!
In haunts where the feet take hold on hell,
Where the downward way is plain;
Think, who is waiting for you at home,
Repent, and come to yourself, and come
To your Father's house again!
Say, out of the depths of humility,
“I have lost the claim of a child on thee,
I would serve thee with the least!”
And He will a royal robe prepare,
He will call you son, and call you heir;
And seat you at the feast.
“I have lost the claim of a child on thee,
I would serve thee with the least!”
And He will a royal robe prepare,
He will call you son, and call you heir;
And seat you at the feast.
Yea, fellow-sinner, rise to-day,
And run till He meets you on the way,
Till you hear the glad words said,—
“Let joy through all the heavens resound,
For this, my son, who was lost is found,
And he lives who once was dead.”
And run till He meets you on the way,
Till you hear the glad words said,—
“Let joy through all the heavens resound,
For this, my son, who was lost is found,
And he lives who once was dead.”
ST. BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX.
In the shade of the cloister, long ago—
They are dead and buried for centuries—
The pious monks walked to and fro,
Talking of holy mysteries.
They are dead and buried for centuries—
The pious monks walked to and fro,
Talking of holy mysteries.
By a blameless life and penance hard,
Each brother there had proved his call;
But the one we name the St. Bernard
Was the sweetest soul among them all.
Each brother there had proved his call;
But the one we name the St. Bernard
Was the sweetest soul among them all.
And oft as a silence on them fell,
He would pause, and listen, and whisper low,
“There is One who waits for me in my cell;
I hear Him calling, and I must go!”
He would pause, and listen, and whisper low,
“There is One who waits for me in my cell;
I hear Him calling, and I must go!”
No charm of human fellowship
His soul from its dearest love can bind;
With a “Jesu Dulcis” on his lip,
He leaves all else that is sweet behind.
His soul from its dearest love can bind;
With a “Jesu Dulcis” on his lip,
He leaves all else that is sweet behind.
The only hand that he longs to take,
Pierced, from the cross is reaching down;
And the head he loves, for his dear sake
Was wounded once with a thorny crown.
Pierced, from the cross is reaching down;
And the head he loves, for his dear sake
Was wounded once with a thorny crown.
Ah! men and brethren, He whose call
Drew that holy monk with a power divine,
Was the One who is calling for us all,
Was the Friend of sinners—yours and mine!
Drew that holy monk with a power divine,
Was the One who is calling for us all,
Was the Friend of sinners—yours and mine!
From the sleep of the cradle to the grave,
From the first low cry till the lip is dumb,
Ready to help us, and strong to save,
He is calling, and waiting till we come.
From the first low cry till the lip is dumb,
Ready to help us, and strong to save,
He is calling, and waiting till we come.
Lord! teach us always thy voice to know,
And to turn to thee from the world beside,
Prepared when our time has come to go,
Whether at morn or eventide.
And to turn to thee from the world beside,
Prepared when our time has come to go,
Whether at morn or eventide.
And to say when the heavens are rent in twain,
When suns are darkened, and stars shall flee,
Lo! thou hast not called for us in vain,
And we shall not call in vain for thee!
When suns are darkened, and stars shall flee,
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And we shall not call in vain for thee!
THE WIDOW'S THANKSGIVING.
Of the precious years of my life, to-day
I count another one;
And I thank thee, Lord, for the light is good,
And 't is sweet to see the sun.
I count another one;
And I thank thee, Lord, for the light is good,
And 't is sweet to see the sun.
To watch the seasons as they pass,
Their wondrous wealth unfold,
Till the silvery treasures of the snow
Are changed to the harvest's gold.
Their wondrous wealth unfold,
Till the silvery treasures of the snow
Are changed to the harvest's gold.
For kindly still does the teeming earth
Her stores of plenty yield,
Whether we come to bind the sheaves,
Or only to glean in the field.
Her stores of plenty yield,
Whether we come to bind the sheaves,
Or only to glean in the field.
And dwelling in such a pleasant land,
Though poor in goods and friends,
We may still be rich, if we live content
With what our Father sends.
Though poor in goods and friends,
We may still be rich, if we live content
With what our Father sends.
If we feel that life is a blessed thing—
A boon to be desired;
And where not much to us is given,
Not much will be required;
A boon to be desired;
And where not much to us is given,
Not much will be required;
And keep our natures sweet with the sense
Of fervent gratitude,
That we have been left to live in the world,
And to know that God is good!
Of fervent gratitude,
That we have been left to live in the world,
And to know that God is good!
And since there is naught of all we have,
That we have not received:
Shall we dare, though our treasures be reclaimed,
To call ourselves bereaved?
That we have not received:
Shall we dare, though our treasures be reclaimed,
To call ourselves bereaved?
For 't is easy to walk by sight in the day;
'T is the night that tries our faith;
And what is that worth if we render thanks
For life and not for death?
'T is the night that tries our faith;
And what is that worth if we render thanks
For life and not for death?
Lo! I glean alone! and the children, Lord,
Thou gavest unto me,
Have one by one fled out of my arms,
And into eternity.
Thou gavest unto me,
Have one by one fled out of my arms,
And into eternity.
Aye, the last and the bravest of them died
In prison, far away;
And no man, of his sepulchre,
Knoweth the place to-day.
In prison, far away;
And no man, of his sepulchre,
Knoweth the place to-day.
Yet is not mine the bitterness
Of the soul that doth repent;
If I had it now to do again,
I would bless him that he went.
Of the soul that doth repent;
If I had it now to do again,
I would bless him that he went.
There are many writ in the book of life
Whose graves are marked unknown;
For his country and his God he died,
And He will know his own!
Whose graves are marked unknown;
For his country and his God he died,
And He will know his own!
In the ranks he fought; but he stood the first
And bravest in the lines;
And no fairer, brighter name than his
On the roll of honor shines.
And bravest in the lines;
And no fairer, brighter name than his
On the roll of honor shines.
And because he faltered not, nor failed
In the march, nor under fire;
His great promotion came at last,
In the call to go up higher.
In the march, nor under fire;
His great promotion came at last,
In the call to go up higher.
Fair wives, whose homes are guarded round
By love's securities:
Mothers, who gather all your flock
At night about your knees;
By love's securities:
Mothers, who gather all your flock
At night about your knees;
Thrice happy, happy girls, who hold
The hand of your lovers fast;
Widows, who keep an only son
To be your stay to the last:
The hand of your lovers fast;
Widows, who keep an only son
To be your stay to the last:
You never felt, though you give God thanks
For his blessings day by day,
That perfect peace which blesses Him
For the good He takes away;
For his blessings day by day,
That perfect peace which blesses Him
For the good He takes away;
The joy of a soul that even in pain
Beholds his love's decrees,
Who sets the solitary ones
In the midst of families.
Beholds his love's decrees,
Who sets the solitary ones
In the midst of families.
Lord, help me still, at the midnight hour,
My lamp of faith to trim;
And so sing from my heart, at the break of day,
A glad thanksgiving hymn:
My lamp of faith to trim;
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A glad thanksgiving hymn:
Nor doubt thy love, though my earthly joys
Were narrowed down to this one,
So long as the sweet day shines for me,
And mine eyes behold the sun.
Were narrowed down to this one,
So long as the sweet day shines for me,
And mine eyes behold the sun.
VIA CRUCIS, VIA LUCIS.
Questioning, blind, unsatisfied,
Out of the dark my spirit cried,—
Wherefore for sinners, lost, undone,
Gave the Father his only Son?
Out of the dark my spirit cried,—
Wherefore for sinners, lost, undone,
Gave the Father his only Son?
Clear and sweet there came reply,—
Out of my soul or out of the sky
A voice like music answered:—
God so loved the world, it said.
Out of my soul or out of the sky
A voice like music answered:—
God so loved the world, it said.
Could not the Lord from heaven give aid?
Why was He born of the mother-maid?
Only the Son of man could be
Touched with man's infirmity!
Why was He born of the mother-maid?
Only the Son of man could be
Touched with man's infirmity!
Why must He lay his infant head
In the manger, where the beasts were fed?
So that the poorest here might cry,
My Lord was as lowly born as I!
In the manger, where the beasts were fed?
So that the poorest here might cry,
My Lord was as lowly born as I!
Why for friends did He choose to know
Sinners and harlots here below?
Not to the righteous did He come,
But to find and bring the wanderers home.
Sinners and harlots here below?
Not to the righteous did He come,
But to find and bring the wanderers home.
He was tempted? Yes, He sounded then
And that hides in the hearts of men;
And He knoweth, when we intercede,
How to succor our souls in their need.
And that hides in the hearts of men;
And He knoweth, when we intercede,
How to succor our souls in their need.
Why should they whom He called his own,
Deny, betray Him, leave Him alone?
That He might know their direst pain,
Who have trusted human love in vain!
Deny, betray Him, leave Him alone?
That He might know their direst pain,
Who have trusted human love in vain!
Must He needs have washed the traitor's feet
Ere his abasement was made complete?
Yea, for women have thus laid down
Their hearts for a Judas to trample on!
Ere his abasement was made complete?
Yea, for women have thus laid down
Their hearts for a Judas to trample on!
By one cup might He not drink less;
Nor lose one drop of the bitterness;
Must He suffer, though without blame,
Stripes and buffeting, scorn and shame?
Nor lose one drop of the bitterness;
Must He suffer, though without blame,
Stripes and buffeting, scorn and shame?
Alas! and wherefore should it be
That He must die on Calvary;
Must bear the pain and the cruel thrust,
Till his heart with its very anguish burst?
That He must die on Calvary;
Must bear the pain and the cruel thrust,
Till his heart with its very anguish burst?
That martyrs, dying for his name,
Whether by cross, or flood, or flame,
Might know they were called to bear no more
Than He, their blessed Master, bore.
Whether by cross, or flood, or flame,
Might know they were called to bear no more
Than He, their blessed Master, bore.
What did He feel in that last dread cry?
The height and the depth of agony!
All the anguish a mortal can,
Who dies forsaken of God and man!
The height and the depth of agony!
All the anguish a mortal can,
Who dies forsaken of God and man!
Is there no way to Him at last
But that where His bleeding feet have passed?
Did he not to his followers say,
I am the Life, the Light, the Way?
But that where His bleeding feet have passed?
Did he not to his followers say,
I am the Life, the Light, the Way?
Yea, and still from the heavens He saith
The gate of life is the gate of death;
Peace is the crown of faith's good fight,
And the way of the cross is the way of light!
The gate of life is the gate of death;
Peace is the crown of faith's good fight,
And the way of the cross is the way of light!
HYMN.
Come down, O Lord, and with us live!
For here with tender, earnest call,
The gospel thou didst freely give,
We freely offer unto all.
For here with tender, earnest call,
The gospel thou didst freely give,
We freely offer unto all.
Come, with such power and saving grace,
That we shall cry, with one accord,
“How sweet and awful is this place,—
This sacred temple of the Lord.”
That we shall cry, with one accord,
“How sweet and awful is this place,—
This sacred temple of the Lord.”
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Let friend and stranger, one in thee,
Feel with such power thy Spirit move,
That every man's own speech shall be,
The sweet eternal speech of love.
Feel with such power thy Spirit move,
That every man's own speech shall be,
The sweet eternal speech of love.
Yea, fill us with the Holy Ghost,
Let burning hearts and tongues be given,
Make this a day of Pentecost,
A foretaste of the bliss of heaven!
Let burning hearts and tongues be given,
Make this a day of Pentecost,
A foretaste of the bliss of heaven!
OF ONE FLESH.
A man he was who loved the good,
Yet strayed in crooked ways apart;
He could not do the thing he would,
Because of evil in his heart.
Yet strayed in crooked ways apart;
He could not do the thing he would,
Because of evil in his heart.
He saw men garner wealth and fame,
Ripe in due time, a precious load;
He fainted ere the harvest came,
And failed to gather what he sowed.
Ripe in due time, a precious load;
He fainted ere the harvest came,
And failed to gather what he sowed.
He looked if haply grapes had grown
On the wild thorns that choked his vines;
When clear the truth before him shone
He sought for wonders and for signs.
On the wild thorns that choked his vines;
When clear the truth before him shone
He sought for wonders and for signs.
Others Faith's sheltered harbor found,
The while his bark was tossed about;
Drifting and dragging anchor round
The troubled, shoreless sea of doubt.
The while his bark was tossed about;
Drifting and dragging anchor round
The troubled, shoreless sea of doubt.
Where he would win, he could not choose
But yield to weakness and despair;
He ran as they who fear to lose,
And fought as one who beats the air.
But yield to weakness and despair;
He ran as they who fear to lose,
And fought as one who beats the air.
Walking where hosts of souls have passed,
By faith and hope made strong and brave,
He, gropping, stumbled at the last,
And blindly fell across the grave.
By faith and hope made strong and brave,
He, gropping, stumbled at the last,
And blindly fell across the grave.
Yet speak of him in charity,
O man! nor write of blame one line;
Say that thou wert not such as he—
He was thy brother, and was mine!
O man! nor write of blame one line;
Say that thou wert not such as he—
He was thy brother, and was mine!
TEACH US TO WAIT!
Why are we so impatient of delay,
Longing forever for the time to be?
For thus we live to-morrow in to-day,
Yea, sad to-morrows we may never see.
Longing forever for the time to be?
For thus we live to-morrow in to-day,
Yea, sad to-morrows we may never see.
We are too hasty; are not reconciled
To let kind Nature do her work alone:
We plant our seed, and like a foolish child
We dig it up to see if it has grown.
To let kind Nature do her work alone:
We plant our seed, and like a foolish child
We dig it up to see if it has grown.
The good that is to be we covet now,
We cannot wait for the appointed hour;
Before the fruit is ripe, we shake the bough,
And seize the bud that folds away the flower.
We cannot wait for the appointed hour;
Before the fruit is ripe, we shake the bough,
And seize the bud that folds away the flower.
When midnight darkness reigns we do not see
That the sad night is mother of the morn;
We cannot think our own sharp agony
May be the birth-pang of a joy unborn.
That the sad night is mother of the morn;
We cannot think our own sharp agony
May be the birth-pang of a joy unborn.
Into the dust we see our idols cast,
And cry, that death has triumphed, life is void!
We do not trust the promise, that the last
Of all our enemies shall be destroyed!
And cry, that death has triumphed, life is void!
We do not trust the promise, that the last
Of all our enemies shall be destroyed!
With rest almost in sight the spirit faints,
And heart and flesh grow weary at the last:
Our feet would walk the city of the saints,
Even before the silent gate is passed.
And heart and flesh grow weary at the last:
Our feet would walk the city of the saints,
Even before the silent gate is passed.
Teach us to wait until thou shalt appear—
To know that all thy ways and times are just;
Thou seest that we do believe, and fear,
Lord, make us also to believe and trust!
To know that all thy ways and times are just;
Thou seest that we do believe, and fear,
Lord, make us also to believe and trust!
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IN HIS ARMS.
If when thy children, O my friend,
Were clasped by thee, in love's embrace,
Their guardian angels, that in heaven
Always behold the Father's face;
Were clasped by thee, in love's embrace,
Their guardian angels, that in heaven
Always behold the Father's face;
Thine earthly home, on shining wings,
Had entered, as of old they came,
To grant to these whatever good,
Thou shouldst desire, in Jesus' name;—
Had entered, as of old they came,
To grant to these whatever good,
Thou shouldst desire, in Jesus' name;—
Or as the loving sinner came,
And worshiped when He sat at meat,
Couldst thou, thyself have come to Him,
And bowed thy forehead to his feet;
And worshiped when He sat at meat,
Couldst thou, thyself have come to Him,
And bowed thy forehead to his feet;
And prayed Him by that tender love,
He feels for those to whom He came,
To give to thy beloved ones,
The best thou couldst desire or name;—
He feels for those to whom He came,
To give to thy beloved ones,
The best thou couldst desire or name;—
What couldst thou ask so great as this,
Out of his love's rich treasury,
That He should take them in his arms,
And bless, and keep them safe for thee?
Out of his love's rich treasury,
That He should take them in his arms,
And bless, and keep them safe for thee?
Ah! favored friend, nor faith, nor prayers,
Nor richest offering ever brought
A token of the Saviour's love
So sweet, as thou hast gained unsought!
Nor richest offering ever brought
A token of the Saviour's love
So sweet, as thou hast gained unsought!
[The heart is not satisfied]
The heart is not satisfied:For more than the world can give it pleads;
It has infinite wants and infinite needs;
And its every beat is an awful cry
For love that never can change nor die;
The heart is not satisfied!
UNBELIEF.
Faithless, perverse, and blind,
We sit in our house of fear,
When the winter of sorrow comes to our souls,
And the days of our life are drear.
We sit in our house of fear,
When the winter of sorrow comes to our souls,
And the days of our life are drear.
For when in darkness and clouds
The way of God is concealed,
We doubt the words of his promises,
And the glory to be revealed.
The way of God is concealed,
We doubt the words of his promises,
And the glory to be revealed.
We do but trust in part;
We grope in the dark alone;
Lord, when shall we see thee as thou art,
And know as we are known?
We grope in the dark alone;
Lord, when shall we see thee as thou art,
And know as we are known?
When shall we live to thee
And die to thee, resigned,
Nor fear to hide what we would keep,
And lose what we would find?
And die to thee, resigned,
Nor fear to hide what we would keep,
And lose what we would find?
For we doubt our Father's care,
We cover our faces and cry,
If a little cloud, like the hand of a man,
Darkens the face of our sky.
We cover our faces and cry,
If a little cloud, like the hand of a man,
Darkens the face of our sky.
We judge of his perfect day
By our life's poor glimmering spark;
And measure eternity's circle
By the segment of an arc.
By our life's poor glimmering spark;
And measure eternity's circle
By the segment of an arc.
We say, they have taken our Lord,
And we know not where He lies,
When the light of his resurrection morn
Is breaking out of the skies.
And we know not where He lies,
When the light of his resurrection morn
Is breaking out of the skies.
And we stumble at last when we come
On the brink of the grave to stand;
As if the souls that are born of his love
Could slip their Father's hand?
On the brink of the grave to stand;
As if the souls that are born of his love
Could slip their Father's hand?
THE VISION ON THE MOUNT.
Oh, if this living soul, that many a time
Above the low things of the earth doth climb,
Up to the mountain-top of faith sublime,
If she could only stay
In that high place alway,
And hear, in reverence bowed,
God's voice behind the cloud:
Above the low things of the earth doth climb,
Up to the mountain-top of faith sublime,
If she could only stay
In that high place alway,
And hear, in reverence bowed,
God's voice behind the cloud:
Or if descending to the earth again
Its lesson in the heart might still remain;
If we could keep the vision, clear and plain,
Nor let one jot escape,
So that we still might shape
Our lives to deeds sublime
By that exalted time:
Its lesson in the heart might still remain;
If we could keep the vision, clear and plain,
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So that we still might shape
Our lives to deeds sublime
By that exalted time:
Ah! what a world were ours to journey through!
What deeds of love and mercy we should do:
Making our lives so beautiful and true,
That in our face would shine
The light of love divine,
Showing that we had stood
Upon the mount of God.
What deeds of love and mercy we should do:
Making our lives so beautiful and true,
That in our face would shine
The light of love divine,
Showing that we had stood
Upon the mount of God.
But earthly of the earth, we downward tend,
From the pure height of faith our feet descend,
The hour of exaltation hath its end.
And we, alas! forget,
In life's turmoil and fret,
The pattern to us shown,
When on the mount alone.
From the pure height of faith our feet descend,
The hour of exaltation hath its end.
And we, alas! forget,
In life's turmoil and fret,
The pattern to us shown,
When on the mount alone.
Yea, we forget the rapture we had known,
Forget the voice that talked to us alone,
Forget the brightness past, the cloud that shone;
We have no need to veil
Our faces, dim and pale,
So soon from out them dies
The sweet light of the skies.
Forget the voice that talked to us alone,
Forget the brightness past, the cloud that shone;
We have no need to veil
Our faces, dim and pale,
So soon from out them dies
The sweet light of the skies.
We come down from the height where we have been.
And build our tabernacles low and mean,
Not by the pattern in the vision seen
Remembering no more,
When once the hour is o'er,
How in the safe cleft of the rock on high,
The shadow of the Lord has passed us by.
And build our tabernacles low and mean,
Not by the pattern in the vision seen
Remembering no more,
When once the hour is o'er,
How in the safe cleft of the rock on high,
The shadow of the Lord has passed us by.
A CANTICLE.
Be with me, O Lord, when my life hath increase
Of the riches that make it complete;
When, favored, I walk in the pathway of peace,
That is pleasant and safe to the feet:
Be with me and keep me, when all the day long
Delight hath no taint of alloy;
When my heart runneth over with laughter and song,
And my cup with the fullness of joy.
Of the riches that make it complete;
When, favored, I walk in the pathway of peace,
That is pleasant and safe to the feet:
Be with me and keep me, when all the day long
Delight hath no taint of alloy;
When my heart runneth over with laughter and song,
And my cup with the fullness of joy.
Be with me, O Lord, when I make my complaint
Because of my sorrow and care;
Take the weight from my soul, that is ready to faint,
And give me thy burden to bear.
If the sun of the desert at noontide, in wrath
Descends on my shelterless head,
Be thou the cool shadow and rock in the path
Of a land that is weary to tread.
Because of my sorrow and care;
Take the weight from my soul, that is ready to faint,
And give me thy burden to bear.
If the sun of the desert at noontide, in wrath
Descends on my shelterless head,
Be thou the cool shadow and rock in the path
Of a land that is weary to tread.
In the season of sorest affliction and dread,
When my soul is encompassed with fears,
Till I lie in the darkness awake on my bed,
And water my pillow with tears;
When lonely and sick, for the tender delight
Of thy comforting presence I pray,
Come into my chamber, O Lord, in the night,
And stay till the break of the day.
When my soul is encompassed with fears,
Till I lie in the darkness awake on my bed,
And water my pillow with tears;
When lonely and sick, for the tender delight
Of thy comforting presence I pray,
Come into my chamber, O Lord, in the night,
And stay till the break of the day.
Through the devious paths of the world be my guide,
Till its trials, and its dangers are past;
If I walk through the furnace, be thou by my side,
Be my rod and my staff to the last.
When my cruelest enemy presses me hard
To my last earthly refuge and rest—
Put thy arms underneath and about me, O Lord,
Let me lie tenderly on thy breast.
Till its trials, and its dangers are past;
If I walk through the furnace, be thou by my side,
Be my rod and my staff to the last.
When my cruelest enemy presses me hard
To my last earthly refuge and rest—
Put thy arms underneath and about me, O Lord,
Let me lie tenderly on thy breast.
Come down when in silence I slumber alone,
When the death seal is set on mine eyes;
Break open the sepulchre, roll off the stone,
And bear me away to the skies.
Lord, lay me to rest by the river, that bright
From the throne of thy glory doth flow;
Where the odorous beds of the lilies are white
And the roses of paradise blow!
When the death seal is set on mine eyes;
Break open the sepulchre, roll off the stone,
And bear me away to the skies.
Lord, lay me to rest by the river, that bright
From the throne of thy glory doth flow;
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And the roses of paradise blow!
THE CRY OF THE HEART AND FLESH.
When her mind was sore bewildered,
And her feet were gone astray,
When she saw no fiery column,
And no cloud before her way,—
Then, with earnest supplication.
To the mighty One she prayed,
“Thou for whom we were created,
And by whom the worlds were made,—
By thy pity for our weakness,
By thy wisdom and thy might,
Son of God, Divine Redeemer!
Guide and keep me in the right!”
And her feet were gone astray,
When she saw no fiery column,
And no cloud before her way,—
Then, with earnest supplication.
To the mighty One she prayed,
“Thou for whom we were created,
And by whom the worlds were made,—
By thy pity for our weakness,
By thy wisdom and thy might,
Son of God, Divine Redeemer!
Guide and keep me in the right!”
When Faith had broke her moorings,
And upon a sea of doubt,
Her soul with fear and darkness
Was encompassed round about;
Then she said, “O Elder Brother!
By thy human nature, when
Thou wert made to be in all things
Like unto the sons of men:
By the hour of thy temptation,
By thy one forsaken cry,
Son of God and man! have mercy,
Send thy light down from on high!”
And upon a sea of doubt,
Her soul with fear and darkness
Was encompassed round about;
Then she said, “O Elder Brother!
By thy human nature, when
Thou wert made to be in all things
Like unto the sons of men:
By the hour of thy temptation,
By thy one forsaken cry,
Son of God and man! have mercy,
Send thy light down from on high!”
When her very heart was broken.
Bearing more than it could bear.
Then she clasped her anguish, crying,
In her passionate despair,—
“Thou who wert beloved of women,
And who gav'st them love again,
By the strength of thine affection,
By its rapture and its pain,
Son of God and Son of woman!
Lo! 't is now the eventide!
Come from heaven, O sacred lover!
With thine handmaid to abide:
Come down as the bridegroom cometh
From his chamber to the bride!”
Bearing more than it could bear.
Then she clasped her anguish, crying,
In her passionate despair,—
“Thou who wert beloved of women,
And who gav'st them love again,
By the strength of thine affection,
By its rapture and its pain,
Son of God and Son of woman!
Lo! 't is now the eventide!
Come from heaven, O sacred lover!
With thine handmaid to abide:
Come down as the bridegroom cometh
From his chamber to the bride!”
OUR PATTERN.
A weaver sat one day at his loom,
Among the colors bright,
With the pattern for his copying
Hung fair and plain in sight.
Among the colors bright,
With the pattern for his copying
Hung fair and plain in sight.
But the weaver's thoughts were wandering
Away on a distant track,
As he threw the shuttle in his hand
Wearily forward and back.
Away on a distant track,
As he threw the shuttle in his hand
Wearily forward and back.
And he turned his dim eyes to the ground,
And tears fell on the woof,
For his thoughts, alas! were not with his home,
Nor the wife beneath its roof;
And tears fell on the woof,
For his thoughts, alas! were not with his home,
Nor the wife beneath its roof;
When her voice recalled him suddenly
To himself, as she sadly said:
“Ah! woe is me! for your work is spoiled,
And what will we do for bread?”
To himself, as she sadly said:
“Ah! woe is me! for your work is spoiled,
And what will we do for bread?”
And then the weaver looked, and saw
His work must be undone;
For the threads were wrong, and the colors dimmed,
Where the bitter tears had run.
His work must be undone;
For the threads were wrong, and the colors dimmed,
Where the bitter tears had run.
“Alack, alack!” said the weaver,
“And this had all been right
If I had not looked at my work, but kept
The pattern in my sight!”
“And this had all been right
If I had not looked at my work, but kept
The pattern in my sight!”
Ah! sad it was for the weaver,
And sad for his luckless wife:
And sad will it be for us, if we say,
At the end of our task of life:
And sad for his luckless wife:
And sad will it be for us, if we say,
At the end of our task of life:
“The colors that we had to weave
Were bright in our early years:
But we wove the tissue wrong, and stained
The woof with bitter tears.
Were bright in our early years:
But we wove the tissue wrong, and stained
The woof with bitter tears.
“We wove a web of doubt and fear—
Not faith, and hope, and love—
Because we looked at our work, and not
At our Pattern up above!”
Not faith, and hope, and love—
Because we looked at our work, and not
At our Pattern up above!”
THE EARTHLY HOUSE.
“Ye are the temple of God. . . . . If any man defile the temple of God, him will God destroy: for the the temple of God is holy.”
I Corinthians iii. 16, 17.
Once—in the ages that have passed away,
Since the fair morning of that fairest day,
When earth, in all her innocent beauty, stood
Near her Creator, and He called her good—
He who had weighed the planets in his hand,
And dropped them in the places where they stand,
Builded a little temple white and fair,
And of a workmanship so fine and rare
Even the star that led to Bethlehem
Had not the value of this wondrous gem.
Since the fair morning of that fairest day,
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Near her Creator, and He called her good—
He who had weighed the planets in his hand,
And dropped them in the places where they stand,
Builded a little temple white and fair,
And of a workmanship so fine and rare
Even the star that led to Bethlehem
Had not the value of this wondrous gem.
Then, that its strength and beauty might endure,
He placed within, to keep it clean and pure,
A living human soul. To him He said:
“This is the temple which my hands have made
To be thy dwelling-place, or foul or fair,
As thou shalt make it by neglect or care.
Mar or deface this temple's sacred wall,
And swift destruction on the work shall fall:
Preserve it perfect in its purity,
And God Himself shall come and dwell with thee!”
He placed within, to keep it clean and pure,
A living human soul. To him He said:
“This is the temple which my hands have made
To be thy dwelling-place, or foul or fair,
As thou shalt make it by neglect or care.
Mar or deface this temple's sacred wall,
And swift destruction on the work shall fall:
Preserve it perfect in its purity,
And God Himself shall come and dwell with thee!”
Then he for whom that holy place was built,
Fair as a palace—ah, what fearful guilt!—
Grew, after tending it a little while,
Careless, then reckless, and then wholly vile.
The evil spirits came and dwelt with him;
The walls decayed, and through the windows dim
He saw not this world's beauty any more,
Heard no good angel knocking at his door;
And all his house, because of sin and crime,
Tumbled and fell in ruin ere its time.
Fair as a palace—ah, what fearful guilt!—
Grew, after tending it a little while,
Careless, then reckless, and then wholly vile.
The evil spirits came and dwelt with him;
The walls decayed, and through the windows dim
He saw not this world's beauty any more,
Heard no good angel knocking at his door;
And all his house, because of sin and crime,
Tumbled and fell in ruin ere its time.
Oh, men and brethren! we who live to-day
In dwellings made by God, though made of clay,
Have these our mortal bodies ever been
Kept fit for Him who made them pure and clean;
Or was that soul in evil sunk so deep,
He spoiled the temple he was set to keep,
And turned to wastefulness and to abuse
The tastes and passions that were meant for use;
So like ourselves, that we, afraid, might cry:
“Lord, who destroyest the temple—is it I?”
In dwellings made by God, though made of clay,
Have these our mortal bodies ever been
Kept fit for Him who made them pure and clean;
Or was that soul in evil sunk so deep,
He spoiled the temple he was set to keep,
And turned to wastefulness and to abuse
The tastes and passions that were meant for use;
So like ourselves, that we, afraid, might cry:
“Lord, who destroyest the temple—is it I?”
YE DID IT UNTO ME.
Sinner, careless, proud, and cold,
Straying from the sheltering fold,
Hast thou thought how patiently
The Good Shepherd follows thee;
Still with tireless, toiling feet,
Through the tempest and the heat—
Thought upon that yearning breast,
Where He fain would have thee rest,
And of all its tender pain,
While He seeks for thee in vain?
Straying from the sheltering fold,
Hast thou thought how patiently
The Good Shepherd follows thee;
Still with tireless, toiling feet,
Through the tempest and the heat—
Thought upon that yearning breast,
Where He fain would have thee rest,
And of all its tender pain,
While He seeks for thee in vain?
Dost thou know what He must feel,
Making vainly his appeal:
When He knocketh at thy door
Present entrance to implore;
Saying, “Open unto Me,
I will come and sup with thee”—
Forced to turn away at last
From the portal shut and fast?
Wilt thou careless slumber on,
Even till thy Lord has gone,
Heedless of his high behest,
His desire to be thy guest?
Making vainly his appeal:
When He knocketh at thy door
Present entrance to implore;
Saying, “Open unto Me,
I will come and sup with thee”—
Forced to turn away at last
From the portal shut and fast?
Wilt thou careless slumber on,
Even till thy Lord has gone,
Heedless of his high behest,
His desire to be thy guest?
Sinner, sinner, dost thou know
What it is to slight Him so?
Sitting careless by the sea
While He calleth, “Follow me”;
Sleeping, thoughtless, unaware
Of his agonizing prayer,
While thy sins his soul o'erpower,
And thou canst not watch one hour?
Our infirmities He bore,
And our mortal form He wore;
Yea, our Lord was made to be
Here in all things like as we,
And, that pardon we might win,
He, the sinless, bare our sin!
What it is to slight Him so?
Sitting careless by the sea
While He calleth, “Follow me”;
Sleeping, thoughtless, unaware
Of his agonizing prayer,
While thy sins his soul o'erpower,
And thou canst not watch one hour?
Our infirmities He bore,
And our mortal form He wore;
Yea, our Lord was made to be
Here in all things like as we,
And, that pardon we might win,
He, the sinless, bare our sin!
Sinner, though He comes no more
Faint and fasting to thy door,
His disciples here instead
Thou canst give the cup and bread.
If his lambs thou dost not feed,
He it is that feels their need:
He that suffers their distress,
Hunger, thirst, and weariness:
He that loving them again
Beareth all their bitter pain!
Canst thou then so reckless prove,
Canst thou, darest thou slight his love?
Faint and fasting to thy door,
His disciples here instead
Thou canst give the cup and bread.
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He it is that feels their need:
He that suffers their distress,
Hunger, thirst, and weariness:
He that loving them again
Beareth all their bitter pain!
Canst thou then so reckless prove,
Canst thou, darest thou slight his love?
Do not, sinner, for thy sake
Make Him still the cross to take,
And ascend again for thee
Dark and dreadful Calvary!
Do not set the crown of pain
On that sacred head again;
Open all afresh and wide
Closèd wounds in hands and side.
Do not, do not scorn his name,
Putting Him to open shame!
Make Him still the cross to take,
And ascend again for thee
Dark and dreadful Calvary!
Do not set the crown of pain
On that sacred head again;
Open all afresh and wide
Closèd wounds in hands and side.
Do not, do not scorn his name,
Putting Him to open shame!
Oh, by all the love He knew,
For his followers, dear and true;
By the sacred tears He wept
At the tomb where Lazarus slept;
By Gethsemane's bitter cry,
That the cup might pass Him by;
By that wail of agony,
Why hast thou forsaken me?
By that last and heaviest stroke,
When his heart for sinners broke,
Do not let Him lose the price
Of his awful sacrifice!
For his followers, dear and true;
By the sacred tears He wept
At the tomb where Lazarus slept;
By Gethsemane's bitter cry,
That the cup might pass Him by;
By that wail of agony,
Why hast thou forsaken me?
By that last and heaviest stroke,
When his heart for sinners broke,
Do not let Him lose the price
Of his awful sacrifice!
THE SINNER AT THE CROSS.
Helpless before the cross I lay,
With all to lose, or all to win,
My steps had wandered from the way,
My soul was burdened with her sin;
I spoke no word, I made no plea,
But this, Be merciful to me!
With all to lose, or all to win,
My steps had wandered from the way,
My soul was burdened with her sin;
I spoke no word, I made no plea,
But this, Be merciful to me!
To meet his gaze, I could not brook,
Who for my sake ascended there;
I could not bear the angry look
My dear offended Lord must wear;
Remembering how I had denied
His name, my heart within me died.
Who for my sake ascended there;
I could not bear the angry look
My dear offended Lord must wear;
Remembering how I had denied
His name, my heart within me died.
Almost, I heard his awful voice,
Sounding above my head in wrath;
Fixing my everlasting choice
With such as tread the downward path;
I waited for the words, Depart
From me, accursed as thou art!
Sounding above my head in wrath;
Fixing my everlasting choice
With such as tread the downward path;
I waited for the words, Depart
From me, accursed as thou art!
One moment, all the world was stilled,
Then, He who saw my anguish, spoke;
I heard, I breathed, my pulses thrilled,
And heart, and brain, and soul awoke;
No scorn, no wrath was in that tone,
But pitying love, and love alone!
Then, He who saw my anguish, spoke;
I heard, I breathed, my pulses thrilled,
And heart, and brain, and soul awoke;
No scorn, no wrath was in that tone,
But pitying love, and love alone!
“And dost thou know, and love not me,”
He said, “when I have loved thee so;
It was for guilty men like thee
I came into this world of woe;
To save the lost I lived and died,
For sinners was I crucified.”
He said, “when I have loved thee so;
It was for guilty men like thee
I came into this world of woe;
To save the lost I lived and died,
For sinners was I crucified.”
The fountain of my tears was dried,
My eyes were lifted from the dust:
“Jesus! my blessed Lord! I cried,
And is it thou, I feared to trust?
And art thou He, I deemed my foe;
The Friend to whom I dared not go?
My eyes were lifted from the dust:
“Jesus! my blessed Lord! I cried,
And is it thou, I feared to trust?
And art thou He, I deemed my foe;
The Friend to whom I dared not go?
“How could I shrink from such as thou,
Divine Redeemer, as thou art!
I know thy loving kindness now,
I see thy wounded, bleeding heart;
I know that thou didst give me thine,
And all that thou dost ask is mine!
Divine Redeemer, as thou art!
I know thy loving kindness now,
I see thy wounded, bleeding heart;
I know that thou didst give me thine,
And all that thou dost ask is mine!
“My Lord, my God! I know at last
Whose mercy I have dared offend;
I own thee now, I hold thee fast,
My Brother, Lover, and my Friend!
Take me and clasp me to thy breast,
Bless me again, and keep me blest!
Whose mercy I have dared offend;
I own thee now, I hold thee fast,
My Brother, Lover, and my Friend!
Take me and clasp me to thy breast,
Bless me again, and keep me blest!
“Thou art the man, who ne'er refused
With sinful men to sit at meat;
Who spake to her who was accused
Of men, and trembling at thy feet,
As lips had never spoke before,
Go uncondemned, and sin no more.
With sinful men to sit at meat;
Who spake to her who was accused
Of men, and trembling at thy feet,
As lips had never spoke before,
Go uncondemned, and sin no more.
“Dear Lord! not all eternity
Thy image from my heart can move,
When thou didst turn and look on me,
When first I heard thy words of love;
Repent, believe, and thou shalt be,
To-night in Paradise with me.”
Thy image from my heart can move,
When thou didst turn and look on me,
When first I heard thy words of love;
Repent, believe, and thou shalt be,
To-night in Paradise with me.”
392
THE HEIR.
An orphan, through the world
Unfriended did I roam,
I knew not that my Father lived,
Nor that I had a home.
Unfriended did I roam,
I knew not that my Father lived,
Nor that I had a home.
No kindred might I claim,
No lover sought for me;
Mine was a solitary life,
Set in no family.
No lover sought for me;
Mine was a solitary life,
Set in no family.
I yielded to despair,
I sorrowed night and morn—
I cried, “Ah! good it were for me,
If I had not been born!”
I sorrowed night and morn—
I cried, “Ah! good it were for me,
If I had not been born!”
At midnight came a man—
He knocked upon my door;
He spake such tender words as man
Ne'er spake to me before.
He knocked upon my door;
He spake such tender words as man
Ne'er spake to me before.
I rose to let him in,
I shook with fear and dread;
A lamp was shining in his hand,
A brightness round his head.
I shook with fear and dread;
A lamp was shining in his hand,
A brightness round his head.
“And who art thou,” I cried;
“I scarce for awe might speak;
And why for such a wretch as I
Dost thou at midnight seek?”
“I scarce for awe might speak;
And why for such a wretch as I
Dost thou at midnight seek?”
“Though thou hast strayed,” He said,
“From me thou couldst not flee;
I am thy Brother and thy Friend,
And thou shalt share with me!
“From me thou couldst not flee;
I am thy Brother and thy Friend,
And thou shalt share with me!
“For me thou hast not sought,
I sought thee everywhere;
Thou hast a Father and a home,
With mansions grand and fair.
I sought thee everywhere;
Thou hast a Father and a home,
With mansions grand and fair.
“To thine inheritance
I came thy soul to bring;
Thou art the royal heir of heaven—
The daughter of the King!”
I came thy soul to bring;
Thou art the royal heir of heaven—
The daughter of the King!”
REALITIES.
Things that I have to hold and keep, ah! these
Are not the treasures to my heart most dear;
Though many sweet and precious promises
Have had their sweet fulfillment, even here.
Are not the treasures to my heart most dear;
Though many sweet and precious promises
Have had their sweet fulfillment, even here.
And yet to others, what I name my own
Poor unrealities and shows might seem;
Since my best house hath no foundation-stone.
My tenderest lover is a tender dream.
Poor unrealities and shows might seem;
Since my best house hath no foundation-stone.
My tenderest lover is a tender dream.
And would you learn who leads me, if below
I choose the good or from the ill forbear?
A little child He suffered long ago
To come unto his arms, and keeps her there!
I choose the good or from the ill forbear?
A little child He suffered long ago
To come unto his arms, and keeps her there!
The alms I give the beggar at my gate
I do but lend to One who thrice repays;
The only heavenly bread I ever ate
Came back to find me, after many days.
I do but lend to One who thrice repays;
The only heavenly bread I ever ate
Came back to find me, after many days.
The single friend whose presence cannot fail,
Whose face I always see without disguise,
Went down into the grave and left the veil
Of mortal flesh that hid her from my eyes!
Whose face I always see without disguise,
Went down into the grave and left the veil
Of mortal flesh that hid her from my eyes!
My clearest way is that which faith hath shown,
Not that in which by sight I daily move;
And the most precious thing my soul hath known
Is that which passeth knowledge, God's dear love.
Not that in which by sight I daily move;
And the most precious thing my soul hath known
Is that which passeth knowledge, God's dear love.
HYMN.
When the world no solace gives,
When in deep distress I groan;
When my lover and my friend
Leave me with my grief alone;
When a weary land I tread,
Fainting for the rocks and springs,
Overshadow me, O Lord,
With the comfort of thy wings!
When in deep distress I groan;
When my lover and my friend
Leave me with my grief alone;
When a weary land I tread,
Fainting for the rocks and springs,
393
With the comfort of thy wings!
When my heart and flesh shall fail,
When I yield my mortal breath,
When I gather up my feet,
Icy with the chill of death;
Strengthen and sustain me, Lord,
With thine all-sufficient grace:
Overlean my dying bed
With the sweetness of thy face!
When I yield my mortal breath,
When I gather up my feet,
Icy with the chill of death;
Strengthen and sustain me, Lord,
With thine all-sufficient grace:
Overlean my dying bed
With the sweetness of thy face!
When the pang, the strife is past,
When my spirit mounts on high,
Catch me up in thine embrace,
In thy bosom let me lie!
Freed from sin and freed from death,
Hid with thee, in heaven above,
Oversplendor me, O God,
With the glory of thy love.
When my spirit mounts on high,
Catch me up in thine embrace,
In thy bosom let me lie!
Freed from sin and freed from death,
Hid with thee, in heaven above,
Oversplendor me, O God,
With the glory of thy love.
WOUNDED
O men, with wounded souls,
O women, with broken hearts,
That have suffered since ever the world was made,
And nobly borne your parts;
O women, with broken hearts,
That have suffered since ever the world was made,
And nobly borne your parts;
Suffered and borne as well
As the martyrs whom we name,
That went rejoicing home, through flood,
Or singing through the flame;
As the martyrs whom we name,
That went rejoicing home, through flood,
Or singing through the flame;
Ye have had of Him reward
For your battles fought and won,
Who giveth his beloved rest
When the day of their work is done.
For your battles fought and won,
Who giveth his beloved rest
When the day of their work is done.
Ye have changed for perfect peace
The pain of the ways ye trod;
And laid your burdens softly down,
At the merciful feet of God!
The pain of the ways ye trod;
And laid your burdens softly down,
At the merciful feet of God!
A CRY OF THE HEART.
Oh, for a mind more clear to see,
A hand to work more earnestly
For every good intent;
Oh, for a Peter's fiery zeal,
His conscience always quick to feel,
And instant to repent!
A hand to work more earnestly
For every good intent;
Oh, for a Peter's fiery zeal,
His conscience always quick to feel,
And instant to repent!
Oh, for a faith more strong and true
Than that which doubting Thomas knew,
A faith assured and clear;
To know that He who for us died,
Rejected, scorned, and crucified,
Lives, and is with us here.
Than that which doubting Thomas knew,
A faith assured and clear;
To know that He who for us died,
Rejected, scorned, and crucified,
Lives, and is with us here.
Oh, for the blessing shed upon
That humble, loving, sinful one,
Who, when He sat at meat,
With precious store of ointment came;
Hid from her Lord her face for shame,
And laid it on his feet.
That humble, loving, sinful one,
Who, when He sat at meat,
With precious store of ointment came;
Hid from her Lord her face for shame,
And laid it on his feet.
Oh, for that look of pity seen
By her, the guilty Magdalene,
Who stood her Judge before;
And listening, for her comfort heard,
The tender, sweet, forgiving word:—
Go thou, and sin no more!
By her, the guilty Magdalene,
Who stood her Judge before;
And listening, for her comfort heard,
The tender, sweet, forgiving word:—
Go thou, and sin no more!
Oh, to have stood with James and John,
Where brightness round the Saviour shone,
Whiter than light of day;
When by the voice and cloud dismayed,
They fell upon the ground afraid,
And wist not what to say.
Where brightness round the Saviour shone,
Whiter than light of day;
When by the voice and cloud dismayed,
They fell upon the ground afraid,
And wist not what to say.
Oh, to have been the favored guest,
That leaned at supper on his breast,
And heard his dear Lord say:
He who shall testify of Me,
The Comforter, ye may not see
Except I go away.
That leaned at supper on his breast,
And heard his dear Lord say:
He who shall testify of Me,
The Comforter, ye may not see
Except I go away.
Oh, for the honor won by her,
Who early to the sepulchre
Hastened in tearful gloom;
To whom He gave his high behest,
To tell to Peter and the rest,
Their Lord had left the tomb.
Who early to the sepulchre
Hastened in tearful gloom;
To whom He gave his high behest,
To tell to Peter and the rest,
Their Lord had left the tomb.
Oh, for the vision that sufficed
That first blest martyr after Christ,
And gave a peace so deep,
That while he saw with raptured eyes
Jesus with God in Paradise,
He, praying, feel asleep.
That first blest martyr after Christ,
And gave a peace so deep,
That while he saw with raptured eyes
Jesus with God in Paradise,
He, praying, feel asleep.
But if such heights I may not gain,
O thou, to whom no soul in vain
Or cries, or makes complaints;
This only favor grant to me,—
That I of sinners chief, may be
The least of all thy saints!
O thou, to whom no soul in vain
Or cries, or makes complaints;
This only favor grant to me,—
That I of sinners chief, may be
The least of all thy saints!
| [Poems by Cary in] The Poetical Works Of Alice and Phoebe Cary | |