 | The Prisoner of Love |  |
227
July 9 GOD THE FRIEND
“Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”—
St. John xv. 14.
I have no friend but God,
Nor need I more
To walk the desert which the fathers trod
Who fought their fight, and went that way before;
I ask no seat, because I have His throne
And hourly bear the burden and the heat,
Which He has borne who won, but not alone.
I crave no earthly gleam of light
Or love,
Beyond the blessing of the secret sight
Which lifts me as I look to peace above.
Nor need I more
To walk the desert which the fathers trod
Who fought their fight, and went that way before;
I ask no seat, because I have His throne
And hourly bear the burden and the heat,
Which He has borne who won, but not alone.
I crave no earthly gleam of light
Or love,
Beyond the blessing of the secret sight
Which lifts me as I look to peace above.
I have no friend but God,
Who guideth still
These erring footsteps with His patient rod,
Which is my staff of strength in every ill.
I am content
To suffer as my Lord
And know with Him the shadow of descent,
Although my passage be the bitter sword;
It is enough to feel that He
Is near,
Within the darkness (if I cannot see)
And under all the trouble and each tear.
Who guideth still
These erring footsteps with His patient rod,
Which is my staff of strength in every ill.
I am content
To suffer as my Lord
And know with Him the shadow of descent,
Although my passage be the bitter sword;
It is enough to feel that He
Is near,
Within the darkness (if I cannot see)
And under all the trouble and each tear.
| The Prisoner of Love | |