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256

August 6 RECEIVING CHRIST

“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.”—St. John vi. 44.

None can receive Christ in his heart
And grow unto the perfect man,
Where Christ is not already part
Of every power and every plan;
O we receive but what we bring,
Whether we weep for joy or sing;
And the great wellsprings only start,
If Christ the Fountain there began.
None can receive the inward ray
Who hath not got the kindled breast,
The sunrise of eternal day,
The radiant source, the Sabbath rest;
O we receive but what we are,
Or dusky cloud or dazzling star;
We have the blessing which we pray,
And the pursuit was first possest.
None can receive Christ who hath not
Shrined Him above his dearest things,
Unless Christ is his chosen lot—
The music of the secret strings;
O we receive but what we have,
Or endless life or awful grave;
We simply learn what we forgot,
And royal crowns come to their kings.
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