 | Poems of home and country |  |
289
FROM EARTH TO HEAVEN.
COME UNTO ME.
Thou whose heart with pain is broken,
Long with grief and woe oppressed,
Hear what God, the Lord, hath spoken,
Weary wanderer after rest.
Come to Me, thy sins forsaking,
God's great mercy gladly taking:
With the world and folly part.
Give Me, give Me now, thy heart.
Long with grief and woe oppressed,
Hear what God, the Lord, hath spoken,
Weary wanderer after rest.
Come to Me, thy sins forsaking,
God's great mercy gladly taking:
With the world and folly part.
Give Me, give Me now, thy heart.
Come to Me, the meek and lowly;
Come, My easy burden bear;
Be thou one among the holy;
Cast away thy dull despair;
I will make thy burdens lighter;
I will make thy pleasures brighter;
Restless as the troubled sea,
Come, forsaking all for Me.
Come, My easy burden bear;
Be thou one among the holy;
Cast away thy dull despair;
I will make thy burdens lighter;
I will make thy pleasures brighter;
Restless as the troubled sea,
Come, forsaking all for Me.
Who that ever sought My favor,
Though My grace was long abused,
Who that yielded to the Saviour,
Asked My love and was refused?
At the throne of mercy bending,
On the arm of God depending,
Come to Me, from labor cease;
And in Me thou shalt have peace.
Though My grace was long abused,
Who that yielded to the Saviour,
Asked My love and was refused?
At the throne of mercy bending,
On the arm of God depending,
Come to Me, from labor cease;
And in Me thou shalt have peace.
290
O LORD, REMEMBER ME!
With crowds around upbraiding,
And curses on the blast,
While things of earth were fading,
And life was ebbing fast,—
The malefactor, praying,
To Christ upon the tree,
Breathed out his spirit, saying,
“O Lord, remember me!”
And curses on the blast,
While things of earth were fading,
And life was ebbing fast,—
The malefactor, praying,
To Christ upon the tree,
Breathed out his spirit, saying,
“O Lord, remember me!”
The Saviour looked in meekness,
Though death was drawing nigh;
He heeded not His weakness,
When came the contrite sigh.
He said, while thoughts of pity
Beamed from His dying eyes:
“To-day thou shalt be with Me,
In yonder paradise.”
Though death was drawing nigh;
He heeded not His weakness,
When came the contrite sigh.
He said, while thoughts of pity
Beamed from His dying eyes:
“To-day thou shalt be with Me,
In yonder paradise.”
If scenes of joy and gladness,
In life my lot should be,
Or should my days bring sadness,
O Lord, remember me!
Receive my parting spirit,
Where joys unfading rise,
And take me to inherit
A place in paradise.
In life my lot should be,
Or should my days bring sadness,
O Lord, remember me!
Receive my parting spirit,
Where joys unfading rise,
And take me to inherit
A place in paradise.
291
THE ALL-SUFFICIENT REFUGE.
O rock of Ages! when the storm
Of trial drives across my path,
And vainly struggles human power
To stand against its sweeping wrath,
Then shield me by Thy towering head,
Then in Thy clefts, O, let me hide,—
No ill can reach the soul that leans,
Trusting, on Christ the Crucified.
Of trial drives across my path,
And vainly struggles human power
To stand against its sweeping wrath,
Then shield me by Thy towering head,
Then in Thy clefts, O, let me hide,—
No ill can reach the soul that leans,
Trusting, on Christ the Crucified.
O Rock of Ages! when my tears
In streams of contrite anguish flow,
And, penitent, my lips confess
How just the hand that strikes the blow,
Then to Thy massive, shelving cliffs,
Then to Thy shadow let me flee;
The dying Christ sustained the shock,
And, Lord, the soul is safe in Thee.
In streams of contrite anguish flow,
And, penitent, my lips confess
How just the hand that strikes the blow,
Then to Thy massive, shelving cliffs,
Then to Thy shadow let me flee;
The dying Christ sustained the shock,
And, Lord, the soul is safe in Thee.
O Rock of Ages! when my heart,
Struck by some sore bereavement, bleeds,
And earthly props and comforters
Have proved themselves but broken reeds,
Then to Thy shelter let me press,
Which stands from age to age the same;
Christ changes not,—the stricken soul
Finds comfort in His healing name.
Struck by some sore bereavement, bleeds,
And earthly props and comforters
Have proved themselves but broken reeds,
Then to Thy shelter let me press,
Which stands from age to age the same;
Christ changes not,—the stricken soul
Finds comfort in His healing name.
O Rock of Ages! if the cross
Of shame for Christ's dear name I bear,
Or suffer loss, because I choose
His seal upon my brow to wear,
Then, calm and fearless, let my soul,
Safe in Thy great protection, rest;
Christ is a refuge,—troubled hearts
Find shelter in the Saviour's breast.
Of shame for Christ's dear name I bear,
Or suffer loss, because I choose
His seal upon my brow to wear,
292
Safe in Thy great protection, rest;
Christ is a refuge,—troubled hearts
Find shelter in the Saviour's breast.
O Rock of Ages! when in death
My strength grows weak, my spirits fail,
And earthly helpers leave my feet
To tread alone the solemn vale,
Then from each cliff and slope and crag,
Let light, from heaven reflected, shine;
Christ is earth's sun, and Christ alone
Can gild the tomb with rays divine.
My strength grows weak, my spirits fail,
And earthly helpers leave my feet
To tread alone the solemn vale,
Then from each cliff and slope and crag,
Let light, from heaven reflected, shine;
Christ is earth's sun, and Christ alone
Can gild the tomb with rays divine.
As clings the seaman, when his bark
Is shattered by the raging wave,
To fragments of the broken wreck,
And vainly hopes his life to save,—
So, in all times of risk or need,
My spirit to Thy shade shall flee;
Secure, in life or death, to find
O Rock of Ages! all in Thee.
Is shattered by the raging wave,
To fragments of the broken wreck,
And vainly hopes his life to save,—
So, in all times of risk or need,
My spirit to Thy shade shall flee;
Secure, in life or death, to find
O Rock of Ages! all in Thee.
THE EVERLASTING SHELTER.
No sorrow, like a sweeping storm,
Around the soul fierce conflict wages,
But Christ has power its force to quell,—
No storm can move the Rock of Ages.
Around the soul fierce conflict wages,
But Christ has power its force to quell,—
No storm can move the Rock of Ages.
293
O yearning thirst of human hearts!
Thirst which no earthly good assuages,—
Seek water from the Smitten Rock;
That Rock is Christ,—the Rock of Ages.
Thirst which no earthly good assuages,—
Seek water from the Smitten Rock;
That Rock is Christ,—the Rock of Ages.
O hearts and hands consumed by toil,
Confined to earth, as birds in cages!
Rest for the weary—endless rest—
Lies in Thy shelter, Rock of Ages.
Confined to earth, as birds in cages!
Rest for the weary—endless rest—
Lies in Thy shelter, Rock of Ages.
Search all the wisdom earth can boast;
Bring all the light from saints and sages,—
Vain is the quest for peace and rest,
Till sought within the Rock of Ages.
Bring all the light from saints and sages,—
Vain is the quest for peace and rest,
Till sought within the Rock of Ages.
What thought, what hope, what love, what joy,
The heart—the curious heart—engages;
Joy, love, and hope surpassing thought,—
All centre in the Rock of Ages.
The heart—the curious heart—engages;
Joy, love, and hope surpassing thought,—
All centre in the Rock of Ages.
There is a land serene and fair,
Where falls no blight, no passion rages,
Sheltered and safe from grief and sin,
O'ershadowed by the Rock of Ages.
Where falls no blight, no passion rages,
Sheltered and safe from grief and sin,
O'ershadowed by the Rock of Ages.
Grateful, our heavenward path we tread,
Mount by successive steps and stages,
And wait secure the day of God,—
Hid in Thy clefts, O Rock of Ages!
Mount by successive steps and stages,
And wait secure the day of God,—
Hid in Thy clefts, O Rock of Ages!
294
LIFE'S RAPID RIVER.
As flows the rapid river,
With channel broad and free,
Its waters rippling ever,
And rushing to the sea,—
So swift our days are ending,
Short is each joy and grief,—
Summer with winter blending,
The longest life, how brief.
With channel broad and free,
Its waters rippling ever,
And rushing to the sea,—
So swift our days are ending,
Short is each joy and grief,—
Summer with winter blending,
The longest life, how brief.
As moons are ever waning,
As hastes the sun away,
As stormy winds, complaining,
Bring on the wintry day,—
So fast the night comes o'er us,
The darkness of the grave,—
Death ever just before us,
God takes the life He gave.
As hastes the sun away,
As stormy winds, complaining,
Bring on the wintry day,—
So fast the night comes o'er us,
The darkness of the grave,—
Death ever just before us,
God takes the life He gave.
Be then thy choicest treasure
Laid up in worlds above;
Be thine the highest pleasure,
Thy God, to serve and love;
And use, with wise endeavour,
The talent Heaven has lent,
Lest thou lament forever,
A precious life, misspent.
Laid up in worlds above;
Be thine the highest pleasure,
Thy God, to serve and love;
And use, with wise endeavour,
The talent Heaven has lent,
Lest thou lament forever,
A precious life, misspent.
295
AS SUMMER CLOUDS.
As summer clouds in richness sleeping,
Are scattered by the winds away;
As flowers, awhile their beauty keeping,
Are withered at the close of day,—
So life is ever, ever flying,
And bringing on the hour of dying;
The cloud departs; the blossom fades;
And death draws on its silent shades.
Are scattered by the winds away;
As flowers, awhile their beauty keeping,
Are withered at the close of day,—
So life is ever, ever flying,
And bringing on the hour of dying;
The cloud departs; the blossom fades;
And death draws on its silent shades.
How brief the rainbow's peaceful brightness!
Its glowing colors melt away;
How vain the busy insect's lightness!
Its life is sweet, but will not stay.
Earth's dearest joys are tinged by sorrow;
The soul may wade in grief to-morrow.
The rainbow melts; the insect dies,—
But man to endless life may rise.
Its glowing colors melt away;
How vain the busy insect's lightness!
Its life is sweet, but will not stay.
Earth's dearest joys are tinged by sorrow;
The soul may wade in grief to-morrow.
The rainbow melts; the insect dies,—
But man to endless life may rise.
The noonday hours are bright, but fleeting;
The time for labor soon is gone;
The gentle twilight, fast retreating,
Forsakes the world, and day is done.
So fast the day of life is spending;
So fast the time of duty, ending;
The day retires, the twilight flies;
O man, secure life's noblest prize.
The time for labor soon is gone;
The gentle twilight, fast retreating,
Forsakes the world, and day is done.
So fast the day of life is spending;
So fast the time of duty, ending;
The day retires, the twilight flies;
O man, secure life's noblest prize.
296
HOW BLEST ARE THEY, IN CHRIST, WHO DIE!
“Peace was the last word of little Jane, and peace seemed to be inscribed on the farewell scene at the grave where they laid her down to rest.”
How blest are they, in Christ, who die,
While guardian angels linger nigh!
The dreary days of pain are o'er;
And life ebbs out,
As billows die on the shore.
While guardian angels linger nigh!
The dreary days of pain are o'er;
And life ebbs out,
As billows die on the shore.
Death wears no terror on its brow;
It comes like summer airs that blow
Across the earth at evening hour,
Or moonlight beams,
That glide along the peaceful bower.
It comes like summer airs that blow
Across the earth at evening hour,
Or moonlight beams,
That glide along the peaceful bower.
While angel-bands the requiem sing,
The joyful soul is on the wing.
The captive free; life's labor done,—
Clad in white robes,
The saint appears before the throne.
The joyful soul is on the wing.
The captive free; life's labor done,—
Clad in white robes,
The saint appears before the throne.
Peace reigns beside the silent bed,—
Peace, where the happy soul has fled;
The Lord hath taken what He gave.
The soul hath rest;
And peace is written on the grave.
Peace, where the happy soul has fled;
The Lord hath taken what He gave.
The soul hath rest;
And peace is written on the grave.
297
TO DIE IS GAIN.
[_]
During a severe illness in July, 1892, Dr. Smith wrote the following lines upon small scraps of paper, as he had strength. They were preserved and printed by his son, very tender memories attaching to the family experiences of that summer. Believing that they will bear spiritual comfort to many in other households, the compiler of this volume has the assent of their author to this present use.
To feel the mild, delicious clime,
Where summer never fades;
To breathe the glorious atmosphere,
Which sickness ne'er invades;
Where summer never fades;
To breathe the glorious atmosphere,
Which sickness ne'er invades;
To reach at last that happy land,
Where tears are never known;
To see the wondrous face of Him
Who sits upon the throne;
Where tears are never known;
To see the wondrous face of Him
Who sits upon the throne;
All the great souls of all the years,
In Heaven's high courts to meet;
All kindred spirits, glorified,
To join, in converse sweet;
In Heaven's high courts to meet;
All kindred spirits, glorified,
To join, in converse sweet;
To burst the chrysalis, and soar
On love's triumphant wing;
To swell the hymns of mighty praise,
The ransomed armies sing;
On love's triumphant wing;
To swell the hymns of mighty praise,
The ransomed armies sing;
To wear the robes of saints in light;
To shine as shines the sun;
To hear the Saviour's welcome voice
Pronounce the glad “well done!”
To shine as shines the sun;
To hear the Saviour's welcome voice
Pronounce the glad “well done!”
298
And, O, the crowning height of bliss,
Where all the glories blend,
To know the bliss, the light, the love,
Shall never, never, end!
Where all the glories blend,
To know the bliss, the light, the love,
Shall never, never, end!
Beyond the shades of sin and woe,
With joyful speed to fly,
And in God's loving arms to rest,—
Oh, it is gain to die.
With joyful speed to fly,
And in God's loving arms to rest,—
Oh, it is gain to die.
THE DYING CHRISTIAN.
By the couch of the saint there are loved ones to weep;
There are angels to watch o'er the last weary sleep;
There's a Saviour to soothe every feeling of grief,
And a balm for the spirit that sighs for relief.
There are angels to watch o'er the last weary sleep;
There's a Saviour to soothe every feeling of grief,
And a balm for the spirit that sighs for relief.
When the soul thro' the Jordan of death deeply wades,
And the light of creation burns dimly and fades;
There 's a voice that can speak thro' the gathering shade,—
Saint, thy Saviour is near thee, O, be not afraid.
And the light of creation burns dimly and fades;
There 's a voice that can speak thro' the gathering shade,—
Saint, thy Saviour is near thee, O, be not afraid.
As the sun hastens down to his place in the west,
And the calmness of evening thrills sweet through the breast;
So serene is the hour, when the soul sinks to rest,
And with gladness ascends to the home of the blest.
And the calmness of evening thrills sweet through the breast;
So serene is the hour, when the soul sinks to rest,
And with gladness ascends to the home of the blest.
299
THE GRAVE.
How calm and peaceful is the grave!
How bright the flowers that round it wave!
How clear the sky that o'er it shines!
How soft the scene,
When morning dawns, when day declines!
How bright the flowers that round it wave!
How clear the sky that o'er it shines!
How soft the scene,
When morning dawns, when day declines!
The weary there forget their woes—
The pilgrim hath a long repose;
No earthly storms the dead awake;
Their sleep is still
As sunset on the peaceful lake.
The pilgrim hath a long repose;
No earthly storms the dead awake;
Their sleep is still
As sunset on the peaceful lake.
The rich and great are slumbering there,
Set free from earth's delusive glare.
The poor are garnered in the dust,
Alike at rest,
Till comes the rising of the just.
Set free from earth's delusive glare.
The poor are garnered in the dust,
Alike at rest,
Till comes the rising of the just.
O day of glory, when the tomb
Shall burst, and heaven's bright morning come,
When all that in the earth repose
Shall wake to life,
And Christ shall reign o'er all His foes!
Shall burst, and heaven's bright morning come,
When all that in the earth repose
Shall wake to life,
And Christ shall reign o'er all His foes!
300
WHERE IS THY VICTORY, O GRAVE!
Christian, awake! Let thy soul swell with gladness!
Prospects of glory dawn bright on thy sadness;
Rising, immortal, thy spirit shall sing,—
Grave, where 's thy victory; Death, where 's thy sting?
Prospects of glory dawn bright on thy sadness;
Rising, immortal, thy spirit shall sing,—
Grave, where 's thy victory; Death, where 's thy sting?
Sown in corruption, the frame lies decaying;
Raised in its glory, all beauty displaying,
Body and spirit united shall sing,—
Grave, where 's thy victory; Death, where 's thy sting?
Raised in its glory, all beauty displaying,
Body and spirit united shall sing,—
Grave, where 's thy victory; Death, where 's thy sting?
Peacefully sleep till the trumpet awake thee;
He whom thou lovest will never forsake thee;
Ransomed from guilt and from death, thou shalt sing,—
Grave, where 's thy victory; Death, where 's thy sting?
He whom thou lovest will never forsake thee;
Ransomed from guilt and from death, thou shalt sing,—
Grave, where 's thy victory; Death, where 's thy sting?
Then, when this mortal, immortal awaking,
Triumphs, exulting, Death's dark fetters breaking;
Man in his glorified nature shall sing,—
Grave, where 's thy victory; Death, where 's thy sting?
Triumphs, exulting, Death's dark fetters breaking;
Man in his glorified nature shall sing,—
Grave, where 's thy victory; Death, where 's thy sting?
HEAVEN.
Pain shall not enter there. No thought of woeShall rend the tender heart. The silent tear
No more shall wet the wasting cheek. The eye
Shall not be dimmed with sorrow. Nor shall aught
Be done, or thought, or said, to grieve the soul
301
That fills the world with sadness, then shall be
Employed in noblest praise. Lover and friend,
And all the dearly cherished of the heart,
Who long have rested in the tomb, shall come
And join the choral strain. From earth aroused,
The voice of harmony that flows so sweet
Around the throne, their tongues shall ever swell.
Then, then, there shall be peace,—a settled calm,
A soft serenity, more gently mild than earth,
With all its gorgeous scenes, can hope to bring
A meet comparison. And all that peace
Shall live and reign a long forever there,
Forever there! and this eternity
Shall make that heaven, a heaven.
May 31, 1832.
RE-UNION IN HEAVEN.
WHEN SHALL WE MEET AGAIN, MEET, NE'ER TO SEVER?
[_]
The first verse belonged to an English hymn which was submitted to Mr. Smith by Lowell Mason to complete, as the remaining verses were of a different metre. The last verses were written to conform in spirit and measure with the first.
When shall we meet again,—
Meet, ne'er to sever?
When will Peace wreathe her chain,
Round us forever?
Our hearts will ne'er repose,
Safe from each blast that blows
In this dark vale of woes,
Never—no, never.
Meet, ne'er to sever?
When will Peace wreathe her chain,
Round us forever?
Our hearts will ne'er repose,
Safe from each blast that blows
In this dark vale of woes,
Never—no, never.
302
When shall love freely flow,
Pure as life's river?
When shall sweet friendship glow,
Changeless, forever?
Where joys celestial thrill,
Where bliss each heart shall fill,
And fears of parting chill
Never—no, never!
Pure as life's river?
When shall sweet friendship glow,
Changeless, forever?
Where joys celestial thrill,
Where bliss each heart shall fill,
And fears of parting chill
Never—no, never!
Up to that world of light,
Take us, dear Saviour;
May we all there unite,
Happy forever.
Where kindred spirits dwell,
There may our music swell,
And time our joys dispel
Never—no, never!
Take us, dear Saviour;
May we all there unite,
Happy forever.
Where kindred spirits dwell,
There may our music swell,
And time our joys dispel
Never—no, never!
Soon shall we meet again,—
Meet, ne'er to sever:
Soon will Peace wreathe her chain
Round us forever:
Our hearts will then repose,
Secure from worldly woes;
Our songs of praise shall close
Never—no, never!
Meet, ne'er to sever:
Soon will Peace wreathe her chain
Round us forever:
Our hearts will then repose,
Secure from worldly woes;
Our songs of praise shall close
Never—no, never!
| Poems of home and country | |