Poems of home and country Also, Sacred and Miscellaneous Verse |
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THE ALL-SUFFICIENT REFUGE. |
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 | Poems of home and country |  |
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.
| Poems of home and country | |