 | Coffin's Poems with Ajax' Ordeals |  |
The Easter Man.
So crushed by sinful oppression,
Through the ages long and drear,
Men began to doubt and question,
Whether Shiloh would appear.
Through the ages long and drear,
Men began to doubt and question,
Whether Shiloh would appear.
The Jewish doctors pondered,
And Gentile sages dreamed,
While on their weary vision
No assuring light yet gleamed.
And Gentile sages dreamed,
While on their weary vision
No assuring light yet gleamed.
But while time's dial was still moving,
God, in a mysterious way,
Let man go in his wonder,
He knew the time and the day.
God, in a mysterious way,
Let man go in his wonder,
He knew the time and the day.
43
And the Watchman he stood mourning,
Over Judah's seer that day;
As up on Bethlehem's hillside,
They wound their weary way.
Over Judah's seer that day;
As up on Bethlehem's hillside,
They wound their weary way.
And the watchman cried “O Israel,
How long are we to stand,
Under the great oppressor's yoke,
To be moved by Shiloh's hand?”
How long are we to stand,
Under the great oppressor's yoke,
To be moved by Shiloh's hand?”
When heaven and earth were silent,
When the Lord's will would be done,
The cry went from out Bethlehem,
“A man child there is born.”
When the Lord's will would be done,
The cry went from out Bethlehem,
“A man child there is born.”
Then burst the rapturous anthem;
“Glory to God be given,
Good will among the sons of Men
Peace on earth and in heaven.”
“Glory to God be given,
Good will among the sons of Men
Peace on earth and in heaven.”
While there in his manger cradle,
The unconscious monarch lay,
The babe of Bethlehem now born,
To have universal sway.
The unconscious monarch lay,
The babe of Bethlehem now born,
To have universal sway.
The human sea became restless,
Earth's kingdoms began to shake,
And the universal cry was
“Never man like that man spake.”
Earth's kingdoms began to shake,
And the universal cry was
“Never man like that man spake.”
44
When He began his active work,
For three long toilsome years,
He climbed degradation's mountain,
Wading through heart-aches and tears.
For three long toilsome years,
He climbed degradation's mountain,
Wading through heart-aches and tears.
But Jesus buried these sorrows,
Knowing the world had its share;
He opened a crystal fountain,
To wash away sinful snares.
Knowing the world had its share;
He opened a crystal fountain,
To wash away sinful snares.
The more he spread his mission,
The more he became despised,
He forgave men this wickedness,
And yet he was crucified.
The more he became despised,
He forgave men this wickedness,
And yet he was crucified.
Nineteen centuries have passed and gone,
Since “it is finished” was cried,
Every day during that time,
The Savior's been crucified.
Since “it is finished” was cried,
Every day during that time,
The Savior's been crucified.
If we ask ourselves the question,
“Why crucify one so dear?”
Our hearts will respond full sadly,
“The answer is not here.”
“Why crucify one so dear?”
Our hearts will respond full sadly,
“The answer is not here.”
The still, small voice from Calvary
Cries “I did all this for thee,”
And from the ear of faith we hear,
“What art thou doing for me.”
Cries “I did all this for thee,”
And from the ear of faith we hear,
“What art thou doing for me.”
45
Silence reigned in Jerusalem,
Men became bothered in mind,
Questions were asked about Jesus,
To answer wise men declined.
Men became bothered in mind,
Questions were asked about Jesus,
To answer wise men declined.
On that lovely Easter morning,
Mary and others came near,
The angel solved the mystery,
“He's risen, He is not here.”
Mary and others came near,
The angel solved the mystery,
“He's risen, He is not here.”
He spent forty days sojourning,
To many he made himself known,
He told of a city called Heaven,
Entreated them to make it their home.
To many he made himself known,
He told of a city called Heaven,
Entreated them to make it their home.
He melted down satan's mansions,
He made intercession for man,
He gave his peace to the nations,
And gave the disciples command.
He made intercession for man,
He gave his peace to the nations,
And gave the disciples command.
And then along the silent path,
By viewless spirits trod,
He left the blights of this sad earth,
And went to dwell with God.
By viewless spirits trod,
He left the blights of this sad earth,
And went to dwell with God.
Gates of Heaven all stood ajar,
Bells of Heaven were ringing,
Angels stood around the gate,
Waiting, watching, singing.
Bells of Heaven were ringing,
Angels stood around the gate,
Waiting, watching, singing.
46
And as the Savior entered in,
They did not close the view,
But left the gate standing ajar
That we might enter too.
They did not close the view,
But left the gate standing ajar
That we might enter too.
Heaven's orchestra uttered aloud,
“Worthy the Lamb that was slain
To receive honor, glory, power,
Blessings, world without end.”
“Worthy the Lamb that was slain
To receive honor, glory, power,
Blessings, world without end.”
For every thorn that gave a wound,
A rose in Heaven was given,
And joy, that there no roses found
With rosy wreaths were riven.
A rose in Heaven was given,
And joy, that there no roses found
With rosy wreaths were riven.
In paradise where breezes blow,
To cool the heart's hot fever,
The pangs and pain He felt below,
Were waft away forever.
To cool the heart's hot fever,
The pangs and pain He felt below,
Were waft away forever.
To look at Thee, O Lord, as Thou art,
From this mortal perishing clay,
The spirit immortal in peace would depart,
And joyous mount up her bright way.
From this mortal perishing clay,
The spirit immortal in peace would depart,
And joyous mount up her bright way.
47
I know our stained tablets must first be washed white,
To let Thy bright features be drawn.
We know we must suffer the darkness of night,
To welcome the coming of dawn.
To let Thy bright features be drawn.
We know we must suffer the darkness of night,
To welcome the coming of dawn.
But we shall be satisfied when we can cast
The shadow of nature all by,
When the cold, heavy world from our vision has passed
To let the soul open her eye.
We come together in Easter service,
To sing praises unto His name.
Let every day be Easter in which
We will sing His praises the same.
The shadow of nature all by,
When the cold, heavy world from our vision has passed
To let the soul open her eye.
We come together in Easter service,
To sing praises unto His name.
Let every day be Easter in which
We will sing His praises the same.
| Coffin's Poems with Ajax' Ordeals | |