 | 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition |  |
THE CHURCH CLOCK.
The church clock stands in the church tower,
It chimes alike in shine and shower,
And tells of seasons passing by—
That dearest things must fade and fly;
It sounds, as would an angel speak,
That carries comfort to the weak;
Throughout the night, throughout the day,
It calleth sinful souls to pray.
What is its Lenten cry?
Live to thyself, and die;
What message doth it give?
Die to thyself, and live.
It chimes alike in shine and shower,
And tells of seasons passing by—
That dearest things must fade and fly;
It sounds, as would an angel speak,
That carries comfort to the weak;
Throughout the night, throughout the day,
It calleth sinful souls to pray.
What is its Lenten cry?
Live to thyself, and die;
What message doth it give?
Die to thyself, and live.
The church clock striketh, when the bell
Hath ceased its solemn warning knell;
It hath soft tones for human tears,
And metes an end of mortal fears;
It bids us turn from earthly toys,
To penance and its purer joys;
Ah, let its stroke the dreamer raise,
And open careless hearts to praise.
What is its Lenten voice?
Let Mary's be thy choice,
To find the dust is sweet,
If at the Saviour's feet.
Hath ceased its solemn warning knell;
It hath soft tones for human tears,
And metes an end of mortal fears;
It bids us turn from earthly toys,
To penance and its purer joys;
Ah, let its stroke the dreamer raise,
And open careless hearts to praise.
What is its Lenten voice?
Let Mary's be thy choice,
To find the dust is sweet,
If at the Saviour's feet.
The church clock measures out the time,
Between two worlds with awful chime;
Its white face glimmers through the gloom,
Its lips toll like the trump of doom,
To the lost wretch outside the gate,
That to repentance flees too late—
It beats like scourges on his sleep,
And wakes him evermore to weep.
What is its Lenten text?
Thy soul shall be the next,
That did its tribute grudge,
Unready for the Judge.
Between two worlds with awful chime;
Its white face glimmers through the gloom,
Its lips toll like the trump of doom,
To the lost wretch outside the gate,
That to repentance flees too late—
It beats like scourges on his sleep,
And wakes him evermore to weep.
What is its Lenten text?
Thy soul shall be the next,
That did its tribute grudge,
Unready for the Judge.
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The church clock pointeth with its hands
To brighter loves and better lands,
With solemn witness preaching on,
When other tongues are hushed and gone;
It speaks of grace, its deathless charms,
That girds us with unconquered arms;
Throughout the day, throughout the night,
It cheers the soldier to the fight.
What is its Lenten call?
Beware, lest thou shouldst fall;
The cross thy burden be,
And it shall carry thee.
To brighter loves and better lands,
With solemn witness preaching on,
When other tongues are hushed and gone;
It speaks of grace, its deathless charms,
That girds us with unconquered arms;
Throughout the day, throughout the night,
It cheers the soldier to the fight.
What is its Lenten call?
Beware, lest thou shouldst fall;
The cross thy burden be,
And it shall carry thee.
The church clock stands, as it has stood
And shall through ages yet, for good—
Above the noise of petty strife,
Lifting to peace of holier life;
It speaketh now, as in the past,
Of lonely vigil, vow, and fast,
The sacraments that wash from soil,
And bids us share Christ's loving toil.
What is its Lenten tale?
The reddest cheek grows pale;
Nigh is the burial sod,
Prepare to meet thy God.
And shall through ages yet, for good—
Above the noise of petty strife,
Lifting to peace of holier life;
It speaketh now, as in the past,
Of lonely vigil, vow, and fast,
The sacraments that wash from soil,
And bids us share Christ's loving toil.
What is its Lenten tale?
The reddest cheek grows pale;
Nigh is the burial sod,
Prepare to meet thy God.
| 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition | |