 | 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition |  |
THE BOOK.
There is a book of sweet and solemn page,
Written by God's own hand;
With truths too vast for the most learned sage,
That babes may understand.
Written by God's own hand;
With truths too vast for the most learned sage,
That babes may understand.
It tells a story clear to every time,
So simple is its plan;
While mysteries lie there, the most sublime
That ever spoke to man.
So simple is its plan;
While mysteries lie there, the most sublime
That ever spoke to man.
Unto the humble heart its tale is plain,
And lifts the lowliest mind;
While philosophic pride may read in vain,
And nought but folly find.
And lifts the lowliest mind;
While philosophic pride may read in vain,
And nought but folly find.
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The little child, that comes in love to hear,
Will learn some lesson wise;
Though to the critic's educated sneer,
But difficulties rise.
Will learn some lesson wise;
Though to the critic's educated sneer,
But difficulties rise.
On faith it falls as softly as the dew,
And brings a living breath;
But unto reason's false perverted view,
Its savour is of death.
And brings a living breath;
But unto reason's false perverted view,
Its savour is of death.
For docile students, it divinely opes
Its wonders new and sweet;
While the inquirers swayed with earthly hopes,
No help or comfort meet.
Its wonders new and sweet;
While the inquirers swayed with earthly hopes,
No help or comfort meet.
If unto some it never can grow old,
And still its guidance lends;
To some its ray seems only dim and cold,
And mortal aims offends.
And still its guidance lends;
To some its ray seems only dim and cold,
And mortal aims offends.
And through the hands of many holy seers,
This goodly book has past;
They witnessed to it with their words and tears,
Nor grudged their lives at last.
This goodly book has past;
They witnessed to it with their words and tears,
Nor grudged their lives at last.
They knew the Spirit of the Maker moved,
In every burning Line;
And by the signs of fruitful suffering proved,
The message was Divine.
In every burning Line;
And by the signs of fruitful suffering proved,
The message was Divine.
'Tis sealed with blood of martyrs dead and gone,
Who passed through fiery strife;
Who left their record, and then handed on
The glorious lamp of Life.
Who passed through fiery strife;
Who left their record, and then handed on
The glorious lamp of Life.
For every golden Letter was the grave,
Of some heroic saint;
Who unto death his testimony gave,
That others might not faint.
Of some heroic saint;
Who unto death his testimony gave,
That others might not faint.
And though through all pleads Peace with tender sound
That bids our passions fly;
Each blessed Passage was a battle ground,
Each Verse a battle cry.
That bids our passions fly;
Each blessed Passage was a battle ground,
Each Verse a battle cry.
Around the Ark of Rest the conflict raged,
Fought at a bitter cost;
And on its waters wild and unassuaged,
The precious Truth was tost.
Fought at a bitter cost;
And on its waters wild and unassuaged,
The precious Truth was tost.
But persecution and the vilest storm,
The darkest brand of blame,
Made only yet more beautiful its form,
Like gold refined by flame.
The darkest brand of blame,
Made only yet more beautiful its form,
Like gold refined by flame.
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The furnace and the tempest in their wrath,
The foaming of the flood,
Failed still to turn its conquering path,
Though that was bathed in blood.
The foaming of the flood,
Failed still to turn its conquering path,
Though that was bathed in blood.
And for each soldier fallen in the fight,
Sprang up a hundred new;
And the Great Book grew fairer and more bright,
From every blast that blew.
Sprang up a hundred new;
And the Great Book grew fairer and more bright,
From every blast that blew.
Its guardians did not sell, for sordid hire,
The words of Sacred Writ;
And on its blessed pages sits a fire,
No mortal ever lit.
The words of Sacred Writ;
And on its blessed pages sits a fire,
No mortal ever lit.
For it was kindled at a heavenly fount,
And by no earthly spark;
And forth it shone from Sinai's mystic mount,
On ages drear and dark.
And by no earthly spark;
And forth it shone from Sinai's mystic mount,
On ages drear and dark.
And freely was it offered unto all,
A blessing without price;
For those who heard its holy trumpet call,
What other could suffice?
A blessing without price;
For those who heard its holy trumpet call,
What other could suffice?
It pierced the barrier that was built by shame,
Nor turned from aught but doubt;
The vilest soul that yet believed and came,
Was never once cast out.
Nor turned from aught but doubt;
The vilest soul that yet believed and came,
Was never once cast out.
The being that was most possest with sin,
And craved a holier lot,
Sought here and found a remedy within,
For cleansing every spot.
And craved a holier lot,
Sought here and found a remedy within,
For cleansing every spot.
It gave the hungry heart the living bread,
Which hidden was at first;
From sepulchres of sin it raised the dead,
And quenched the dying thirst.
Which hidden was at first;
From sepulchres of sin it raised the dead,
And quenched the dying thirst.
The lame leapt up at those rejoicing sounds,
The deaf began to hear,
The prisoner burst the iron of his bounds,
The coward ceased to fear.
The deaf began to hear,
The prisoner burst the iron of his bounds,
The coward ceased to fear.
It satisfied, as sages never did,
The mind's most angry throes;
And on the lost and troubled breast it slid,
With infinite repose.
The mind's most angry throes;
And on the lost and troubled breast it slid,
With infinite repose.
The sufferer felt the soothing of its strain,
Caressing as a kiss;
And sickness listened and forgot its pain,
In all that new-born bliss.
Caressing as a kiss;
And sickness listened and forgot its pain,
In all that new-born bliss.
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It stilled misgiving's voice which cried for light,
That it might look and live;
And to the blindest eyes it gave a sight,
No earthly sun could give.
That it might look and live;
And to the blindest eyes it gave a sight,
No earthly sun could give.
Those stores a medicine had for every mood,
Beams for the darkest day;
And of the thousands who had come for food,
None empty went away.
Beams for the darkest day;
And of the thousands who had come for food,
None empty went away.
The labouring, and the heavy-laden, took
Its comfort to their breast;
They laid their sorrows on the Sacred Book,
And lo, it gave them rest.
Its comfort to their breast;
They laid their sorrows on the Sacred Book,
And lo, it gave them rest.
The curse from toiling, and the sting from grief,
Its revelation drew;
The worst affliction was its own relief,
When men this solace knew.
Its revelation drew;
The worst affliction was its own relief,
When men this solace knew.
All weary souls that sin's oppression broke,
With guilt's accusing might,
Saw here the freedom of an easier yoke,
And found its burden light.
With guilt's accusing might,
Saw here the freedom of an easier yoke,
And found its burden light.
The slave who drudged in sad and sinless mines,
Nor dreamed that shadows flee,
Read in those living and imperial lines,
The charter of the free.
Nor dreamed that shadows flee,
Read in those living and imperial lines,
The charter of the free.
And as he searched his soul expanded fair,
With grace the promise gave;
He could not breathe its large and liberal air,
And yet abide a slave.
With grace the promise gave;
He could not breathe its large and liberal air,
And yet abide a slave.
For when his feet were planted on the Rock,
Where bondsmen may not stand,
His fetters snapt, as falsehood at the shock
Of Truth's avenging hand.
Where bondsmen may not stand,
His fetters snapt, as falsehood at the shock
Of Truth's avenging hand.
And though the chains lay heavy on him still,
Gone was their bitter smart;
They could not bind the motions of his will,
His unimprisoned heart.
Gone was their bitter smart;
They could not bind the motions of his will,
His unimprisoned heart.
He felt that he was spiritually free,
In hope's eternal youth;
For there was none more fetterless than he,
Enfranchised by the Truth.
In hope's eternal youth;
For there was none more fetterless than he,
Enfranchised by the Truth.
To heathens on a dark and distant shore,
The sweet glad Tidings came;
And thousands, rapt in bloody rites before
Now hailed the Saviour's name.
The sweet glad Tidings came;
And thousands, rapt in bloody rites before
Now hailed the Saviour's name.
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The hard and savage nature owned His sway,
Though nothing else could move;
And hearts, the homes of murder, learnt to pray
Unto the Lord of Love.
Though nothing else could move;
And hearts, the homes of murder, learnt to pray
Unto the Lord of Love.
And there were Gospel riches for the poor,
Given with no grudging hand;
The neediest, passing through that open door,
Entered the Golden Land.
Given with no grudging hand;
The neediest, passing through that open door,
Entered the Golden Land.
Yea, those that lacked the common things of life,
Even if they laboured sore,
Found here an end of every toil and strife,
And wanted nothing more.
Even if they laboured sore,
Found here an end of every toil and strife,
And wanted nothing more.
Weak women, trodden down by brutal force,
Gained comfort too at length;
And drew and drew from this unfailing source,
Unconquerable strength.
Gained comfort too at length;
And drew and drew from this unfailing source,
Unconquerable strength.
They learnt how victory waits upon God's will,
And faith can only save;
And how the beaten sufferers triumph still,
Who patient are and brave.
And faith can only save;
And how the beaten sufferers triumph still,
Who patient are and brave.
They saw the power of purity, the light
Which inward peace assures;
The majesty of meekness, and the might
Of courage that endures.
Which inward peace assures;
The majesty of meekness, and the might
Of courage that endures.
Hope gave them rank, and more than royal grace
Flowed from the Sacred Line;
And if from man they won the lowest place,
They had their thrones divine.
Flowed from the Sacred Line;
And if from man they won the lowest place,
They had their thrones divine.
Ennobled thus they made the world their own,
With bonds that could not fret;
They governed all with gentle laws unknown,
And sweetly govern yet.
With bonds that could not fret;
They governed all with gentle laws unknown,
And sweetly govern yet.
Such revolutions did the Blessed Book,
Work in the heart of man;
In all that cast a single faithful look,
Upon its wondrous plan.
Work in the heart of man;
In all that cast a single faithful look,
Upon its wondrous plan.
For it proclaimed the doom of pain and death,
Of sorrow, fear, and sin;
If those who breathed one penitential breath,
Would fairer lives begin.
Of sorrow, fear, and sin;
If those who breathed one penitential breath,
Would fairer lives begin.
It made men brothers who before were foes,
That love might lands ally;
And as its sweet and solemn empire rose,
Fell ethnic enmity.
That love might lands ally;
And as its sweet and solemn empire rose,
Fell ethnic enmity.
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Nor did it lower so much the loftiest pride,
Of monarchs in their might;
As raise the meanest subject to their side,
Upon one common height.
Of monarchs in their might;
As raise the meanest subject to their side,
Upon one common height.
And from the throne of its sublimer thought,
There was no upper space;
The lords that ruled, the ministers that wrought,
All held an equal place.
There was no upper space;
The lords that ruled, the ministers that wrought,
All held an equal place.
Still on it pushed the rapture of its plea,
To earth's most distant bound;
And in the surging of the farthest sea,
Was heard Salvation's sound.
To earth's most distant bound;
And in the surging of the farthest sea,
Was heard Salvation's sound.
But now in all things human it has part,
In every human tone;
Its laws are written on the living heart,
Not perishable stone.
In every human tone;
Its laws are written on the living heart,
Not perishable stone.
Its constitution is the mind of God,
And perfect is His path;
Revealed in the pure acts of Him who trod
The winepress of His wrath.
And perfect is His path;
Revealed in the pure acts of Him who trod
The winepress of His wrath.
And thus it rules, with its sweet inner sway,
By codes that gently move;
And rolls the world on the rejoicing way
Of liberty and love.
By codes that gently move;
And rolls the world on the rejoicing way
Of liberty and love.
While mortal law can only fears compel,
And moulds in iron forms;
It softly wins the passions that rebel,
And guides the headlong storms.
And moulds in iron forms;
It softly wins the passions that rebel,
And guides the headlong storms.
So tenderly it shapes and governs all,
Who follow its high track;
None ever knows he is a happy thrall,
Or asks his freedom back.
Who follow its high track;
None ever knows he is a happy thrall,
Or asks his freedom back.
With hopes that quicken, and with words that heal,
It holds an even course;
Men bow unto that pitiful appeal,
Who would not bow to force.
It holds an even course;
Men bow unto that pitiful appeal,
Who would not bow to force.
And yet its kingdom may not find an end,
While there are hearts to thrill;
While there remain one savage soul to bend,
It spreads and conquers still.
While there are hearts to thrill;
While there remain one savage soul to bend,
It spreads and conquers still.
Yea, it shall speed, till every breast is tamed,
And every will is won;
Not till each stony desert is reclaimed,
Its mission can be done.
And every will is won;
Not till each stony desert is reclaimed,
Its mission can be done.
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Then shall its Holy Spirit reign on earth,
And ills no more oppress;
While rivers brighten tracts that once were dearth,
And flowers the wilderness.
And ills no more oppress;
While rivers brighten tracts that once were dearth,
And flowers the wilderness.
Far from its quickening presence then shall fly,
Whate'er is sad and sere;
All things shall drink in fresh vitality,
In its sweet atmosphere.
Whate'er is sad and sere;
All things shall drink in fresh vitality,
In its sweet atmosphere.
While with the calm of consecrating hands,
It holds the world in fee;
Till Christ's own glory covers all the lands,
As waters clothe the sea.
It holds the world in fee;
Till Christ's own glory covers all the lands,
As waters clothe the sea.
Till Truth is universal as the air,
And like the fruitful sod;
And Love has made the meanest things, as fair
As is the Face of God.
And like the fruitful sod;
And Love has made the meanest things, as fair
As is the Face of God.
And then its duty will be done, when each,
Illumined by its lore,
Walks in the light that its grand lessons teach,
Rejoicing evermore.
Illumined by its lore,
Walks in the light that its grand lessons teach,
Rejoicing evermore.
When the last word comes down from heaven to time,
Which was its message first;
While the whole earth gives back the heavenly chime,
And souls no longer thirst.
Which was its message first;
While the whole earth gives back the heavenly chime,
And souls no longer thirst.
When the Great Book is written in the life
Of all who bore the rod,
And every son of man redeemed from strife,
Becomes a son of God.
Of all who bore the rod,
And every son of man redeemed from strife,
Becomes a son of God.
| 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition | |