[Not one regretful look behind]
“Truly, if they had been mindful of that
country from whence they came out, they
might have had opportunity to have
returned. But now they desire a better
country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore
God is not ashamed to be called their
God.”—Heb. xi. 15, 16.
Not one regretful look behind
Lord, would I cast,
Nor hanker with a faithless mind
For the dead Past:
Who would recall the troubled night
When joying in the morning light?
Not back again, not back again
To that old road
So haunted by the fear of men,
No fear of God—
The hungry wilderness of self,
Whose love was the base love of pelf!
Forward, my way lies forward still,
To get release
From sinful stain, and wayward will,
And find the peace
Where flesh with spirit shall agree,
And God shall not be shamed in me.
My work is here, but not my rest,
And not my home,
And not the wealth I would invest
For life to come;
I have my treasures hid above,
And usury of faith and love.
And if to-night mine inn be good,
I shall be glad;
But if to-morrow's fare be rude,
And lodging bad,
It shall be so much easier then
To strike my tent, and on again.
But never backward may I look,
Or feel regret
That I the way of sin forsook,
And heavenward set
My face to find the life in God,
And comfort of His staff and rod.
