 | 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition |  |
“FAINT YET PURSUING.”
Why, O sufferer, art thou craven,
When the Rock of Life is nigh?
Flee the sands that have no haven,
But to die.
When the Rock of Life is nigh?
Flee the sands that have no haven,
But to die.
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Whither art thou wildly going?
Is no Saviour still above?
Troubles are the overflowing
Of His love.
Is no Saviour still above?
Troubles are the overflowing
Of His love.
Art thou sick and sad and lonely,
Torn with passions and with pain?
Seeing doubts and darkness only,
Rack and rain?
Torn with passions and with pain?
Seeing doubts and darkness only,
Rack and rain?
Look beyond the gloomy spaces,
Look beyond the barren years;
Christ for crosses has embraces,
Joy for tears.
Look beyond the barren years;
Christ for crosses has embraces,
Joy for tears.
He is strong and ever waking,
From thy bareness reaping fruits;
And the storms are only shaking
Fast thy roots.
From thy bareness reaping fruits;
And the storms are only shaking
Fast thy roots.
Stay not then by pastures sterile,
Hope not in the flowers that fade;
Times of peace are times of peril,
Shedding shade.
Hope not in the flowers that fade;
Times of peace are times of peril,
Shedding shade.
Green the palms and white the raiment,
That await the conqueror's march;
Bright the heavens, that are repayment,
Overarch.
That await the conqueror's march;
Bright the heavens, that are repayment,
Overarch.
What if battle be thy duty,
What if suffering be thy need?
Have not lasting bliss and beauty,
Sorrow's seed?
What if suffering be thy need?
Have not lasting bliss and beauty,
Sorrow's seed?
Gay the song and glad the token,
Warm the welcome after frowns;
When the swords of war are broken,
Into crowns.
Warm the welcome after frowns;
When the swords of war are broken,
Into crowns.
Fear no danger, no disowning,
If thy feet have Calvary trod;
If each thought is an enthroning
Of thy God.
If thy feet have Calvary trod;
If each thought is an enthroning
Of thy God.
Christ has climbed the hill and hollow,
Crossed the billows to the shore;
And He calls to Thee to follow,
Evermore.
Crossed the billows to the shore;
And He calls to Thee to follow,
Evermore.
Fair is many an earthly fashion,
Great temptations still must be;
Greater far is His compassion,
Fairer He.
Great temptations still must be;
Greater far is His compassion,
Fairer He.
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Comes to me the message, bringing
Balm for bruises and for wrong;
Soft as children's voices, singing
Evensong.
Balm for bruises and for wrong;
Soft as children's voices, singing
Evensong.
Comes to me the watchword, crying
From the wrestlers in the fight;
Where among the dead and dying,
Day is night.
From the wrestlers in the fight;
Where among the dead and dying,
Day is night.
Past appealings, calls of pity,
Mingle with the battle waves;
From the Silence, and its City
Grim with graves.
Mingle with the battle waves;
From the Silence, and its City
Grim with graves.
And am I a slothful servant,
Playing but a feeble part?
Cold is faith that should be fervent,
Sad the heart?
Playing but a feeble part?
Cold is faith that should be fervent,
Sad the heart?
Ah, my service is pretending,
While by weakness I am prest;
Aiding when I need defending,
Bad when best.
While by weakness I am prest;
Aiding when I need defending,
Bad when best.
Still it is not all so dreary,
With the struggle and the care;
See, the wellsprings for the weary,
Shrines for prayer.
With the struggle and the care;
See, the wellsprings for the weary,
Shrines for prayer.
Though before my eyes is spreading
Dim discomfortable waste;
Yet I gather fruits, in treading,
Sweet of taste.
Dim discomfortable waste;
Yet I gather fruits, in treading,
Sweet of taste.
Do I weep and toil and wonder,
Full of clinging pangs that cloy?
Every sorrow has an under
Note of joy.
Full of clinging pangs that cloy?
Every sorrow has an under
Note of joy.
Has the sky no gleam of clearing,
As the shadows westward slope?
Past the shadows, past the fearing,
Shines a hope.
As the shadows westward slope?
Past the shadows, past the fearing,
Shines a hope.
Am I mocked and am I hated,
By the serpent tongues that hiss?
Hate and mocking both are mated,
With a bliss.
By the serpent tongues that hiss?
Hate and mocking both are mated,
With a bliss.
Though the tempest is behind me,
Though the breakers are before;
Eehoes from beyond remind me,
Of the shore.
Though the breakers are before;
Eehoes from beyond remind me,
Of the shore.
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Christ has bridged the angry billow,
And His print is on its brow;
He who made the storm its pillow,
Makes it now.
And His print is on its brow;
He who made the storm its pillow,
Makes it now.
If I could but see Him rightly,
As He walked the waves of old;
All His steps are burnished brightly,
Steps of gold.
As He walked the waves of old;
All His steps are burnished brightly,
Steps of gold.
In the wilderness He wandered,
Hungry with the homeless beast;
Pearls of wisdom then He squandered,
At the feast.
Hungry with the homeless beast;
Pearls of wisdom then He squandered,
At the feast.
Oft with wicked wills He pleaded,
Breathed on wounded souls a balm;
In the tumult when unheeded,
Shed a calm.
Breathed on wounded souls a balm;
In the tumult when unheeded,
Shed a calm.
He has watched upon the mountain,
Till the Tempter's power should cease;
He has whispered by the fountain,
Words of peace.
Till the Tempter's power should cease;
He has whispered by the fountain,
Words of peace.
He has paid our forfeits owing,
Bitter vows and vigils kept;
And when bitter tears were flowing,
Jesus wept.
Bitter vows and vigils kept;
And when bitter tears were flowing,
Jesus wept.
He has stood beside the portal,
Of the never-glutted tomb;
He has bid the blossom mortal,
Live and bloom.
Of the never-glutted tomb;
He has bid the blossom mortal,
Live and bloom.
Woe and want and base denial,
He has faced and conquered all;
Every form of every trial,
Save our fall.
He has faced and conquered all;
Every form of every trial,
Save our fall.
He has felt the victim's portion,
Felt the blackening of His name;
Seen the blasting of distortion,
Shade and shame.
Felt the blackening of His name;
Seen the blasting of distortion,
Shade and shame.
He has drunk the cup of weeping,
Laboured over pity's plan;
Agonized when all were sleeping;
He is man.
Laboured over pity's plan;
Agonized when all were sleeping;
He is man.
Then shall I lose heart and tarry,
Now that He has known the worst?
Borne the burdens I must carry,
Pain and thirst?
Now that He has known the worst?
Borne the burdens I must carry,
Pain and thirst?
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Scorn and misery I may suffer,
He has tasted, He has dared;
My calamities, and rougher,
He has shared.
He has tasted, He has dared;
My calamities, and rougher,
He has shared.
Words of solace He has spoken.
To the spirit trouble-tost;
Bread of poverty has broken,
With the lost.
To the spirit trouble-tost;
Bread of poverty has broken,
With the lost.
What if He should tribute levy,
Of the treasures dear and dead?
If His hands be sometimes heavy,
On my head?
Of the treasures dear and dead?
If His hands be sometimes heavy,
On my head?
Let me bless the mercy slaying,
Let me kiss the rods that smite;
Waiting, watching, trembling, praying
For the light.
Let me kiss the rods that smite;
Waiting, watching, trembling, praying
For the light.
Christ I know has sought and found me,
Though I feel Him not as yet;
And His tender arms are round me,
While I fret.
Though I feel Him not as yet;
And His tender arms are round me,
While I fret.
Vainly woe on woe is thrusting,
Vainly shadows darker fall;
I am looking, listening, trusting,
For His call.
Vainly shadows darker fall;
I am looking, listening, trusting,
For His call.
Do I doubt Him, shall I linger,
If my flesh is faint and bowed?
Lo, the flashing of His finger
Lifts the cloud.
If my flesh is faint and bowed?
Lo, the flashing of His finger
Lifts the cloud.
Though a little while I languish,
Ere the never-ending day;
He, in all my wandering anguish,
Is the Way.
Ere the never-ending day;
He, in all my wandering anguish,
Is the Way.
Though a little while I lose Him,
In the luring fields of youth;
If I only will but choose Him,
He is Truth.
In the luring fields of youth;
If I only will but choose Him,
He is Truth.
Doubts a little while are stronger,
Death itself may close the strife;
He my sins has suffered longer,
He is Life.
Death itself may close the strife;
He my sins has suffered longer,
He is Life.
Yet a little while of pressing,
In the labour and the heat;
Soon my head will feel His blessing,
At His feet.
In the labour and the heat;
Soon my head will feel His blessing,
At His feet.
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Death shall then be but a story,
Time a dream of happy hours;
Every tear shall turn to glory,
Thorns to flowers.
Time a dream of happy hours;
Every tear shall turn to glory,
Thorns to flowers.
Nothing fairer, nothing fitter,
Than the arrow and the goad;
Than the thorns so sharp and bitter,
On my road.
Than the arrow and the goad;
Than the thorns so sharp and bitter,
On my road.
Nothing shall have pain and stinging,
To the faith-transported eye;
Every sob shall sound as singing,
Every sigh.
To the faith-transported eye;
Every sob shall sound as singing,
Every sigh.
Each disaster shall be counted,
As a harvest pleasure lacks;
Sore distresses prayer surmounted,
heavenward tracks.
As a harvest pleasure lacks;
Sore distresses prayer surmounted,
heavenward tracks.
Hard afflictions waxing pleasant,
Shall assume an aspect sweet;
Gates of glory, where the present
Angels meet.
Shall assume an aspect sweet;
Gates of glory, where the present
Angels meet.
What will then appear a trouble,
To the rapture of the saint?
Losing he was gaining double,
Strong when faint.
To the rapture of the saint?
Losing he was gaining double,
Strong when faint.
Heavy cross and hopeless burden,
Yet were richer far than rest;
Each misfortune was a guerdon,
Blows were blest.
Yet were richer far than rest;
Each misfortune was a guerdon,
Blows were blest.
Yea, when victory had retreated,
He was with the conquering host;
And when seeming most defeated,
Triumphed most.
He was with the conquering host;
And when seeming most defeated,
Triumphed most.
Viewed from pure and perfect splendour,
Earth shall take a radiant hue;
Tears be visions true and tender,
Blight a dew.
Earth shall take a radiant hue;
Tears be visions true and tender,
Blight a dew.
Founts shall make the deserts gladd'ning,
Dust shall grow to paths of gold;
Every danger dark and sadd'ning,
Seem a fold.
Dust shall grow to paths of gold;
Every danger dark and sadd'ning,
Seem a fold.
All that hatred now addresses,
Hands that strike and feet that spurn;
Into kisses and caresses,
Then shall turn.
Hands that strike and feet that spurn;
Into kisses and caresses,
Then shall turn.
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Evil shall have good for leaven,
Scorn and shame a comfort hide;
Fancied hindrance help to heaven,
Grieving guide.
Scorn and shame a comfort hide;
Fancied hindrance help to heaven,
Grieving guide.
Mourning shall be changed to laughter,
Trials be transformed above;
Seen (as woes are seen hereafter)
Lit with love.
Trials be transformed above;
Seen (as woes are seen hereafter)
Lit with love.
Dread not then the threatening morrow,
Christ has borne thy suffering years;
All His hours were hours of sorrow,
Tales of tears.
Christ has borne thy suffering years;
All His hours were hours of sorrow,
Tales of tears.
Aye, and He who knew no sinning,
Though He bare our passions thus;
Yet was made—salvation winning—
Sin for us.
Though He bare our passions thus;
Yet was made—salvation winning—
Sin for us.
Then I choose the thorns and scourges,
With the Blood He lavished wet;
Then I meet the cruel surges,
He has met.
With the Blood He lavished wet;
Then I meet the cruel surges,
He has met.
O my Saviour, touch and take me,
From the misery and the guilt;
Mould me, as Thou art, and make me
What Thou wilt.
From the misery and the guilt;
Mould me, as Thou art, and make me
What Thou wilt.
He shall hide me, He shall hold me,
Far from deadly thoughts and things;
He shall feed me, He shall fold me
With His wings.
Far from deadly thoughts and things;
He shall feed me, He shall fold me
With His wings.
Clothed in faith and love enduing,
I will beat the shadows down;
“Faint” and fainter ‘yet pursuing,”
Christ my crown.
I will beat the shadows down;
“Faint” and fainter ‘yet pursuing,”
Christ my crown.
| 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition | |