 | The Poetical Works of Robert Montgomery |  |
OH THAT I HAD WINGS!
“I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then
would I fly away, and be at rest.”—Ps. lv. 6.
Bird of beauty! upward soaring
On thy plumes of lustre white,
Far beyond the tempest roaring
And the gloom of gath'ring night,
While they watch thee speed away
Where no awful lightnings play,
Many an earth-chain'd Heart will sigh,
“Lend me wings, and let me fly!”
On thy plumes of lustre white,
Far beyond the tempest roaring
And the gloom of gath'ring night,
While they watch thee speed away
Where no awful lightnings play,
Many an earth-chain'd Heart will sigh,
“Lend me wings, and let me fly!”
“Dove-like let me, proudly rising
Out of sin, and woe, and crime,
Feel my wingèd soul despising
Fetters wove from earth and time;
And by faith ascend to see
Shrines that glow with Deity,
And in bowers of glory find
Bliss of heart, and calm of mind.”
Out of sin, and woe, and crime,
Feel my wingèd soul despising
Fetters wove from earth and time;
And by faith ascend to see
Shrines that glow with Deity,
And in bowers of glory find
Bliss of heart, and calm of mind.”
Men, whose hearts by grace enlighten'd
Once for heaven in concord beat,
Have their taste by truth so heighten'd
That no more in earth's retreat
They contentment can perceive,
But for ever pine to leave
Scenes where passion's fires abound,
And, like fiends, our faith surround.
Once for heaven in concord beat,
Have their taste by truth so heighten'd
That no more in earth's retreat
They contentment can perceive,
But for ever pine to leave
Scenes where passion's fires abound,
And, like fiends, our faith surround.
Not by creedless foe and stranger
Are disciples wrong'd alone,
But apostate friends endanger
Those they once have loved, and known,—
Who amid the morn of youth
Both pursued and pray'd for truth,
And along Time's ancient road,
Calmly sought the house of God.
Are disciples wrong'd alone,
But apostate friends endanger
Those they once have loved, and known,—
Who amid the morn of youth
Both pursued and pray'd for truth,
And along Time's ancient road,
Calmly sought the house of God.
Keen beyond all pangs distressing
Is the piercing one that finds
Friends of old in faith caressing,
Chill'd in heart, and changed in mind;
Each to each an alien grown,
All fond smiles of welcome flown,—
Heart-breathed wish and household word,
Never more in union heard!
Is the piercing one that finds
Friends of old in faith caressing,
Chill'd in heart, and changed in mind;
Each to each an alien grown,
All fond smiles of welcome flown,—
Heart-breathed wish and household word,
Never more in union heard!
Not again behold them taking
Counsel sweet and sacred talk,
But their holy Church forsaking
For some wild sectarian walk:—
Who can mark such sever'd friends
When their love in loathing ends,
Nor, like David, long to soar
Where the saved are gone before?
Counsel sweet and sacred talk,
But their holy Church forsaking
For some wild sectarian walk:—
Who can mark such sever'd friends
When their love in loathing ends,
Nor, like David, long to soar
Where the saved are gone before?
He whose heart true light discerneth
In Thy beams, Incarnate Love:
At Thy footstool deeply learneth
Lessons that will last above;
Nor amid such bleak distress,
Sighs he for lone wilderness,
But in prayer true solace finds,
Opening heaven to sainted minds.
In Thy beams, Incarnate Love:
At Thy footstool deeply learneth
Lessons that will last above;
Nor amid such bleak distress,
Sighs he for lone wilderness,
But in prayer true solace finds,
Opening heaven to sainted minds.
61
Wearied, worn, and oft benighted,
Want and weakness round us reign,
Yet the Dove on Christ who lighted
Thus prolongs that healing strain,—
“Cast thy burden on My breast,
Where the weary drop to rest;
Harass'd pilgrim, hope and pray,
Learn of Me, and love the way!”
Want and weakness round us reign,
Yet the Dove on Christ who lighted
Thus prolongs that healing strain,—
“Cast thy burden on My breast,
Where the weary drop to rest;
Harass'd pilgrim, hope and pray,
Learn of Me, and love the way!”
| The Poetical Works of Robert Montgomery | |