Devotional Verses Founded on and Illustrative of select Texts of Scripture [by Bernard Barton] |
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ON THE USE OF TIME. |
 | Devotional Verses |  |
ON THE USE OF TIME.
“And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to
go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward
ten degrees.”
—2 Kings, xx. 10.
It seems a light and trivial thing
To view time's onward flight impell'd;
To mark the shadow of his wing
Turn'd back!—a sight but once beheld.
To view time's onward flight impell'd;
To mark the shadow of his wing
Turn'd back!—a sight but once beheld.
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Once only, to a monarch's prayer,
Was given by miracle divine
The moments pass'd again to share,
And see retrac'd time's shadowy line.
Was given by miracle divine
The moments pass'd again to share,
And see retrac'd time's shadowy line.
Yet thousands daily live on earth
As if their ineffectual might
Could give this wonder hourly birth
And backward turn time's rapid flight.
As if their ineffectual might
Could give this wonder hourly birth
And backward turn time's rapid flight.
O time! Heaven's richest gift to man,
'Till gone—too rarely understood,
How few thy richest treasures scan,
Or rightly estimate thy good.
'Till gone—too rarely understood,
How few thy richest treasures scan,
Or rightly estimate thy good.
Far beyond honours, power, or wealth,
The records of thy flight endure,
And render, by unheeded stealth,
The poorest rich, the richest poor,
The records of thy flight endure,
And render, by unheeded stealth,
The poorest rich, the richest poor,
Abus'd! though fame's proud heights be trod,
Those barren summits nought can give;
Us'd for the glory of thy God—
The humblest in content may live.
Those barren summits nought can give;
Us'd for the glory of thy God—
The humblest in content may live.
Thou Giver of this gift sublime!
Grant us thy grace its use to see,
That we may at the end of time
Enjoy eternity with thee.
Grant us thy grace its use to see,
That we may at the end of time
Enjoy eternity with thee.
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