 | Thoughts in Verse |  |
BETHESDA.
'Tis Sabbath morn, and bright the sun is shining,
Gilding the ocean—cheering up the earth;
The Christian heart is filled with true devotion
And tender thoughts of Jesus' love have birth.
Gilding the ocean—cheering up the earth;
The Christian heart is filled with true devotion
And tender thoughts of Jesus' love have birth.
Hark! on the air the bells sweet tones are sounding
A call to prayer—the clock is striking eight;
With rapid steps the students now are coming
To join the gathering ere it be too late.
A call to prayer—the clock is striking eight;
With rapid steps the students now are coming
To join the gathering ere it be too late.
Short prayers of faith ascend to God the Father,—
Childlike the language, voice subdued and low,
Asking for pardon for a fallen brother,
And grace and strength their duty e'er to do.
Childlike the language, voice subdued and low,
Asking for pardon for a fallen brother,
And grace and strength their duty e'er to do.
And then they sing, “Stand up, stand up for Jesus,”
In harmony that lifts our minds above;
We meditate on His great plan to save us,—
His sacrificing, all-sufficient love.
In harmony that lifts our minds above;
We meditate on His great plan to save us,—
His sacrificing, all-sufficient love.
A word of trust, and then the meeting 's ended,
And they go forth, renewed in strength divine,
Better prepared to hear the sermon rendered,
To understand the Maker's great design.
And they go forth, renewed in strength divine,
Better prepared to hear the sermon rendered,
To understand the Maker's great design.
And now the bell again sends forth its warning,
Calling to Church the students one and all;
Teachers and friends, to each one it is calling—
All with one purpose seem to heed the call.
Calling to Church the students one and all;
Teachers and friends, to each one it is calling—
All with one purpose seem to heed the call.
57
See them march forth, the boys all dressed as soldiers,
Marching to war, to sound of band and drum!
Followed by girls, the officers and teachers;
Friends from the Fort, Hampton, the Soldier's Home.
Marching to war, to sound of band and drum!
Followed by girls, the officers and teachers;
Friends from the Fort, Hampton, the Soldier's Home.
Hushed is that throng, within the sacred Temple—
Silently praying for God's grace and peace.
Thoughts soar aloft unto the Heavenly Temple,
Where songs of praise never, never cease.
Silently praying for God's grace and peace.
Thoughts soar aloft unto the Heavenly Temple,
Where songs of praise never, never cease.
Softly the choir chant a melodious measure;
Hearts raised to God in gratitude and love,
That through the week nor health, nor friend nor treasure
He has seen fit in wisdom to remove.
Hearts raised to God in gratitude and love,
That through the week nor health, nor friend nor treasure
He has seen fit in wisdom to remove.
Sing then—Praise God from whom all good is flowing
Into our lives, in blessings rich and free—
Praise Him on earth, His love and goodness knowing,
And praise in Heaven through endless ages be.
Into our lives, in blessings rich and free—
Praise Him on earth, His love and goodness knowing,
And praise in Heaven through endless ages be.
Bow low the head while we repeat Our Father
Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name;
Thy rule and will on earth be done together
In earth as heaven, thine homage be the same.
Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name;
Thy rule and will on earth be done together
In earth as heaven, thine homage be the same.
Give us each day a share of food and shelter;
Our sins forgive, as we each other love,
Save from temptation, and from ill deliver,
Thine is the power in earth and Heaven above.
Our sins forgive, as we each other love,
Save from temptation, and from ill deliver,
Thine is the power in earth and Heaven above.
Fitting indeed to thus begin God's worship,
With silent prayer, doxology and praise;
Lifting the mind from toil and strife and hardship,
To God, our Father, the Ancient of Days.
With silent prayer, doxology and praise;
Lifting the mind from toil and strife and hardship,
To God, our Father, the Ancient of Days.
Solemnly, now, the minister is pleading,—
Wrestling with God His people to forgive;
Laying before Him the blessings they are needing,
That by His grace they may as Christians live.
Wrestling with God His people to forgive;
Laying before Him the blessings they are needing,
That by His grace they may as Christians live.
58
Angels are hovering as the aged God-man
Makes well his plea before the Court of Heaven;
Solemn the silence, as when is read the Koran—
And to devotion the Moslem heart is given.
Makes well his plea before the Court of Heaven;
Solemn the silence, as when is read the Koran—
And to devotion the Moslem heart is given.
Hymn follows prayer, within this house of mercy;
Reading of Scripture, then a silent prayer—
True sense of worship,—restful for the weary—
Nor seems the day to be more blest elsewhere.
Reading of Scripture, then a silent prayer—
True sense of worship,—restful for the weary—
Nor seems the day to be more blest elsewhere.
Calmly and slow the aged prophet taketh
His topic from the Sermon on the Mount:
Blest be the pure, for they the Father loveth,
God they shall see when rendered their account.
His topic from the Sermon on the Mount:
Blest be the pure, for they the Father loveth,
God they shall see when rendered their account.
With earnest tones he pleads the Father's goodness,
And His desire that every one may live;
That life is free to all who seek forgiveness,
And unto wisdom their whole attention give.
And His desire that every one may live;
That life is free to all who seek forgiveness,
And unto wisdom their whole attention give.
To guard the heart, our thoughts must in subjection
Be kept each day,—and evil thoughts crushed out,—
Then from the life will shine forth His reflection,
And Satan's legions will be put to rout.
Be kept each day,—and evil thoughts crushed out,—
Then from the life will shine forth His reflection,
And Satan's legions will be put to rout.
Seek now His grace with earnestness and fervor;
Give all to Him if followers you would be;
Do not delay,—but ask at once His favor;
To-day He saith—“There's hope and life for thee!”
Give all to Him if followers you would be;
Do not delay,—but ask at once His favor;
To-day He saith—“There's hope and life for thee!”
His pleading ceases, and with head bowed lowly,
He asks the Father's blessing on His Word;
That souls may turn aside from paths unholy,
Unto the ways of righteousness and God.
He asks the Father's blessing on His Word;
That souls may turn aside from paths unholy,
Unto the ways of righteousness and God.
The hymn is followed by the benediction—
Commending us unto a Father's love;
And we go forth in serious meditation,
Hearts full of strength, and peace,—like that above.
Commending us unto a Father's love;
And we go forth in serious meditation,
Hearts full of strength, and peace,—like that above.
59
Bethesda Chapel, house of grace and mercy!
Fulfil thy task in God's appointed way!
Within thy walls, no strife, nor controversy,—
Simply Truth pointing to the realms of day.
Fulfil thy task in God's appointed way!
Within thy walls, no strife, nor controversy,—
Simply Truth pointing to the realms of day.
| Thoughts in Verse | |