 | Ballads and Other Poems |  |
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THE ASCENT OF THE SPIRIT.
MOURNING ON EARTH.
She lay down in her poverty,
Toil-stricken, though so young;
And words of human sorrow
Fell trembling from her tongue.
Toil-stricken, though so young;
And words of human sorrow
Fell trembling from her tongue.
There were palace-homes around her;
And pomp and pride swept by
The poor deserted chamber,
Where she lay down to die.
And pomp and pride swept by
The poor deserted chamber,
Where she lay down to die.
She lay down in her poverty,
Toil-stricken, though so young;
And words of human anguish
Fell trembling from her tongue.
Toil-stricken, though so young;
And words of human anguish
Fell trembling from her tongue.
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“Oh Lord! thick clouds of darkness
About my soul are spread,
And the waters of affliction
Have gathered o'er my head;
About my soul are spread,
And the waters of affliction
Have gathered o'er my head;
“My life has been a desert
Whose cheering springs are dry,
A weary, barren wilderness:
Yet it is hard to die.
Whose cheering springs are dry,
A weary, barren wilderness:
Yet it is hard to die.
“For love, the clinging, deathless,
Is with my life entwined,
And the feeble spirit doth rebel
To leave the loved behind.
Is with my life entwined,
And the feeble spirit doth rebel
To leave the loved behind.
“Dear Saviour, who didst drain the dregs
Of human woe and pain,
In this, the fiercest trial-hour,
My doubting soul sustain!
Of human woe and pain,
In this, the fiercest trial-hour,
My doubting soul sustain!
“I sink! I sink! support me!
Deep waters round me roll.
I fear! I faint! Oh Saviour,
Sustain my sinking soul!
Deep waters round me roll.
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Sustain my sinking soul!
REJOICING IN HEAVEN.
Young spirit, freed from bondage,
Rejoice! Thy work is done;
The weary world is 'neath thy feet;
Thou, brighter than the sun.
Rejoice! Thy work is done;
The weary world is 'neath thy feet;
Thou, brighter than the sun.
Arise! Put on the garments
Which the redeemëd win.
Now, sorrow hath no part in thee,
Thou, sanctified from sin.
Which the redeemëd win.
Now, sorrow hath no part in thee,
Thou, sanctified from sin.
Awake, and breathe the living air
Of our celestial clime!
Awake to love which knows no change,
Thou, who hast done with time!
Of our celestial clime!
Awake to love which knows no change,
Thou, who hast done with time!
Awake! Lift up thy joyful eyes,
See, all heaven's host appears;
And be thou glad exceedingly,
Thou, who hast done with tears.
See, all heaven's host appears;
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Thou, who hast done with tears.
Awake! ascend! Thou art not now
With those of mortal birth;
The living God hath touched thy lips,
Thou, who hast done with earth.
With those of mortal birth;
The living God hath touched thy lips,
Thou, who hast done with earth.
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