The Reliquary By Bernard and Lucy Barton. With A Prefatory Appeal for Poetry and Poets |
I. |
II. |
“BLESSED ARE THEY THAT MOURN, FOR THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED
.” |
The Reliquary | ||
145
“BLESSED ARE THEY THAT MOURN, FOR THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED .”
When hopes that on our pathway bright
Of early being, shed their ray,
Are shadowed o'er by sorrow's night
Or pass like morning-dreams away:—
Of early being, shed their ray,
Are shadowed o'er by sorrow's night
Or pass like morning-dreams away:—
What cheers us in that hour distressed?
What heals the pang of “hope deferr'd?”
Christ has pronounced his mourners blest,
And seal'd it by his holy word.
What heals the pang of “hope deferr'd?”
Christ has pronounced his mourners blest,
And seal'd it by his holy word.
But not for passion's bitter tears,
Or hearts by worldly anguish torn—
Engross'd by selfish hopes or fears—
Is hope from this glad promise born.
Or hearts by worldly anguish torn—
Engross'd by selfish hopes or fears—
Is hope from this glad promise born.
'Tis theirs, and theirs alone to claim
The blessing promised by His Son,
Who glorify God's holy name,
And meekly say, “Thy will be done!”
The blessing promised by His Son,
Who glorify God's holy name,
And meekly say, “Thy will be done!”
146
To these by pure confiding faith,
By treasured hopes laid up in heaven,—
By love that triumphs over death,—
This bright beatitude is given.
By treasured hopes laid up in heaven,—
By love that triumphs over death,—
This bright beatitude is given.
These shall confess its truth their stay,
And prove the Gospel cannot err;
For God will wipe their tears away,
And Christ will be their comforter.
And prove the Gospel cannot err;
For God will wipe their tears away,
And Christ will be their comforter.
The Reliquary | ||