 | A New Year's Eve, and Other Poems |  |
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VERSES,
WRITTEN DURING THE ALARMING ILLNESS OF A HIGHLY VALUED FRIEND.
“Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils; for wherein is he to be
accounted of?”
Thus speaks Thy holy word!
Yet in our passage through this vale of tears,
Our inmost hearts are stirred
By human passions, human hopes and fears.
Yet in our passage through this vale of tears,
Our inmost hearts are stirred
By human passions, human hopes and fears.
Nor does thy law reprove,
Or interdict each gentler human tie;
Pure friendship, virtuous love,
Are objects of thy tender sympathy.
Or interdict each gentler human tie;
Pure friendship, virtuous love,
Are objects of thy tender sympathy.
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Our Saviour, when on earth,
Honoured at Cana's feast the bridal hour;
Of Friendship's noblest worth,
By Lazarus's grave confest the power.
Honoured at Cana's feast the bridal hour;
Of Friendship's noblest worth,
By Lazarus's grave confest the power.
And still his heavenly grace
Allows Affection's fond and anxious sigh;
It only points the place
Which Thou in every heart shouldst occupy.
Allows Affection's fond and anxious sigh;
It only points the place
Which Thou in every heart shouldst occupy.
Then teach us in His name,
Meekly to yield to Thine our wish and will,
To own Thy sov'reign claim,
Of life, of death, all-wise disposer still.
Meekly to yield to Thine our wish and will,
To own Thy sov'reign claim,
Of life, of death, all-wise disposer still.
Yet, in this fearful hour
Of doubt and grief, hear Thou the fervent prayer
Of hearts that trust thy power,
And on thy mercy cast their every care.
Of doubt and grief, hear Thou the fervent prayer
Of hearts that trust thy power,
And on thy mercy cast their every care.
34
If it seem right to Thee,
Give joy for mourning, turn their prayers to praise;
And grant that they may see
Him whom they love, preserved to lengthened days.
Give joy for mourning, turn their prayers to praise;
And grant that they may see
Him whom they love, preserved to lengthened days.
But whatsoe'er his lot,
Or ours,—to both, through thy beloved Son,
Give faith that murmurs not,
And strength to say—“Thy holy will be done!”
Or ours,—to both, through thy beloved Son,
Give faith that murmurs not,
And strength to say—“Thy holy will be done!”
| A New Year's Eve, and Other Poems | |