 | [Poems by Smith in] Rock of ages. Original and selected poems |  |
214
“I am now Ready to be Offered.”
Resting on the Rock of ages,
Safe above the billowy tide,
Sheltered from each rushing current,
I have all life's storms defied;
Now I watch the slanting sunbeams,
As they redden in the west,
Life's long labors calmly leaving,
For the glorious land of rest.
Safe above the billowy tide,
Sheltered from each rushing current,
I have all life's storms defied;
Now I watch the slanting sunbeams,
As they redden in the west,
215
For the glorious land of rest.
Ready now to spread my pinions,
Glad to wing my flight away,
From the gloom that hovers round me
To the realms of endless day.
Ready to be washed and pardoned,
Ready to be pure from sin,
Ready to complete the conflict,
Ready heavenly joy to win.
Glad to wing my flight away,
From the gloom that hovers round me
To the realms of endless day.
Ready to be washed and pardoned,
Ready to be pure from sin,
Ready to complete the conflict,
Ready heavenly joy to win.
Ready to be freed from sorrow,
Tears and partings, toil and pain,
Ready for the heavenly mansion,—
Life is dear, but death is gain.
Ready to forsake the shadows
Of the night, so dim and long;
Ready for the harp of glory,
Ready for the angels' song.
Tears and partings, toil and pain,
Ready for the heavenly mansion,—
Life is dear, but death is gain.
Ready to forsake the shadows
Of the night, so dim and long;
Ready for the harp of glory,
Ready for the angels' song.
Ready, with salvation's banner,
To ecstatic joy to rise;
Ready for the glad hosanna
In the heavenly Paradise.
Ready with the just made perfect,
Clothed in robes of light, to be
Swelling the enraptured chorus,—
Singing joy and victory.
To ecstatic joy to rise;
Ready for the glad hosanna
In the heavenly Paradise.
Ready with the just made perfect,
Clothed in robes of light, to be
Swelling the enraptured chorus,—
Singing joy and victory.
216
Ready to behold the Saviour,
With His likeness satisfied;
Christ's alone and Christ's forever,
Christ my portion, Christ my guide;
In His righteousness accepted,
Ready at His feet to fall,
Saved by grace, a worthless sinner,
Nothing I,—Christ all in all.
With His likeness satisfied;
Christ's alone and Christ's forever,
Christ my portion, Christ my guide;
In His righteousness accepted,
Ready at His feet to fall,
Saved by grace, a worthless sinner,
Nothing I,—Christ all in all.
Heavenly messengers are round me,
Hark, their voices bid me come,—
“Earth and time too long have bound thee,
Waiting spirit, welcome home.”
Glad I go,—my toil is finished,—
Broke at last each earthly spell,
Upward now my soul is tending,
Earth, and time, and death, farewell.
Hark, their voices bid me come,—
“Earth and time too long have bound thee,
Waiting spirit, welcome home.”
Glad I go,—my toil is finished,—
Broke at last each earthly spell,
Upward now my soul is tending,
Earth, and time, and death, farewell.
As the bird with warbling music
Soars above our feeble sight,
Singing still, and still ascending,
Melting in heaven's glorious light,—
So the dying saint, departing,
Joyful took his heavenward way,
Life and time and gladness blending
In the light of perfect day.
Soars above our feeble sight,
Singing still, and still ascending,
Melting in heaven's glorious light,—
So the dying saint, departing,
Joyful took his heavenward way,
Life and time and gladness blending
In the light of perfect day.
S. F. Smith.
| [Poems by Smith in] Rock of ages. Original and selected poems | |