Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold By "F. Harald Williams"[i.e. F. W. O. Ward]. First Edition |
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| I. |
| II. |
| VI. |
“CONSIDER THE LILIES.” |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
 | Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold |  |
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“CONSIDER THE LILIES.”
Look at the lilies
How they grow in perfect form and face,
And prove what excellence that Will is
Which gave such faultless grace;
They toil not as we must, dear brothers,
And never need they spin
Their weary lives away like others,
And then new tasks begin;
For beauty
Is their simple duty,
To feed on sun and air
Or bend their lips to every bidder
And hourly wax more fair—
And hourly wax more fair.
Sweet Heart, the World is a sweet bidder,
And thou dost daily bloom and grow
As fair as lilies are, but O
“Consider.”
How they grow in perfect form and face,
And prove what excellence that Will is
Which gave such faultless grace;
They toil not as we must, dear brothers,
And never need they spin
Their weary lives away like others,
And then new tasks begin;
For beauty
Is their simple duty,
To feed on sun and air
Or bend their lips to every bidder
And hourly wax more fair—
And hourly wax more fair.
Sweet Heart, the World is a sweet bidder,
And thou dost daily bloom and grow
As fair as lilies are, but O
“Consider.”
Look at the lilies,
How they grow in poetry of power
And praise therewith the One whose Will is
That everything should flower;
They toil not, yet no king of story
Was ever clothed like them,
In garb of fire and dew and glory,
And spotless diadem;
For pleasing
Saddened eyes and easing
The troubled soul of man
And smiling on the boldest bidder,
Is their appointed plan—
Is their appointed plan.
Sweet Heart, the flesh is a sweet bidder
And vain would break thy virgin vow
Which married thee to Christ, but now
“Consider.”
How they grow in poetry of power
And praise therewith the One whose Will is
That everything should flower;
They toil not, yet no king of story
Was ever clothed like them,
In garb of fire and dew and glory,
And spotless diadem;
For pleasing
Saddened eyes and easing
The troubled soul of man
And smiling on the boldest bidder,
Is their appointed plan—
Is their appointed plan.
Sweet Heart, the flesh is a sweet bidder
And vain would break thy virgin vow
Which married thee to Christ, but now
“Consider.”
315
Look at the lilies
How they grow in seemliness of shape,
And magnify the Hand whose Will is
A love that none escape;
They toil not, yet their robes are scarlet,
And nowise need they spin
Those pretty frocks at night so starlit
That are to light akin;
For shining
Only and inclining
Their wealth to those that woo,
And breathing honey on each bidder
Is all the work they do—
Is all the work they do.
Sweet Heart, the Devil is a bidder,
And daily thou dost send more far
The fragrance of thy life, but ah!
“Consider.”
How they grow in seemliness of shape,
And magnify the Hand whose Will is
A love that none escape;
They toil not, yet their robes are scarlet,
And nowise need they spin
Those pretty frocks at night so starlit
That are to light akin;
For shining
Only and inclining
Their wealth to those that woo,
And breathing honey on each bidder
Is all the work they do—
Is all the work they do.
Sweet Heart, the Devil is a bidder,
And daily thou dost send more far
The fragrance of thy life, but ah!
“Consider.”
Look at the lilies,
How they grow in purity of dress
And bear the Teacher's law whose Will is
A life of holiness;
They toil not on our dreary stages,
They till no grudging ground
Which gives them all, and not for wages,
And hold one happy round;
For serving
Others, and not swerving
From what God first ordained,
Or paying tithe to every bidder,
Is in their lot engrained—
Is in their lot engrained.
Sweet Heart, thy sin is a sweet bidder,
With soft delights to lay thee low
And dash thy lily bloom, but O
“Consider.”
How they grow in purity of dress
And bear the Teacher's law whose Will is
A life of holiness;
They toil not on our dreary stages,
They till no grudging ground
Which gives them all, and not for wages,
And hold one happy round;
For serving
Others, and not swerving
From what God first ordained,
Or paying tithe to every bidder,
Is in their lot engrained—
Is in their lot engrained.
Sweet Heart, thy sin is a sweet bidder,
With soft delights to lay thee low
And dash thy lily bloom, but O
“Consider.”
| Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold | |