Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold By "F. Harald Williams"[i.e. F. W. O. Ward]. First Edition |
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STRIPT. |
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 | Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold |  |
169
STRIPT.
Once the Master dear came to me,
When I really knew Him not,
Though His presence all went through me,
While it strangely stirred my lot;
And I listened to Him blindly
With a dull astonished ear,
As He whispered to me kindly
Words most wonderful to hear;
Yet I hearkened to His message
And the music of His voice,
For my conscience felt a presage
Of a new and nobler choice.
When I really knew Him not,
Though His presence all went through me,
While it strangely stirred my lot;
And I listened to Him blindly
With a dull astonished ear,
As He whispered to me kindly
Words most wonderful to hear;
Yet I hearkened to His message
And the music of His voice,
For my conscience felt a presage
Of a new and nobler choice.
Then He spoke, “Take off the clothing
Which impedes thy heavenward race,
And remember that betrothing
Which was promise of My grace;
For thou canst not run in fervent
Zeal one step upon the road
Thus encumbered, as my servant,
With an idle heavy load;
And I may not help thy struggles,
For the victory and right,
When the world of falsehood juggles
With the leadings of the Light.”
Which impedes thy heavenward race,
And remember that betrothing
Which was promise of My grace;
For thou canst not run in fervent
Zeal one step upon the road
Thus encumbered, as my servant,
With an idle heavy load;
And I may not help thy struggles,
For the victory and right,
When the world of falsehood juggles
With the leadings of the Light.”
So I eased me of the raiment
Which I gathered on my course,
And demanded no re-payment
In my penitent remorse;
And the pride that made me stumble
With its many-coloured dress,
I renounced for garments humble
Meet for my unworthiness;
And the vulgar earthly wrappings
Which retarded me so long,
I laid low with gaudy trappings,
And took up a sacred song.
Which I gathered on my course,
And demanded no re-payment
In my penitent remorse;
And the pride that made me stumble
With its many-coloured dress,
I renounced for garments humble
Meet for my unworthiness;
And the vulgar earthly wrappings
Which retarded me so long,
I laid low with gaudy trappings,
And took up a sacred song.
170
And the vanity that clogged me
In the steep and stony track,
While its evil shadows dogged me,
All I cast behind my back;
And the scarlet tire of pleasure
Which for years had dragged me down,
With the tinsel I deemed treasure
And the roses' fading crown,
I put off and raised my carol
Higher yet to Him who led,
While I thought of His apparel
And the thorns about His head.
In the steep and stony track,
While its evil shadows dogged me,
All I cast behind my back;
And the scarlet tire of pleasure
Which for years had dragged me down,
With the tinsel I deemed treasure
And the roses' fading crown,
I put off and raised my carol
Higher yet to Him who led,
While I thought of His apparel
And the thorns about His head.
I discarded every vesture
That entangled me and stayed
Under bondage, or by gesture
False on doubtful paths delayed;
Though I did my service dumbly,
And in darkness followed yet,
And my hands rejected numbly
All the robes that still beset;
Till I left no rag remaining
Or pretension to atone,
And stood stript and uncomplaining
In my nakedness alone.
That entangled me and stayed
Under bondage, or by gesture
False on doubtful paths delayed;
Though I did my service dumbly,
And in darkness followed yet,
And my hands rejected numbly
All the robes that still beset;
Till I left no rag remaining
Or pretension to atone,
And stood stript and uncomplaining
In my nakedness alone.
Then the Master came in blessing,
And His Spirit moved with might,
And His touch that fell caressing
Now arrayed me all in light;
For He garmented my nothing
With His own exceeding Grace,
And I carried as my clothing
The reflection of His Face;
For I found the road of duty
Kept me walking at His side,
And when sheltered by His beauty
I was dressed and satisfied.
And His Spirit moved with might,
And His touch that fell caressing
Now arrayed me all in light;
For He garmented my nothing
With His own exceeding Grace,
And I carried as my clothing
The reflection of His Face;
For I found the road of duty
Kept me walking at His side,
And when sheltered by His beauty
I was dressed and satisfied.
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