 | The White Pilgrim and Other Poems |  |
251
A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE.
There was of old a child, born of a maiden,
Who speaks still from her breast:
“Come to Me all—weary and heavy laden,
And I will give you rest.
Who speaks still from her breast:
“Come to Me all—weary and heavy laden,
And I will give you rest.
“I give it in My time; but not, remember,
At your impatient will,
Changing at once the dull flats of December
To a spring-girdled hill.
At your impatient will,
Changing at once the dull flats of December
To a spring-girdled hill.
“I could, for power is Mine: but I am Master
In ways beyond your ken;
And you must meet storm, sorrow, and disaster,
Bravely, as honest men.
In ways beyond your ken;
And you must meet storm, sorrow, and disaster,
Bravely, as honest men.
“Truth, above all, is My own cherished virtue,
Pure and without alloy;
And, children, when the world's cold falsehoods hurt you,
Then let Me be your joy.
Pure and without alloy;
And, children, when the world's cold falsehoods hurt you,
Then let Me be your joy.
252
“When worthy anger makes you feel as strangers,
Lost on your devious road,
I, who from God's house scourged the money-changers,
Whisper: ‘Have faith in God.’
Lost on your devious road,
I, who from God's house scourged the money-changers,
Whisper: ‘Have faith in God.’
“When the dull troubles of the way perplex you.
Despise them—for you can;
I know the darkest fancies that can vex you,
Children, for I was man.
Despise them—for you can;
I know the darkest fancies that can vex you,
Children, for I was man.
“I know the paths of sin, and shame, and sorrow,
Your careless steps have trod;
But I can change sin's night to sinless morrow,
Children, for I was God.
Your careless steps have trod;
But I can change sin's night to sinless morrow,
Children, for I was God.
“What though two thousand years the world be older,
With newer sins of men?
I, who to loving hearts grow never colder,
Am man, as I was then.
With newer sins of men?
I, who to loving hearts grow never colder,
Am man, as I was then.
“Bring all your thoughts to Me! Doubt not nor tremble;
On Me your burdens cast;
I, Light of Light, deceive not nor dissemble,
But am God to the last.
On Me your burdens cast;
I, Light of Light, deceive not nor dissemble,
But am God to the last.
“To your world's last, when I come down to banish
Your petty doubts and fears,
To bless and crown, while crowns and kingdoms vanish,
The faith that smiles through tears.
Your petty doubts and fears,
To bless and crown, while crowns and kingdoms vanish,
The faith that smiles through tears.
253
“When life seems dark, kneel but in trust before Me,
You shall not long repine;
When life seems fair, kneel only to adore Me,
And then its smile is Mine.
You shall not long repine;
When life seems fair, kneel only to adore Me,
And then its smile is Mine.
“I give not as the world gives—worldly leaven
Rests on earth's dearest love;
But I have stored My treasure high in Heaven,
For hearts that dwell above.
Rests on earth's dearest love;
But I have stored My treasure high in Heaven,
For hearts that dwell above.
“Ask but for Me, and I will not deny you,
But think and ponder well;
Once let Me hold your heart, and I defy you
Ever to break the spell!
But think and ponder well;
Once let Me hold your heart, and I defy you
Ever to break the spell!
“I am a jealous God, like the great Father,
Who never spoke in vain;
And rule o'er those, whom in My fold I gather,
With undivided reign.
Who never spoke in vain;
And rule o'er those, whom in My fold I gather,
With undivided reign.
“You cannot loose the plough; you cannot turn you
From the dear Lord so nigh;
Once let the Master's love inflame and burn you,
And it shall never die.
From the dear Lord so nigh;
Once let the Master's love inflame and burn you,
And it shall never die.
“It shall burn on, in ever-kindling splendour,
Up to the great white throne,
Consuming sin in the flame of self-surrender,
Through which I claim Mine own.
Up to the great white throne,
Consuming sin in the flame of self-surrender,
Through which I claim Mine own.
254
“Oh fear not, when a strange unbidden ardour
Spurs you to high desires;
Nor wonder, if the heart seem something harder,
Even for the cleansing fires.
Spurs you to high desires;
Nor wonder, if the heart seem something harder,
Even for the cleansing fires.
“Great trials are My angels—sent to prove you,
And man the soul within,
With thoughts that soar beyond all words, to move you
To hate the touch of sin.
And man the soul within,
With thoughts that soar beyond all words, to move you
To hate the touch of sin.
“When by its weight your earthly reeds are broken,
Then raise your eyes above:
When man's love fails, remember Who has spoken
And said—that God is Love.
Then raise your eyes above:
When man's love fails, remember Who has spoken
And said—that God is Love.
“Fear not man's judgment; God alone ordaineth
For your eternal weal;
Your conscience is the court wherein He reigneth,
From Whom is no appeal.
For your eternal weal;
Your conscience is the court wherein He reigneth,
From Whom is no appeal.
“And He, who dwells in mystic glory yonder,
Made Me of human birth,
That as I wandered once, I still may wander
In search of love on earth.
Made Me of human birth,
That as I wandered once, I still may wander
In search of love on earth.
“Who runs may read; the words my book discloses,
As truth itself are true:
My yoke is light, My chains are all of roses,
Whose thorns I wore for you.
As truth itself are true:
My yoke is light, My chains are all of roses,
Whose thorns I wore for you.
255
“Yield but your heart up as a free oblation
To Father and to Son;
And you shall learn, in a flash of revelation,
That we indeed are One.
To Father and to Son;
And you shall learn, in a flash of revelation,
That we indeed are One.
“When the full heart is sore, and the eye tearful,
Then are we both most near;
And though your love for very love be fearful,
Ours shall cast out your fear.
Then are we both most near;
And though your love for very love be fearful,
Ours shall cast out your fear.
“Forget your follies, doubting son—forgiven,
When you bowed heart and knee;
Pray but to meet your loved and lost in Heaven,
And leave the rest to Me.”
When you bowed heart and knee;
Pray but to meet your loved and lost in Heaven,
And leave the rest to Me.”
| The White Pilgrim and Other Poems | |