 | Wood-notes and Church-bells |  |
109
SAMUEL.
Why that look of wondering awe?
Why that posture of surprise?
What the glory that he saw?
Whose the form that filled his eyes?
Nearer through the dark it came,
And it called him by his name.
Why that posture of surprise?
What the glory that he saw?
Whose the form that filled his eyes?
Nearer through the dark it came,
And it called him by his name.
On the child's attentive ear,
Through the stillness, slowly fell
Accents musical and clear,
Twice repeated—Samuel!
And the colour left his cheek,
As he answered, Speak, Lord, speak!
Through the stillness, slowly fell
Accents musical and clear,
Twice repeated—Samuel!
And the colour left his cheek,
As he answered, Speak, Lord, speak!
110
See him innocent as fair,
Sitting on his lowly bed,
Gazing on God's glory there,
Drinking in the words He said.
As the Lord, in mercy mild,
Communed with a little child;
Sitting on his lowly bed,
Gazing on God's glory there,
Drinking in the words He said.
As the Lord, in mercy mild,
Communed with a little child;
Who about the holy place,
In a linen coat arrayed,
Year by year had grown in grace,
“Ministered,” and watched, and prayed;
Far removed from mother dear,
But to God his Father near.
In a linen coat arrayed,
Year by year had grown in grace,
“Ministered,” and watched, and prayed;
Far removed from mother dear,
But to God his Father near.
Thus a living sacrifice,
He upon God's altar lay;
Prayer and praise by night arise,
Works of love are done by day;
Till the Lord from heaven came down,
A child's piety to crown!
He upon God's altar lay;
Prayer and praise by night arise,
Works of love are done by day;
Till the Lord from heaven came down,
A child's piety to crown!
111
Children, He is still the same—
Nay, the Lord has died for you;
And He knows you each by name,
And He sees whate'er you do;
When you kneel beside your bed,
He is standing at your head.
Nay, the Lord has died for you;
And He knows you each by name,
And He sees whate'er you do;
When you kneel beside your bed,
He is standing at your head.
Still a “child” may “minister”
To the mighty God above,
By obedience and by prayer,
And by self-denying love:
Still to children. He is kind,
And “who seek Him early, find.”
To the mighty God above,
By obedience and by prayer,
And by self-denying love:
Still to children. He is kind,
And “who seek Him early, find.”
And when life's bright day is o'er,
And death seals our weary eyes,
We shall open them once more
With a glorious surprise,
To see Jesus face to face,
Full of majesty and grace!
And death seals our weary eyes,
We shall open them once more
With a glorious surprise,
To see Jesus face to face,
Full of majesty and grace!
| Wood-notes and Church-bells | |