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118
BIBLE WORKMEN;
OR, THE DIGNITY OF LABOUR.
Adam as a workman wrought,
When the breath of golden hours,
With delicious odours fraught,
Wandered through fair Eden's bowers;
Work for holy hands was found
In that happy pleasure-ground.
When the breath of golden hours,
With delicious odours fraught,
Wandered through fair Eden's bowers;
Work for holy hands was found
In that happy pleasure-ground.
Noah as a workman wrought,
When the ark rose huge and high,
And by word and sign he taught
Sinful men God's wrath to fly;
Heavily the hammers fell,
Sounding forth earth's solemn knell.
When the ark rose huge and high,
And by word and sign he taught
Sinful men God's wrath to fly;
Heavily the hammers fell,
Sounding forth earth's solemn knell.
119
Joseph as a workman wrought,
When, abandoned of his own,
Into slavery he was bought,
Into prison he was thrown;
Faithful, watchful, he endured,
And a glorious name secured.
When, abandoned of his own,
Into slavery he was bought,
Into prison he was thrown;
Faithful, watchful, he endured,
And a glorious name secured.
Moses as a workman wrought,
When, a shepherd, year by year
Jethro's flock he fed, and brought
To the slopes of Horeb drear;
Till upon that lonely height
He beheld God's glory bright.
When, a shepherd, year by year
Jethro's flock he fed, and brought
To the slopes of Horeb drear;
Till upon that lonely height
He beheld God's glory bright.
David as a workman wrought,
When he fashioned harp and lute
For God's praise, and bravely caught
By his beard the tawny brute—
Guarding, guiding “those few sheep”
Which were given him to keep.
When he fashioned harp and lute
For God's praise, and bravely caught
By his beard the tawny brute—
Guarding, guiding “those few sheep”
Which were given him to keep.
120
Peter as a workman wrought
On the sea with net and hook,
Casting oftentimes for nought
Till the astonished fisher took
One fair Pearl of mighty worth,
Brightest gem of heaven or earth.
On the sea with net and hook,
Casting oftentimes for nought
Till the astonished fisher took
One fair Pearl of mighty worth,
Brightest gem of heaven or earth.
Paul, too, as a workman wrought,
Weaving tents with his own hands,
While the Gospel-fight he fought—
Preaching Jesus in all lands:
First he wove the goat-hair, then
Wielded inspiration's pen.
Weaving tents with his own hands,
While the Gospel-fight he fought—
Preaching Jesus in all lands:
First he wove the goat-hair, then
Wielded inspiration's pen.
JESUS as a workman wrought:
What the name He deigned to bear
When our sinful souls He sought?
“Is not this the Carpenter?”
Days of labour, nights of prayer
For His last sad hour prepare.
What the name He deigned to bear
When our sinful souls He sought?
“Is not this the Carpenter?”
Days of labour, nights of prayer
For His last sad hour prepare.
121
Hast thou as a workman wrought?
Dost thou toil with hand or brain—
Wearing labour, wasting thought?
Prayerful work is not in vain:
And since Jesus toiled and died
Labour has been glorified!
Dost thou toil with hand or brain—
Wearing labour, wasting thought?
Prayerful work is not in vain:
And since Jesus toiled and died
Labour has been glorified!
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