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The Poetical Works of Walter C. Smith

... Revised by the Author: Coll. ed.

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[He spake without one shade of guilt or blame]
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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[He spake without one shade of guilt or blame]

“I have glorified Thee on the earth: and now, O Father, glorify Thou Me.”— John xvii. 4, 5.

He spake without one shade of guilt or blame
To touch His heart with penitence or shame;
“My Father, I have glorified Thy name,
Now glorify Thou Me.”
No lips but His a word like that might dare,
So meek and bold, so free from doubt and care;
God spake to God, and yet he spake in prayer,
As none might pray but He.
Ah! well for us that He could justly plead
In this high strain, and claim as rightful meed

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The glory due to perfect word and deed,
And tried, yet sinless thought;
For in His friends He would be paid His debt,
And on their heads He would this glory set;
But for Himself, it was a nobler yet—
A crown of thorns—He sought.
We look back from the verge of life, and see
Error and failure, sin and misery;
And we can only cry, ah! woe is me!
Be merciful, O God!
But now we dare pray, glorify Thy Son,
Crown the meek Victor who the fight hath won,
There are a thousand crowned in crowning One
Who bore our heavy load.