Devotional Verses Founded on and Illustrative of select Texts of Scripture [by Bernard Barton] |
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HOPE LEFT WHILE THE ROOT LIVES. |
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HOPE LEFT WHILE THE ROOT LIVES.
“Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even
with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field, and
let it be wet with the dew of heaven.”
—Daniel, iv. 15.
Hath not the vision now
Its sure interpretation? Are there not
Roots, bearing trunk nor bough,
Yet living in the earth, unseen, forgot?
Its sure interpretation? Are there not
Roots, bearing trunk nor bough,
Yet living in the earth, unseen, forgot?
129
Is there not, known to Thee,
Saviour and Lord, the church's living Head!
Full many a goodly tree
Whose early shoots by Thee were nurtur'd, fed?
Saviour and Lord, the church's living Head!
Full many a goodly tree
Whose early shoots by Thee were nurtur'd, fed?
But when thou hadst a right
To look for fruit, on these no fruit was found:
Their beauty thou didst blight;
With brass and iron thou their root hast bound.
To look for fruit, on these no fruit was found:
Their beauty thou didst blight;
With brass and iron thou their root hast bound.
Such are existing yet,
Permitted in thy boundless love to live;
May heavenly dews still wet,
And tender grass its nourishment still give.
Permitted in thy boundless love to live;
May heavenly dews still wet,
And tender grass its nourishment still give.
That so each hidden root
Spared by Thy mercy thus to live unseen,
In days to come may shoot,
And once more wave its branches fresh and green.
Spared by Thy mercy thus to live unseen,
In days to come may shoot,
And once more wave its branches fresh and green.
Thy hand, which did not spare
The barren beauty of its earlier days,
May cause it yet to bear
Immortal fruit to Thy eternal praise.
The barren beauty of its earlier days,
May cause it yet to bear
Immortal fruit to Thy eternal praise.
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