 | A New Year's Eve, and Other Poems |  |
183
TO A MOURNER.
I knew not that lamented one
Who was thy help and stay;
Yet not for this my muse would shun
Her Christian debt to pay,
Could I conceive that verse of mine
Might soothe a wounded heart like thine.
Who was thy help and stay;
Yet not for this my muse would shun
Her Christian debt to pay,
Could I conceive that verse of mine
Might soothe a wounded heart like thine.
But thou hast long been taught to whom
The sick at heart must flee:
Who, in each hour of grief and gloom,
Their only strength can be;
Look unto Him with steadfast eye,
Nor doubt His gracious arm is nigh.
The sick at heart must flee:
Who, in each hour of grief and gloom,
Their only strength can be;
Look unto Him with steadfast eye,
Nor doubt His gracious arm is nigh.
184
He still by His almighty hand
Can open, at thy need,
Sweet springs, as in a thirsty land,
In Sorrow's desert feed;
And through the influence of His grace
Make glad thy solitary place.
Can open, at thy need,
Sweet springs, as in a thirsty land,
In Sorrow's desert feed;
And through the influence of His grace
Make glad thy solitary place.
Then look not outward! Trust to Him
Who sweetens Sorrow's cup:
Whose love, when eyes with tears are dim,
Can bear the spirit up:
Whose mercy, e'en in darkest days,
Can make the mourner sing his praise.
Who sweetens Sorrow's cup:
Whose love, when eyes with tears are dim,
Can bear the spirit up:
Whose mercy, e'en in darkest days,
Can make the mourner sing his praise.
Well has thy spirit understood,
In hour of deepest woe,
That “worst events to final good
Through secret channels flow:”
And bright their bursting forth will prove
To humble faith and holy love!
In hour of deepest woe,
That “worst events to final good
Through secret channels flow:”
And bright their bursting forth will prove
To humble faith and holy love!
| A New Year's Eve, and Other Poems | |