Songs Old and New ... Collected Edition [by Elizabeth Charles] |
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LAST TOUCHES, LAST STEPS, LAST WORDS. |
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 | Songs Old and New |  |
221
LAST TOUCHES, LAST STEPS, LAST WORDS.
St. Luke xxiv. 39, 40.
Oh, torn and nailëd hands,
Yet by no nails held fast;
Only by force of dear, Divine commands,
And love, on to the last!
Yet by no nails held fast;
Only by force of dear, Divine commands,
And love, on to the last!
Oh, healing hands and strong,
By love and pain held fast!
Ere to this torture yielded up so long,
What was it they did last?
By love and pain held fast!
Ere to this torture yielded up so long,
What was it they did last?
They took the festal cup,
Gave it to drink to all,
And with the wine of God they filled it up—
Drops from Thy heart that fall.
Gave it to drink to all,
And with the wine of God they filled it up—
Drops from Thy heart that fall.
They took the Paschal bread,
But common bread before;
And one High Feast for all the ages spread,
Which faileth never more.
But common bread before;
222
Which faileth never more.
They washed the way-worn feet,
(Master in ministry!)
Washed off the common dust of path and street
From feet which followed Thee!
(Master in ministry!)
Washed off the common dust of path and street
From feet which followed Thee!
They healed the wounded foe,
(One touch, as in the past,)
Healing the foe, though friends had struck the blow;
'Twas this those hands did last.
(One touch, as in the past,)
Healing the foe, though friends had struck the blow;
'Twas this those hands did last.
Oh, blessed feet, to tread
No more for us Earth's round!
What were the latest willing steps they sped
Ere piercëd thus, and bound?
No more for us Earth's round!
What were the latest willing steps they sped
Ere piercëd thus, and bound?
Three times they went one way
In dark Gethsemane;
Thou badest Thy beloved watch and pray,—
Watch but one hour with Thee!
In dark Gethsemane;
Thou badest Thy beloved watch and pray,—
Watch but one hour with Thee!
Three journeys, all in vain,
To see what watch they keep;
Craving one touch of sympathetic pain,
And finding all asleep!
To see what watch they keep;
223
And finding all asleep!
Oh, lips now parched and white
In death, what said they last?
Ere on them, through the tumult of that night,
Majestic silence passed.
In death, what said they last?
Ere on them, through the tumult of that night,
Majestic silence passed.
For the disciples' sake,
What was the last they said?
“Let not your heart be troubled,” (Thine must break!)
“Nor let it be afraid.”
What was the last they said?
“Let not your heart be troubled,” (Thine must break!)
“Nor let it be afraid.”
Shepherd! in mortal pain,
Still caring for the sheep!
We know no word nor touch of Thine were vain:
All in our depths sink deep.
Still caring for the sheep!
We know no word nor touch of Thine were vain:
All in our depths sink deep.
E'er since that dread night's strain
Some fail not watch to keep;
Oh, come and see, and try us once again,
And find us not asleep!
Some fail not watch to keep;
Oh, come and see, and try us once again,
And find us not asleep!
| Songs Old and New | |