University of Virginia Library

Thou sayest to us, “Go,
And work while it is called to-day; the sun
Is high in heaven, the harvest but begun;
Can hands oft raised in prayer, can hearts that know
The beat of Mine through love and pain be slow
To soothe and strengthen?” still Thou sayest “Go;
Lift up your eyes and see where now the Line
Of God hath fallen for you, one with Mine
Your Lot and Portion. Go, where none relieves,
Where no one pities, thrust the sickle in
And reap and bind, where toil and want and sin
Are standing white, for here My harvests grow:
Go, glean for Me 'mid wasted frames outworn,
'Mid souls uncheered, uncared for; hearts forlorn,
With care and grief acquainted long, unknown
To earthly friend, of Heaven unmindful grown;
In homes where no one loves, where none believes,
For here I gather in my goodly sheaves;”
Thou sayest to us, “Go.”

Thou sayest to us, “Go
To conflict and to death;” while friends are few
And foes are many, what hast Thou to do
With peace, Thou Son of Peace? A man of war
Art Thou from Youth! when Thou dost girded ride,
Two stern instructors, Truth and Mercy, guide
Thy hand to things of terror; friends and foes
Thine arrows feel; a sword before Thee goes,
And after Thee a fire, confusion stirred
Among the nations even by the word
Of Meekness and of Right; “Yea, take and eat
Of these my words,” Thou sayest, “they are sweet
As honey; yet this roll that now I press
Upon your lips will turn to bitterness
When ye shall speak its message; lo, a cry
Of wrath and madness, ere the ancient Lie
That wraps the roots of earth will quit its hold,
A shriek, a wrench abhorred; and yet be bold,
Oh, ye my servants! take my rod and stand
Before the King, nor fear if in your hand
It seem unto a serpent's form to grow;
Rise up, my Priests! my Mighty Men, with sound
Of solemn trumpet, walk this city round,
A blast will come from God, His word and will
Through hail, and storm, and ruin, to fulfil;
Then shall ye see the Towers roll down, the Wall
Built up with blood, and tears, and tortures, fall,
And from the Living Grave the living Dead
Will rise, as from their sleep disquieted;
O Earth, this Baptism of thine is slow!
Not dews from morning's womb, not gentle rains
That drop all night can wash away thy stains.—
The fire must fall from Heaven; the blood must flow
All round the Altar;”—still Thou sayest, “Go.”

And that Thou sayest, “Go,”
Our hearts are glad; for he is still Thy friend
And best beloved of all, Whom Thou dost send
The farthest from Thee; this Thy servants know;
Oh, send by whom Thou wilt, for they are blest
Who go Thine errands! Not upon Thy breast
We learn Thy secrets! Long beside Thy tomb
We wept, and lingered in the Garden's gloom;
And oft we sought Thee in Thy House of Prayer
And in the Desert, yet Thou wert not there;
But as we journeyed sadly through a place
Obscure and mean, we lighted on the trace
Of Thy fresh footprints, and a whisper clear
Fell on our spirits,—Thou Thyself wert near;
And from Thy servants' hearts Thy name adored
Brake forth in fire; we said, “It is the Lord.”
Our eyes were no more holden; on Thy face
We looked, and it was comely; full of grace,
And fair Thy lips; we held Thee by the feet,
We listened to Thy voice, and it was sweet,
And sweet the silence of our spirits; dumb
All other voices in the world that be
The while Thou saidest, “Come ye unto Me,”
The while Thou saidest, “Come.”

We said to Thee, “Abide
With us, the Night draws on apace;” but, lo!
The cloud received Thee, parted from our side,
In blessing parted from us! Even so
The Heaven of Heavens must still receive Thee! dark
And moonless skies bend o'er us as we row,
No stars appear, and sore against our bark
The current sets; yet nearer grows the Shore
Where we shall see Thee standing, never more
To bid us leave Thee! though Thy Realm is wide,
And mansions many, never from Thy side
Thou sendest us again; by springs serene
Thou guidest us, and now to battle keen
We follow Thee, yet still, in peace or war,
Thou leadest us. Oh, not to sun or star
Thou sendest us, but sayest, “Come to Me;
And where I am, there shall My servants be.”
Thou sayest to us, “Come.”