One Hundred Holy Songs, Carols, and Sacred Ballads Original, and suitable for music [by Jean Ingelow] |
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EARLY QUESTIONS OF THE CHURCH. |
 | One Hundred Holy Songs, Carols, and Sacred Ballads |  |
EARLY QUESTIONS OF THE CHURCH.
“Is it I? and another said, Is it I?”
“One of those,” He sigh'd at supper, “should betray Him;”
And they fear'd, albeit for love content to die;
And we love, but lips of men no more do say Him,
Love's desponding words of wonder, “Is it I?”
And they fear'd, albeit for love content to die;
And we love, but lips of men no more do say Him,
Love's desponding words of wonder, “Is it I?”
“Is it I?” with Him they walk'd, their all forsaken,
Yet against their own hearts turn'd distrusting sore;
Who are we, and what are we? that thought should waken
Such a dread and such a doubt in us no more.
Yet against their own hearts turn'd distrusting sore;
Who are we, and what are we? that thought should waken
Such a dread and such a doubt in us no more.
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Still all confident, all calm in these our stations,
Having known His word, we name Him, not afraid;
But from age to age He moves among the nations,
And in souls of men is born—and is betray'd.
Having known His word, we name Him, not afraid;
But from age to age He moves among the nations,
And in souls of men is born—and is betray'd.
Ay, but not alone of aliens, nor the stranger,
But the angels of the churches, while they pray,
And the saints who sing in peace, nor hear of danger,
These have wrought, and these do love—and they betray.
But the angels of the churches, while they pray,
And the saints who sing in peace, nor hear of danger,
These have wrought, and these do love—and they betray.
By unkindness, for His sake, to brethren parted,
By the casting out of sinners to their shame,
By the folding in of sinners fouler hearted,
By all hard things done and said in His great name—
By the casting out of sinners to their shame,
By the folding in of sinners fouler hearted,
By all hard things done and said in His great name—
And for Him, by narrow thoughts of His blest passion,
Evil envy, words untrue, and counsels cold;
By their rising who should stoop in lowly fashion
To the low, by lust of ease, by greed of gold.
Evil envy, words untrue, and counsels cold;
By their rising who should stoop in lowly fashion
To the low, by lust of ease, by greed of gold.
O my Master, can it be? Do I betray Thee?
Wash me clean of this dark stain before I die.
Give an answer of deep peace to me, I pray Thee,
To me mourning at the supper, “Is it I?”
Wash me clean of this dark stain before I die.
Give an answer of deep peace to me, I pray Thee,
To me mourning at the supper, “Is it I?”
| One Hundred Holy Songs, Carols, and Sacred Ballads | |