Poems by the late John Bethune With a sketch of the author's life, by his brother |
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THE POETICAL PREACHER.—No. I. |
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 | Poems by the late John Bethune |  |
THE POETICAL PREACHER.—No. I.
“Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and
I will give you rest.”—Mat. xi. 28.
Art thou a pilgrim, old and poor,
Way-worn upon life's thorny road,
Whose limbs must falter, hour by hour,
Beneath affliction's heavy load?
To thee, the voice of God address'd,
Invites to an eternal rest.
Way-worn upon life's thorny road,
Whose limbs must falter, hour by hour,
Beneath affliction's heavy load?
To thee, the voice of God address'd,
Invites to an eternal rest.
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Or art thou, in life's early stage,
Worn down by pain and dire disease,
Till all the infirmities of age
Cluster around thy trembling knees?
Sigh not, nor mourn, for thou art press'd
To come and have eternal rest.
Worn down by pain and dire disease,
Till all the infirmities of age
Cluster around thy trembling knees?
Sigh not, nor mourn, for thou art press'd
To come and have eternal rest.
Or art thou one whose hopes have been
On earthly evanescence built,
Whose schemes in disappointment keen
Have terminated, and in guilt?
With penitential thoughts impress'd,
Come and receive eternal rest.
On earthly evanescence built,
Whose schemes in disappointment keen
Have terminated, and in guilt?
With penitential thoughts impress'd,
Come and receive eternal rest.
Or art thou mourning o'er the dead—
Some dearly loved, and valued friend,
By early death, untimely laid
Where him thou mayest no more attend?
O cease to grieve! God's will is best—
Believe, and thou shalt yet have rest.
Some dearly loved, and valued friend,
By early death, untimely laid
Where him thou mayest no more attend?
O cease to grieve! God's will is best—
Believe, and thou shalt yet have rest.
Whate'er thou be, whoe'er thou art,
In weariness, and want, and woe,
Give to the Lord an humble heart,
Ask and believe—He will bestow;
For all who mourn, with cares oppress'd,
May claim from Him the promis'd rest.
In weariness, and want, and woe,
Give to the Lord an humble heart,
Ask and believe—He will bestow;
For all who mourn, with cares oppress'd,
May claim from Him the promis'd rest.
| Poems by the late John Bethune | |