Poems by the late John Bethune With a sketch of the author's life, by his brother |
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THE BENEVOLENCE AND SUFFERINGS OF
THE SAVIOUR. |
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| II. |
 | Poems by the late John Bethune |  |
THE BENEVOLENCE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE SAVIOUR.
Disciples of that Holy One,
Who died for sinners to atone,
Think on your Lord, and hope not here,
Freedom from sorrow and from fear;
Think not self-sacrificing love,
Unnoticed by the Powers above,
Nor falter in your faith;
Nor deem benevolence in vain,
Though kindness shown to suffering men
Should seem repaid with grief and pain,
Or even with groans and death.
Who died for sinners to atone,
Think on your Lord, and hope not here,
Freedom from sorrow and from fear;
Think not self-sacrificing love,
Unnoticed by the Powers above,
Nor falter in your faith;
Nor deem benevolence in vain,
Though kindness shown to suffering men
Should seem repaid with grief and pain,
Or even with groans and death.
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Your Saviour—even the Son of God!—
Spoke peace to men where'er he trod
Obedient to his Father's will,
Labour'd for their salvation still;
Pitied their woes, and, o'er the grave,
Wept for the dead he came to save:
He was the widow's prop,
The orphan's stay, the stranger's shield;
And lepers cleansed, and sickness heal'd,
Bespoke His kindness, and reveal'd
His power with Death to cope.
Spoke peace to men where'er he trod
Obedient to his Father's will,
Labour'd for their salvation still;
Pitied their woes, and, o'er the grave,
Wept for the dead he came to save:
He was the widow's prop,
The orphan's stay, the stranger's shield;
And lepers cleansed, and sickness heal'd,
Bespoke His kindness, and reveal'd
His power with Death to cope.
All power was His; yet was not He,
Though free from sin, from suffering free!
He lived a Man of Woe, and died
With malefactors side by side:
And why should earth to us afford
Enjoyments she denied her Lord?
While here still let us try,
In midst of suffering and shame,
To praise and bless His holy name,
Who took upon Himself our blame,
And deign'd for us to die.
Though free from sin, from suffering free!
He lived a Man of Woe, and died
With malefactors side by side:
And why should earth to us afford
Enjoyments she denied her Lord?
While here still let us try,
In midst of suffering and shame,
To praise and bless His holy name,
Who took upon Himself our blame,
And deign'd for us to die.
| Poems by the late John Bethune | |