Memoir and remains of the Rev. James D. Burns ... By the late Rev. James Hamilton [i.e. J. D. Burns] |
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“AARON'S ROD.” |
 | Memoir and remains of the Rev. James D. Burns |  |
“AARON'S ROD.”
On the green parent-tree the dew stood clear
In some far moonlit dell;
Upon the rod of Aaron, peel'd and sear,
That night no dewdrop fell.
In some far moonlit dell;
Upon the rod of Aaron, peel'd and sear,
That night no dewdrop fell.
Once in the sheaf of symbol wands 'twas laid
At eve before the ark,
Where the pale fire of the Shekinah ray'd
A glory through the dark.
At eve before the ark,
Where the pale fire of the Shekinah ray'd
A glory through the dark.
A sudden thrill of spring-time through it shot,
Quick juices swell its core,—
'Tis green as the wet sprig of olive brought
To Noah's prison door.
Quick juices swell its core,—
'Tis green as the wet sprig of olive brought
To Noah's prison door.
Thy hand, O God, around the stem a wreath
Of snowy blossom weaves,
And clustering almonds in their silken sheath
Hang ripe among the leaves.
Of snowy blossom weaves,
And clustering almonds in their silken sheath
Hang ripe among the leaves.
Leafless and dead the rival wands were found
When the gray dawning came;
That rod alone had bloom'd on holy ground
Which bore Thy Aaron's name.
When the gray dawning came;
That rod alone had bloom'd on holy ground
Which bore Thy Aaron's name.
So, Lord, I come into Thy holy place,
Before Thine ark I lie,
A wither'd branch that bears no flower of grace,
No fruit to please Thine eye.
Before Thine ark I lie,
A wither'd branch that bears no flower of grace,
No fruit to please Thine eye.
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Hour after hour drags on the weary night,
I wait Thy blessed will,
That some reviving ray of Thine own light
May through my being thrill.
I wait Thy blessed will,
That some reviving ray of Thine own light
May through my being thrill.
Oh, in the night-watch may Thy Spirit's breath
My inmost soul pervade!
Blow, heavenly wind! dissolve this frost of death
In which I am decay'd!
My inmost soul pervade!
Blow, heavenly wind! dissolve this frost of death
In which I am decay'd!
Thou, who to the small hyssop gav'st of old
Its purifying power,
Canst change the poorest weed of earthly mould
To a celestial flower.
Its purifying power,
Canst change the poorest weed of earthly mould
To a celestial flower.
Each germ of evil from my heart root out;
Sow there that holy seed
Whence the sweet flowers of Christian virtue sprout,
And fruits of Christian deed.
Sow there that holy seed
Whence the sweet flowers of Christian virtue sprout,
And fruits of Christian deed.
Thus let me find in Thy pure temple air
My time of spring, O God,
And in life's darkest night still flourish fair,
Like this unwithering rod.
My time of spring, O God,
And in life's darkest night still flourish fair,
Like this unwithering rod.
Thy sunshine falls on many a fruitless tree;
But in affliction's gloom
Thy garden plants, O Lord, exhale to Thee
Their sweetest scent and bloom.
But in affliction's gloom
Thy garden plants, O Lord, exhale to Thee
Their sweetest scent and bloom.
| Memoir and remains of the Rev. James D. Burns | |