 | The Land of Light and other Hymns of Faith and Hope |  |
117
THE ROD
I weep, but do not yield,
I mourn, yet still rebel;
My inmost soul seems steeled,
Cold and immoveable.
I mourn, yet still rebel;
My inmost soul seems steeled,
Cold and immoveable.
The wound is sharp and deep,
My spirit bleeds within;
And yet I lie asleep,
And still I sin, I sin.
My spirit bleeds within;
And yet I lie asleep,
And still I sin, I sin.
My bruisèd soul complains
Of stripes without, within;
I feel these piercing pains,
Yet still I sin, I sin.
Of stripes without, within;
I feel these piercing pains,
Yet still I sin, I sin.
118
O'er me the low cloud hung
Its weight of shade and fear,
Unmoved I passed along,
And still my sin is here.
Its weight of shade and fear,
Unmoved I passed along,
And still my sin is here.
Yon massive mountain-peak
The lightning rends at will;
The rock can melt or break,
I am unbroken still.
The lightning rends at will;
The rock can melt or break,
I am unbroken still.
My sky was once noon-bright,
My day was calm the while;
I loved the pleasant light,
The sunshine's happy smile.
My day was calm the while;
I loved the pleasant light,
The sunshine's happy smile.
I said, My God, oh, sure,
This love will kindle mine;
Let but this calm endure,
Then all my heart is Thine.
This love will kindle mine;
Let but this calm endure,
Then all my heart is Thine.
119
Alas, I knew it not!
The summer flung its gold
Of sunshine o'er my lot,
And yet my heart was cold.
The summer flung its gold
Of sunshine o'er my lot,
And yet my heart was cold.
Trust me with prosperous days,
I said, Oh, spare the rod;
Thee and Thy love I'll praise,
My gracious, patient God.
I said, Oh, spare the rod;
Thee and Thy love I'll praise,
My gracious, patient God.
Must I be smitten, Lord?
Are gentler measures vain?
Must I be smitten, Lord?
Can nothing save but pain?
Are gentler measures vain?
Must I be smitten, Lord?
Can nothing save but pain?
Thou trustedst me a while;
Alas! I was deceived;
I revelled in the smile,
Yet to the dust I cleaved.
Alas! I was deceived;
I revelled in the smile,
Yet to the dust I cleaved.
120
Then the fierce tempest broke,
I knew from whom it came;
I read in that sharp stroke
A Father's hand and name.
I knew from whom it came;
I read in that sharp stroke
A Father's hand and name.
And yet I did Thee wrong;
Dark thoughts of Thee came in;
A froward, selfish throng,—
And I allowed the sin!
Dark thoughts of Thee came in;
A froward, selfish throng,—
And I allowed the sin!
I did Thee wrong, my God,
I wronged Thy truth and love,
I fretted at the rod,
Against Thy power I strove.
I wronged Thy truth and love,
I fretted at the rod,
Against Thy power I strove.
I said, My God, at length
This stony heart remove,
Deny all other strength,
But give me strength to love.
This stony heart remove,
Deny all other strength,
But give me strength to love.
121
Come nearer, nearer still,
Let not Thy light depart;
Bend, break this stubborn will,
Dissolve this iron heart.
Let not Thy light depart;
Bend, break this stubborn will,
Dissolve this iron heart.
Less wayward let me be,
More pliable and mild;
In glad simplicity
More like a trustful child.
More pliable and mild;
In glad simplicity
More like a trustful child.
Less, less of self each day,
And more, my God, of Thee;
Oh, keep me in the way,
However rough it be.
And more, my God, of Thee;
Oh, keep me in the way,
However rough it be.
Less of the flesh each day,
Less of the world and sin;
More of Thy Son, I pray,
More of Thyself within.
Less of the world and sin;
More of Thy Son, I pray,
More of Thyself within.
122
Riper and riper now
Each hour let me become,
Less fit for scenes below,
More fit for such a home.
Each hour let me become,
Less fit for scenes below,
More fit for such a home.
More moulded to Thy will,
Lord, let Thy servant be,
Higher and higher still,
Liker and liker Thee.
Lord, let Thy servant be,
Higher and higher still,
Liker and liker Thee.
Leave nought that is unmeet;
Of all that is mine own
Strip me, and so complete
My training for the throne.
Of all that is mine own
Strip me, and so complete
My training for the throne.
| The Land of Light and other Hymns of Faith and Hope | |