Part 4
Remember, Soul, the solemn word, Still uttered by thy loving Lord:— “That which thou sowest, thou shalt reap.” Let not thy nobler nature sleep; The word the Voice within thee saith, Reveals the law of life and death. That law, inexorably just, For good or ill, binds soul and dust,— And sways, with equal sovereignty, The shoreless sea of Destiny! Choose well; for baser choice endures:— Each heedless hour its age ensures,— Planting, in place of memories blest, A cypress forest in the breast.
THE RECKONING.
Search well thy ways, thy wishes,— Thy deepest life lay bare; Against to-morrow’s daylight, Desire and deed prepare.
Of reckless ease and pleasure, And slothful will, beware; Against to-morrow’s daylight, Thy stewardship prepare.
Ambition, aim, and motive,— To each give honest care; Against to-morrow’s daylight, Thy character prepare.
O Judgment-journeying brother! Thyself shall meet thee there;— Against to-morrow’s daylight, Thy destiny prepare.
Choose well; thy choice is endless! Be this our earnest prayer:— “Against to-morrow’s daylight, O God, my soul prepare.”
THE FONT, THE ALTAR, AND THE TOMB.
The font, the altar, and the tomb,— And but a step between! A pulse, a breath, ’twixt birth and death— And ends life’s sombre scene.
The font, the altar, and the tomb! How swift through mirth and moan, The silent shuttles of life’s loom, Guided by hands unknown!
The font, the altar, and the tomb! Poor heart, seek not in vain To move the unrelenting gloom, For short surcease of pain.
The font, the altar, and the tomb! Accept frail nature’s dower;— To thee, to all, an equal doom,— The inevitable hour!
The font, the altar, and the tomb! Faint not at “Dust to Dust;”— The love of God leaves ample room For deathless hope and trust.
The font, the altar, and the tomb! Christ crowns the soul’s sore strife;— The morning breaks! the victor wakes To everlasting life!
EVENTIDE.
The evening shadows deepen fast, Enshrouding sea and shore; The day so bright, so quickly past, Returneth nevermore.
The night is come; but lo! on high The steadfast stars appear; A holy calm is in the sky, And heaven seems very near.
So fades, at last, life’s little day,— So falls death’s deepening gloom; We hasten, each a different way, To reach one goal,—the tomb!
But God is good, whate’er may come;— To every heart is given A tender memory of home, A trembling hope of heaven.
THE LARGER LIFE.
My years are very few, O God! More rapidly they pass Than clouds whose transient tale is told In shadows on the grass.
My years are very few, O God! But they are full of Thee:— A drop of being in Thy life’s Unfathomable sea.
My years are very few, O God! Oh, let me clearly see How they grow strong and beautiful In Thy immensity.
My years are very few, O God! The sum of them is small,— But each may serve Thy blessed will, And Thou shalt have them all.
My years are very few, O God! On earth, but not in heaven;— To Thee, eternal Life and Love, Be endless praises given.
A PRAYER.
Deepen, Lord, the light divine, In this darkened heart of mine; On my inmost spirit shine, Radiance of th’ Eternal Trine!
Deepen, Lord, the life divine, In this barren heart of mine;— As the branch is to the vine, Hangs my helpless soul on Thine.
Deepen, Lord, the love divine, In this lonely heart of mine; Surest seal and sweetest sign,— There thy perfect peace enshrine.
Light, and life, and love, Thou art;— With thy grace, Thyself impart; Rest and Rapture of the heart, Come, and nevermore depart.
THE MESSAGE.
Sweet message of the Holy Dove, In mercy brought us from above,— O haste, my soul, its peace to prove:— “God, the Eternal God, is love!”
In Jesus, full of truth and grace,— Dear brightness of the Father’s face, Each radiant letter we can trace:— “God, the Eternal God, is love!”
All other word is empty, vain; Naught else can heal the heart’s sore pain, And faith and hope revive again:— “God, the Eternal God, is love!”
Through all life’s dangers, doubts and fears,— In all our trials, toils and tears, This promise spans the darkest years:— “God, the Eternal God, is love!”
Blest tidings, borne by Holy Dove, Of welcome waiting us above,— Through endless ages there to prove— “God, the Eternal God, is love!”
AS THOU WILT.
Give what Thou wilt, And what Thou wilt, withold; Only, O Lord, bestow Thy mercy manifold.
Give what Thou wilt, And what Thou wilt, recall; Thou still art ours, O God, And Thou art all in all.
Rich in Thy gifts, But richer in Thy grace, What bliss, what glory, ours, When we behold Thy face!
WE WOULD SING THE STORY!
We would sing the story Of Thy wondrous love, Jesus, King of glory, On Thy throne above.
Once in a rude manger Thou didst lowly lie,— Sweetest little stranger From the world on high.
Sister none, nor brother, There to welcome Thee,— Only Thy dear mother Watching tenderly.
Yet, unseen, around Thee, (Oh how kind and good!) Glad that they had found Thee,— Shining angels stood.
Angels who from heaven Brought the wondrous word, To the whole world given,— First by shepherds heard.
For, while they were tending Their lone flocks by night, Over them were bending Angels pure and bright.
And they heard them singing, “Peace, good will to men!” God’s sweet message bringing;— Near was heaven, then!
Happy shepherds! speeding Unto Bethlehem, Eagerly all heeding What was told to them.
And they found Thee sleeping There upon the hay,— And, with wonder weeping, They knelt down to pray.
And the Wise Men sought Thee, Guided by a star! Treasures rare they brought Thee,— From their home afar.
We would seek Thee, Saviour,— We would kneel and pray, And in kind behaviour Serve Thee day by day.
And while we are singing,— Like the kings of old, We would still be bringing Frankincense and gold.
Pearls of priceless beauty, Every precious gem,— Faith, and love, and duty,— For Thy diadem!
So would we adore Thee, Now, and till we die,— Then, with Thee in glory, Reign above the sky.
CHRISTMAS.
O holy, happy morning, That saw the Saviour’s birth! The star, thy brow adorning, Beams mercy on the earth;— For shepherds, and for sages, Thy cheer, impartial, free,— The travail of the Ages Finds recompense in thee.
My soul, be thou believing,— No more thy past deplore; In Christ, all loss retrieving, Rejoice forevermore. By love unknown attended, Thy weary watch and ward:— Behold the vision splendid! The angel of the Lord!
And hark! the herald angel! The radiant, rapturous throng! The ravishing evangel Floods all the hills with song:— “To God, in heaven, glory; Good will to men, below;—” Speed, speed the blessed story, That all the world may know.
Repeat it softly, slowly; For still, in hut and hall, Are lonely hearts and lowly, That hunger for it all. Again, again the story,— Till sin and sorrow cease: “To God, the Father, glory, And to His children, peace.”
“AS HE IS.”
God in man, and man in God! Speed the glorious word abroad; Heart’s best hope, and Heaven’s plan— Man in God, and God in man!
Into human history Blooms the blessed mystery;— Dayspring darkest night doth span:— Lo, the Christ! the Son of Man!
Brother, thine the call divine; Thine the grace, the glory thine; Life’s ideal in Jesus see:— As He is, so we may be.
O, how high, how deep, how broad— Infinite the love of God! Heaven shall crown the wondrous plan,— Man in God, and God in man!
PASSION-TIDE.
The Way of Sorrows Thou hast trod, Dear suffering Saviour, Lamb of God! And now, O nameless agony! They nail Thee to the cruel Tree.
With bleeding brow and breaking heart, Thou bearest, Lord, Thy baleful part;— And sorer far than we can see, Thy Passion’s painful mystery.
Yet here, triumphant o’er our sins, Thy blessed reign on earth begins,— And boundless empire waits for Thee, O thorn-crowned King of Calvary!
Before Thy Cross the world shall bow; Victor, because the Victim, Thou:— Thy dying love, O Christ, shall be The bond that draws all hearts to Thee.
IN BROTHERHOOD WITH ALL.
O Christ, the light of all that live, In heaven above, in earth beneath, To all Thou dost Thy blessing give, In brotherhood with all that breathe.
In brotherhood with all that breathe! Redeemer, Saviour, Thee we laud, And thy dear cross with glory wreathe, O Son of Mary! Son of God!
Thy loving spirit, Jesus, give To us who serve Thee here beneath, That we, henceforth, like Thee may live In brotherhood with all that breathe.
CODE AND CREED.
Christ’s life our code,—His Cross our creed, Our common glad confession be;— Our deepest wants, our highest aims, Find their fulfillment, Lord, in Thee.
Dear Son of God! Thy blessed will, Our hearts would own with saints above; All life is larger for Thy law,— All service sweeter for Thy love.
Thy life our code! in letters clear We read our duty, day by day,— Thy footsteps tracing eagerly, Who art the Truth, the Life, the Way.
Thy Cross our creed! Thy boundless love A ransomed world at last shall laud, And crown Thee their eternal King, O Lord of Glory! Lamb of God!
Till then, to Thee our souls aspire, In ardent prayer and earnest deed,— With love like Thine, confessing, still, Christ’s life our code,—His Cross our creed!
EASTER-TIDE.
Easter bells are ringing, Easter anthems rise,— Age and Childhood singing Strains that seek the skies; Seek their source, ascending Where, in rapture sweet, Song and service blending, Saint and seraph meet.
“Christ, the Lord, is risen!” Wondering angels cry; “Broken, Death’s dread prison!” Sons of men reply. Blessed song and story! Doubt and fear depart,— Resurrection glory Floods the faithful heart.
Purest, purest pleasure In each bosom wells; Happy, happy measure— How the choral swells! By that song supplanted, Wrath and wrong shall cease; From this hour undaunted Reigns the Prince of Peace!
Easter lilies, blowing, Breathe His praise abroad,— All their grace bestowing On the Son of God. Lo! His brow adorning, Kings their homage pay; Hark! the stars of morning Hail His boundless sway.
EASTER LILIES.
In faith sincere we bear the sign Of Thy dear cross, O Christ divine! And in our hearts the lilies bloom That blossom by Thy radiant tomb.
Thy dying love, Thy glorious power Triumphant over sin and death, Shall be our song till life’s last hour, And thrill with praise life’s parting breath.
Then, then, O bliss beyond compare! Thy face, Thy glory, we shall see, And in the home immortal share Eternal life and love with Thee.
In faith sincere we bear the sign Of Thy dear cross, O Christ divine! And in our hearts the lilies bloom That blossom by Thy radiant tomb.
EASTER-TIDE ADORATION.
O Lamb of God, for sinners slain, To loving hearts restored again! Our Light, our Life, Redeemer, Lord,— Forever be Thy name adored.
Victorious over death and hell,— Incarnate Word, Immanuel! Thou comest, Saviour, to Thine own: Thy cross is now Thy glorious throne!
The Earth her richest gains shall bring, To crown Thee Conqueror and King; And the abundance of the sea Shall be converted unto Thee.
Kings at Thy feet their scepters lay; The Ages own Thy widening sway; Thy rule shall over all extend, And Thy dominion never end!
THE KING.
With all Thy saints, below, above, Thy triumph over death we sing, And crown Thy cross with wreaths of love, O Christ, our Saviour, and our King!
Rejoicing in Thy widening sway, We hail Thy coming, gracious Lord; The dawn predicts the perfect day,— The world redeemed, renewed, restored!
Her richest gains Earth brings to Thee:— The East, her reverence and awe,— The West, her boundless energy, Her learning, liberty, and law.
Where’er stars shine or dews shall fall, Thine is the power, the kingdom Thine; Thou by Thy cross hast conquered all, O Jesus, Saviour, Love divine!
AN EASTER-TIDE LYRIC.
Thine was the cross, O Christ,— The brow thorn-crown’d and gory; Thine, blessed Saviour, now, The kingdom, power, and glory!
The ages own Thy sway;— All kings shall bow before Thee, And to Thy service bring Their honor, power and glory,
All that Thy grace bestowed, The world shall yet restore Thee,— Enshrining in its heart The bitter cross that bore Thee.
With saints and seraphim, Let us, O Lord, adore Thee,— Ascribing to Thy name The kingdom, power, and glory!
And in the hour of death, Receive us, we implore Thee, To share, forevermore, Thy kingdom, power, and glory!
AN EASTER IDYL.
Between two twilights folded in,— Kiss’d by the day’s sweet breath, Frail as the flowers of fairest bloom, We pass from birth to death.
Between two twilights,—dawn and dusk,— Two twilights,—dusk and dawn! We shall not know that we have slept,— So soon the night has gone.
For dearer far, to God, are we, Than fairest flowers of earth;— Breaks on the soul eternal day,— _Death is another birth!_
ASCENSION-TIDE.
Lamb of the riven side,— Lord of lords, glorified! Victim and Victor, Thee we adore; Shepherd of Israel, Saviour from death and hell, Mighty Immanuel! reign evermore.
Lion of Judah, From Brahm and from Buddha Seize for Thy glory the sea and the land; Where age-long error thralls, Where blackest night appalls, There, with her radiant walls, let Zion stand.
The gates of the morning, Thy temple adorning, Shall beacon the uttermost isles of the sea; And nations, now unknown, Shall bow before Thy throne, And Thee their Sovereign own, with saintly jubilee.
Orient, and Occident, Hail Him the Father sent! Greet Him with shoutings, and joyfully sing; On love’s blest mission bent, Through Death’s wide realm He went Conq’ror omnipotent;—crown Him your King!
Martyr with gory brow, Monarch in glory, now,— Victim and Victor, Thee we adore; Shepherd of Israel, Saviour from death and hell, Mighty Immanuel! reign evermore.
HOMEWARD.
O Jesus, sole, sufficient source Of hope that heals the sad heart’s strife, Direct us on our darkened course,— Thyself the Way, the Truth, the Life.
Thou knowest the way we take, O Lord! Didst Thou not prove its painful length? Help of the helpless, still afford Thy pitying love, Thy tender strength.
In every trial, every care, Thy patient footsteps may we see;— The sorrows of Thy cross to share Shall then our joy and glory be.
Secure in Thy unchanging love, No toil, no suffering will we flee,— Assured that death itself shall prove The path that leads to heaven and Thee.
CHRISTUS CONSOLATOR.
In the day of tribulation, In the hour of sore temptation, With the strength of Thy salvation, Jesus, Saviour, comfort me!
When no more the heart may borrow Hope and courage from the morrow,— In the darkest depths of sorrow, Jesus, Saviour, comfort me!
When all aid is unavailing, Flesh and heart together failing, Sin and death the soul assailing,— Jesus, Saviour, comfort me!
On Thy word alone relying,— Never Thy dear name denying,— Oh, forsake me not when dying! Jesus, Saviour, comfort me!
Crowned, at last, in light supernal, Victor over foes infernal,— With Thy love, supreme, eternal, Jesus, Saviour, comfort me!
COMPENSATION.
The mystery of sorrow, The mystery of pain, Shall sure, some happy morrow, To every heart be plain.
Till then, O loving Master, Thy footsteps may we see, And only press the faster Through darkest days to Thee.
Choose Thou each care, each trial, As serves Thy will divine, And be our self-denial, And sacrifice, like Thine.
Strung on the string of duty, Life’s toils and tears shall be Like pearls of priceless beauty,— The soul’s fair rosary!
And dearer yet, and dearer, Thy cross, O Christ, shall be, As nearer yet, and nearer, We draw to heaven and Thee!
FROM MORNING TO MORNING!
Lovingly the morning glows On the lily and the rose; So the heart of God o’erflows!
Quietly the sky looks down On the turmoil of the town,— Face divine, without a frown.
Peacefully, when toil is o’er, Twilight comes to sea and shore,— Pledge of rest for evermore.
Tenderly the moonbeams fall On the hovel and the hall;— So God’s pity shelters all.
Soft the light on lea and lawn, Till the faithful stars are gone,— Then—the rapture of the dawn!
Transcriber’s Notes
Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected.
Odd outdent of next to last line on page 43 was omitted.
End of Project Gutenberg's Niagara, and Other Poems, by Benjamin Copeland