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Poems of the Way
[POW5]
HIS WOND'ROUS LOVE
Deepening, deepening with the passing years,
Far beyond our hopes, or darkest fears--
Opening as a fragrant flower,
His wond'rous love, each day, each hour!
THE STRONGER LOVE
All earthly love is a thread of gold,
Most fair but what the touch of time may sever:
But His is a cable sure, of strength untold
O, His love, it lasteth ever!
And this great love he will on thee bestow
The fullness of his grace make known,
Earnest of glory grant thee here below
If thou wilt be his own! Mal. 3:6
LOVE DIVINE
Jehovah God to us in Christ hath given
The proof and pattern of a love divine,
And human love above, though nobly striven.
God's love is greater far than thine or mine.
For Christ came down from heights unknown to us,
And thus did show to God and man a love--
A love maintained through trial torturous;
A love beyond all loves, save God's above.
[POW6]
THY WAY
Have thou thy way with me, O Lord,
E'en tho I beg mine own;
Heed not the body's noisy cry
But the spirit undertone.
Have thy way with me, O, Lord,
And O, my soul to care
To have thy daily attitude
In keeping with thy prayer!
KEEP SWEET
Soul, let nothing make thee fretful,
Nothing bitter or regretful.
Heart, keep sweet, keep sweet!
And all day long
E'en from the moment of thy waking,
Let a song
Keep welling from a heart that's breaking,
Soul, keep sweet, keep sweet!
LET ME REMEMBER
When little things would irk me, and I grow
Impatient with my dear ones, make me know
How a moment joy can take a its flight,
And happiness be quenched in endless night.
When I would fret and grumble, fiery hot,
At trifles that tomorrow are forgot.
Let me remember, Lord, how it would be
If these, my loved ones, were not with me.
IF I SHALL STAND
If I shall stand within those Jasper walls
And hear the voice of my Beloved Lord,
And be like him and see his face so dear;
Then I must reach the mark of perfect love,
And fix my heart on things above.
I must trust him for grace in time of need,
Upon his written Word my soul must feed,
And bear my cross tho 'tis with feeble hand;
Ere I dare hope within those wall to stand.
[POW7]
"INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT"
Called by God who commanded the light
Out of the darkness forever to shine,
Into the marvelous light of His truth,
His only Son as our pattern and guide;
Marvelous provision for those who are blind--
Light of the knowledge of God thru his Son!
GOD BLESS YOU
God bless you in the coming year,
With hope and peace and joy;
His perfect love that casts out fear,--
His love, without alloy.
God guard you in the year to come,
Around your path each day
His angel's care be yours; and from
His storehouse, on your way,
May be supply your ev'ry way,
And keep you safe indeed!
MAY HIS CARE SURROUND
God bless you daily in the way
That leads to realms of life and light--
That you may follow in His steps
Who went before us; in the night.
Of His eternal strength and grace,
Whose will, no obstacle can thwart
May you in confidence and hope
Go forward; ever in your heart
May peace and joy and hope abound
And may His care your path surround.
SOMETIME
Sometime, dear hands shall clasp our own once more
And hearts that touched our hearts long years before
Shall come to meet us in that morning land.
And then at last, our souls shall understand
How, tho He hid his meaning from our sight,
Yet God was always true, and always right,
And how, tho smiles were often changed for tears,
Along this tangled pathway of the years,
Yet only so these lives of yours and mine
Can catch the likeness of that life divine.
[POW8]
THE SACRIFICE
I laid my life on the altar, I said "dear Lord it is thine.
Hence forth Thy will is my only law, my humble heart Thy shrine.
Barely I went forth to conquer, ready to die for His sake.
No sacrifice that He could ask seemed too great for me to make,
And the more I learned of His wonderful love, the dearer my Lord became,
Till I thought I could follow His pathway through any loss or shame.
But he led me by pleasant waters, where the sky was clear and bright,
And fed me in sweet green pastures and sheltered me at night.
Like a lamb I was shielded, protected. I know no pain or fear,
Why should I shrink or falter when the tender Shepherd was near?
But it was not enough to have His love, to listen to His dear voice.
I had nothing that I could give in return, nothing to sacrifice.
Then I found in my pathway a jewel bright and fair,
In facets threw back the sunlight in beauty beyond compare.
I took that lovely, precious gem and hid it in my breast.
It kindled a fire that seared my heart. My spirit could not rest.
I feasted upon its beauty. I watched its glory shine,
Rejoicing in the wonderful thought that this beautiful gem was mine.
Then something dimmed its luster. It gave me grief and pain.
I brushed and polished my treasure but it would not shine again.
Then I heard the Savior whisper, "Can you give this treasure to me?"
But I said "It has no beauty now. It is dark and lifeless you see."
I thought about my early vows, all, all I would give to Him.
Could it be that the cloud that had come between was making my jewel dim?
Could I lay at His feet a treasure whose beauty had faded away?
A jewel devoid of luster, all colorless and gray?
I laid my gift on the altar, I felt alone and bereft
Such a small and worthless offering, how could my Lord accept.
But the clouds rolled back and the sun shone out. My jewel sprang to life
There on the altar it blazed and burned, a thing with beauty rife.
My dear Lord smiled upon me and my heart was glad and free;
The jewel my heart had treasured so had never belonged to me.
He had tested my love, I had almost failed; I wanted that jewel so.
And the spin it cost me to see it fade, only the Lord can know;
I had treasured it still when its beauty was gone and fondled it to my breast;
But not till my Lord had accepted it could my weary heart find rest.
There is not grief so bitter that His love cannot share.
There is no trial of faith so great that His hand is not there.
He guarded me from the snare prepared to tangle my erring feet.
He shielded me from my own desire and tempered the cruel heat.
The fire that burned in my aching heart did but consume' the dross;
For the soul that is really committed to Him can never suffer loss.
[POW9]
A GLIMPSE OF GOD
I took a walk the other day
Out through the fields of new-mown hay;
Out o'er the paths where youth had trod,
When suddenly
There came to me
A glimpse of God!
T'was not a mortal, living thing.
T'was something like the air of Spring
That creeps into our hearts and minds.
T'was like the joy
A barefoot boy
Can always find!
I walked along the hard-packed sod
And through the fields of goldenrod.
The wind was whispering in the trees;
And as they swayed
They seemed to say
"God made this breeze!"
I thought of how when I a child
I'd wander through the open wild;
Alone--but never lonely though,
For God was near
My path to cheer
Where 'ere I'd go.
Where was this childlike trust I knew
As I have toiled these long years through;
To search in vain for temporal worth;
To waste my time
And to confine
My thoughts to earth?
The wisdom of Solomon spoke this truth:
"Remember thy Creator in days of youth;"
For then my heart was clean and true.
The birds, the trees
All spoke to me;
For God I knew.
The years are long that I have known
And strife and war and hate have grown.
When selfishness my way I've plod.
But that is past,
For now at last
I've found my God!
My God, my Father, take my heart;
And let this selfish mind depart;
And let thy Spirit dwell in me!
Forgive my sin
That I may win
Life in eternity!
[POW11]
GETHSEMANE AND CALVARY
In far-off Palestine there is
A place whose history,
In Time nor in Eternity,
Shall e'er be forgotten be--
The Garden of Gethsemane,
Where we in memory tread
The soil that Jesus' feet oft pressed;
And his tears hallowed;
For when his work on earth was done,
And he would soon depart,
And leave this unfriendly world
Those dearest to his heart,
He sought with them the solitude
Of that familiar place,
And there "exceeding sorrowful,"
Bowed down with tear-stained face.
In spirit gladly he had done
His Father's righteous will;
But had the oft-times weary flesh,
Failed some jot to fulfill?
"By one man's disobedience,
Death passed upon all men."
Nor could the blood of many beasts
Cleanse them from inbred sin.
God had, through Moses' Law, decreed
A "Corresponding Price,"
Therefore the Offerer must bring
A perfect sacrifice
And fear death--eternal Death--
Encompassed him that night,
Oh, would the Cross thus banish him
Forever from God's sight,
And leave the lost ad dying world,
Which he had come to save,
With nevermore ray of hope
Of life beyond the grave?
And in that dark and lonely hour,
Without one pitying eye,
Thrice from his troubled heart there came
The same despairing cry,
"O Father, if 'tis possible,
Remove this cup from me,
If not, except I drink of it,
Shall I, not bow to Thee?"
Not Calv'ry bitter pain or shame,
The "cup" he prayed to shun;
But endless Death--yet even so,
"Thy will, not mine, be done."
And oh, how worthless our lives seem,
As we behold him there--
The Son of God, that speechless Lamb,
In agonizing prayer.
[POW12]
"AND THE DAY DAWN"
Cloud and storm and darkness they
Each would hinder break of day,
Each would try in their own way,
To delay the birth of day.
But the sin is sure to break--
By its steady rising wake
Storms and clouds of every make,
And the world with joy to wake.
DAWNS
There are a hundred different dawns,
There are both good and bad.
Some there are that make you glad,
And some that make you sad.
Some they break with hope auspicious
And some are unpropitious.
There is the day that breaks at morn
With thunder clap and storm;
While others quietly are born
In bright and radiant form,
What e'er similitude is worn
'Tis dawn brings in the day.
THE BURDEN OF THE HOUR
God broke our years to hours and days,
That hour by hour and day by day,
Just going on a little way,
We might be able all along
To keep quite strong.
Should all the weight of life
Be laid across our shoulders,
And the future rife with woe and struggle
Meet us face to face at just one place
We could not go; our feet would stop;
And so God lays a little on us every day.
And never, I believe, on all the way
With burdens bear so deep
Or pathways lie so steep
But we can go, if by God's power,
We only bear the burden of the hour.
[POW13]
THE FLOWERS TALKED
As up the schoolhouse road I walked
It seemed to me, the flowers talked;
As if they glorified their God all day,
Their little faces -- O so bright --
Reflected heaven's glory light.
For rain and sunshine from above,
They thanked the gracious Lord of Love.
Nor did they murmur nor complain
When for a spell there was no rain.
They took whatever by His grace
Came into their specific place,
Their rainment too had come from Him;
That's why they looked so pure, so prim.
Then wondered I if there might be
A lesson here for you and me!
Perhaps, if we were like the flowers,
What difference then if sun or showers
Should be our lot? We'd see the good;
We'd praise the Lord the best we could;
We'd wear a smile upon our face
To honor His unfailing grace.
FATHER, THY WILL BE DONE!
He sendeth sun, He sendeth shower
Alike are needful for the flower:
And joys and tears alike are sent
To give the soul fit nourishment:
As comes to me or cloud or sun
Father, Thy will, not mine, be done!
Can loving children e'er reprove
With murmurs whom they trust and love?
Creator, I would ever be
A trusting, loving child to Thee:
As comes to me or cloud or sun
Father, Thy will, not mine, be done!
Oh, ne'er at life will I repine;
Enough that Thou hast made it mine;
When falls the shadow cold of death
I yet will sing with parting breath:
As comes to me or cloud or sun
Father, Thy will, not mine, be done!
[POW14]
THE FIELD OF BATTLE
To grasp the two-edged sword, and forward rush upon the foe,
To hear the Captain's cry, to see the flash of answering eyes,
To feel the throbbing hearts of battling comrades in the ranks,--
That rapturous inspiration know, of warring for the Right,
The holy joy of following Him who points and leads the way!
Ah, yes, 'tis glorious thus to fight the goodly fight, and yet,
Methinks, beyond the firing line, beneath those snowy tents,
A fiercer conflict rages night and day, where trembling hands,
With lips and fever-lighted eyes do battle with a host
Of deadly foes--grim giants, Doubts and Disappointment, fierce
Despair,--before whose fiery darts the bravest well might quail!
They also hear the call, and hoarsely cry, "Lord, here am I!"
They strive to reach their swords, to struggle to their feet, but back
In helpless agony of weakness on t heir pallets fall,
With brain afire, and reason tottering on its throne, their tears
Of anguish flow! Sometimes the noise of battle sweeps beyond
The range of those poor, straining ears, and then the spectre Fear
Stalks through the room, and lays an icy hand upon each heart:
The awful thought, Our captain hath forsaken and forgot,
Our comrades forge ahead, they leave us here alone to die!
But no! the Lord of Battles is most merciful, He sends
A swift-winged messenger: "Yea, though a mother may forget
Her sucking child, yet will I not forget!" Then like the calm
That cometh after storm, sweet peace and quiet reign within
Those troubled breasts, and so He giveth His beloved sleep.
Ah, then, true-hearted comrades in the forefront of the fight,
Remember that the wounded to God's army still belong,
And send betimes to them a while-winged messenger of cheer.
Oh, give Love's roses now, nor keep them for the coffin's lid,
A single flower is sweeter for than thousands by and by;
Take time to speak a tender word, to shed a pitying tear,
Or breathe, at least, a prayer throughout the watches of the night,
And thus prove than conquerors through the power of deathless love!
FAITH
Securely cabined in the ship below
Thru the darkness and thru storm I cross the sea,
A pathless wilderness to me:
But yet I do not fear, because I know
That He who guides the good ship o'er the waste
Sees in the stars her shining pathway traced--
Blindfold I walk this life's bewildering maze;
Up flinty steep, thru frozen mountain pass
Thru thorn-set barren and thru deep morass.
But strong in faith I tread uneven ways
And bare my head unshrinking the blast,
Because my Father's arm is round me cast.
And if the way seems rough I only clasp
The hand that leads me with a firmer grasp.
[POW15]
INSTEAD
Instead of the thorn there shall come up the fir tree
Instead of the brier the myrtle shall spring;
Back to its primeval freshness and beauty
God will creation triumphantly bring.
Streams in the desert shall heal the parched places
The rose in the wilderness fragrance shall shed;
Mountains and hills shall break forth into praises;--
Wonderful word of Jehovah--"Instead."
How sweet the assurance to hearts that are weary!
What hope it awakens, what strength doth convey!
Sunshine shall follow the days that are dreary,
Sorrow and sighting shall vanish away.
Symbol and type, and the Gospel's glad story
Say to the fainting one--"Lift up your head.
Soon shall this sad earth be filled with God's glory;
He for the curse will give blessing instead."
Behold on the altar a victim is lying,
Upraised is the knife in the patriarch's hand,
The child of the covenant promise is dying,
An offering made at Jehovah's command.
When lo! At the word of the angel from heaven
The son is restored, as alive from the dead.
The Lord for Himself hath a sacrifice given--
The ram in the thicket is offered instead.
Alone in the garden, while others are sleeping,
Our sinless Redeemer a suppliant kneels;
His earnest entreaty, his blood drops, his weeping,
To the heart of the Father his anguish reveals.
Though bitter the cup that surety has taken,
Though heavy the stroke that must fall on his head,
He goes to the cross to be cursed and forsaken;
To give us the cup of salvation instead.
Now saved on the ground of his infinite merit
His people rejoice in the soul-cleansing blood.
Transformed by the might of his indwelling spirit,
They bear, day by day, precious fruit unto God.
All glory and honor and majesty giving
To Him who redeemed them, their glorious head,
They count it their joy evermore to be living
No longer to self, but to Jesus instead.
Believer rejoice, for the glad day is nearing
For which all creation still travails in pain;
When Christ, our Redeemer, in glory appearing,
Shall take to himself his great power and reign.
When Satan, the evil usurper expelling,
To earth's farthest limits Christ's kingdom shall spread
And Peace and prosperity sweetly be telling
That Jesus, Immanuel, ruleth instead.
[POW16]
For Children of Believers
MORNING PRAYER
Dear Father, hear a little child
Who offers thanks to Thee;
Through all the darkness Thou hast kept
A watch-care over me.
O Father, keep me through this day,
I would to Thee belong;
May love control my little hands,
May kindness rule my tongue.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done
Upon this earth again;
Dear Father, hear my little prayer
For Jesus' sake. Amen.
EVENING PRAYER
Dear Lord, before sweet slumber comes
To close my weary eyes,
Up to Thy thrones of heavenly grace
My voice in prayer would rise.
For all the blessings of this day
I give Thee thanks and praise.
Forgive me, Lord, for Jesus' sake,
For all my naughty ways;
And as I lay me down to sleep
Do Thou an angel send
To watch beside me all the night
For Jesus' sake. Amen.
[POW17]
GOD'S JUDGMENT DAY OF BLESSING
When the judgments of God are abroad in the land
Then all of the children of men
Shall learn of his righteousness--know of his love,
And none shall have fear of him then.
For his knowledge shall flow to the ends of the earth,
As the waters do cover the sea.
Not any shall ask dost thou know of the Lord,
For his Spirit shall over all be.
They will walk up the highway of holiness then,
With nothing to hurt nor destroy.
For sin shall be vanquished--the evil one bound,
And sorrow shall give way to joy.
The Paradise lost, shall again be regained,
And all those now dead in their grave
Shall hear the sweet call of their Saviour and Lord
Who died that their lives he might save.
God's judgment day nears bringing blessings and peace.
He's promised all this in his Word.
For Christ and his bride shall then reign o'er the earth
And his name evermore be adored.
And so let us pray from the depths of our hearts
"May thy Kingdom come"--haste the day
For the judgments of God will bring blessings for all,
With all of earth's tears wiped away.
HOW DID YOU DIE?
Did you tackle the trouble that came your way
With a resolute heart and cheerful?
Or hide your face from the light of day
With a craven heart and fearful?
O, a trouble's a ton, or a trouble's an ounce,
Or a trouble is what you make it,
And it isn't the fact that you're hurt that counts,
But only how did you take it?
You are beaten to earth? Well, well, what's that?
Come up with a smiling face.
It's nothing against you to fall down flat,
But to lie there--that's disgrace.
The harder you're thrown, why, the higher you bounce;
Be proud of your blackened eye!
It isn't the fact that you're licked that counts;
It's how did you fight--and why?
And though you be done to the death, what then?
If you battled the best you could,
If you played your part in the world of men,
Why, the Critic will call it good.
Death comes with a crawl, or comes with a pounce,
And whether he's slow or spry,
It isn't the fact that you're dead that counts,
But only how did you die?
[POW18]
RUTH
In the book of Ruth we find us
Israelitish man and family;
Man, Elimelech; wife, Naomi;
Mahlon, Chilion, these their sons were.
These in time of dearth and famine,
Chose to leave the land of Canaan.
These to land of Moab sojourn.
Sons do find them wives in Moab,
One named Ruth, the other Orpah.
But the family fortune worsens,
Death doth strike in fast succession
Taking both the sons and father
In the space of one short decade;
Leaving women three, as widows;
Naomi, and Ruth and Orpah.
Then comes news upon Naomi
That in Isra'l bread aboundeth;
That the nation through repentance
Now is in Jehovah's favor.
Now she feels she must return there.
Rues the day she ever left there.
Tells her daughters hers by marriage
She'll return to her own country.
They do see her on her way then
And they offer to go with her.
But Naomi sayeth to them,
"Go ye to your mother's household,
And may God deal kindly with you.
To require you for your kindness
Unto me and to our dear ones."
Then she kissed them and with weeping,
All lament in touching sorrow.
[POW19]
Still they offer to go with her;
But she urges they find husbands
In their native land of Moah;
With a prayer that God repay them
For the loss they've had thru her,
Since she'd left the land of Isra'l.
"Other sons I cannot give thee,
Turn ye homeward," says Naomi.
Then doth Orpah kiss Naomi
And she turneth back to Moab.
Ruth still clingeth to Naomi
"Orpah doth return a homeward,
Ruth my dear, return thou also;"
But to this our Ruth doth answer:
"Be not thou against me urging
That I separate me from thee,
And entreat me not to leave thee,
To return from following after;
Whither thou shalt go, will I go;
I the land where thou abidest,
Grant that I there find a haven.
Whither thou shalt lodge, will I lodge;
People thine shall be my people,
And thy God shall be mine also;
Where thou diest there too let me die,
And there too let me be buried.
God do so to me--more also--
If but death do separate us."
Then Naomi ceased her urging,
Seeing Ruth was full determined
To pursue the journey with her.
Thence they journey on together
Unto Bethlehem in Judah.
And the time of their arrival,
Was the time of barley harvest.
There was quite a stir created,
By these weary way-worn travelers.
Women asked, "Is this Naomi?"
But she said, "Call me not Naomi,
Call me Mara, meaning bitter
For God truly hath afflicted.
Full was I when I departed,
Family of sons and husband.
Now return I empty handed--
Only loved by Ruth of Moab."
Naomi did have a kinsman
To Elimelech related;
He a mighty man and wealthy;
And this kinsman's name was Boaz.
Ruth doth say unto Naomi,
"We are in the barley harvest,
May I go and glean today, dear,
In some field where I find favor?"
"Go my daughter, go a gleaning,
May God bless thee in thy labor."
In a field not too far distant,
From the dawn until the evening
Followed Ruth behind the reapers.
Now the owner's name was Boaz;
And he came unto his reapers
Greeting them with, "God be with thee."
They responding, "May God bless thee."
Then enquired he of his servant,
Of the form of one he knew not,
Of a stranger come among them.
"Who's the damsel over yonder?"
"Yonder damsel," said his servant
"With Naomi came from Moab.
Ruth her name is--asked permission
To glean in the field of barley;
Where from morn she hath continued."
Boaz soon with Ruth conversing
Said, "My daughter go ye not hence;
Stay thou fast beside my maidens,
Let thine eyes be on the harvest
In the fields where they are reaping,
Go thou after them a gleaning.
I have charged the young men also
That in no wise they molest thee.
When thou are athirst do drink ye
Of the water they shall drawn them."
Ruth upon her face prostrateth,
And she bowed low and sayeth,
"Why have I found favor with thee,
Seeing I am but a stranger?"
"Full to me hath been recounted
Since thy husband's death, thy goodness
To his mother, our Naomi.
How thou left thy mother, father,
And the land of thy nativity,
To come unto those thou knew not,
And to trust the God of Isra'l.
May He fully recompense thee,
For the faith and work reward thee,
Under wings of Whom thou trusteth."
Then said she, "How can I thank thee,
Thou doth speak to me in comfort,
IN true friendship hath thou spoken.
I of foreign tongue and lineage
And not like to thy handmaidens."
Boaz said, "Do come at mealtime,
Eat our bread and dip they morsel
In the vinegar, "So did she,
And he passed to her the parched corn,
And she ate and was suffi'ced.
When she left to go on gleaning.
[POW20 continued]
Boaz gave command that she should
Even 'mongst the sheaves do gleaning,
That they purposely let handfull
Fall for her, and not reproach her.
Gleaned she in the field 'til evening.
Then she beat out that she'd gathered
And of barley had an ephah;
Which she carried to the city
And did show it to Naomi.
Also she gave to Naomi
From the bount'ous meal at noon-time,
Ample portion which remain-ed
After she had been suffi'ced.
"In whose field wrought thou today, dear,
At whose liberal hand and bounty
Came so much to fill our larder?"
Then Ruth told her of the kindness
Boaz showed to her in gleaning;
And his words to there continue
"Til the ending of the harvest.
Said Naomi to her Ruthie,
"Blessed he be of Jehovah,
Who hath not left off his goodness
Unto us nor to our dead ones.
This man Boaz is our kinsman,
Next save one unto my husband.
It is good my daughter, that ye
Only work beside his maidens,
Nor in other field they meet thee.
So Ruth wrought in fields of Boaz
Both in wheat and barley harvest;
And she grew to know and love him.
If his heart did prompt to love her
He did put the matter from him.
He was older--called her "daughter."
Prime of life now soon would leave him,
He'd not ask her of she'd have him,
For he knew her gener'us nature
Might in sympathy accept him,
For himself he would not ask this.
Let her heart dictate its wishes.
Naomi doth sense impasse:
Boaz--Why his hesitation?
Man, how blind to things about him,
Knows his heart but not another's
Quetioneth reciprocation;
Opens not--though heart be waiting.
Mutual love if unexpressed by,
Dwells in both unknown by either.
Naomi for Ruth would rest find
In the house of kinsman Boaz,
And she feels that love's suppression
Is indeed high priced discretion.
Path there is of some digression
From decorum is concession;
Could well give a wrong impression;
Though it is not real progression;
Justified to wake expression;
Love to lead to full possession;
So to Ruth she makes suggestion,
To invoke the law and custom,
That when husband die in Isra'l
Leaving widow but no children,
Jewish law required his brother
Should replace him as an husband
Later, custom this extended
To include the next line kinsman.
Boaz may be such a kinsman.
"Boaz winnoweth the barley
On the threshing-floor tonight, dear,
Thou shalt bathe thee and anoint thee,
Thine apparel put upon thee,
Go thee to the threshing-floor, dear;
Wait 'til he hath finished dining;
Mark the spot of his reclining,
And when all have then departed,
Go thou there to him in private;
He shall tell thee what to do."
"I shall do e'en as thou sayest."
So when Boaz finished eating
And his workers had departed;
Barley sheath he made a bed of,
And he lay in peaceful slumber.
Ruth then quietly approaches,
From his feet the cover turneth
Lays she at his feet so closely
He in turning must discover,
Sheath is harborage for two!
In the night he starteth, turneth,
Lo, to find him, woman by him,
Woman at his feet a lying.
"Who art thou?" To which came answer,
"I am Ruth thy friend and handmaid,
With thy skirt me therefore cover
For thou art a dear near kinsman."
"May God bless thee now my daughter
For thy kindness in desiring
I should be an husband to thee
Doth exceed all previous kindness.
I do not reproach thy coming;
Of thy virtue all have knowledge;
For young men thou hast avoided
Whether of the poor or wealthy.
It is true I am near kinsman,
[POW21]
But there is another nearer;
Tarry now, the hour is midnight.
Be assured that on the morrow
If he will not be a suitor,
I shall clear the matter with him
Doing all thy heart desireth."
At his feet she lay till morning;
Then arose in waning darkness.
Boaz urged their secret meeting
Be not known till was resol'ved
What he'd learn upon the morrow
Then he filled her veil with barley,
For he said, "Return not empty
As ye go unto Naomi."
On arrival home in city,
Naomi at once enquireth,
"How didst fare thee, Ruth my darling?"
Ruth recounted Boaz's promise,
How he'll marry her if firstly
He can satisfy this kinsman.
Then Naomi, Ruth adviseth,
"Stay ye home today and rest thee;
Let this matter first be settled,
For Boaz will never rest him
'Till this matter he hath finished."
To the city gate goes Boaz
There he sitteth down and waiteth,
For 'tis here that one by waiting
Is most likely to encounter
Those whose business takes them daily
To or from the busy city.
Here too, congregate the elders.
In time cometh by the kinsman.
Boaz meets him, greets him, seats him.
Also of the elders seats he
Ten, to witness the proceedings.
And he sayeth to this kinsman
"Naomi hath come from Moab,
And a plot of land she selleth;
Land of Elimelech our brother.
Therefore I seek to advise thee,
Buy it thou before these elders.
Redeem it, if thou wilt redeem it.
But of not then wilt thou tell me.
Save for us there is none other,
And thou are the nearest kinsman."
Then said he, "I will redeem it."
But sayeth Boaz, "On condition--
With the land goes understanding
Ruth hath interest in it also;
The redeemer thus is bounden,
Ruth the Moabite to marry,
To raise seed to the departed.
That his name die not in Isra'l."
"This I cannot," said the kinsman,
"Lest inheritance I mar me;
Buy thou it, for I decline it."
As a custom of long standing
Witness to a true agreement.
Once removed his shoe and gave it
As a testimony there'to.
So when kinsman said to Boaz,
"Buy thou it," he shoe removed he
To all Isra'l testifying,
And as token gave to Boaz.
Boaz then said to the elders,
"Be ye witnesses this day, that
I have bought that is Emlimelech's
Chilton's and Mahlon's from Naomi.
Also Ruth the Moabitess
I do take to be my wife then,
To raise up to the departed
Seed to bear their name in Isra'l."
Then the elders and the people
Did acclaim themselves as witness,
Saying, "May Ruth be as Rachel,
And as Leah to build Isra'l.
Be thou worthy, be thou famous
Both in Ephratah and Judah."
He who waved an obligation
Obligation of a kinsman,
Tho he doth receive no censure,
In the record no where find we
Name e'er given of this kinsman;
So his name lives not in Isra'l
As does that of kinsman Boaz.
Ruth became the wife of Boaz
And she bare a son unto him,
And they named their offspring Obed.
Said the woman to Naomi,
"Blessed be the Lord Jehovah
Who hath given thee a kinsman
Of thy life to be restorer,
In my old age thee to nourish.
Better Ruth, then seven sons to thee,
She who lovest thee, hath borne him."
End of epic.
Obed was the sire of Jesse;
Jesse was King David's father
Of whose line came Christ our Savior.
[POW23]
LESSONS FROM THE BOOK OF RUTH
In the Book of Ruth recorded
There are lives which may remind us
By their virtue or their failure,
By their faith or by their doubting,
That our God is only pleas'ed
By our faith and love's devotion.
Thus Elimelech could Adam
Picture in his disobedience;
For in leaving land of Canaan,
In a heathen land to sojourn,
He did violate commandment
To be, "separate from the people
Of the land" surrounding Isra'l
For he took his sons and family
Into godless dark surroundings.
From Naomi we do gather
She felt this was why befell them,
Death to both her sons and husband.
Later she did steps retrace her
In returning unto Isra'l;
To returning unto Isra'l;
To end days in peace and comfort.
Erring not perchance so fully,
Do we never, never stray us
When God's hand seems heavy on us
From the secret of his dwelling?
To enjoy the pleasures round us,
Or absorb ourselves in business,
Or give way to fond ambition,
Or for man's esteem to cater,
Or the present order love more
Than in dwelling in God's Canaan.
Let us from the worldly spirit
Separate us full, completely.
In God's work and counsel bide us;
Thus to be His blessed people.
As responsible for family;
Choice of move to Moab rested
On Elimelech most fully.
If as Eve, Naomi too, had
Part in that of his transgression,
Record gives us not the answer.
More divided now decision
"Tween the husband, wife, together,
As to family moves and interest.
But we are forever careful
As our fam'ly we consider,
To put first things ever foremost?
That our spiritual well being--
That the interests of God's kingdom
Aren't replaced by things mater'al.
Living for the flesh will bring us
As new creatures disappointment,
And will lead to our destruction.
Idols not as those in Moab
Beckon us unto their worship,
Or if not their worship, service.
In our day are other idols,
Alienators of true worship,
Detractors from true religion,
Idols such as, "Love of Pleasure,"
Or the Love of Recognition."
"Fame," "Applaudets," and of "Honor,"
"Self," itself may come between us
And our duty to Jehovah.
"Cares of This Life," too many take us
From the service of the Master;
From the growth in Christian virtue,
Into paths remote or alien,
Where the worshipping of "Mammon,"
May we pierce with many sorrows.
These false gods are not enduring,
Moth and rust corrupt their treasures,
Temporal are things of Moab;
Canaan's interests are eternal
Neither moth nor rust corrupting
Shall be found laid up in heaven;
Treasures ours for time abiding.
Had not God's hand been against her
Naomi had stayed in Moab.
Without chastisement, or favor.
Recognize we, and acknowledge
Bitter chastisements when needed
Unto us are but intended
To in Canaan's blessings keep us?
Of Naomi's goodness, virtue,
Of her worship of Jehovah,
Of her practical religion,
Of her life and noble nature,
Of her words of testimony
To the one true God and only,
There is scarcely aught in writing:
But no need, to have recorded,
Their existance is well proven
[POW24]
By their impact and reaction
On the lives of those most near her.
For in spiritual as natural
Laws, of action and reaction,
Each to each is full related.
Reaction proves first, was action;
Without action--no reaction.
So Ruth's love was a reflection,
A result and her reaction
To nobles'se in human nature--
Truest tribute to Naomi.
How of us our words and actions?
How preach we by our example,
By our thots and life and actions?
Does our light shine to lead others
Us to follow to the Master;
That our God may be theirs also,
Under wings of whom may rest them?
Will our faith and love encourage--
Lead those lives which contact ours
Theirs to consecration also,
In the "Narrow Way" to follow?
We as Ruth were alien strangers
From the covenants of God.
But we left the world behind;
Left our father Adam's household;
Left our heritage in Eve;
To acknowledge God our father,
And as mother, brother, sister,
Those who do God's will and bidding.
We as Ruth, may too do gleaning
In our Master's field of barley
When we thirst He giveth water,
And at mealtime Christ invites us
To sit down while He doth serve us,
And His servants serve us too.
And we eat and are suffi'ced
Never hungry leave the table.
We do eat and have left over
That which other souls may nourish.
Could of us it be recorded
As of Ruth, she only wrought her
In the fields of kinsman Boaz?
That she rested only briefly,
To partake of food at noontime,
Soon her labor to continue,
With her eyes upon the harvest
Slackening not the wheat to gather
'Til the Autumn sun was setting?
Do they never, never meet us
In the fields other than the Master's?
Stay we fast beside His reapers?
Are our eyes upon the harvest?
Feast we at His ample table
Then to work with zeal return we,
With a loving heart and thankful?
All did know t hat Ruth was virtuous,
"Not with young men poor nor wealthy"
Did she consort or have dealings;
For her heart was fixed on Boaz.
Do all know our dedication
To our God and to the Master?
Let we men or man's possessions
Come between us and Christ Jesus?
He's The Lilly of the Valley,
He's the Brightest Star of Morning,
He's the Fairest of Ten Thousand,
To my soul the One and Only;
Dearer than the nearest kinsman,
He who died my soul to ransom.
Doth He speak to us in friendship,
Doth He speak to us in kindness?
Doth He tells us he'll not spurn us
Tho we be not as His others
Perfect in created orders,
Ninety-nine who never strayed them
To become as aliens, strangers
From the commonwealth of heaven?
With His robe He doth us cover;
With His robe He justifieth.
Kept a secret by his council,
Only known to Him his chosen.
Yet upon the morning surely
To the elders and the people
As His Bride He'll us acknowledge.
Even now receive we wages,
And not empty handed go we
From His presence as we journey.
Of the finest grain, six measures,
Gives He us to share with others,
What provider is our Boaz?
Kinsman, dearer than a brother!
We who have believed in Him do
Enter into rest; well knowing
He'll not rest 'til all is settled--
Is reclaimed the lost possession;
'Til with blood His bride is purchased;
'Til all things in heaven and earth are,
Under Him to God regathered.
In God's ordering of nature
Man is just below the angels;
So in order of creation,
Angels are man's nearest kinsman.
In the world's first dispensation
[POW25]
'Ministration was of angels,
But they failed them in recov'ring
Any of man's many losses.
And quite well they know the danger
Of contact with fallen nature
Their inheritance to mar them.
In God's ordering of nature
Jesus was His first creation,
Being far above the angels.
But the glory His by nature
He did lay aside in coming
Down to man to be a kinsman.
Being perfect as a man, that
Life in forfeit He might ransom,
To raise seed, as "Second Adam."
To the dying race of Adam
In time of regeneration
When His bride shall then be with Him.
Then shall have man's dearest kinsman
Man's inheritance restored him.
Hallelujah! What a Kinsman!
end
[POW26]
THE OLD-THE NEW
'Tis at the first, 'tis at the last
The time of the transition.
We see the spectre of the past,
With death's and glory's fusion.
The winds of strife, with terror's cry
Unseat the world's wide crown.
Clatter the battle stones from high,
Down, down!
'Tis at the first, 'tis at the last,
'Tis at the disappearing
Of error's chains and slavery,
With Christ's own kingdom nearing.
Soon all the elements of night
Shall be dissolved away,
And God shall send all needful light,
With glorious day.
'Tis at the first, 'tis at the last,
'Tis at the consummation,
When things foretold by prophets old
Stand at fulfillment's station
And when the trump of jubilee
With joyful note is blown,
Declaring all shall shortly see
Christ on his throne.
THE WORD OF GOD IS NOT BOUND
The Word of God is free,
The Word of God is strong,
The Word of God is like a tree
Where dwell the birds of song,
Or like a river broad,
Majestic in its flow.
Men cannot bind the Word of God,
Or tell it where to go.
To fetter truth's great power
Men vainly have assayed;
In ages past has been their dower,
With forces blind arrayed.
But bands of steel were weak
When God his arm has shown,
And when he caused his Word to speak,
Truth's liberty was known.
The Word of God is deep,
A mine where jewels dwell,
'Tis like a torrent in its sweep,
Or like a crystal well.
This law flows from the height
Where saints and martyrs trod;
Men cannot curb the ocean's might,
Or bind the Word of God.
"RICH TOWARD GOD"
Luke 12:21
There are riches galore of material things,
There are cattle and lands, there is silver and gold,
There are business investments and treasures of kings,
There are houses and minerals and riches untold.
But real riches consist not in things which are seen
But in things of the spirit, the mind, and the heart,
And those things only seen by faith's vision keen
Which God hath in reserve ne'er to fade nor depart.
Then let us ever deal; in the things which are real;
Let us add to our faith both of virtue and love
Laying treasures above with both patience and zeal
Being poor here below--both with riches above.
[POW27]
THE SWEET-BRIER ROSE
Beside my cottage door it grows,
The loveliest, daintiest flower that blows,
A sweet-brier rose.
At dewy morn or twilight's close,
The rarest perfume from it flows,--
This strange, wild rose.
But when the raindrops on it beat,
Ah, then its odors grow more sweet
About my feet!
Ofttimes with loving tenderness
Its soft green leaves I gently press
In sweet caress,--
A still more wondrous fragrance flows,
The more my fingers firmly close,
And crush the rose!
Dear Lord, Oh, let my life be so,--
Its perfume when the tempests blow,
The sweeter flow!
And should it be Thy blessed will
With crushing grief my soul to fill,
Press harder still,
And while its dying fragrance flows,
I'll whisper low, "He loves and knows
His crushed brier-rose."
YOUR FATHER KNOWETH WHAT
THINGS YE HAVE NEED OF"
Matt. 6:8
Our Father knows what things we need
Each step along the way,
His eye of love doth never sleep,--
He watches night and day.
He knows sometimes, like ripening grain
We need the sunshine bright,
Again He sends the peace that comes
With shadows of the night.
Sometimes our pride would fain unfurl
Ambition's flaunting sail,--
Ah! then He knows we need to walk
Humiliations's vale.
Sometimes He takes our eager hands
And folds them on our breast,
He gently lays our work aside,--
He knows we need to rest.
Sometimes we need companionship,
Sometimes, "the wilderness,"--
How sweet to feel He'll know and give
The state that most will bless!
Then let us leave it all with Him,
Assured that, come what may,
Our Father knows just what we need
Upon our pilgrim-way.
THIS TOO, WILL PASS
Poor heart, break not, though cruel by thy wound,--
This, too, will pass!
The weariest day will end in sunset light,
And dawn must follow e'en the darkest night!
Nor drink too deeply of joy's honeyed cup,--
This, too, will pass!
Caressing hands will lose their loving touch,
And word mean nothing, that once meant so much.
Ah, then, whate'er thy state, seek thou content,--
This will not pass!
Thy rest in God, He only knows and cares,
His heart of love thine every sorrow shares!
[POW28]
DESOLATION
I miss them in the morning,
When the mist is on the hill:
When no busy hum is heard
And all the land is still.
Oh, the dear familiar faces,
Oh, the void and empty spaces, and the
Longing for the voices that are still.
I miss them in the evening,
By the fireside's ruddy glow:
Its light and warmth seem only
The vacant chairs to show.
My heart then fills with sorrow
For the dawning of the morrow,
Without the loving voices that are still.
When I hear the joyous notes
That hail the coming Spring,
And all around the gladness
Makes wood and valley ring,
Then I miss them even more
Than I ever did before, in the
Beauty and the fragrance of the Spring.
When the dreary cold and chill
Of the winter draweth nigh:
When the sobbing wind is heard,
And the pretty flowerets die,
Then I miss them most of all,
And I seem to hear the call of the
Dear and loving voices that are still.
Oh, the dear familiar faces!
Oh, the void and empty spaces, and the
Longing for the voices that are still.
RESTORATION
You'll see them in the morning.
When the Sun shines o'er the hill.
The ransomed hosts returning,
For 'tis God's unchanging will
That those dear familiar faces
Will refill the empty spaces, and praise
Will grace the voices that were still.
That bright and happy morning
All the prophets have foretold;
A glory so entrancing,
Every eye shall then behold,
When sounds of joy are pealing,
And broken hearts are healing, then love
Will cheer the voices that were still.
Now come, behold the foregleams
Of that grand and happy day,
When weeping, sorrow, dying,
Shall forever pass away.
Weep not for desolation,
But rejoice in restoration, for the
Blossoms that will greet us in the Spring.
Oh, sweet and joyous Spring-time!
What glories over-spread,
As health and strength and beauty
Adorn the risen dead.
Then you'll praise God most of all,
When you hear the welcome call of the
Dear and loving voices that were still.
Oh, the dear familiar faces!
Now thrice happy are the places with the
Music of the voices that were still.
[POW29]
THE WORLD OF TOMORROW
Rev. 21:4
Close your eyes a moment
To misery and woe,
And all earth's degradations
Which from sin and sorrow grow.
And let your mental vision
Behold a perfect earth
Without the stain of sin to mar
The things of grander worth.
No bitter thought nor unkind word
Will ever find a part,
And only love will meet response
In every kindred heart.
Benevolence shall mark each act,
And sickness be no more.
No evidence of dread decay
Shall lodge at mortal's door.
Where health and radiant beauty march
In unsurpassed array.
And inward purity shines forth,
As all seek to obey.
And such will be perfection,
In a world that's freed from sin,
With all earth's tears and sorrow
As tho they had not been.
For those we've loved and cherished
And laid within the grave,
Shall rise as one great army,
For Christ died all to save.
So lift your heads, take courage!
There'll come an end to sorrow,
When Christ as King shall then reign o'er
The blest world of tomorrow.
WHEN I AM DEAD
When I am dead, forget me then,
For then I shall not know,
Though o'er my cold and lifeless hands
Your burning tears might flow:
I'll cancel with my living voice
The debt you owe the dead;
Give me the love you'd show me then,
But give it now instead.
And bring no wreaths to deck my grave,
For then I shall not care
Though all the flowers I love the most
Might bloom and wither there:
I'll sell my chance for all the flowers,
They'll give me when I'm dead
For one small bunch of violets now,
So give me that instead.
What saints are we, when we are gone,
But what's the use to me,
Of praises then upon my tomb,
For other eyes to see
One little word of kindly praise
By lips we love most said,
Is worth a hundred epitaphs,
So say it now instead.
But thoughts that now are hard to bear,
Oblivion then will win,
Our sins are soon forgotten us,
When we no more can sin:
But any bitter thought of me,
Keep it for when I'm dead,
It shall not matter, I'll not care,
Forgive me now instead.
[POW31]
CREATION
I am old--so VERY old,
And yet eternal youth is mine.
For hours and days and months and years
Are meant for finite minds, I need them not.
For me, the clock of ages does not strike.
The seasons and their moons
Can never measure what I call ETERNITY!
From molten mass I whirled through space, an ORB.
Another and another, and a MILLION more.
Within my hand lay golden dust--
I flung it! WIDE I flung it,
And at my word those golden fragments
Swinging, hung-and glistened there.
Ah! BEAUTIFUL, I cried, and called them stars.
Again, I said, I must have light, GREAT LIGHT!
Again I hurled gold fire,
Brilliant, yellow, solid, vast,
And even while I saw it there,
And felt its warmth and beheld
Its impenetrable light, I cried,
Thou art the SUN!
And while you shine, I'll call it day,
And you shall warm and bless and heal,
And germinate small, tiny things hid in my world,
As soon as it is made.
Then I created earth.
In my delight I threw again
Soft silver, and it swung among the stars.
As I beheld, I said, O lovely moon.
I drew a curtain over earth,
And called it night.
So earth was formed with firmament around.
I breathed a spirit breath
Across the waters of the deep. And then!
Amidst the turbulence of flowing tides,
Or 'neath the placidness of lakes,
Hid in the mountain fastnesses there moved
A multitude of creature great and small.
MORE life, I cried, MORE life I want upon the earth.
Caressingly I touched my world and lo!
There crawled and leaped and ran
Beasts of the field, and birds of air, and tiny mites,
And all had life!
I saw, and said, It is most good!
And yet, a GRANDER miracle shall come,
For with my mighty power I'll make man,
Greater than all the creatures that exist
In sea, and all that live upon the land.
A living, breathing, HUMAN SOUL!
[POW31]
Cupped in my hands I took the soil
From off the face of my great earth
And from its elements a MAN
In mine own image made.
And lest this wondrous creature lonely be,
I made another soul most lovely to behold,
As delicate and graceful as the flowers
That bloomed within the garden round these two.
Lesser in strength she was, and this was good,
That she to man for guidance might repair,
And he be her protector always.
I called this beauteous creature WOMAN.
Within a perfect garden placed I them,
A garden filled with every goodly thing,
Of beast and bird, of fruit and flower fair,
And called this PARADISE.
The CREATION of my universe!
How beautiful to behold in all its glory!
Wheels within wheels, and worlds around worlds,
Spinning in perfect unison.
Sunlight to cheer and moonlight to caress
The sleeping earth.
Stardust sprinkled a-down a milky-way,
And planets suspended like jewels
In the blackness of the night.
Breezes to kiss the tree-tops,
And bird songs thrilling the heart of man
Through kindly days.
The lordly lion to stalk the mountain sides,
And tender lambs to rest beneath a purple pool,
And among these all to dwell MAN!
Magnificent in his perfection,
With constantly at his side his tender mate,
So gentle and so fair.
MY CREATION! The joy of my inmost being.
I shall always enjoy these perfect works,
Dwelling, as I do in light divine
Forever and forever,
For--I AM GOD!
[POW32]
THE COMING AGE
Amid events so tragic and stupendous,
The wreck of empires and the fall of kings,
There is a power Divine that will defend us,
Though there should come upon us water things.
Great is the Lord of Hosts, supreme in glory,
Wondrous His wisdom, marvellous His might;
The nations, though renowned in human story--
Lo, they are but as nothing in His sight.
Beneath the tempest of His wrath outpouring,
The heavens like a veil are rent in twain;
The sea and all the waves thereof are roaring,
The hills and mountains levelled to the plain.
Yet is He working out for our salvation
A wonderful and comprehensive plan,
Above our loftiest imagination,
Embracing in its fulness every man.
Beyond this desolating "time of trouble,"
This "Day of God" by prophets long foretold,
Wherein the nations are consumed as stubble--
Beyond all this there comes the age of gold.
His power Divine shall burst the bonds asunder
Which now enslave our helpless fallen race,
And man shall view with reverence and wonder
This mighty miracle of saving grace.
But not alone the living; all that slumber
Within the gloomy caverns of the dead--
These shall come forth, a vast awakened number,
A peaceful renovated earth to tread.
Behold this earth, to liberty uprising,
From anarchy and despotism free,
Endowed with strength and beauty tranquilizing,
Like some fair island of a tropic sea.
Six thousand years of tyranny are ended,
Six thousand years of misery and pain,
And now before us dawns the vision splendid,
The longed-for glory of Messiah's reign.
From Zion peace and truth are ever flowing
In streams beneficent to all mankind,
New life and hope and happiness bestowing,
Hearing and eyesight to the deaf and blind.
The wilderness and solitary places
With joy abound and "blossom as the rose,"
And nature's wise and loving hand effaces
The last dark evidence of human woes.
Released from Satan's rule the world is wending
In eager way to Paradise again,
And Truth and Righteousness and Love and blending
In one great brotherhood the sons of men.
And all shall know the Lord and to Him render
The praise and worship due unto His name,
And own with gratitude His mercies tender,
His wisdom magnify, His love proclaim.
Mankind in harmony and love progressing
Along their spacious, unimpeded way,
Beneath Divine authority and blessing
Shall gain the sunlight of the perfect day.
[POW33]
THE SPOTLESS LAMB OF GOD
In all life's sunshine and its rain,
In all my grief and bitter pain,
I seem to hear the Savior say--
"I know, for I was once of clay:
I walked the same paths you now tread;
And wept with them that mourned their dead.
I know how sweet the Skylark's song,
And how it lingers on and on:
How beautiful the summer skies
When they are seen through human eyes:
And that as fragrant as the flowers,
By peasant hut, as Princess Bowers;
For all these things by me were made,
Ere on the Altar I had laid
My life a sacrifice for sin;
"And was made flesh, and dwell 'mongst men.'
Unwelcome there, I walked alone--
A stranger was I to my own--
Despised and hunted, and denied,
At last by them was crucified;
But long before advised of this--
I shrank not from the traitor's kiss,
My covenant with death was made
Ere earth's foundations had been laid--
The blows, the spitting, and the shame
Which would be heaped upon my name,
My Father had made known to me.
While I was yet unpledged and free,
And knowing this, did I gladly still
Would the Mosaic law fulfill;
And never once did I look back,
Nor for one moment would retract
The covenant which I had made,
Or change the price that must be paid
To save from death a ruined race;
And make of earth a glorious place."
Yea, heavy was the cross he bore,
And dark the way he trod--
In shielding us he need must stand
As one accurst of God.
As one unworthy of God's love--
A rebel 'gainst his grace;
And for our sins the Father turned
Away from him, his face,
And when he cried, "My God, oh why,
Hast thou forsaken me?"
His heart was broken, and he died
That we might all go free.
Nor ever can the debt of love
We owe to him be paid,
Whose perfect life in sacrifice,
He on the altar laid.
And for that wondrous Gift, our praise
Shall evermore ascend
To Him, whose coming reign shall make
Of sin and death an end.
SAINTS GROWN OLD
Among us are, far on their way
Dear saints grown old, near close of day.
With bodies frail and hair grown grey,
They cannot here much longer stay.
Their Christian hearts are well mature
Their bodies, can but scarce endure
The marks of years which on them rest.
They're waiting, ready, passed their test.
God knows the path which each has trod,
Where victory was, and where the rod;
The goals which any called, have gained,
That which was feigned, what was attained.
The time grows short which doth remain,
For years are few which we retain
Before we too must join their ranks,
Before we stand on Jordan's banks!
If heart and limb of ours are sound
If pulsing life doth still abound,
Lord help us fast to here fulfil
Our vows while life is with us still.
REVIVE ME, O LORD
My days are spent in nothingness
My nights in wondering why.
The soreness of my conscience
Brings tears to a wakeful eye.
I talked to God with troubled lips:
Where is that song of old
I sang in nights of wonder
At mercy and grace untold?
Will the Lord cast off forever,
In anger remain above?
No! Surely He is gracious;
How can I forget His love?
O list to voices praising Him:
The thunder, rain and wind.
They know, I know my Father
Gives mercy to those that sinned.
Forgive me O my Father,
For the fault doth lie with me.
Cleanse me with rod of Moses--
Still shall I follow Thee.
[POW34]
THE ROSE
Within my hand I gently hold the Garden's Queen, a rose,--
The softly-sighing summer wind about it faintly blows,
And wafts its wondrous fragrance out upon the evening air.
And as I gaze upon the rose, so perfect and so fair,
In memory's halls there wakes, the while, a legend, quaint and old,
How once upon a time, one day, a sage picked up, we're told,
A lump of common clay, so redolent with perfume rare,
He marveled, and the question wondering asked,
"Whence dost thou bear
Such fragrance, O, thou lump of clay"? In tones of deep repose
There came the sweet reply, "I have been dwelling with the rose."
The while the legend stirs my soul, within my hand still lie
The petals of the rose, and from my heart of hearts I cry,
"Thou lovely Rose of Sharon, may I ever dwell with Thee,
So closely that the fragrance of Thy love shall cling to me.
Oh, fill me with the spirit of Thy sweet humility,
Then all shall see and know, dear Lord, that I have learned of Thee;
And let mine earthly pilgrimage, until its blessed close,
Each day and hour bear witness, I've been dwelling with the Rose!"
THE BLESSING OF THORNS
When we thank our Heavenly Father
For the blessings of each day;
For the flowers that are strewn
O'er the roughness of the way;
When we thank Him for the roses
That we gather day by day,
Do we ever see the blessing
Of the thorns along life's way?
Oft we thank Him for the sunshine
That He sends us from above;
Do we ever in the shadow
Recognize His tender love?
When our feet are worn and weary,
And our course is hard to bear;
Oft the way seems long and dreary,
Knowing not His tender care.
When the clouds that round us darken
Change to night our radiant day,
Oft we murmur that the sunshine
Has been hidden from our way.
But our Father in His wisdom
Sends the dark as well as light;
Can we doubt His living kindness,
In whose keeping all is right?
If no shadow veiled our pathway
And we knew no ill to fear,
Would we cling so closely to Him?
Would our Father seem so near,
As when darkness gathers round us,
And our faith in self is lost?
As we trust Him then the Savior
Gives us strength to bear the cross.
In our path if all were sunshine,
Would we look to Him for light?
And if all below were brightness
Then would heaven seem so bright?
When we meet beyond the shadows,
In that land of endless day
We will thank our Heavenly Father
For the darkness of the way.
Oft we cannot see His kindness
Through the darkness, pain and loss;
But we know the crown is dearer
For the sharpness of the cross.
And when in His throne we gather,
And our dear Redeemer meet,
We will thank our Heavenly Father
For the thorns that pierced our feet.
[POW35]
"YE ARE DEAD"
Colossians 3:3
Ah! yes, so "dead," the sharpest word will leave no sting,
Nor e'en the slightest quiver to my heartstrings bring;
So "dead," that when reviled, I'll calmly hold my peace,
And bid revengeful thoughts within my soul to cease.
So "dead," that no alluring love we hope or joy
Will ever prove unmixed with some of earth's alloy.
So "dead" I care not though unloved, unsought, unknown,
My best, my truest friend I find in God alone.
Content, where'er He leads, through sunshine or through rain,
Whatever my portion be, of pleasure, or of pain.
So "dead," the life I live is "hid with Christ in God,"
My chief delight to follow where the Master trod.
So "dead," I'll neither murmur nor repine, though long
The time, but only strive to suffer and be strong,
Assured some day, some where, He'll claim me for His own,
His bride, then "crowned with life, He'll share with me His throne.
KEEPING THE HEART
"Keep thy heart with diligence"
The Master says to thee,
For out of life's issues come,
So guard it well for me.
Ah yes, dear Lord, my heart is thine,
Mine all, none less I'd give.
Did'st thou not give thine all for me
That even I might live?
E'en tho mistakes I often make,
And hasty words I speak,
Still in my heart a contrite one,
Thy will alone I seek.
Help me to keep my motives pure,
Repel each evil thought.
To keep my mind on things above,
And of thy Word be taught.
I know thy grace sufficient is,
I'll therefore do my part
To walk in footsteps of my Lord,
And ever keep my heart!
THE THINGS ETERNAL
Eye hath not seen nor hath ear heard,
Nor can our mortal mind
E'er grasp the glories far beyond
The realm of all mankind.
We look about us day by day,
Beholding God's great power.
The miracle of new born things,
The fragrance of a flower.
Yes, we behold it beauty rare
As in our hand it lies
For one brief moment,--then 'tis gone,
It fades before our eyes.
Just temporary earthly things,
By faith cries out for more.
Those wonderful eternal things
God hath for us in store.
So seek ye first the heavenly things
Which never pass away.
That you may see him face to face
In realms of endless day.
[POW36]
AS PANTS THE HART
While cooling streams are far away,
Yet for them pants the hart;
So long my sou for Thee today,
My God, fro love thou art.
And thou from purest source dost give
Truth's water full and free.'
I drink, I rise: O joy I live!
My praise ascends to thee.
As pants the hart, and kneeling, finds
His craving satisfied!
With crystal stream that leaps and winds
Along the silver tide;
So find I at the throne of grace
Life's portion rich and true,
Which shall the things of earth efface,
And all my strength renew.
As now the hart in peace goes on
With thews sustained, in joy,
I feel the glory that's begun,
And ne'er can I know alloy.
And all my being, poised and thrilled
With hope that's from above,
Each moment knows the grace that flows
From fountain of thy love.
"THY KINGDOM COME"
The Sun and Moon, the night the day
The greatness of our God display
Which each doth show in its own way--
Obeying God in cheerful lay.
The field and stream the hill and dale
Bespeak God's greatness and his art
As do the mountains and the vale,
As all in nature play their part.
The animal an fish and bird,
By patterned way in which they go--
Whose instincts form God's guided Word
His wisdom and his power do show.
But as we contemplate the man--
His fallen sinful lost estate;
Where does he fit within the plan?
How hopeless his apparent fate.
But God so loved the man he made--
At cost of his beloved Son
Redemption's costly price was paid
And freedom for our race was won.
In God's due time his Church complete,
His Kingdom shall come unto man
To sin destroy and death defeat,
And good reward, in God's great plan.
THE SIMPLE FAITH
Before me, even as behind,
God is, and all is well.
[POW37]
IN THE DAWNING O BELOVED
In the dawning O Beloved,
When earth's night of sin is past.
Gone will be your tears and heart-aches,
You shall see His face at last.
Now the world is filled with tumult,
Satan seeks you for his own.
Fear thou not O dear Beloved,
By your Saviour you are known.
In the dawning O Beloved,
From your flesh you shall be free.
Called and chosen--let's be faithful!
That immortal we may be.
Let not doubts nor fears o'ertake you,
Trust him where you cannot trace.
Put your hand within your Master's,
In the dawn you'll see his face.
LIGHT OUT OF DARKNESS
"The light has been sown for the righteous
And gladness for upright of heart."
In the darkness now covering the people
The children of light have no part.
"The path of the just" is bright-shining,
Even tho narrow the way.
The wicked alone dwell in darkness--
God's children are those of the day.
The light of the world was our Saviour.
Thru the Gospel he taught us God's plan.
He showed how he'd die and must suffer
In order to save every man.
We have been called out of darkness
Into his marvelous light.
In the day let us therefore keep walking,
Thus dispelling the darkness of night.
ABOVE THE STORM
When tempest blast the earth doth scourge
With wind, and rain, and storm,
The airplane altitude will seek
And ride above the storm.
When tempest shock beats on the soul
With trouble and distress,
Then wing my soul in thoughts above
Into the peace of God.
[POW38]
CALLED ONE, CONSIDER
If God has called you to a station
That far surpasses human thought,
Do you expect to live like others,
Or unto Him by whom you're bought?
The consecrated heart rejoices
To find in Him its only rest;
Let others revel in their pleasures--
In God you'll find a joy more blest.
This life in Christ will surely draw you
Apart from earthly friends and ties.
Can you, with Paul, count earth's aims refuse
In view of heaven's fadeless prize?
In God's due time you'll share His nature
In glory's realm--His own abode.
Be faithful, loyal, true and steadfast
While on this straight and narrow road.
Consider His great love unending,
O soul, take not His grace in vain--
He loves you dearly and desires you
To with His Son in heaven reign.
CALLED BY A NEW NAME
Lift up thine eyes dear child of God,
Lift up thine heart and sing.
Let naught distress thee, for thou art
Espoused unto a King.
In silken threads of shimmering gold
A pattern thou shalt make
Upon thy royal wedding gown
For thy dear bride-groom's sake.
His bride must be in queen's attire,
And so with patient care,
Ne'er let a single day go by
Without some stitches there.
When finally thou art by his side,
The world shalt know thy fame.
When Christ presents thee as his bride
And gives thee a new name!
[POW39]
BOUND BY INVISIBLE BONDS
Across our native land and beyond the distant sea,
A humble, longing people, would lift up their hearts to Thee,
O Father, how we're scattered, how our tents are pitched apart,
But we long to be together, with the loved ones of our heart.
But, Father, in our scattered state, we thank Thee for the chain
That binds our hearts in unison, while we on earth remain;
The bond which makes it possible, though scattered far and wide,
To live so close and love so dear each member of that Bride.
We're glad, e'en though the flesh is bound unto a certain place,
The spirit's free in thought to be with every child of grace;
We're with each brother in his work, no matter where he be;
In prayer, in love, in daily thought, to wish him victory.
And even where a saint may be whom we have never met,
Some isolated gem, perchance, no brother's seen as yet,
Sweet waves of love go from that heart to each devoted soul,
Unintroduced by earthly form, we've reached communion's goal.
So, loved ones, while we miss your face, we know your heart is here.
We've felt the power of your prayers, effectual and sincere.
The many miles that intervene may keep the flesh apart,
But with it there's a closeness naught of earth can e'er impart.
[POW40]
DAWN (Millennial)
For'etold light, prophetic ray
Indicate Millennial Day,
Indicate that Kingdom sway
Now is due and due to stay.
But the forces of the night
Sin and darkness and their might
Satan's cohorts fighting right,
Fight to hinder dawn of light.
But "The Sun of Righteousness"
Shall dispel the frightfulness
Heal and light earth's blightedness.
Arise, O Sun of Righteousness!
DAWN
The dawn may brightly break, or dark,
Ush'ring day with thunder peal,
Or silent steal above the park.
But this the dawn cannot conceal,
That it doth always presage day;
And 'tis for this we ever pray.
O, SOUL OF MINE
O, soul of mine, be calm, be still,
Submit thyself to God,
In all thy ways yield to His will,
Nor faint beneath the rod.
O, soul of mine, like potter's clay
Within the Master's hand,
O, let Him mould thee day by day,
Till faultless thou shalt stand.
O, soul of mine, have faith, believe,
Nor count the cost of strife,
Fight on, faint not, thou shalt receive
At last the Crown of Life!
QUIETNESS
Oh, give me Lord a quiet mind,
A mind from worry free,
A mind that knows no fear or doubt,
A mind that rests on Thee.
Thy word doth say, "Thou wilt keep him,
Whose mind is stayed on Thee,
In perfect peace, "Lord this I crave,
And pray, Oh give it me.
[POW41]
A RENDEZVOUS WITH LOVE
I have a rendezvous with love
Beneath the trees of joy,
And through the leafy screen above
The sunlight filters coy,
And comes to me Love's low refrain,
And love has mad me young again.
I have a rendezvous with love
In bowers cool and fair,
And birds that sing and flowers of spring
I find forever there;
In soft, melodious airs I'm blest,
And zephyrs yield the balm of rest.
I have a rendezvous with love
The world has older grown.
At times I've sought and beauty wrought
In canvas, page, and stone;
But only as love formed a part,
The glory stole into my heart.
I have a rendezvous with love.
I'm glad I found the place,
For now I know there's heaven below
In spite of life's swift race;
And hopes, dove-winged, all radiant, prove
I have a rendezvous with love.
EVENING PRAYER
Father, now the day is over,
Weary, worn, myself I bring;
My defenseless head, Oh, cover
With the shadow of Thy wing.
Pardon all the day's transgressing,
Cleanse from every stain of sin;
Lord, I come, my need confessing,
Make and keep me pure within.
Wipe away my tears of sorrow,
take me to Thy loving breast,
Make me stronger for the morrow,
Give me peace and holy rest.
PRAYER
The act of prayer is ours
In mysteries are God's
In faith we make our prayers,
God gives them their effect.
[POW42]
THE SECRETS OF THE LORD
Precious art thou whom the Lord calls His own,
For from you are no secrets concealed.
As God spake to the Fathers thru prophets of old,
So thru Christ are His mysteries revealed.
"The secrets of God are with them that fear Him,"
To those who like children will be.
Thru only His Spirit His mysteries are shown--
With the eyes of our faith do we see.
His mysteries were hidden for long ages past,
But now unto us they are shown.
We hope for that glory for Christ in us dwells,
Its secret the world hath not known.
Our God hath revealed His most wonderful plan
Of His glorious Kingdom to be.
While many are blind thru the "God of this world"
How blest are our eyes for they see.
We know there are mysteries known only to God
Which "eye hath not seen nor ear heard."
The promise of life in t hat heavenly realm--
This by faith we accept thru His Word.
Then we'll know one another as even we're known,
All mysteries will then be made plain.
Tho the way is now narrow, our pathway is rough,
Still thru Christ we the victory can gain.
OUR PRAYER
Dear Father we would lift our hearts in prayer to thee
With thankful lips proclaim thine ever endless love.
O may our lives each day more perfect be--
Reflect the image of our Lord above.
We would proclaim thy truth to every man,
Reveal the glories of thy wondrous plan
Forgive, we pray each wrong idle word.
Help us to purify our inmost heart.
May we resist all evil powers, O Lord,
With words of truth repel each fiery dart.
Not in our own frail strength alone we go,
But by thy grace Lord, we can all things do.
We would encourage all thy saints today.
Help lift the burden that they have to bear.
We pass but once along this narrow way,
Thus help us all thy fruits and graces wear.
We thank thee Lord that we are sons of thine,
Called in one hope to gain that prize divine!
THE ONENESS OF THE FAMILY OF GOD
"How good and how pleasant" for those of the Lord
That together in unity dwell."
There's a oneness that's sweet in the family of God
Of which none but his children can tell.
For One is their Master, all brethren are they.
One body, with Christ as their head.
Down the same narrow way do they go one by one,
By the one Holy Spirit t