So long to those who hopeless in their fear Watch the slow breath and look for what they dread: While I supine with ears that cease to hear, With eyes that glaze, with heart pulse running down (Alas! no saint rejoicing on her bed), May miss the goal at last, may miss a crown. 28. In life our absent friend is far away : But death may bring our friend exceeding near, He only cannot utter yea or nay In any voice accustomed to our ear; And turn the sun back on our shadowed day. Watching us with unslumbering eyes and heart Brimful of words which cannot yet be said, Brimful of knowledge they may not impart, Brimful of love for you and love for me. "FOR THINE OWN SAKE, O MY GOD." 425 "FOR THINE OWN SAKE, O MY GOD.” WEARIED of sinning, wearied of repentance, Wearied of self, I turn, my God, to Thee; I turn to Thee, I plead Thyself with Thee,- Wearied I loathe myself, I loathe my sinning, Me miserable, me sinful, ruined me,- I plead Thyself with Thee Who art my Maker, Love made Thee what Thou art, the love of me,— UNTIL THE DAY BREAK. WHEN will the day bring its pleasure? When will the night bring its rest? Reaper and gleaner and thresher Peer toward the east and the west : The Sower He knoweth, and He knoweth best. Meteors flash forth and expire, Of eyes looking upward that fail; Bows down the crop in its glory The millet is ripened and hoary, The wheat ears are ripened to gold:- The Lord of the harvest, He knoweth Who knoweth the first and the last : The Sower Who patiently soweth, He scanneth the present and past : He saith, "What thou hast, what remaineth, hold fast." Yet, Lord, o'er Thy toil-wearied weepers The storm-clouds hang muttering and frown : On threshers and gleaners and reapers, O Lord of the harvest, look down; Oh for the harvest, the shout, and the crown! "Not so," saith the Lord of the reapers, The Lord of the first and the last : "O My toilers, My weary, My weepers, What ye have, what remaineth, hold fast. Hide in My heart till the vengeance be past.” A HOPE CAROL. A NIGHT was near, a day was near, Between a day and night I heard sweet voices calling clear, I heard whirr of wing on wing, Below the stars, beyond the moon, I heard a rising falling tune I long to see the pipes and strings To-day or may be not to-day, All voices that command or pray Calling me, Shall kindle in my soul such fire That I shall see that heart's desire I long to see. "OF HIM THAT WAS READY TO PERISH." LORD, I am waiting, weeping, watching for Thee: My noon is ended, abolished from life and light, My sun went down in the hours that still were day, How long, O Lord, how long in my desperate pain. Shall I weep and watch, shall I weep and long for Thee? Is Thy grace ended, Thy love cut off from me? How long shall I long in vain? O God Who before the beginning hast seen the end, Who hast made me flesh and blood, not frost and not fire, Who hast filled me full of needs and love and desire And a heart that craves a friend, Who hast said "Come to Me and I will give thee rest, Who hast said "Take on thee My yoke and learn of Me," Who calledst a little child to come to Thee, And pillowedst John on Thy breast; |