LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 
 TS^zrryg 
 
 i^ap. ioptirisl^ ^tt. 
 
 'Shelf ..>S.fe.S 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, i 
 
Words of (^omf ort. 
 
 BY 
 
 REV. PETER STRYKER. D. D. 
 
 W) rapaacEG^o) v/^uv tj Kapdla. 
 
 John 14:1. 
 
 ^♦^ 
 
 
 DEC 9 1893 
 
 •''n 
 
 J^f" Wa8H\ 
 
 '• L. SHEARER, ^-i^o2^o4 
 
 150 NASSAU ST., NEW YORK. ^ 
 
 \ 
 
 V 
 

 COPYRIGHT. 
 PETER STRYKER. 
 
A WHISPER TO THE INDULGENT 
 READER, 
 
 The author wrote verses when he was a 
 boy. The most of those juvenile effusions are 
 buried with the dead past. A few are in 
 the present volume. Among them are " The 
 Two Trees," ** Sabbath Evening Hymn," and 
 " Liberty." Nearly all these humble poems 
 have been published in papers and periodicals, 
 some of them in tracts and booklets. As we 
 go to press a very beautiful booklet comes 
 from London which is a reprint of "I leave it 
 all with Thee." A few of the hymns have 
 found their way into the church hymnals. Near- 
 ly all these pieces have a special history. They 
 were written amid the shadows when the aching 
 heart was looking for the sunshine. May they 
 prove " words of comfort " to some sad souls, 
 and induce all who condescend to read them 
 to look anew to Him who says, " I am the 
 Light of the world." 
 
GONTRNTS. 
 
 -^ 
 
 Jesus is Mine page 7 
 
 The Creed __ 8 
 
 The Lord is my Shepherd 10 
 
 Go Forward 13 
 
 Peniel 14 
 
 The Two Trees 17 
 
 Corner-Stone H3'mn 19 
 
 New Year Song 21 
 
 lona 22 
 
 Consolation 24 
 
 Wait 27 
 
 The Dying Believer's Song 29 
 
 The Two Sisters 30 
 
 I Leave it all with Thee s^ 
 
 Fear Not 35 
 
 My Hand, dear Lord, in Thine 36 
 
 A Christmas Carol ^ 37 
 
 White Cross Hymn 39 
 
 By Faith 40 
 
 Adriatic Women's Song 41 
 
 Good Shepherd 44 
 
 Christian Courage 45 
 
 Evening Praise 47 
 
 The Morning Light 48 
 
 Why Sad To-day? 49 
 
 A Pilgrim Song 51 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 'Tis Sweet to Sleep 53 
 
 The Believer's Paradox 55 
 
 The Golden Wedding 56 
 
 Come unto Me 58 
 
 Good Night 59 
 
 Good Morning 60 
 
 The Lord's Prayer 61 
 
 Easter Hymn 62 
 
 Sabbath Evening Hymn,. 64 
 
 Bless Me, Dear Saviour 66 
 
 The Sabbath 67 
 
 1 Heard a Voice 69 
 
 The Seasons of the Year 70 
 
 To Die is Gain 71 
 
 Liberty 72 
 
 Sweet Birds of Spring 74 
 
 A Sabbath in the Adirondacks 76 
 
 Ezekiel's Vision 78 
 
 To an Aged Christian Lady, Born Blind 80 
 
 My Saviour's Voice 82 
 
 A Hymeneal 83 
 
 The Temperance Banner 84 
 
 The Deep Blue Sea 85 
 
 Arbor Day 86 
 
 All my Springs are in Thee 87 
 
 Grateful Symphony 89 
 
 Dedication Hymn 90 
 
 The Plague of Darkness 92 
 
 Melanchthon's Dying Words 95 
 
WORDS of COMFORT, 
 
 JESUS IS MINE. 
 
 Jesus is mine. His hand divine 
 
 Upon my head caressing 
 Is sofdy laid, and with it said 
 
 My Saviour's richest blessing. 
 How tenderly he speaks to me, 
 
 As fondly as a mother ! 
 No voice so sweet, no words so meet ; 
 
 He is my Elder Brother. 
 
 And may I prove my hearty love 
 
 To Christ the Lord, who frees us 
 From sin and death, and gives us breath, 
 
 My dear, my loving Jesus ? 
 Oh, let me bring my offering, 
 
 And lay it low before him ; 
 With holy praise my voice I'll raise; 
 
 For ever I '11 adore him. 
 
WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 With sacred mirth I '11 sing on earth 
 
 The grace of my dear Saviour : 
 Long as I live my praise I '11 give 
 
 For all his love and favor. 
 Soon in glad song I '11 join the throng 
 
 Of the redeemed in glory. 
 I '11 wave the palm, and sing the psalm, 
 
 Repeating the sweet story. 
 
 Yes, I '11 repeat the story sweet, 
 
 The glorious Evangel : 
 How Jesus died, was crucified — • 
 
 Unsung by holy angel. 
 For he is mine, his love divine 
 
 Within my heart I '11 cherish, 
 And with my voice I '11 e'er rejoice 
 
 I was not left to perish. 
 
 THE CREED. 
 
 I believe in God the Father, 
 
 And in Jesus Christ, his Son. 
 I believe in God the Spirit, 
 
 One in Three, and Three in One. 
 God the Father, the Almighty, 
 
 Maker, he, of heaven and earth, 
 God the Son, who died to save us, 
 
 God the Spirit gives new birth. 
 
THE CREED, 9 
 
 I believe in one great body, 
 
 Church of which Christ is the Head. 
 Only one, all joined together, 
 
 Church the living, not the dead. 
 I believe in one communion, 
 
 Saints united all in love. 
 Many tribes, but one great nation, 
 
 Joined as angels are above. 
 
 I believe in sins forgiven 
 
 Through the blood of Him who died, 
 And the final resurrection 
 
 Through our Lord, the Crucified. 
 I am sure there 's life eternal 
 
 For the millions who believe, 
 And the little dying infants ; 
 
 Christ I know will all receive. 
 
 I believe, and I am happy 
 
 As I sing redemption's song, 
 And I cry with all the holy, 
 
 " Amen I I to Christ belong." 
 Come, all Christians, join the anthem; 
 
 Let us sing our holy creed. 
 God is one, and we, united, 
 
 One in thought, in word, in deed. 
 2 
 
lO WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 '' THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD." 
 
 Jehovah is my Shepherd ; 
 
 He careth for his sheep ; 
 There never is a moment 
 
 But he his watch doth keep. 
 Before me he is walking, 
 
 I see his friendly crook, 
 I hear his words of sweetness 
 
 And in his face I look. 
 
 My heart is full of gladness 
 
 As I behold his smile 
 And hear his words so gentle : 
 " Come rest with me awhile." 
 For many years he 's led me, 
 
 And every need supplied, 
 So I have learned to trust him 
 Whatever may betide. 
 
 There may be gloomy seasons, 
 
 Earth blessings may seem scant. 
 But sure I am my Shepherd 
 
 Will never let me want. 
 I know he will defend me 
 
 From all my subtle foes, 
 And lead me all my journey 
 
 Whatever may oppose. 
 
'THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD." II 
 
 How fresh and green the pasture 
 
 In which he bids me feed ! 
 How gently flow the waters 
 
 Beside which he doth lead ! 
 How sweet the grace he giveth 
 
 To all who do his will ! 
 I eat, and drink, and look up, 
 
 And he is with me still. 
 
 When I in folly wander, 
 
 And leave the blessed fold, 
 He comes, and with his Spirit 
 
 Restores me, as of old. 
 Again he kindly leads me 
 
 In paths of righteousness. 
 And he for his own name's sake 
 
 Is pleased my soul to bless. 
 
 Why should I not be happy 
 
 When feasting on his love ? 
 Why not exult in gladness 
 
 As do the saints above? 
 I cannot keep from singing 
 
 My loving, grateful song : 
 " The Lord, he is my Shepherd, 
 
 And I to him belong." 
 
12 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 Yea, though I walk 'mid shadows 
 
 No evil will I fear ; 
 Death may be in the pathway, 
 
 But glory, too, is near. 
 Is not my Shepherd with me ? 
 
 I see his rod and staff, 
 And while I have this comfort 
 
 At every ill I'll laugh. 
 
 For me he spreads a table ; 
 
 For me — unworthy me ! 
 He feeds me in the presence 
 
 Of those from whom I flee. 
 Then with new strength the batde 
 
 For God and truth I fight, 
 And know that I shall conquer, 
 
 Assured my cause is right. 
 
 My head with oil anointed 
 
 In grateful tribute bends, 
 My soul breathes out its praises 
 
 To him who blessing sends. 
 My cup with joy runs over. 
 
 The cup my Shepherd fills, 
 And as I drink the nectar 
 
 My heart with rapture thrills. 
 
GO FORWARD. 1 3 
 
 Then let me take fresh courage, 
 
 Whate'er my lot may be : 
 For know I not that all things 
 
 Shall work for good to me ? 
 Goodness and mercy truly 
 
 Shall follow all my days, 
 And in the home eternal 
 
 I '11 sing my Shepherd's praise. 
 
 GO FORWARD ! 
 O Church of God, go forward ! 
 
 Egyptian darkness flee ; 
 Thy home no more in Goshen, 
 
 A better place for thee. 
 Thou hast a holy mission ; 
 
 The world before thee lies. 
 Secure is thy salvation ? 
 
 Lead others to the prize. 
 
 O Church of God, go forward ! 
 
 The wilderness thy way ; 
 Let not thy footsteps falter, 
 
 Nor in thy march delay. 
 Earth is no place for resting ; 
 
 We sojourn but a while. 
 Then follow Christ more closely, 
 
 Encouraged by his smile. 
 
14 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 O Church of God, go forward ! 
 
 The land of promise see ; 
 Soon will we cross the Jordan 
 
 And in fair Canaan be. 
 The heavenly home before us, 
 
 Why should we tarry here ? 
 Although the way seems tedious 
 
 Eternal joy is near. 
 
 'Tis God who says " Go forward !" 
 
 Thy pathway through the sea, 
 Beside the smoking Sinai, 
 
 Along the flowery lea ; 
 Soon thou wilt stand on Nebo, 
 
 Thy weary wanderings o'er. 
 Then spring from earth to heaven, 
 
 With Christ forevermore. 
 
 PENIEL. 
 
 Dear Lord, I crave thy blessing 
 
 On me to-day. 
 My cause is very pressing, 
 
 Brooks no delay. 
 In love to thee I cling, 
 With faith my troubles bring. 
 My arms around thee fling ; 
 
 Hear me, I pray. 
 
PENIEL. 15 
 
 Because the day is breaking 
 
 Must I let go ? 
 Ah no ! my heart is aching 
 
 Thy will to know. 
 Say not I am too bold ; 
 I cannot loose my hold 
 Until my lips have told 
 
 The love I owe. 
 
 This is to me Peniel. 
 
 In prayer all night 
 My heart took no denial, 
 
 And now 'tis hght. 
 I wresded with my Friend. 
 The contest at an end, 
 My life in love I '11 spend 
 
 Within his sight. 
 
 The uncreated angel ! 
 
 I see his face. 
 And sing my glad evangel 
 
 To his sweet grace. 
 No longer will I fear, 
 Shed not another tear. 
 Because my God is near. 
 
 O happy place ! 
 
l6 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 Thou 'rt beautiful, Peniel, 
 
 Sweet mystery ! 
 The place of bitter trial 
 
 Is joy to me. 
 Where are the dread alarms ? 
 Faith all my fear disarms, 
 I see my Saviour's charms, 
 
 And feel I 'm free. 
 
 No longer need I wrestle. 
 
 The conflict o'er, 
 In Jesus' arms I nestle, 
 
 While I adore. 
 " Israel " ! I have no claim 
 To that illustrious name, 
 And yet 't is mine, the same. 
 
 For evermore. 
 
 As if I were the stronger, 
 
 And could prevail ; 
 Against th' Almighty longer 
 
 My arm avail ! 
 O help me all my days 
 To utter forth thy praise. 
 My grateful song I '11 raise, 
 
 And never fail. 
 
THE TWO TREES. 1/ 
 
 Naught shall my soul dissever 
 
 From Thee, my Lord. 
 Thine will I be forever ; 
 
 Thy grace afford. 
 Peniel ! Lovely place ! 
 I see God face to face, 
 And rest in his embrace, 
 
 Cheered by his Word. 
 
 THE TWO TREES. 
 
 In the first year of my ministry I received a 
 letter from my mother, saying, " Our children 
 have all left us, some for their life work, and 
 others on a visit, and your father and I feel like 
 the old trees before our door stripped of their 
 foliage, and in the wintry blast we lean one 
 towards the other for love and sympathy." 
 
 This letter called forth the following youthful 
 effusion : 
 
 How well do I remember 
 
 Those trees before your eye, 
 
 And how they looked so dreary 
 
 When wintry winds swept by. 
 3 
 
1 8 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 How oft I 've gazed upon them 
 Stripped of their foliage fair, 
 
 And marked their mutual leaning 
 As if their griefs to share. 
 
 But well do I remember 
 
 Those trees before your door 
 When spring in all her glory 
 
 Proclaimed the winter o'er. 
 Then raised their heads, once drooping, 
 
 In beauteous verdure clad, 
 Their leaves danced in the sunlight, 
 
 The trees said, " We are glad !" 
 
 Do you, dear father, mother. 
 
 Compare yourselves to these ? 
 Do you feel sad and lonely 
 
 As now you watch the trees ? 
 Oh think ! The spring is coming, 
 
 Soon will its zephyrs bland 
 Breathe their ethereal mildness 
 
 O'er all the lovely land. 
 
 And once again your loved ones, 
 
 Wherever now they roam. 
 Will join the social circle, 
 
 All in the good old home. 
 
CORNER-STONE HYMN. 19 
 
 Then, toils and cares forgotten, 
 We '11 join in prayer and praise, 
 
 And celebrate the goodness 
 That crowneth all our days. 
 
 And is there not, dear parents, 
 
 A spring more fair and bright 
 Than earth has ever witnessed, 
 
 Or e'er will bless her sight ? 
 Oh is there not a heaven 
 
 Where partings are unknown, 
 And where the soul will never 
 
 In sorrow brood alone ? 
 
 There trees of life are growing 
 
 Clad in eternal green ; 
 There men and angels radiant 
 
 With glory bright are seen. 
 And shall not all the dear ones 
 
 Now absent from your board 
 With you at last assemble, 
 *' Forever with the Lord " ? 
 
 CORNER-STONE HYMN. 
 
 Holy Father, God of love, 
 Send thy blessing from above. 
 
20 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 May we realize this hour 
 
 Thy rich grace and quickening power. 
 
 Listen to the song of praise 
 
 Which with loving hearts we raise. 
 
 Holy Saviour, bend thine ear, 
 Our petitions kindly hear. 
 Seated on thy heavenly throne, 
 Wilt thou each disciple own ? 
 Listen to the song of praise 
 Which with grateful hearts we raise. 
 
 Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove, 
 Fill us all with sacred love, 
 Breathe new life within each breast 
 While in thee we find our rest. 
 Listen to the song of praise 
 Which with fervent hearts we raise. 
 
 Father, Son and Spirit, Three, 
 Blessed, glorious Trinity, 
 As this Corner-stone we lay 
 Bless thy waiting church, we pray. 
 Listen to the song of praise 
 Which with happy hearts we raise. 
 
NEW YEAR SONG 21 
 
 NEW YEAR SONG. 
 
 With merry lay, this happy day 
 
 We join in celebration : 
 Hearts full of cheer, with voices clear 
 
 We offer our oblation. 
 Blessings abound the whole year round 
 
 All by our Father given ! 
 And so in love we look above 
 
 And waft our song to heaven. 
 
 We sing how spring on zephyr wing 
 
 Came with fresh odors breathing ; 
 Then summer fair with flowers rare, 
 
 In beauteous garlands wreathing ; 
 Next in the train, with queenly reign. 
 
 Came autumn, full of blessing , 
 Then winter hoar with bounteous store 
 
 Her measure heaped and pressing. 
 
 Night with repose, day to its close 
 
 With love and peace o'erflowing, 
 Each bids us raise our song of praise 
 
 To him all grace bestowing. 
 But gift most rare, beyond compare, 
 
 Is that of free salvation : 
 Saviour divine, this gift is thine, 
 
 And thine our hearts' oblation. 
 
22 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 lONA. 
 
 There is a small island, three miles long and 
 one and a half miles broad, called lona, or Icolm- 
 kill. Sometimes it is called I, or Hy. It is 
 situated nine miles from Staffa, and is separated 
 from the Island of Mull, which is on the Wes- 
 tern coast of Scodand, by a narrow channel, 
 lona is very remarkable in history. It is con- 
 sidered a sacred island. Numbers of Scotch, 
 Irish, Norwegian and French kings are buried 
 there, the last of whom is the famous Macbeth. 
 But it is chiefly noted as the seat of the ancient 
 Druids. In the year 564 a. d. St. Columba 
 visited it, and established there a college for the 
 education of the people. This institution ac- 
 quired great wealth and increased in influence 
 until the time of the Reformation. It continued 
 under the control of the Culdees until the 13th 
 century. The island is now the property of the 
 Duke of Argyle. It is said that at one time 
 lona possessed as many as 360 crosses. All 
 these except four have been destroyed by Pur- 
 itan zeal. Sepulchral remains still cover the 
 island in the shape of cairns and stone monu- 
 ments of all kinds. The following lines may 
 serve to keep in mind this little bit of a history : 
 
lONA. 23 
 
 Oh, sacred isle ! 
 A speck upon the sea, 
 
 Washed by the Atlantic wave 
 Incessantly : 
 
 Not Erin green, or Scotia fair, 
 With thee, lona, can compare. 
 
 What though so small 
 That many see thee not ; 
 
 It cannot be, blest land, 
 Thou 'It be forgot. 
 Though thou shouldst sink into the sea 
 With loving heart we '11 think of thee ! 
 
 What though a mass 
 Of ruins meets the eye. 
 
 And monuments of time 
 Long while gone by, 
 And naught appears of present glory 
 To deck the page of future story ! 
 
 The mighty past 
 Speaks volumes in thy praise ; 
 
 And time triumphantly 
 To bygone days 
 Points with her finger, and we see 
 Records of immortaHty. 
 
24 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 The Druids' isle 
 Thou art, the classics say, 
 
 And cairns and cromlechs tell 
 At this late day 
 Of those great men beneath thy sod 
 Who centuries since the green earth trod. 
 
 But there is one 
 Whose name is greater far 
 
 Than king or Druid's name : 
 Like a bright star, 
 Columba, thou wilt ever shine, 
 Reflection of the orb divine ! 
 
 Columba's isle ! 
 The Culdee's holy land ! 
 
 Though small, lona, yet 
 Thy fame shall stand. 
 In the dark ages light from thee 
 Shone on the world, o'er land and sea. 
 
 CONSOLATION. 
 
 In every hour of sweetest joy 
 I look to thee, dear Lord ; 
 
 The only bliss without alloy 
 Is that Thou dost afford. 
 
CONSOLATION. 25 
 
 At times I feel an angel hand 
 
 Upon my fevered brow ; 
 I look into the better land, 
 
 And say, " 'T is heaven now !" 
 Earth seems to me like Eden fair ; 
 
 My path is strewn with flowers ; 
 I breathe the softest summer air, 
 
 And rest in silvan bowers. 
 Around me gather all the best. 
 
 In praise their voices blend ; 
 I feel I am supremely blest, 
 
 But oh ! the bliss must end. 
 
 A gloomy cloud sweeps o'er my head, 
 
 'T is dark, and damp, and cold. 
 It stoops. Its touch is hke the dead. 
 
 It wraps me in its fold. 
 I close my eyes. The cloud is gone, 
 
 And with it one I love. 
 My heart is sad. I am alone. 
 
 And dazed I onward move. 
 But in my loneliness and grief 
 
 My heart cannot despair : 
 There comes to me a sweet relief 
 
 As I look up in prayer. 
 
 V.'oids ol Comroit. 
 
26 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 I see my loved one dressed in white 
 
 Amid the angel throng- ; 
 I hear her voice, as with delight 
 
 She sings the angel song. 
 
 'T is but a moment. Then the gate 
 
 Is closed. I feel a pain ; 
 " But wait, dear heart, a little wait, 
 
 Soon it will ope again." 
 'T is Jesus speaks. *' Poor, weary one, 
 
 Be faithful to the end ; 
 I am thy portion, I alone 
 
 Thy true and constant Friend. 
 A little while, and then the door 
 
 Will open wide for thee ; 
 Thy sorrows then will all be o'er, 
 
 Vanished each mystery. 
 Then thou shalt walk the golden street, 
 
 And find the mansion where 
 Thy loved ones now in glory meet, 
 
 And wait thy presence there." 
 
 I hear thy voice. Beloved One ; 
 
 Thou art my constant joy ; 
 With thee I never am alone. 
 
 Nor sad in thy employ. 
 
WAIT. 27 
 
 I give myself anew to thee, 
 
 And onward urge my way, 
 Until the cloud shall stoop for me 
 
 And night is lost in day. 
 A little while ! The end will come, 
 
 The end of toil and pain, 
 When I shall reach the heavenly home 
 
 And prove " to die is gain." 
 What bliss to me will then be given 
 
 When sin and sorrow cease ! 
 I then will know the joy of heaven, 
 
 And rest in perfect peace. 
 
 WAIT. 
 
 Wait, O thou weary one, a little longer; 
 
 A few more years, it may be only days. 
 Thy patient waiting only makes thee stronger : 
 
 Eternity will balance all delays. 
 Wait, O thou suffering one! Thy days of sorrow 
 
 Will bring to thy poor soul its richest gain. 
 If thou a Christian art, a brighter morrow 
 
 Will give thee tenfold joy for all thy pain. 
 Wait, O thou anxious one ! The cloud that hovers 
 
 In gloom and darkness o'er thy aching head 
 Is sent of God in mercy, and he covers 
 
 Thee with his heavenly mantle overspread. 
 
28 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 Wait, O thou mourning one, now bending lonely 
 Beside the grave where sleeps thy Christian 
 friend. 
 
 That sacred dust is watched by angels holy, 
 And they thy journey will in love attend. 
 
 Be patient and submissive : each disaster 
 Will bring thee nearer to thy loving Lord. 
 
 These trials make thee like thy blessed Master, 
 Who conquered, and will thee his grace afford. 
 
 Be patient and submissive : strength is given 
 For every step along the weary way. 
 
 And for it all thou 'It render praise in heaven 
 When dreary night gives place to perfect day. 
 
 Yes, perfect day ; the day of God, eternal, 
 
 When not a shadow shall flit o'er the scene, 
 In that bright land where all is bright and 
 vernal 
 And we will be with Christ, and naught be- 
 tween. 
 
 Wait then, dear heart ! Control thy sad emotion ; 
 
 God will subdue each angry wind and tide. 
 And when the voyage ends, across life's ocean, 
 
 In peaceful waters thou wilt e'er abide. 
 
THE DYING BELIEVER S SONG. 29 
 
 THE DYING BELIEVER'S SONG. 
 
 A little while before his death Rev. Dr. 
 Howard Crosby called for a paper and pencil, 
 and wrote, " My heart is sweetly resting on Jesus, 
 and my hand is in his." 
 
 My heart is sweetly resting 
 
 On Jesus Christ, my Lord. 
 He will not fail, who loves me, 
 
 His blessing to afford. 
 I know that I am nothing. 
 
 But he is all in all ; 
 I '11 trust him, living, dying, 
 
 Whatever may befall. 
 
 My heart is sweetly resting 
 
 On Jesus ; and my hand 
 His hand is clasping firmly, 
 
 As near me he doth stand. 
 He 's with me, blessed Saviour ! 
 
 I lean upon his breast, 
 And in his loving presence 
 
 I feel supremely blest. 
 
 My heart is sweetly resting 
 
 On Jesus ; and he 's come 
 To take my ransomed spirit 
 
 To his eternal home. 
 
30 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 Farewell, farewell, beloved ; 
 
 The hand once pierced for me 
 Is holding mine, and quickly 
 
 In heaven I will be. 
 
 THE TWO SISTERS. 
 
 Beside a sacred mountain, 
 
 Famed for its olives still, 
 There was a humble cottage 
 
 Within a quiet ville. 
 In olden times two sisters 
 
 Dwelt in that little dome, 
 And with a much loved brother 
 
 Enjoyed a happy home. 
 
 To Bethany the Saviour 
 
 Loved oft to wend his way. 
 There from the holy city 
 
 To spend a peaceful day. 
 Within the humble cottage 
 
 He sought a calm retreat, 
 And 'mid those true disciples 
 
 He found a welcome seat. 
 Within that pleasant dwelHng, 
 
 Where peace and comfort reign, 
 Behold the blessed Master 
 
 In holy converse deign. 
 
THE TWO SISTERS. 3 1 
 
 The meek and docile Mary 
 
 Is stationed near her Lord, 
 Low at his feet reclining, 
 
 To hear his gracious word. 
 
 Hark ! from his lips are falling 
 
 Sounds to believers dear, 
 And every accent enters 
 
 The pious Mary's ear. 
 With holy love she gazes 
 
 Upon his placid face, 
 And finds each word he utters 
 
 Is full of truth and grace. 
 
 The cares of life forgotten, 
 
 In free and heavenly thought 
 The gentle sister listened 
 
 To what the Saviour taught. 
 His words were sweetest music, 
 
 His smile her greatest joy, 
 Attention to his teaching 
 
 Her noblest, best employ. 
 
 But lo, there sounds a murmur — 
 The troubled Martha speaks ; 
 
 She also loves the Master, 
 To do him honor seeks, 
 
32 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 And cumbered with much serving, 
 By toil and care opprest, 
 
 She thus her soul unburdens 
 To her beloved Guest : 
 
 " Lord, see ! My thoughtless sister, 
 
 Unkind, cares not for me ; 
 Leaves me alone to labor 
 
 And idly sits with thee. 
 Please bid her share these duties, 
 
 And show a woman's pride, 
 That we may strive together 
 
 Our bounty to provide." 
 
 But Jesus answers, " Martha, 
 
 Much care is in thy heart; 
 There is but one thing needful, 
 
 'T is Mary's better part. 
 The love of God, her portion. 
 
 Will ne'er depart away. 
 The word of life she chooses 
 
 Leads to immortal day. 
 
 Come, sit awhile beside her 
 And listen to my voice ; 
 
 Far better this than labor 
 Or any worldly choice. 
 
' I LEAVE IT ALL WITH THEE. 33 
 
 There is but one thing needful, 
 
 Oh, choose the better part ! 
 Come, Martha, sit with Mary, 
 
 And let me fill your heart." 
 
 " I LEAVE IT ALL WITH THEE. 
 
 O God, I leave it all with thee : 
 
 Thou leadest me ; 
 And though the way at times seem drear, 
 
 I will not fear. 
 
 Do not I know that I am thine. 
 
 And thou art mine ? 
 Why then should I be filled with care, 
 
 Or why despair? 
 
 There is an eye, a loving eye. 
 
 That from the sky 
 Is watching o'er me when I dread 
 
 My path to tread. 
 
 There is a voice, a gentle voice. 
 
 Bids me rejoice, 
 E'en in the very gloomiest hour 
 
 When storm-clouds lower. 
 
 Words of Comfort. C 
 
34 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 There is a hand omnipotent, 
 And I 'm content 
 
 While I can feel that hand divine 
 Is holding mine. 
 
 There is a heart of tenderness, 
 
 And its caress 
 Is balm to my poor troubled breast 
 
 And gives me rest. 
 
 That eye, that voice, that hand, that heart, 
 
 Sweet peace impart ; 
 And in them all by faith I see 
 
 One who loves me : 
 
 One whom I ever trust and love 
 
 All friends above. 
 On whom, to all eternity, 
 
 I will rely. 
 
 Then, Lord, I leave it all with thee ; 
 
 Thou strengthenest me ; 
 And if the way seem dark and drear 
 
 I will not fear. 
 
FEAR NOT. 35 
 
 FEAR NOT. 
 
 Why should I fear to-morrow ? 
 
 The Lord directs my way. 
 Why should I trouble borrow ? 
 
 I live but for to-day. 
 Whenever I am weary 
 
 In God I find my rest ; 
 And when the path seems dreary 
 
 I know it 's for the best. 
 
 Why should I fear to-morrow ? 
 
 I have a gracious Friend 
 Who knows my every sorrow, 
 
 And will my cause defend. 
 I see him near me smiling, 
 
 In trial and in joy. 
 My weary hours beguiling 
 
 In his own blest employ. 
 
 I will not trouble borrow ; • 
 
 There is a better way, 
 For when it comes to-morrow 
 
 Will be another day. 
 And then my God may banish 
 
 The sorrow from my heart, 
 And as the shadows vanish 
 
 His sweetest love impart. 
 
36 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 give me grace, my Saviour, 
 
 Thy constant love to see ; 
 To-day to seek thy favor, 
 
 To-morrow leave with thee. 
 
 1 know I cannot perish 
 
 If I but trust thy grace ; 
 And so thy love I cherish. 
 And rest in thy embrace. 
 
 " MY HAND, DEAR LORD, IN THINE." 
 My hand, dear Lord, in thine ! 
 
 However dark the way 
 A light within will ever shine, 
 
 A beam of day. 
 While on in faith I press 
 
 My soul thou dost illume, 
 And I am full of happiness, 
 
 Nor mind the gloom. 
 
 My hand, dear Lord, in thine ! 
 
 What though the way seem rough ? 
 If I may feel the touch divine 
 
 It is enough. 
 Onward o'er hill and dale 
 
 My journey I '11 pursue, 
 Until thou dost remove the veil, 
 
 And heaven I view. 
 
A CHRISTMAS CAROL. ^-J 
 
 My hand, dear Lord, in thine ! 
 
 What though the way seem long ? 
 My weary soul will not repine, 
 
 But sing a song. 
 My rest I '11 find in thee. 
 
 In holy work my joy, 
 And prayer and praise shall ever be 
 
 My sweet employ. 
 My hand, dear Lord, in thine ! 
 
 I '11 never let thee go ; 
 Nor wilt thou e'er my soul resign 
 
 To endless woe. 
 Thy hold will be on me 
 
 Amid the din and strife, 
 Until I wake to share with thee 
 
 Immortal life. 
 
 A CHRISTMAS CAROL. 
 Sweet carols let us sing. 
 Rich offerings let us bring 
 To our Redeemer King 
 
 Who reigns in glory. 
 From heaven to earth he came, 
 Praise to his holy name ! 
 Let all redeemed from shame 
 
 Rehearse the story. 
 
38 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 Above angelic lays 
 
 Our Christmas hymn we raise ; 
 
 With heart and voice we praise 
 
 The infant Jesus. 
 The song ascends on high, 
 It soars above the sky, 
 And echo gives reply : 
 
 " From sin he frees us." 
 
 For He, the humble born, 
 In poverty forlorn, 
 Subject to bitter scorn 
 
 And vile behavior. 
 The great and holy One, 
 Was God's anointed Son 
 Who by his deeds hath won 
 
 The name of Saviour. 
 
 Then on this natal day 
 Our tribute let us pay, 
 And in a joyful lay 
 
 Unite our voices. 
 Loud will we raise the song ; 
 Still the sweet strain prolong : 
 Thy Church in one vast throng, 
 
 O Lord, rejoices. 
 
WHITE CROSS HYMN. 39 
 
 WHITE CROSS HYMN. 
 
 '' My strength is as the strength often 
 
 Because my heart is pure." 
 Come join with me, my fellow-men, 
 
 In Christ we will endure. 
 Trusting in God, let us proceed, 
 
 And vanquish all our foes ; 
 Though Satan all his forces lead, 
 
 And earth and hell oppose. 
 
 I see the cross, the blood-stained cross. 
 
 I 'm washed from every sin. 
 The Saviour takes away the dross, 
 
 And makes me pure within. 
 To thee I lifr this other cross, 
 
 The White Cross, in His name, 
 And pledge myself, whate'er the loss 
 
 It shall not suffer shame. 
 
 I hear the voice, I see the face 
 
 Of my beloved Lord ; 
 I feel within my heart his grace. 
 
 And rest upon his word. 
 His cross with gratitude I raise, 
 
 And join the noble throng 
 Who give their bodies with their praise, 
 
 Their labor with the song. 
 
40 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 BY FAITH. 
 
 By faith I feel the love benign, 
 
 And know my sins forgiven : 
 On me is laid the hand divine, 
 
 And Satan forth is driven. 
 Beside the blood-stained cross I stand 
 
 I see my dying Lord. 
 He meets for me the Law's demand ; 
 
 And sheathes the vengeful sword. 
 
 By faith I see my Saviour's face : 
 
 He looks in love on me. 
 He clasps me in a fond embrace, 
 
 And says " I died for thee." 
 Then I behold his hands and feet, 
 
 I see his open side, 
 Redemption is for me complete : 
 
 For me the Saviour died. 
 
 By faith I walk the blessed road 
 
 Trod by the men of old ; 
 Familiarly I talk with God, 
 
 Nor does he deem me bold. 
 For with the Elder Brother near 
 
 I may " My Father " say, 
 And Jesus bids me never fear 
 
 When in his name I pray. 
 
THE ADRIATIC WOMEN'S SONG. 4I 
 
 By faith I look beyond this sphere, 
 
 Beyond the starry sky : 
 I see the home where not a tear 
 
 Bedims the Christian's eye. 
 I hear the song, the new-old song. 
 
 Sung by the saints above : 
 Happy I soon will join that throng, 
 
 And sing eternal love. 
 
 THE ADRIATIC WOMEN'S SONG. 
 
 There is a story current that certain pious 
 women, living on the shores of the Adriatic Sea> 
 when their husbands have gone off on fishing 
 excursions are accustomed at nightfall to wan- 
 der down to the beach, especially when they are 
 afraid of a storm, and sing the first verse of a fa- 
 miliar hymn. They then listen, and fancy they 
 hear in response the voices of their husbands 
 coming over the sea, singing the second stanza 
 of the same hymn. 
 
 On Easter Sabbath, March 31, 1872, in com- 
 pany with other friends, I was sailing down the 
 Adriatic on my way to Egypt and Palestine ; 
 and then wrote the following Hues, founded upon 
 the fact or fiction, whichever it may be, just re- 
 lated : 
 
 Words of Comfort. 
 
42 WORDS OF' COMFORT. 
 
 O, a song, a song, on the banks of the sea ! 
 Fair women are singing the sweet melody, 
 How gently the music steals over the main ! 
 The hearts of the singers are in the rich strain. 
 
 Their husbands devoted, men earnest and brave, 
 Have gone in their hshing-smacks over the wave, 
 The women are troubled a little with fear, 
 For a storm is brewing. It seems to be near. 
 
 Out on the broad surface they gaze with love's 
 
 eye, 
 No signs of return can their vision descry. 
 So they sing, and their song sweeps over the 
 
 sea. 
 And, blessed be God ! full of hope is the glee. 
 
 There comes o'er the waters a sound sweet and 
 
 low; 
 A voice seems to whisper, " In peace ye may go ; 
 With comfort return each to children and home : 
 Our God will protect us wherever we roam." 
 
 Familiar the tones : they have often been heard. 
 Not the sigh of the wind, or the song of a bird ; 
 But the accents of loved ones come over the 
 
 wave, 
 The women are happy, assured God will save. 
 
THE ADRIATIC WOMEN'S SONG. 43 
 
 Hark ! the very same tune they were singing 
 
 they hear ; 
 Their hearts, no more anxious, are filled with 
 
 good cheer ; 
 Not only the tune, but they hear the same psalm 
 They were singing themselves, in praise of the 
 
 Lamb ! 
 
 Even thus, as I sing on the margin of time, 
 I think of my loved ones in holier cHme ; 
 And over the waves of eternity's sea 
 There comes a response full of comfort to me. 
 
 I listen, and fancy I hear once again 
 The voice of dear parents in holy refrain. 
 In their song celestial they bid me be brave, 
 And trust in the Lord who has risen to save. 
 
 Yes, Jesus has risen ! Immanuel lives ! 
 What joy this assurance my weary heart gives! 
 Soon I too will unite with those gone before. 
 Bow down at the throne and my Saviour adore. 
 
 Hail, then, Easter Sabbath I and hail, thou blue 
 
 sea 
 
 Sweet music from heaven I hear, full and free ; 
 And as I enjoy the rest and the calm 
 I join with the saints in Eternity's psalm. 
 
44 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 GOOD SHEPHERD. 
 
 A Sabbath-school hymn for the Httle ones. 
 
 Good Shepherd, grant thy blessing 
 
 Upon thy lambs to-day, 
 And thy kind hand caressing 
 
 On each head sofdy lay. 
 With praise we come before Thee, 
 
 Our hearts are full of love ; 
 On earth we would adore Thee 
 
 As angels do above. 
 
 They call us lambs of Jesus, 
 
 And such we wish to be ; 
 Oh, how that name would please us, 
 
 If heard pronounced by thee ! 
 Lambs of the flock, dear Saviour, 
 
 We follow in thy way ; 
 Look on us each with favor, 
 
 And never let us stray. 
 
 With heavenly pasture feed us. 
 
 In meadows green and fair; 
 By the still waters lead us. 
 
 And make us all thy care. 
 Safe through each vale of sorrow 
 
 Lead thou the gloomy way, 
 Until we see the morrow 
 
 Of an eternal day. 
 
CHRISTIAN COURAGE. 45 
 
 CHRISTIAN COURAGE. 
 
 Psalm 56 : 3. 
 
 What time I am afraid 
 
 I '11 trust in Thee." 
 On God my heart is stayed 
 
 Eternally. 
 I know He 's always near 
 
 My soul to save. 
 What have I then to fear ? 
 
 Why not be brave ? 
 
 What though ten thousand foes 
 
 Beset my way, 
 And in their might propose 
 
 My course to stay ; 
 With Jesus by my side 
 
 I '11 fight them all. 
 While I in him confide 
 
 I cannot fall. 
 
 Weak, I — yes, very weak! — 
 
 Almighty he ! 
 I only need to speak, 
 
 My strength he '11 be. 
 A sinner lost, undone, 
 
 To him I'll fly; 
 He is the helping One, 
 
 And hears my cry. 
 
46 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 I may be tempest- tossed, 
 
 But will not die. 
 I never can be lost 
 
 While Christ is nigh. 
 He is my Saviour, Friend, 
 
 A Friend indeed. 
 My soui He will defend 
 
 In time of need. 
 
 Oh make me happy, Lord, 
 
 As well as brave. 
 Thy loving grace afford 
 
 As Thou dost save. 
 And though the pilgrimage 
 
 Be sometimes drear. 
 The battle help me wage 
 
 And never fear. 
 
 Happy in Thee I '11 be, 
 
 Though in great pain ; 
 " Happy, my God, in Thee," 
 
 Is my refrain. 
 Happy when trials spring 
 
 My way across ; 
 Happy in everything : 
 
 Profit or loss. 
 
EVENING PRAISE. 47 
 
 Happy I '11 ever be, 
 
 And not afraid, 
 Because, dear Lord, on thee 
 
 My soul is stayed. 
 And this shall be my song 
 
 In darkest night, 
 For when my faith is strong 
 
 I see the lio^ht. 
 
 It shines upon my path, 
 
 Sometimes a flood. 
 It drives away the wrath. 
 
 The wrath of God. 
 It fills my soul with peace, 
 
 This light divine ; 
 And it will never cease 
 
 In love to shine. 
 
 EVENING PRAISE. 
 
 When evening comes with her bright starry 
 
 train. 
 And stillness hovers over earth and main, 
 The Spirit calls ; 't is then the hour for thee 
 In holy prayer to bend thy grateful knee. 
 
48 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 Forget it not ! For bending- round the shrine 
 A thousand loving hearts will beat with thine. 
 Christians of every clime will join with thee 
 At that svv^eet hour upon the grateful knee. 
 
 Forget it not ! For then the Father's eye 
 Is gazing on thee from the star-lit sky, 
 And seems to say that God delights to see 
 Love and devotion on the grateful knee. 
 
 Forget it not ! For then a holy calm 
 
 Will steal around thee: while the precious balm 
 
 Of Jesus' love will bid each sorrow flee, 
 
 And peace will bless thee on thy grateful knee. 
 
 And when the final eve of life shall come 
 Faith will conduct thee to that blessed home 
 Where men and angels e'er will join with thee 
 Before the throne, upon the grateful knee. 
 
 THE MORNING LIGHT, 
 
 Bright shine the rays of the beautiful morning, 
 Swift roll the shadows of dark night away ; 
 
 Hail to the light of millennial dawning ! 
 
 Come, thou long-promised and glorious day. 
 
WHY SAD TO-DAY? 49 
 
 See in the East, from the mountain-tops gleam- 
 ing", 
 Sunbeams resplendent ; o'er valley and plain 
 Shine the bright rays, in a golden flood stream- 
 ing 
 Eastward and westward, on meadow and 
 main. 
 
 Christian, arouse thee ! Why longer rechning, 
 Wrapped in the folds of a spiritual night? 
 
 See, the bright beams of the morning are shining : 
 Open the lattice, and let in the light i 
 
 Sun of the soul, we hail thy appearing ! 
 
 Spirit of grace, oh, enliven each heart ; 
 Light of the world, with thy mellow rays cheer- 
 ing, 
 
 Zeal and devotion to all now impart. 
 
 WHY SAD TO-DAY? 
 
 My heart, dear Lord, is sad to-day, 
 
 But thou canst make it glad to-morrow. 
 
 And so, in faith, I come to thee 
 
 Thou blessed, glorious Trinity, 
 
 And ask that thou wilt give tome 
 Support in sorrow. 
 
 Wonlsof Conir,„t. 7 
 
50 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 If best that I be sad to-day 
 
 Content I '11 be, if glad to-morrow; 
 
 Trusting, my God, alone in thee 
 
 For time and for eternity, 
 
 All things shall work for good to me ; 
 In joy or sorrow. 
 
 Quite sure I am, if sad to-day, 
 
 Some time there '11 be a glad to-morrow. 
 It may be far, it may be near, 
 But sure I am it will appear — 
 The happy day — all bright and clear 
 
 And free from sorrow. 
 
 So cheer up, heart ! Though sad to-day 
 Anticipate the glad to-morrow. 
 
 In darkest night sing songs of joy ; 
 
 Let naught thy holy peace destroy, 
 
 Be prayer and praise thy chief employ : 
 Away with sorrow ! 
 
 But why must I be sad to-day 
 And wait for joy until to-morrow ? 
 
 Does not the picture need the shade ? 
 
 Without the wood how have the glade ? 
 
 Is not that best which God has made ? 
 Oh, then, why sorrow? 
 
A PILGRIM SONG. 5 I 
 
 I '11 not be sad at all to-day, 
 
 Nor wait for joy until to-morrow. 
 For though I suffer sharpest pain, 
 And working every nerve must strain. 
 Trusting in Christ, my sweet refrain 
 Shall be "no sorrow." 
 
 Yes, and I sing I 'm glad to-day 
 
 And hope to be more glad to-morrow. 
 
 For having made the happy choice 
 
 I cannot but in Christ rejoice. 
 
 And every day with cheerful voice 
 I '11 sing " no sorrow." 
 
 Oh come with me, and trust to-day ! 
 
 Wait not until the bright to-morrow. 
 This is the favored time ! Oh now 
 Before the Saviour humbly bow, 
 And he will teach thy spirit how 
 
 To sing " no sorrow." 
 
 A PILGRIM SONG. 
 
 When the sky is bright above me, 
 When around all seem to love me. 
 When no fears or sorrows move me. 
 Then I '11 trust in God alone. 
 
52 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 He 's the source of all my pleasure, 
 He from out his richest treasure 
 Gives me, without stint or measure, 
 All I need, and for my own. 
 
 When the way Is dark and eerie, 
 When my feet are worn and weary. 
 When my heart is sad and dreary, 
 
 Surely then I '11 trust the Lord. 
 He it is who kindly leads me, 
 He who daily clothes and feeds me. 
 And I know, whate'er my needs be, 
 
 He will kindly help afford. 
 
 On the mount, or in the valley, 
 On the highway, lane or alley, 
 I will still my courage rally — 
 
 "Trust in God," shall be my song. 
 He is all, I want no other, 
 Jesus is my Elder Brother, 
 Tender as a loving mother ! 
 
 I to him, my Lord, belong. 
 
'tis sweet to sleep. 53 
 't is sweet to sleep. 
 
 'T IS sweet to sleep in the Saviour's arms, 
 
 To lie in the Saviour's tomb ; 
 Be freed forever from death's alarms, 
 
 Not even to feel the gloom. 
 How quickly the years will roll away ! 
 
 It will be but one short night ; 
 In perfect rest we will wait for the day. 
 
 Nor miss the beautiful light. 
 
 No cares will burden the happy soul, 
 
 No pains the body annoy. 
 No ghostly fear will the mind control, 
 
 Or take from the holy joy. 
 The ransomed spirit with Christ will be 
 
 In the home prepared above ; 
 Will join in the heavenly melody, 
 
 And sing of redeeming love. 
 
 We shall sleep, but not ever in death. 
 
 Nor stay in the gloomy grave. 
 We '11 waken to feel the gentle breath 
 
 Of Jesus, mighty to save. 
 The angel's last trump with joyful sound, 
 
 Will quicken the pious dead, 
 Then our bodies will spring from the ground, 
 
 And with the glorified tread. 
 
54 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 We wait for the resurrection morn, 
 
 The glorious Easter day, 
 When the Lord will come, and we be borne 
 
 From the dust of earth away. 
 The soul, which has been with God above. 
 
 Will join the body again, 
 And man, immortal, will live and move, 
 
 Forever with Jesus reign. 
 
 'Tis nothing, Lord, to suffer with thee; 
 
 Thou dost sanctify each pain, 
 If I live with Christ, I know for m^e 
 
 To die will only be gain. 
 And then will come the sleep of the grave 
 
 From which the body will rise. 
 For the risen Lord will come to save. 
 
 And raise it to Paradise. 
 
 All hail, adorable Saviour, hail ! 
 
 In thee thy people shall live, 
 Thy prayers for them will ever avail, 
 
 And the blessing thou dost give. 
 We fear not death, nor the grave, nor hell. 
 
 Thou art ever by our side. 
 With thee we triumph, with thee we dwell, 
 
 With thee will be orlorified. 
 
THE BELIEVER'S PARADOX. 55 
 
 THE believer's PARADOX. 
 2 Cor. 12 : 10: 
 
 Weak in myself, I felt most weak 
 
 When groaning 'neath the law I lay ; 
 I had not strength aright to seek 
 
 And find the straight and narrow way. 
 I rolled in sin, and sought in vain 
 
 Unaided from my filth to rise ; 
 And thus I tossed in guilt and pain 
 
 Until on Christ I fixed my eyes : 
 Then first I rose and sang the song, 
 " Whc7i I am weak, then am I strong.^' 
 
 Weak in myself. O yes, I feel 
 
 Too weak to make one effort good 
 Until at Jesus' cross I kneel, 
 
 And wash anew in his dear blood. 
 Then from my lethargy I spring, 
 
 And naught appears too hard for me. 
 My doubts and fears aside I fiing, 
 
 And glory in infirmity ; 
 In Christ I trust, and sing the song, 
 " When I am weak, iheJi am I strong'^ 
 
 And thus I will for ever sing 
 
 While in this vale of tears I roam. 
 
 I '11 trust in Christ until I wing 
 
 My way to heaven, my promised home. 
 
56 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 O give me grace, my God, to bear 
 The ills which crowd this mortal life, 
 
 Let me but cast on thee each care 
 Until death kindly ends the strife ; 
 
 Then, weak no more, my song shall be, 
 
 "//^ thee Vm strong ; O Lord, in thee T 
 
 THE GOLDEN WEDDING. 
 
 We come to the golden wedding 
 
 With hearts o'erflowing with love, 
 To honor our friends beloved, 
 
 And praise the Father above. 
 Here meet in delightful union. 
 
 The scenes of the past to review. 
 The father, mother, and children, 
 
 And the children's children too. 
 
 And many friends and relations 
 
 Are present this festival day 
 To join in the generous greeting, 
 
 And for God's blessing to pray. 
 The absent ones — some in spirit — 
 
 Are hovering o'er them now, 
 In the gentlest words to whisper 
 
 Their cadences sweet and low. 
 
THE GOLDEN WEDDING. 5/ 
 
 The gold of Ophir will tarnish, 
 
 Its beautiful lustre fade ; 
 But love, more pure and more lasting, 
 
 Was for eternity made. 
 We come to this golden wedding, 
 
 Our hearts all glowing with love. 
 To honor these sturdy pilgrims. 
 
 And praise the Father above. 
 
 We haste to another wedding : 
 
 To tread the golden floor 
 In the house of many mansions 
 
 When our pilgrimage is o'er. 
 To enter the golden city, 
 
 To walk the golden street, 
 And then in the golden palace 
 
 To sit at Jehovah's feet. 
 
 Thence to the princely banquet 
 
 We will wend our way along. 
 And unite our happy voices 
 
 In the new eternal song : 
 Praise, praise to the Bridegroom, Jesus, 
 
 Who came to our earth and died. 
 And then arose and ascended 
 
 To proclaim the Church his bride ! 
 
 Words of Comfort. 8 
 
58 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 Come, haste to the golden wedding ! 
 
 Let us join the ransomed throng 
 Who play on their harps so sweetly 
 
 And sing the jubilee song. 
 Our toils and trials all ended 
 
 We will wave the victor's palm, 
 And find our happiness perfect 
 
 At the marriage of the Lamb. 
 
 " COME UNTO ME. 
 
 For little children. 
 
 Jesus, I, a little child, 
 
 With my heart by sin defiled, 
 
 Hear thee say in accents mild, 
 
 ** Come unto me." 
 Oh how sweet to me thy voice ! 
 With a full heart I rejoice 
 As I make the blessed choice. 
 
 And come to thee. 
 
 Jesus, o'er my litde head 
 Thy kind hands are gendy spread 
 As the words are sweetly said, 
 *' Come unto me !" 
 
GOOD NIGHT. 59 
 
 Thy rich blessing I receive, 
 On thee only I believe, 
 Heart and all to thee I give ; 
 Yes, all to thee ! 
 
 Jesus, on thy loving breast 
 
 Now I lay my head to rest, 
 
 With thy gracious words impressed— 
 
 " Come unto me !" 
 I am thine, for ever thine, 
 O, I love to call thee mine. 
 While I happy here recline, 
 
 Trusting in thee. 
 
 GOOD NIGHT. 
 In weariness I sink to rest 
 
 Upon my bed, 
 And sweetly on my Saviour's breast 
 
 Pillow my head. 
 
 No heavy burdens do I bear 
 
 In my repose : 
 Dismissing every worldly care 
 
 My eyelids close. 
 
 As sleeps the infant on the arms 
 
 Of mother love, 
 So rest I, free from all alarms ; 
 
 God is above. 
 
6o WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 Kind watch o'er me through all the night 
 
 His eye will keep, 
 And with the early morning light 
 
 I '11 wake from sleep. 
 
 GOOD MORNING. 
 
 I wake from sleep, 
 And from my couch, refreshed, I rise ; 
 
 To him who kindly watch doth keep 
 I lift my morning sacrifice. 
 
 My dearest Friend ! 
 How shall I render thanks to thee. 
 
 For thy protection ? I depend 
 On thee, and thou dost care for me. 
 
 By day, by night, 
 At home, abroad, thou dost provide ; 
 
 Thou art my soul's supreme delight, 
 Each moment thou art by my side. 
 
 I give my heart — 
 My all to thee, dear Lord, I give. 
 
 This day to me thy grace impart ; 
 My grateful orison receive. 
 
THE LORD S PRAYER. 6 1 
 THE lord's prayer. 
 
 Our Father, thoit who art in heaven, 
 
 We hallow thy great name. 
 To us, we pray, thy grace be given, 
 While we our love proclaim. 
 
 Thy kingdom come, thy will be done ; 
 
 As in the heaven above, 
 So on the earth may every one 
 
 Be governed by thy love. 
 
 Give us this day our daily bread 
 
 And all our sins forgive, 
 In charity may we be led 
 
 And as thy children live. 
 
 Lead us, dear Lord, in thy good way, 
 
 From vile temptation free ; 
 Deliver us from sin, we pray, 
 
 And make us pure like thee. 
 
 Thine is the kingdom, thine the power. 
 
 We praise thee once again ; 
 The glory thine this holy hour 
 
 And evermore ! Amen ! 
 
(^2 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 EASTER HYMN. 
 
 Why linger at the tomb ? 
 
 Jesus is risen. 
 He hath dispersed the gloom, 
 
 Opened the prison. 
 Come, see the empty place ; 
 
 He is not here ; 
 Neither his form nor face 
 
 To us appear. 
 
 Jesus is risen indeed ; 
 
 He is not dead, 
 He lives our cause to plead, 
 
 Just as he said. 
 Awakened from his sleep, 
 
 Mighty to save. 
 Why should we longer weep 
 
 Beside his grave? 
 
 He lives that we may live 
 
 And never die. 
 His grace to us he '11 give 
 
 Eternally. 
 Not now in Galilee 
 
 Seek thou the Lord, 
 He 's here, and will to thee 
 
 Sweet peace afford. 
 
EASTER HYMN. 63 
 
 Why tarry at the tomb 
 
 Where saints He dead ? 
 They sleep amid the gloom, 
 
 And feel no dread. 
 Only the body frail 
 
 Lies in the grave, 
 Our Jesus lives, all hail ! 
 
 The soul to save. 
 
 Oh, mourning one, rejoice ! 
 
 Thy Saviour see ; 
 Listen ! his loving voice 
 
 Addresses thee : 
 Because I live, thou too 
 
 With me shalt live, 
 The life that 's ever new 
 
 To thee I give." 
 
 'T is thine on earth a while 
 
 With Christ to weep, 
 And then, while angels smile, 
 
 With him to sleep. 
 And then awake, arise, 
 
 In beauty dressed. 
 With him in Paradise 
 
 Supremely blessed. 
 
64 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 SABBATH EVENING HYMN. 
 
 The sacred light is gone : 
 Departed beam of day, 
 To regions far away 
 Thou for a time art flown. 
 And as I sit in soHtude, 
 
 And darkness gathers fast, 
 'T is sweet to muse awhile upon 
 The holy season past. 
 
 The precious Sabbath hours 
 Are waning to a close. 
 And nature seeks repose 
 For all her wearied powers. 
 But ere I greet thee, placid sleep, 
 
 And yield to thy embrace, 
 I fain would linger yet awhile 
 At the blest throne of grace. 
 
 Father in heaven ! to thee 
 My thoughts dehghted soar. 
 Thy mercies I adore. 
 This Sabbath given to me. 
 Do thou this holy evening smile 
 
 Upon me from above ; 
 Forgive each sin, and let me rest 
 Enjoying thy rich love. 
 
SABBATH EVENING HYMN. 65 
 
 Dear Saviour, at thy feet 
 In gratitude I bow ; 
 Look kindly on me now 
 Low at the mercy-seat. 
 Let me but hear thy gracious voice 
 
 Pardon and peace proclaim ; 
 Then shall I, as I rest this night, 
 Rejoice in thy dear name. 
 
 Spirit of love ! Thou Spring 
 Of hope, of life divine ! 
 The power alone is thine 
 Enduring peace to bring. 
 Come, thou great Comforter, impart 
 
 Life to my languid powers; 
 
 Oh let thy genial influence cheer 
 
 These swift declining hours. 
 
 All praise, Great God, to thee, 
 Thou blessed Three in One, 
 Thou Father, Spirit, Son, 
 Thou glorious Trinity ! 
 Each Sabbath I 'd devote to thee, 
 
 Each day in praise employ, 
 Until my voice shall fail on earth 
 To raise the note of joy. 
 
 ! of Comfort, q 
 
66 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 Then will I reach that land, 
 Far in the distant skies, 
 Where purer anthems rise 
 From th' angelic band ; 
 Where Sabbath scenes will never end, 
 
 The Christian's rest ne'er cease ; 
 Where in the presence of our God 
 Is everlasting peace. 
 
 "BLESS ME, DEAR SAVIOUR. 
 
 Bless me, dear Saviour, bless me ! 
 
 I come to thee for grace ; 
 In life's terrific battle 
 
 Help me my foes to chase. 
 Like Gideon's httle army, 
 
 Onward my way shall tend ; 
 And faint, yet still pursuing, 
 
 I '11 triumph in the end. 
 
 Bless me, dear Saviour, bless me ! 
 
 I come to thee for rest ; 
 My weary head I'd pillow 
 
 Upon thy loving breast. 
 By day, by night, I '11 trust thee, 
 
 Awake, and when asleep ; 
 Assured that thou wilt ever 
 
 Thy vigil o'er me keep. 
 
THE SABBATH. 6/ 
 
 Bless me, dear Saviour, bless me ! 
 
 I come to thee for joy ; 
 Not only peace, but gladness, 
 
 And bliss without alloy. 
 I may not have this blessing 
 
 In all its fullness here : 
 T is kept for me in heaven, 
 
 Where never falls a tear. 
 
 Bless me ! I know thou 'It bless me 
 
 In all my pilgrim way. 
 And bring me where the shadows 
 
 Will never gloom the day. 
 My joy is now to journey 
 
 Close to thy loving side, 
 And hope with thee in glory 
 
 For ever to abide. 
 
 THE SABBATH. 
 How sweet the holy Sabbath, 
 
 When all is calm and bright, 
 And in the gentle quiet 
 
 We see the Lord, our hght ! 
 Brighter than noonday splendor 
 
 He shines within the soul ; 
 The broken heart beholds him, 
 
 And once again is whole. 
 
6S WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 What rest comes to the weary ! 
 
 What pleasure to the sad ! 
 Forgetting all his troubles, 
 
 The Christian soul is glad. 
 Light beams from God in heaven, 
 
 The shadows flee away ; 
 Peace to the heart is given 
 
 Upon this perfect day. 
 
 Oh what must be the Sabbath 
 
 In that fair summer land 
 Where Jesus leads his people, 
 
 A holy, happy band, 
 Beside the living fountains, 
 
 And in the pastures green, 
 Where never flits a shadow 
 
 Across the lovely scene 1 
 
 Roll on, O Time ! thy chariot; 
 
 Let days and nights succeed ; 
 We will not mind the darkness, 
 
 The toil we will not heed ; 
 The blessed consummation, 
 
 The Sabbath without end, 
 For all the tribulation 
 
 Will more than make amend. 
 
" I HEARD A VOICE. 
 " I HEARD A VOICE." 
 
 I HEARD a voice, the sweetest voice 
 
 That mortal ever heard ; 
 Oh, how it made my heart rejoice, 
 
 And every feehng stirred ! 
 'T was Jesus spoke to me so mild, 
 
 He called me to his side, 
 And said, although with heart defiled, 
 
 I might in him confide. 
 
 I saw his face, the fairest face 
 That mortal ever saw ; 
 I longed the Saviour to embrace. 
 From him new life to draw. 
 '* Come unto me," he kindly said, 
 " And I will give thee rest ; 
 The ransom price I fully paid. 
 Repent, believe, be blest," 
 
 I felt his love, the strongest love 
 
 That mortal ever felt ; 
 Oh, how it drew my soul above. 
 
 And made my hard heart melt. 
 My burden at his feet I laid, 
 
 And knew the joy of heaven. 
 As in my willing ear he said 
 
 The blessed word, " Forgiven l" 
 
70 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 Dear Saviour, let me ever sing 
 
 Thy praise while I have breath ; 
 Each night and morn my tribute bring 
 
 Until I sleep in death. 
 And then my soul, beyond the sky, 
 
 Shall join in sweet acclaim 
 With all the ransomed throng on high, 
 
 Praising Messiah's name. 
 
 THE SEASONS OF THE YEAR. 
 
 All seasons are thine own, dear Lord, 
 
 And all reflect thy glory ; 
 They all to us some truth aflbrd, 
 
 And all repeat the story — 
 The story of thy wondrous love, 
 A love all other loves above. 
 
 Because to sinners shown. 
 From January cold 
 To July hot, the old. 
 
 Old story is made known. 
 Through August and September, 
 And on to bleak December, 
 
 Forward we move ; 
 Alike in summer, autumn, spring. 
 And winter, we thy praises sing 
 
 As on we rove. 
 
TO DIE IS GAIN. 7 1 
 
 All seasons are thine own, dear Lord, 
 
 And all repeat the story ; 
 They all to us some truth afford, 
 
 And all reflect thy glory. 
 
 TO DIE IS GAIN. 
 
 Why should we be afraid to die 
 
 When God's own loving hand 
 Conducts us to the world on high, 
 
 To join the heavenly band ? 
 Death to the Christian is to sleep 
 
 Forgetful of all care ; 
 The ransomed soul the Lord will keep, 
 
 Safe in his bosom bear. 
 
 Death is the hand that lifts the latch 
 
 And opens wide the door ; 
 We need no longer wait and watch. 
 
 But tread the golden floor. 
 We wake to see the light of heaven, 
 
 And God's own image wear ; 
 Glory divine to us is given ; 
 
 We breathe celestial air. 
 
 The last great enemy is death, 
 And death will be destroyed ; 
 
 How strange to yield our mortal breath 
 And leave this dismal void ! 
 
"JZ WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 To rise above the world of sin 
 Where death can never come ; 
 
 The hie of perfect bhss begin 
 In God's eternal home. 
 
 Then, death, where is thy cruel sting? 
 
 And where thy victory, grave ? 
 The song of triumph we can sing 
 
 Through Him who came to save. 
 We 're happy now, with death in view. 
 
 And happier soon will be. 
 When all our sins we bid adieu, 
 
 And wake our Lord to see. 
 
 LIBERTY. 
 
 I SEE a bird careering in the air. 
 Now swiftly through the vast expanse it flies, 
 And soon is lost in its ethereal path ; 
 Then, slow of wing, it gently glides along, 
 In varied course, and with a beauteous grace. 
 Fair bird ! I love to watch thy wandering. 
 For on thy waving plumes shines liberty. 
 I stand beside a bold, meandering brook : 
 There in a noisy way it rolls along, 
 With fury dashing past the craggy rocks ; 
 Here in a smooth and placid stream it runs. 
 
LIBERTY. 73 
 
 And steals along with scarce a murmuring 
 
 sound. 
 I stand beside that stream and muse awhile, 
 For on each drop seems written liberty. 
 I meet a merry throng, women and men ; 
 With light and easy step they pass along, 
 While from each eye a ray of gladness beams. 
 With melody and harmony they sing, 
 And fill the air with the sweet songs of joy . 
 *Tis freedom's voice I hear, and on each brow 
 I see thy signet, glorious hberty. 
 I turn and seek the gloomy prison cell. 
 There on a scanty couch reclines the form 
 Of one whose limbs have long in fetters lain. 
 Yet soon I read a joy within that soul. 
 For from his lips I hear, " Christ makes me 
 
 free." 
 SubHme those words, and rich the peace they 
 
 bring ! 
 Oh, is not this most precious hberty ? 
 This is immortal freedom, this alone. 
 The fatal arrow stops the warbler's flight, 
 The summer's drought consumes the babbling 
 
 brook, 
 The tyrant's hand enchains the human form ; 
 But, Christian soul, thou art forever free ! 
 A joy that conquers every pain is thine, 
 
 Words of Comfort. j q 
 
74 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 For in thy heart is perfect Hberty. 
 Invincible and bright thine armor is ; 
 Thy weapons are not carnal, else perchance 
 Thou mightest fall before thy many foes. 
 Wrought by the spirit of our Lord they are, 
 And safe will bring thee on thy weary way 
 To thy eternal home of peace in heaven, 
 Where not one foe shall check thy liberty. 
 
 SWEET BIRDS OF SPRING. 
 
 Sweet birds of spring ! From southern climes 
 
 they come, 
 From citron groves, and where the orange 
 
 grows ; 
 From sunny lands, whose spices breathe per- 
 fume. 
 With fragrance lovely filling all the air. 
 Sweet birds of spring ! They come to usher in 
 The new-born glories of the blooming year 
 With their delicious symphony. They come 
 To praise their great Creator, at whose call 
 The genial breath of spring steals o'er the land. 
 They come to warble in the high tree-top 
 Amid the verdant leaves and blossoms sweet. 
 They come to call the careless man to note 
 God's goodness beaming from fair nature's face. 
 
SWEET BIRDS OF SPRING. 75 
 
 Sweet birds of spring ! I love to hear their hymns 
 Of praise to him who clothes the earth in robes 
 Of beauty, decks the trees with foliage gay, 
 And makes a thousand shrubs and flowers emit 
 A balmy odor o'er the land. Sweet birds, 
 I love to hear you, and my heart and voice 
 Shall join your song ; my lute shall take a part 
 In your glad hallelujahs, nature's choir ! 
 
 Spirit of holiness, invigorate 
 My drooping energies ! Arouse my soul 
 To see and duly estimate the smiles 
 Of Him who sits supreme in heavenly state, 
 Yet stoops to visit us, spreads o'er the earth 
 A thousand beauties for the eye to see, 
 A thousand comforts for our various use. 
 Divine instructor, teach me how to love 
 And tell me how I shall adore aright 
 The blessed Three in One, whose mighty voice 
 From naught into existence all things called ! 
 Help me to vie with nature's minstrelsy 
 In notes of praise to him who gives the spring; 
 A spring not only to the outer world. 
 But a much brighter spring to that dark realm 
 Where moral winter long has reigned in gloom. 
 
 Sometimes I think 'tis spring within my soul. 
 Oh, if there is one sign of holy life 
 The work is thine, Jehovah, mighty God ! 
 
^6 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 All praise to thee for what already is ! 
 Yet may I not devoutly crave more grace, 
 More light, more dew, more showers from hea- 
 ven, 
 To make the garden of the soul appear 
 As fair as Eden in its pristine state ? 
 
 A SABBATH IN THE ADIRONDACKS BESIDE 
 LEWEY LAKE. 
 
 How grand these mountain wilds ! 
 Here nature seems in pristine glory robed. 
 And here the God of nature shows his power 
 And majesty. I hardly dare to breathe, 
 For in this solitude, great God, I feel 
 Thy presence. This is sacred ground. I stand 
 Like Moses full of awe at Horeb's steep. 
 And as that holy man saw God within 
 The bush that burned but could not be con- 
 sumed, 
 Sd I in these grand mountains only see 
 Thee, mighty God, and in this quiet hour 
 I hear no voice but thine borne on the breeze. 
 Yes, thou art here ; and at the thought my heart 
 Is thrilled with joy. 
 
 And wilt thou come in love. 
 And meet me in this weird-like wilderness ? 
 
A SABBATH IN THE ADIRONDACKS. 7/ 
 
 Father divine, clasp to thy loving breast 
 The child that fain would love thee best of all ! 
 Jesus divine, exalted Son of God, 
 Break this oppressive silence with thy voice, 
 And tell me I am thine and thou art mine ! 
 Spirit divine, oh, come, and gently breathe 
 Within my heart, and make me know and feel 
 I am the Lord's. 
 
 Fair lake, if on thy waves 
 I could discern, as anciently was seen 
 On Lake Tiberias, the form of One 
 My soul most dearly loves, and if I heard 
 Him bidding me upon these waves go forth 
 To meet him, joyfully I 'd venture, and 
 If, sinking in the waters, as I cried 
 " Lord, save me !" he his hand stretched forth to 
 
 me. 
 How would I, full of love and gratitude. 
 Fall in his arms and weep for very joy ! 
 O sacred silence ! in these solemn wilds 
 It is as if eternal Sabbath reigns. 
 Except as now and then the sportsman dips 
 His line to catch the wary finny tribe, 
 Or some brave hunter cracks his rifle at 
 The fleeting deer, it seems as if each day 
 Were holy to the Lord of hosts. 
 
 Oh, thus 
 
78 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 'T will be in heaven. But there no solitude 
 
 Will be required to insure the sanctity. 
 
 Amid the throng of angels and the host 
 
 Of men redeemed, naught shall offend the ear, 
 
 Naught shall the heart defile. Perfect we '11 be 
 
 Amid perfection, finding rest and bliss 
 
 In one eternal Sabbath day. 
 
 Roll on, 
 Thou surging tide of time, and quickly bring 
 Our bark to that fair haven ! Hasten, sun. 
 Thy course, till days and months and years shall 
 
 cease. 
 And on the mount above we breathe the air 
 Of heaven, and begin to spend with God 
 The Sabbath without weariness or end ! 
 
 EZEKIEL S VISION. 
 
 The man of God, led by the hand divine, 
 Stands near a valley filled with dead men's 
 
 bones ; 
 And as he passes round no signs of life 
 Appear. Death reigns sole monarch there. 
 
 And oh. 
 Disgusting sight ! those human bodies lie 
 Unburied, while from each the skin and flesh 
 And sinews all are wasted, and the bones. 
 
EZEKIELS VISION. 79 
 
 Disjointed and entirely dry, are strewed 
 Around. Oh, dismal place ! 
 
 But hark ! A voice 
 Is heard. Jehovah speaks. " Can these bones 
 
 live?" 
 ** No," answers reason, and philosophy 
 Is silent. Human learning stands abashed. 
 But faith looks up with child-like confidence. 
 And meekly says, " O God, thou knowest. If 
 Thou hast decreed, 't will come to pass ; for what 
 Can be too hard for thee ?" 
 
 Hark once again : 
 " Ezekiel, prophesy, and tell those bones 
 They shall revive, and, clad once more with 
 
 flesh. 
 And skin, and sinews, they shall live and move." 
 Promptly the mandate is obeyed. The voice 
 Of man proclaims the word of God. And hark ! 
 A noise is heard. And look ! a shaking there ; 
 Those dry bones move, and each to each ap- 
 proach. 
 Forms of humanity are visible. 
 Fashioned in perfect symmetry they are. 
 But cold, like marble statues — for they 're dead. 
 At length the winds of heaven invoked begin 
 To fan those torpid bodies, and to breathe 
 The breath of life in lungs quite motionless. 
 
80 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 Those corpses live ! They rise and upright stand, 
 A countless army. 
 
 Earth, the valley thou, 
 And, sinners, ye the dry bones are. But as 
 The voice of God Triune is heard in tones 
 Distinct and accents clear ; as stern commands 
 And invitations kind are oft addressed 
 To you, the message heed calling you each 
 From sin to holiness, from guilt to grace, 
 From misery to joy, from endless death 
 To immortality in heaven ! 
 
 TO AN AGED CHRISTIAN LADY WHO WAS 
 BORN BLIND. 
 
 A VEIL bedims thine eye, my gentle friend. 
 And hides from view the objects fair which near 
 Thy way in sparkling beauty cluster e'er. 
 The sun shines brightly o'er thy path each day, 
 But, though thou 'rt warmed and cheered by the 
 
 glad rays. 
 Thine eye can never see the golden beams. 
 The tints that deck the azure sky at eve, 
 Or streak the firmament at early morn. 
 Awake no pleasure in thy cultured mind. 
 Although the rainbow in the cloud appears, 
 The brilliant colors all to thee are lost. 
 
TO ONE BORN BLIND. 8l 
 
 The flowers that bloom, of varied form and hue, 
 
 The waving tree and the luxuriant grain, 
 
 All are ahke in darkness hid from thee. 
 
 And e'en the forms of those beloved ones. 
 
 Who round thee day by day administer 
 
 Kind words and deeds of comfort, are unseen — 
 
 For thou art blind. 
 
 And yet thou art not blind. 
 Thy Saviour has been near thee, and his hand 
 Of mercy has applied the healing salve 
 To the benighted vision of the soul. 
 Praise God, thine eye of faith is open wide. 
 And clearly sees, through gloomy doubts and 
 
 fears, 
 The brightness of that distant world above 
 Illumined by the glory infinite 
 Beaming from God the Father and the Lamb. 
 While many near thee blind in error move, 
 And grope their way down to eternal death ; 
 While milHons in far distant lands are more 
 Than blind— for darkness reigns not only in 
 But all around the soul— darkness complete, 
 Dispelled by no glad ray from heaven — 
 Thou, favored one, hast light divine to shine 
 In constant beams of splendor o'er thy path, 
 And grace, still more propidous, has removed 
 The film that clouds the vision of the soul. 
 
 Words of Comfort. j [ 
 
82 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 And now thou mayest gaze with raptured eye 
 On all the objects bright which line the road 
 That leads the Christian pilgrim to his home 
 Celestial. Yes, and fairer, brighter far 
 Than all beside, Immanuel near thee stands, 
 And as with look serene, and full of love, 
 He smiles, lady, on thee, thou may'st return 
 That look of love, and gazing on his face 
 Exclaim, '* My Lord, my God !" 
 
 Then murmur not 
 Because the light of earth shines not for thee. 
 The light of holiness, of heaven, is thine. 
 And when thy pilgrimage on earth is o'er 
 With angel eye thou shalt in glory see 
 What mortal vision never can behold. 
 What human mind can ne'er conceive, nor voice. 
 Nor pen of human beings e'er describe. 
 
 MY SAVIOUR S VOICE. 
 
 Psalm 85 : 8. 
 
 Methinks I could forever sit and hear 
 
 The voice of Him who spake as man ne'er 
 
 speaks. 
 There 's music in that voice to charm the ear 
 Of angels, and to make the heart of men 
 
A HYMENEAL. 83 
 
 Redeemed from sin and misery leap for joy. 
 Oh speak, my Saviour, God ! Intent I wait, 
 I listen for thy voice, and hardly breathe, 
 Lest I should lose one word, one accent sweet. 
 
 A HYMENEAL. 
 
 Dear loving hearts, we wish you well 
 
 On this your bridal day ; 
 In union sweet long may you dwell, 
 
 Most fervently we pray. 
 And more than all do we rejoice 
 
 That Christ hath joined your hands ; 
 That he, the Lord, approves your choice, 
 
 And seals the holy bands. 
 
 He meets you at the nuptial feast, 
 
 And makes your Cana bright; 
 By him your joy will be increased, 
 
 And darkness turned to light. 
 Through all your journey he will go, 
 
 And give you holy peace ; 
 A river which will gently flow. 
 
 And, flowing, never cease. 
 
 Christ gives not only peace but joy 
 
 To all who trust in him, 
 A happiness without alloy, 
 A light that ne'er grows dim. 
 
84 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 Oh, while devotedly you cling 
 
 In loving, life embrace, 
 Hold on to Christ, and he will bring 
 
 You safely through by grace 1 
 
 Then at the marriage of the Lamb, 
 
 The bridal feast in heaven, 
 You '11 join with myriads in the psalm 
 
 " Glory to Christ be given !" 
 The Church, the Bride, in ecstasy 
 
 Will meet in realms above, 
 And you to all eternity 
 
 Will sing the song of love. 
 
 THE TEMPERANCE BANNER. 
 
 Unfurl the temperance banner, 
 
 And fling it to the breeze, 
 And let the glad hosanna 
 
 Sweep over land and seas. 
 To God be all the glory 
 
 For what we now behold ! 
 Oh let the joyful story 
 
 In every ear be told ! 
 
 The drunkard shall not perish 
 
 In alcohol's domain, 
 But wife and children cherish 
 
 Within his home again. 
 
THE DEEP BLUE SEA. 85 
 
 And sober men repenting 
 
 Will bow at Jesus' feet, 
 Their iron hearts relenting 
 
 Before the mercy-seat. 
 
 The blaze is brightly burning 
 
 In this and every land, 
 And multitudes are turning 
 
 To join our temperance band. 
 The light of truth is shining 
 
 In many a darkened soul ; 
 Ere long the rays combining 
 
 Will shine from pole to pole. 
 
 Soon will a brighter morrow 
 
 Succeed this august day, 
 When drunkenness and sorrow 
 
 Afar shall fly away. 
 Then let us join in chorus, 
 
 And sweeter paeans raise, 
 While angels bending o'er us 
 
 Join in the holy praise. 
 
 THE DEEP BLUE SEA. 
 
 My love is on the deep blue sea, 
 Afar from land, afar from me. 
 
86 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 And like the sea I 'm very blue ; 
 Just how she is I wish I knew ! 
 Darling, the birds sing sweet o'er me, 
 The fishes mutely play round thee, 
 But birds and fishes all combine 
 To point us to the Hand divine. 
 They bid us feel we 're free from harm 
 Because we 're clasped in God's great arm. 
 And since from.him no power can sever 
 We 're each to each united ever. 
 
 ARBOR DAY. 
 
 Oh come away ! 't is arbor day ! 
 
 Let children leave their work and play, 
 
 Let busy men stop in the way, 
 
 That each may plant a tree. 
 The winds blow sofdy o'er the land. 
 Wild flowers appear on every hand, 
 Spring stretches forth her magic wand : 
 
 The world is full of glee. 
 
 So, men and maidens, strong and fair, 
 Give heed : leave every cumb'ring care ! 
 Come, as the kings and queens ye are. 
 And each one plant a tree. 
 
" ALL MY SPRINGS ARE IN THEE." 8/ 
 
 A tree that may your hopes revive, 
 A joy to some sad heart may give, 
 Which, when you sleep in dust, may Hve; 
 
 A future blessing be. 
 'T is well the earth to ornament ; 
 For this ye all were hither sent. 
 Let not your noble powers be spent 
 
 In sordid selfishness. 
 Do good, and thus to others be 
 A joy of heart incessantly ; 
 At least you each can plant a tree. 
 
 And thus the world may bless. 
 And as the trees take root and spring, 
 And birds amid the branches sing, 
 The angels near on holy wing 
 
 Approvingly will smile. 
 And each to each will softly say, 
 " How sweet the breath of early May ! 
 But sweeter, better, on this day 
 
 Is he who plants a tree." 
 
 " ALL MY SPRINGS ARE IN THEE." 
 
 When sunbeams shine brightly o'er mountain 
 
 and lea. 
 When hope dispels darkness, and fills thee with 
 
 glee, 
 
88 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 When plenty stands o'er thee with uplifted 
 
 horn, 
 To empty her treasures of wine and of corn ; 
 When health paints her roses upon thy fair 
 
 cheek, 
 And thou hast each pleasure thy glad heart 
 
 may seek — 
 Then turn thine eye upward the Giver to see, 
 And sing with delight, " All my springs are in 
 
 thee." 
 
 Should a cloud in thy sky, not as big as thy 
 
 hand. 
 Arise, and in gloom o'er the heavens expand, 
 Should poverty sting, disappointments assail. 
 Should sickness or sorrow compel thee to wail. 
 Should friends become traitors, or foes more 
 
 malign, 
 And all human trials against thee combine, 
 Then Jesus will say, *' Weary soul, come to me," 
 And thou mayest sing, " All my springs are in 
 
 thee." 
 
 If thy trust is in Christ, come weal or come 
 woe. 
 
 All shall work for thy good while a pilgrim be- 
 low, 
 
GRATEFUL SYMPHONY. 89 
 
 In sunshine and shadow thy God will be near ; 
 With grace to defend thee, and kind words to 
 
 cheer. 
 Then onward ! nor halt in the journey of life ; 
 Press on with a brave heart 'mid danger and 
 
 strife. 
 Thou shalt rest from thy march in heaven, and 
 
 see 
 Thy God, and e'er sing, " All my springs are 
 
 in thee. 
 
 GRATEFUL SYMPHONY. 
 
 When morning breaks o'er hill and plain, 
 
 And sunlight drinks the dew, 
 Our loving hearts cannot refrain 
 
 To yield their homage true; 
 Then with the linnet's early praise. 
 
 In carols full and free. 
 God of our hfe, to thee we '11 raise 
 
 Our grateful symphony. 
 
 When Phoebus speeds his chariot bright, 
 
 Lighting the golden day. 
 And scatters in his brilliant flight 
 
 Rich blessings o'er our way, 
 
 Words of Comfort. J 2 
 
90 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 O then our eyes, uplift to heaven, 
 
 Will seek, great Father, thee, 
 And to thy name in love he given 
 
 Our grateful symphony. 
 When evening spreads her starry train 
 
 And tints the western sky ; 
 When o'er old nature's vast domain 
 
 The winds scarce breathe a sigh ; 
 Then when the daily labor's o'er 
 
 Our thoughts shall turn to thee, 
 And upward to thine ear shall soar 
 
 Our grateful symphony. 
 And when life's weary day shall close, 
 
 The night of death draw near. 
 When our poor bodies shall repose 
 
 Upon the sable bier : 
 Our spirits then will seek the land 
 
 Whence sin and sorrow flee, 
 And mingle with the heavenly band 
 
 Their grateful symphony. 
 
 DEDICATION HYMN. 
 Sung at the dedication of the 3d Reformed 
 Church of Raritan, July 30, 1851. 
 Triune Jehovah ! Lord of all ! 
 List to thy people's fervent call. 
 
DEDICATION HYMN. 91 
 
 Meet with us in this holy place ; 
 Come in thy power, come in thy grace. 
 This house we dedicate to thee : 
 Here let us all thy glory see ; 
 Make this the place of thine abode, 
 Thine earthly dwelling, gracious God. 
 
 Great King of Zion, lend thine ear 
 To prayers and praises offered here. 
 O, send they Spirit hither, Lord, 
 To seal on every heart thy word. 
 Watch o'er this house. Long may it be 
 A place where saints may worship thee. 
 Where they shall feast upon thy love ; 
 Prepare for sweeter joys above. 
 
 Here may the guilty pardon find, 
 The troubled soul gain peace of mind, 
 The needy feed upon thy grace, 
 And all behold thy smiling face. 
 O, hear us, condescending Lord ! 
 Thy richest blessing now afford ; 
 And to the glorious Trinity 
 This house devoted e'er shall be. 
 
92 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 THE PLAGUE OF DARKNESS. 
 
 Exodus lo : 21-23. 
 
 The man of God stretched forth his hand to- 
 ward heaven, 
 And straightway o'er the land of Egypt rolled 
 Cimmerian darkness, thicker than the shade 
 Of blackest midnight ; darkness that was felt 
 By guilty Pharaoh and his heathen host. 
 For three long days they saw no cheerful light, 
 Not one lone ray lit up their dwellings drear ; 
 Morbid they sat, each in his place, nor could 
 One eye behold the face of friend or foe. 
 It was a period of deep gloom, too deep 
 For words to tell or heart conceive. Yet, oh ! 
 More sad and dismal far, no beam of hope 
 Shone in their hearts, all sin-benighted and 
 Accursed. The plague of darkness that pre- 
 vailed 
 Within the outer world was but the type, 
 The emblem faint, of that deep moral gloom 
 Which like a funeral pall hung o'er the souls 
 Of Egypt's king and people. 
 
 But within 
 All Israel's dweUings there was light, bright 
 
 light: 
 The glory of the Lord shone in each house, 
 
THE PLAGUE OF DARKNESS. 93 
 
 And thus the holy people each could see 
 The face of each, and pass from place to place 
 In social intercourse, and in discharge 
 Of household duty while the time away 
 Until the plague of darkness was removed. 
 And doubtless in those days were Israelites 
 Indeed, like Nicodemus, in whose souls 
 There was no guile, who feared and served the 
 
 Lord, 
 And in their hearts a light from heaven shone 
 More brilliant than the effulgence of the sun 
 In cloudless splendor shining forth at noon. 
 
 As in the days long gone so now it is : 
 There are a host in darkness, darkness that 
 Is felt, debasing darkness, moral gloom. 
 But, Christian, in thine heart from God's great 
 
 throne. 
 From him that sits thereon, the ray of hope 
 And joy, of wisdom and of love, has pierced 
 Its way, and, like the light that has adorned 
 The ancient temple, it is always there ; 
 Its radiance pure, undimmed, unflickering, 
 And Eternal. And shall that light be hid 
 Within ? The Candle of the Lord — shall it 
 Be put beneath a bushel, where its light 
 Shall ne'er display its beauty to the world 
 That lies around in darkness and in death ? 
 
94 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 Avaunt the thought, disciple of the meek 
 And lowly Nazarene ! " Arise, and shine !" 
 Hark, from above God's voice is calling thee 
 To shed abroad the light of holy truth, 
 And by the savor of sweet godliness, 
 By fervent prayer and earnest efforts joined. 
 Attest the power of that religion which 
 God's servants recommend, and which we all, 
 If we profess to feel, should aim to show 
 In life consistent, as with tongue sincere. 
 
 Christian, may light e'er shine within thy soul 
 And round thy dwelling shed its kindly cheer. 
 E'en when the clouds of earthly sorrow rise. 
 And troubles rend thine heart— e'en when the 
 
 grave 
 With its deep gloom before thee lies, and death 
 With its dark shadows hovers round thy form — 
 Still may a light shine in thy soul. And when 
 The light of sun, and moon, and stars is quenched, 
 When from the firmament they are removed 
 By Him who put them there, when earth and 
 
 time 
 No longer may exist, when hell is closed 
 And all its darkness shut from holy view- 
 Then may the glory of the Lord that fills 
 The heavenly temple ever shine on thee ! 
 
melanchthon s dying words. 95 
 melanchthon's dying words. 
 
 " Aliud nihil nisi coelum." 
 
 Upon the couch of death 
 
 Behold the good man He ; 
 He smiles, for soon he hopes 
 
 To be with God on high. 
 Earth's forms and shadows dim 
 
 Are passing from his view, 
 And to his weeping friends 
 
 He speaks his last adieu. 
 No doubts distress his mind, 
 
 No fears disturb his soul, 
 He longs to spring from earth. 
 
 And reach the heavenly goal. 
 His work of faith all done. 
 
 Earth's pilgrimage quite trod. 
 His suffering spirit yearns 
 
 To rest in peace with God. 
 
 The love and loving stand 
 
 Around that bed of death. 
 Intent to hear each word 
 
 And catch the parting breath. 
 How swift the moments fly ! 
 
 The sands are dropping fast, 
 And soon the whole of Hfe 
 
 Will mingle with the past. 
 
96 WORDS OF COMFORT. 
 
 And now affection's voice, 
 
 In kind and gentle tone, 
 Addresses once again 
 
 The good man ere he 's gone : 
 " Oh, say, departing one, 
 
 What shall to thee be given ?" 
 His eyes are upward turned ; 
 
 He cries, " Naught else but heaven !" 
 
 Oh sweet sustaining hope ! 
 
 Oh strong triumphant faith ! 
 The spirit only waits 
 
 To be set free by death. 
 The body craves repose 
 
 Within the peaceful grave, 
 Made sacred by the form 
 
 Of Him who died to save. 
 Earth now has not one charm 
 
 To captivate the eye. 
 No creature love can hold 
 
 The spirit from the sky. 
 Oh say, ye weeping ones. 
 
 What shall to him be given ? 
 His eye and voice proclaim, 
 " I ask naught else but heaven." 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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