Poems by Rebekah Smith Part 16

Debased and losing still Life's elevating powers, A worse than blank you feel In this grand world of ours.

A world G.o.d loved so well, He sent his only Son, That we through him might find On earth a Heaven begun.

A world to which he sends Rich blessings from above, And daily here renews His covenant of love.

Be moved, despairing one; Be helped again to live; G.o.d pities, and will yet A greater victory give.

He's waiting your return, With pardon in his hand; In his strength you can rise, And in him we can stand.

Yes; stand amidst the scenes Of peril, war and strife, While Jesus is our guide To everlasting life.

Come while he waits to save.

Your case will hopeless be Except you come where G.o.d In Christ can make you free.

Come and he'll save you here From sin's destructive power, And be your all, when comes The great decisive hour.

Safety in the Lord.

There's safety only in the Lord, whate'er our station be; We may be rich, we may be poor, may be on land or sea.

Life's changing fortune will be ours where'er our lot is cast; Unchanged in mind be ours to meet each change while it shall last.

Dear friends are with us here to day with prospects fair to live; To-morrow to the dust, in tears, their dear remains we give.

Now pain and suffering is our lot; now dawns a brighter day; But soon a cloud o'ercasts the sky and shuts the light away.

An under current often works to sweep away our peace, Our reputation is at stake, our trials fast increase.

Dear reputation, dearest far, of all we've called our own, Must be defaced; then be it so; to G.o.d all things are known,

Be every circ.u.mstance combined, the elements to raise; By these be every trace removed of all our evil ways.

When Jesus speaks it will be calm, the storm and wind subside; Oh! may it last till all is gone of selfishness and pride.

All else but this we could endure; this then is what we need; Our very idol must be slain, and we from self be freed.

Then are we fit for Heaven's use, to help build up G.o.d's cause, To boldly speak in his defense, and vindicate his laws.

Oh! be it ours to live for G.o.d, his glory all our aim; He'll work in power when we come to him in Jesus' name.

All that is wrong will he remove, and bring the truth to light; Oh! we can trust our all with him; his ways are just and right.

We'll go then where he leads the way, whatever man may say.

The greatest saint is nought except the Lord direct his way.

Angels can't help but through their Lord; to his arm all is due; We'll follow him, for surely he will lead us safely through.

The Health Inst.i.tute.

G.o.d knows our needs, he overrules, and calls this work his own; We're agents to perform his will, as he shall make it known.

Thus has an Inst.i.tute been built; in this his hand we see; Where health reform is lived and taught, in strictest harmony.

We look, admire, in joy exclaim, Come see what G.o.d hath wrought!

Here invalids are raised to health, and truth and duty taught.

Perverted tastes are overcome; the way to live we learn; And all who will its rules obey, a rich experience earn.

The light and truth are carried forth by those who leave the place, Showing what ground may yet be gained by our degenerate race.

How blest! for those who overcome their every sin and wrong, Can love the right, and walk in ways that life and health prolong.

None can appreciate its worth, but those who test its powers; This grand reform! how great and good! Its blessings shall be ours.

Pure nature's fruits no art require to gratify the taste, And those who stop at her demands, nor time nor substance waste.

Who will escape the many ills increasing on the land?

The cleansed and purified alone, diseases can withstand.

Haste, then, the cleansing process here, G.o.d's precepts all obey, And be prepared to stand when comes the great and dreadful day.

Divine Love.

Though knowledge here is power, yet 'tis love subdues the heart, Subjects the will to Heaven, and will endless life impart.

It conquers every pa.s.sion; and the soul that feels its power Moves in a world of freedom, within its own loved bower.

'Tis s.h.i.+elded, safely s.h.i.+elded; the interior nought can reach; No outward condemnation can this inward love impeach.

No weapon formed can prosper; and it fears no outward foe: While all within is conquered, 'tis a Heaven begun below.

The world's applause, its censure too, are both alike received; If undeserved, 'tis heeded not, though all may be believed.

It knows no good but that in G.o.d, it bears life's every ill, And moves undauntedly along, in Heaven's own blessed will.

Though outwardly you see conveyed "a libel in a frown,"

You'll stand unmoved, though they may "wink your reputation down;"

Your deeds of charity a.s.sailed, your motives questioned too-- Reviled, you'll not revile again, nor fear what man can do.

Oh! for the gold tried in the fire--our eyes anointed here-- White raiment that we may be clothed, and not in shame appear.

We then should move in harmony; our G.o.d would own and bless; We then should see his works abound in love and righteousness.

The day is near, it hasteth on, when saints will all unite; When every sin will be confessed, and every wrong made right; When we shall see as we are seen, and know as we are known, And sit with Jesus, as he sits upon his Father's throne.

Oh! glory, hallelujah to our high, exalted King; We'll praise him here, we'll praise him there, and make Heaven's arches ring.

Who then can sacrifice too much, too much for him endure?

So may we purify ourselves, as Christ our Lord is pure.