Poems with Power to Strengthen the Soul Part 130

O for that choicest blessing Of living in thy love, And thus on earth possessing The peace of heaven above!

O for the bliss that by it The soul securely knows, The holy calm and quiet Of faith's serene repose!

--John Samuel Bewley Monsell.

THE UNFAILING FRIEND

O Jesus! Friend unfailing, How dear art thou to me!

Are cares and fears a.s.sailing?

I find my strength in thee!

Why should my feet grow weary Of this my pilgrim way?

Rough though the path, and dreary, It ends in perfect day.

Naught, naught I count as treasure; Compared, O Christ, with thee!

Thy sorrow without measure Earned peace and joy for me.

I love to own, Lord Jesus, Thy claims o'er me and mine; Bought with thy blood most precious, Whose can I be but thine?

What fills my soul with gladness?

'Tis thine abounding grace!

Where can I look in sadness, But, Jesus, in thy face?

My all is thy providing; Thy love can ne'er grow cold; In thee, my refuge, hiding, No good wilt thou withhold.

Why should I droop in sorrow?

Thou'rt ever by my side: Why, trembling, dread the morrow?

What ill can e'er betide?

If I my cross have taken, 'Tis but to follow thee; If scorned, despised, forsaken, Naught severs me from thee!

Oh, worldly pomp and glory!

Your charms are spread in vain!

I've heard a sweeter story, I've found a truer gain!

Where Christ a place prepareth, There is my loved abode; There shall I gaze on Jesus, There shall I dwell with G.o.d!

For every tribulation, For every sore distress, In Christ I've full salvation, Sure help, and quiet rest.

No fear of foes prevailing!

I triumph, Lord, in thee!

O Jesus! Friend unfailing!

How dear art thou to me!

THE SONG OF A HEATHEN

(Sojourning in Galilee, A. D. 32)

If Jesus Christ is a man-- And only a man--I say That of all mankind I cleave to him, And to him will I cleave alway.

If Jesus Christ is a G.o.d-- And the only G.o.d--I swear I will follow him through heaven and h.e.l.l, The earth, the sea, the air.

--Richard Watson Gilder.

"IT IS TOWARD EVENING"

Abide with me, O Christ; thou must not go For life's brief day is now far down the west; In dark'ning clouds my sun is sinking low; Lord, stay and soothe thy fretted child to rest.

Abide with me; ere I can fall on sleep My throbbing head must on thy breast recline, That I may hear anew thy voice, and feel The thrill of thy pierced hands in touch with mine.

Abide with me; so then shall I have peace The world can never give nor take from me; Nor life nor death can that calm peace disturb, Since life and death alike are gain through thee.

If life, 'tis well; for though in paths of pain, In desert place afar, I'm led aside, Yet here 'tis joy my Master's cup to share; And so I pray, O Christ, with me abide.

'Tis gain if death; for in that far-off land-- No longer far--no veil of flesh will dim For me the wondrous beauty of my King, As he abides with me and I with him.

Abide with me; I have toiled gladly on, A little while, in stir of care and strife; The task is laid aside at thy command, Make thou it perfect with thy perfect life.

THE BLESSED FACE

Jesus, these eyes have never seen That radiant form of thine; The veil of sense hangs dark between Thy blessed face and mine.

I see thee not, I hear thee not, Yet art thou oft with me; And earth hath ne'er so dear a spot As where I meet with thee.

Like some bright dream that comes unsought When slumbers o'er me roll, Thine image ever fills my thought And charms my ravished soul.

Yet though I have not seen, and still Must rest in faith alone, I love thee, dearest Lord, and will, Unseen but not unknown.

When death these mortal eyes shall seal, And still this throbbing heart, The rending veil shall thee reveal, All-glorious as thou art.

--Ray Palmer.

TO THEE

I bring my sins to thee The sins I cannot count, That all may cleansed be In thy once-opened fount.

I bring them, Saviour, all to thee; The burden is too great for me.

My heart to thee I bring, The heart I cannot read; A faithless, wandering thing, An evil heart indeed.

I bring it, Saviour, now to thee, That fixed and faithful it may be

To thee I bring my care, The care I cannot flee; Thou wilt not only share, But take it all for me.

O loving Saviour, now to thee, I bring the load that wearies me.

I bring my grief to thee, The grief I cannot tell; No words shall needed be, Thou knowest all so well.

I bring the sorrow laid on me, O suffering Saviour! all to thee.

My joys to thee I bring, The joys thy love has given, That each may be a wing To lift me nearer heaven.

I bring them, Saviour, all to thee, Who hast procured them all for me.

My life I bring to thee, I would not be my own; O Saviour! let me be Thine ever, thine alone!

My heart, my life, my all, I bring To thee, my Saviour and my King.