Poems with Power to Strengthen the Soul Part 95

That bears, unmoved, the world's dread frown, Nor heeds its scornful smile; That seas of trouble cannot drown, Nor Satan's arts beguile.

Lord, give us such a faith as this, And then, whate'er may come, We'll taste, e'en here, the hallowed bliss Of an eternal home.

--William H. Bathurst.

Who liveth best? Not he whose sail, Swept on by favoring tide and gale, Swift wins the haven fair; But he whose spirit strong doth still A victory wrest from every ill; Whose faith sublime On every cloud a rainbow paints-- 'Tis he redeems the time.

BELIEVE GOOD THINGS OF G.o.d

When in the storm it seems to thee That he who rules the raging sea Is sleeping--still, with bended knee, Believe good things of G.o.d.

When thou hast sought in vain to find The silver thread of love entwined With life's oft-tangled web--resigned, Believe good things of G.o.d.

And should he smite thee till thy heart Is crushed beneath the bruising smart, Still, while the bitter tear-drops start, Believe good things of G.o.d.

'Tis true, thou canst not understand The dealings of thy Father's hand; But, trusting what his love has planned, Believe good things of G.o.d.

He loves thee! In that love confide-- Unchanging, faithful, true, and tried; And let or joy or grief betide, Believe good things of G.o.d.

Thou canst not raise thy thoughts too high; As spreads above the earth the sky, So do his thoughts thy thoughts outvie: Believe good things of G.o.d.

In spite of what thine eyes behold; In spite of what thy fears have told; Still to his gracious promise hold-- Believe good things of G.o.d.

For know that what thou canst believe Thou shalt in his good time receive; Thou canst not half his love conceive-- Believe good things of G.o.d.

--William Luff.

BE NOT WEARY

Then, fainting soul, arise and sing; Mount, but be sober on the wing; Mount up, for heaven is won by prayer, Be sober, for thou art not there.

Till death the weary spirit free, Thy G.o.d hath said 'tis good for thee To walk by faith, and not by sight, Take it on trust a little while; Soon thou shalt read the mystery right In the full suns.h.i.+ne of his smile.

--John Keble.

ALL'S FOR THE BEST

All's for the best; be sanguine and cheerful; Trouble and sorrow are friends in disguise; Nothing but folly goes faithless and fearful, Courage forever is happy and wise.

All's for the best, if a man would but know it; Providence wishes us all to be blest; This is no dream of the pundit or poet, Heaven is gracious and all's for the best.

All's for the best; then fling away terrors; Meet all your fears and your foes in the van; And in the midst of your dangers or errors, Trust like a child, while you strive like a man.

All's for the best; unbiased, unbounded, Providence reigns from the east to the west; And, by both wisdom and mercy surrounded, Hope, and be happy, that all's for the best.

--Martin Farquhar Tupper.

BLEST IS THE FAITH DIVINE AND STRONG

Blest is the faith divine and strong, Of thanks and praise an endless fountain, Whose life is one perpetual song High up the Saviour's holy mountain.

Blest is the hope that holds to G.o.d, In doubt and darkness still unshaken; And sings along the heavenly road, Sweetest when most it seems forsaken.

Blest is the love that cannot love Aught that earth gives of best and brightest; Whose raptures thrill, like saints above, Most when its earthly gifts are lightest.

Blest is the time that in the eye Of G.o.d its hopeful watch is keeping, And grows into eternity Like noiseless trees when men are sleeping.

--Frederick William Faber.

G.o.d'S VOICE

Around my path life's mysteries Their deepening shadows throw; And as I gaze and ponder, They dark and darker grow; Yet still amid the darkness I feel the light is near, And in the awful stillness G.o.d's voice I seem to hear.

Thy voice I hear above me, Which says, "Wait, trust, and pray, The night will soon be over, And light will come with day."

Amen! the light and darkness Are both alike to thee; Then to thy waiting servant Alike they both shall be.

That great unending future, I cannot pierce its shroud, But nothing doubt nor tremble, G.o.d's bow is on the cloud; To him I yield my spirit, On him I lay my load; Fear ends with death; beyond it I nothing see but G.o.d.

--Samuel Greg.

FLOWERS WITHOUT FRUIT

Prune thou thy words; the thoughts control That o'er thee swell and throng;-- They will condense within thy soul, And change to purpose strong.

But he who lets his feelings run In soft luxurious flow Shrinks when hard service must be done, And faints at every woe.

Faith's meanest deed more favor bears, Where hearts and wills are weighed, Than brightest transports, choicest prayers, Which bloom this hour, and fade.

--John Henry Newman.

Fair is the soul, rare is the soul Who has kept, after youth is past, All the art of the child, all the heart of the child, Holding his faith at last.

--Frank Gelett Burgess.

G.o.d KNOWS

G.o.d knows--not I--the devious way Wherein my faltering feet may tread, Before into the light of day, My steps from out this gloom are led, And, since my Lord the path doth see, What matter if 'tis hid from me?

G.o.d knows--not I--how sweet accord Shall grow at length from out this clash Of earthly discords which have jarred On soul and sense; I hear the crash, Yet feel and know that on his ear Breaks harmony--full, deep, and clear.

G.o.d knows--not I--why, when I'd fain Have walked in pastures green and fair, The path he pointed me hath lain Through rocky deserts, bleak and bare.