And men, at war with men, hear not
The words of peace they bring :-
Oh! listen now, ye men of strife,
And hear the angels sing!
And ye, beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow;
Look now! for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing:
Oh! rest beside the weary road,
And hear the angels sing!
For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophet-bards foretold,
When with the ever-circling years
Comes round the age of gold;
When Peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendours fling,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing.
O Prince of Peace, Thou knowest well
This weary world below;
Thou seest how men climb the way
With painful steps and slow.
Oh! still the jarring sounds of earth
That round the pathway ring,
And bid the toilers rest awhile
To hear the angels sing!
OH! beautiful and tender little Dove!
Sweet messenger of holy peace and love,
Oh! would that I like thee had buoyant wings,
To soar above earth's frail and fleeting things;
Then would I flee away and be at rest,
As thou dost fly for shelter to thy nest.
Takes comfort from the foaming billow's rage, And makes a welcome harbour of the tomb.
JESUS OF NAZARETH PASSETH BY.
WHAT means this eager, anxious throng,
Which moves with busy haste along,—
These wondrous gatherings day by day?
What means this strange commotion, pray?
In accents hushed the throng reply,
"Jesus of Nazareth passeth by."
Who is this Jesus? Why should He
The city move so mightily?
A passing stranger, has He skill
To move the multitude at will?
Again the stirring tones reply,
"Jesus of Nazareth passeth by."
Jesus! tis He who once below
Man's pathway trod, mid pain and woe ;
And burdened ones, where'er He came,
Brought out their sick, and deaf and lame.
The blind rejoiced to hear the cry,
"Jesus of Nazareth passeth by."
Again He comes! From place to place
His holy footprints we can trace.
He pauseth at our threshold-nay,
He enters-condescends to stay.
Shall we not gladly raise the cry ?
"Jesus of Nazareth passeth by."
Oh! all ye heavy laden, come!
Here's pardon, comfort, rest, and home.
Ye wanderers from a Father's face,
Return, accept His proffered grace.
Ye tempted ones, there's refuge nigh:
"Jesus of Nazareth passeth by."
But if you still this call refuse,
And all the wondrous love abuse,
Soon will He sadly from you turn,
Your bitter prayer for pardon spurn,
Too late! too late! will be the cry-
"Jesus of Nazareth has passed by."
From Sacred Songs.
IT DOTH NOT YET APPEAR WHAT WE
SHALL BE.
THE gems of earth are still within
Her silent unwrought mines;
There hide they, all unknown, unseen;
No sparkle upward shines.
The stars of heaven now few and wan
Are all we see below,
Compared with what remain unseen
Beyond all vision now!
Who knows the untold brilliance there,
The wealth, the beauty hid,
Like sparkle of a lustrous eye
Beneath its veiling lid !
So with the heaven of better stars,
Of which these are but signs;
So with the stores of wisdom hid
In everlasting mines.
For what we shall in that day be,
It doth not yet appear;
But when we see Him as He is,
We shall His likeness wear.
"As thy day, so shall thy strength be."
FATHER, I know that all my life
Is portioned out for me,
And the changes that are sure to come
I do not fear to see;
But I ask Thee for a present mind,
Intent on pleasing Thee.
I ask Thee for a thoughtful love,
Through constant watching wise,
To meet the glad with joyful smiles,
And wipe the weeping eyes;
And a heart at leisure for itself
To soothe and sympathise.
I would not have the restless will
That hurries to and fro,
Seeking for some great thing to do,
Or secret thing to know;
I would be treated as a child,
And guided where I go.
Wherever in the world I am,
In whatsoe'er estate,
I have a fellowship with hearts
To keep and cultivate;
And a work of lowly love to do
For the Lord on whom I wait.
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