THE KING’S BUSINESS
539
Life’s Star. Most wondrous Book! bright candle of the Lord, Star of eternity 1 the only star By which the 'bark of man can navigate The sea of life, and gain the coast of bliss Securely: only star which rose on time, As generation, drifting swiftly by, Succeeded generation, threw a ray Of heaven’s own light, and to the hills of God— The everlasting hills—pointed the sinner’s eye. The Precious Promise. Hear what God1the Lord hath spoken: “O my people, faint and few, Comfortless, afflicted, broken, Fair abodes I build for you; Thorns of heartfelt tribulation Shall no more perplex your ways; You shall name your walls salvation, And your gates shall all be praise. “There like streams that feed the garden, Pleasures without end shall flow; For the Lord, your faith rewarding, All His bounty shall bestow. Still in undisturbed possession Peace and righteousness shall reign; Never shall you feel oppression, Hear the voice of war again. “Ye no more your suns descending, Waning moons no more shall see; But your griefs forever ending, Find eternal noon in Me. God shall rise, and, shining o’er you, Change to day the gloom of night; He, the Lord, shall be your glory, God your everlasting light.” John the Baptist. He held the lamp that Sabbath day, So low that none could miss the way, And yet so high to bring in sight That picture fair of Christ the Light, That,, gazing up, the lamp between, The hand that held it was not seen.
He held the pitcher, stooping low, To lips of little ones below; Then raised it to the weary saint, And bade him drink when sick and faint. They drank; the pitcher them between. The hand that held it was not seen. He blew the trumpet, soft and clear, That trembling sinners need not fear, And then with louder note and bold, To storm the walls of Satan’s hold; The trumpet coming thus between, The hand that held it was not seen. And when our Captain says, “Well done! Thou good and faithful servant, come! Lay down the pitcher and the lamp; Lay down the trumpet, leave the camp.” Thy weary hands will then be seen Clasped in his pierced ones, naught between. The Three Steps. CONVERSION All uncoerced of God, who shackles not man’s will, To turn, forever, in one fleeting moment’s space, One’s back upon that myriad-hued en chanter self, And, shorn of all one’s own loves estimate of things, To call upon the name of Christ, SURRENDER To take an invoice of those things one calls his own (That He who made has only lent them we forget). One’s voice, lips, hands, feet, silver, gold, and talents each, And then to place them unreserved, aye, every one, Within the hands of Jesus Christ. 'ABIDING To receive the Spirit’s filling day by day, To stop before each step and crave thy counsel first; Then, reaching out to men with pleading arms of love, And, being but a vessel patterned by His hand, To serve thy Lord, the Christ, —Sunday School Times.
,j
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter