Poems

Do clouds hang over you, dear troubled one? The days seem dark and drear? Ah, many times they do;for do we not Give way to doubt and fear, Forgetting God is with us all the time, To guide us safely home? We grow much stronger for these tests of faith, If we but overcome. Our loving Father knows our every need; He leads us, as of old He led His people through the wilderness, Wherein He did unfold A knowledge of unchanging love and care; And we, who seek to-day His help to break the chains of sin and death, Must trust Him all the way.

Ways that are dark are not His ways Who reigns in light and fills our days With radiance; whose uplifted arm Offers deliverance from harm, From every ill that flesh conceives; Who heals the heart while yet it grieves, Moving, a pillar of fire by night, Of cloud by day, exceeding bright O'er Israel, till she shall stand Securely, in the promised land. Ways that are dark are not His ways Who gives us light and length of days.

"And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not. "— Genesis 28:16.

As forest seeds, on winged breezès flying, Are carried forth to many a distant place, There springing up in tender green, supplying The waiting world with fresher, fairer grace, So goes the Word of Truth, for God has sent it; It goes and lights on every distant shore. God gives the increase—naught shall e'er prevent it; God gives assurance, now and evermore.

Dear friend, inside thy doorway watching, yearning For some white ray of hope, content to wait— Canst thou not hear, with every dawn returning, The voice that calleth softly at thy gate? O child of God, why bid the future render The golden gifts whereof thine ears have heard? To-day is here in all her shining splendor, To-day has laden hands and waits thy word. Toward some goal the hurrying sons of mortals Strive past each other o'er a stony way.

"Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea"! Thus Truth to error spake, And lo! the sense of pain was past, The day of peace had dawned, And fast and free its light and joy Encompassed me.

I cannot lack God's grace and power, His love and kindness, sure. His substance full, a beauteous dower, Forever does endure.

Though the mounting waves of sorrow Roll around me like a flood; Though the hurt of human yearnings Drain my heart's most precious blood; Though the whispers of the tempter Greet my ear till wrong seems right,— I shall press on through the darkness, Trusting God to give me light. He will still the waves of sorrow Till they ripple into calm; He will soothe the hurt of yearnings With a touch of tenderest balm; He will hush the tempter's whisper Till my troubled thought grows clear,— Till the "angel of his presence" Shall salute, and I shall hear.

Thou canst begin again, O suffering heart, No matter what 't is said that thou hast done, What race hast run and lost, beneath the sun, E'en if some crime may at thy door be laid. If thou repentant art, O suffering heart, Turn from the past, look forward on the road, And thou shalt see Christ's hand held out to thee.

Our Father, as we reverently bow To lift our hearts to Thee, Give us to know Thy presence here and now And evermore to be. Speak to our weary hearts Thy word of peace, Our turbulence restrain, That as for us sin's dominance shall cease, Thy blessed calm we gain.