Poems

There's a spirit abroad: yea, with power increasing, And fighting the armies of sin; Never retreating, but steady, unceasing, Every battle and fort it will win. There's a spirit abroad, and sweetly is singing The old song angels at Bethlehem sung: "Peace upon earth, and good will to men," For newly the reign of Christ has begun.

" For one thing only, Lord, dear Lord, I plead, Lead me aright— Though strength should falter, and though heart should bleed— Through Peace to Light. I do not ask, O Lord, that Thou shouldst shed Full radiance here; Give but a ray of peace, that I may tread Without a fear.

God sends his teachers unto every age, To every clime, and every race of men, With revelations fitted to their growth And shape of mind, nor gives the realm of Truth Into the selfish rule of one sole race. Therefore, each form of worship that hath swayed The life of man, and given it to grasp The master-key of knowledge, reverence, Enfolds some germs of goodness and of right; Else never had the eager soul, which loathes The slothful down of pampered ignorance, Found in it even a moment's fitful rest.

I live for those who love me, For those who love me true; For the heaven that smiles above me And awaits my presence too; For the human ties that bind me, For the tasks by God assigned me, For the bright hopes left behind me, And the good that I can do. I live to hail that season, By gifted minds foretold, Where men shall live by reason, And not alone by gold— When man to man united, And every wrong thing righted, The whole world shall be lighted, As Eden was of old.

Saw ye my Saviour? Heard ye the glad sound?   Felt ye the power of the Word?      'Twas the Truth that made us free,      And was found by you and me   In the Life and the Love of our Lord. Mourner, it calls thee—come to this Saviour;   Love wipes your tears all away,      And will lift the shades of gloom,      And for thee make blessed room   Where the darkness hath yielded to day.

And thus, O Prophet-bard of old, Hast thou thy tale of wonder told! The same which earth's unwelcome seers Have felt in all succeeding years. Sport of the changeful multitude, Nor calmly heard, nor understood; Thy song has seemed a trick of art, Thy warnings but the actor's part.

Out of my poverty, into his wealth, Out of my sicknesses, into pure health, Out of the false, and into the true, Out of the old man, into the new. Wonderful Love, that has wrought all for me! Wonderful work that has thus set me free! Wonderful ground upon which I have come! Wonderful tenderness, welcoming home!

Thou, who hast come to bring On thy redeeming wing. Healing and sight! Health to the sick in mind, Light to the inly blind, Oh, now to all mankind Let there be light! Speed on thy flight! Move o'er the water's face, Spirit of hope and grace, And in earth's darkest place Let there be light!

I like the story of that monk who knelt In prayer devout, and lest some thought of sin Should mar its grace, dared not his work begin Till in the silence of his heart he felt Thought grow divine, and earthly longings melt Beneath God's touch, and o'er the Babel din Heard the clear whisper of the Christ within. What wonder, when such inspiration dwelt In his calm bosom, that he dared not rise, But day by day, with meek and lowly heart, Painted upon his bended knees, and wise, Deemed not the work his own, but his the part To seize what God revealed into his eyes And bid the panel grow with the holy art.

A Flower unblown; a Book unread; A Tree with fruit unharvested; A Path untrod; a House whose rooms Lack yet the heart's divine perfumes; A Landscape whose wide border lies In silent shade 'neath silent skies; A wondrous Fountain yet unsealed; A Casket with its gifts concealed; This is the year that for you waits, Beyond to-morrow's mystic gates. Oh! may this Flower unfold to you Visions of beauty, sweet and new; This Book on golden pages trace Your sacred joys, and deeds of grace; May all the fruits of this strange tree Luscious and rosy-tinted be; This Path through fields of knowledge go; This House with love's content o'erflow; This Landscape glitter with the dew Of blessed hope and friendships true; This Fountain's living crystal cheer, As fail the springs that once were dear; This Casket with such gems be stored As shine in lives that love the Lord.