Questions & Answers
I saw God on His heights of holiness— A vision of the almighty infinite; Then on the earth I backward looked, saw sin, And coming to the darkness dawning light. That vision to make my own I had to rise, To waken into being newly born, Though pain and fires of suffering tempted sore, And would have dimmed the radiance of the morn.
If I had known there was so calm a place, Or one so free, where sorrow held no part, Or that such kindness lit my Father's face— These had I earlier sought with all my heart. If I had known how fleeting in the grasp Earth's pleasure, or that riches make them wings, I should have taught my fingers to unclasp, And then, to touch and handle heavenly things.
Stone upon stone they built, so to erect A temple to the mighty God most high, Wherein to worship at the sacred shrine Of Love, in holiness and purity— In peace and quietness the work went on, Nor scorn nor ridicule could stay the skill Of willing hands from dawn till quiet eve. No lurking spy could make the smallest breach In all the walls, nor stem the steady tide Of loving thoughts which flowed from out the hearts Of all the builders, one harmonious band, Until at length the temple stood complete In all its finished glory, and athwart Its glowing portal, glinting in the sun, The message to mankind that God is Love.
An angel voice rings down the years: Awake, O man, and cease from fears, For God, thy God, is All-in-all; Thou canst not sin, nor grope, nor fall, For thou art in His image made, Upright and free and unafraid. Declare thy freedom, it is thine; Then walk within His love divine.
I look away to the mountains Lying in golden light, And watch the soft cloud shadows Across their slopes take flight. So fair they seem in the sunlight Or in purpling eventide, When over their sleeping summits The bright stars seem to glide; And again when dawnlight wakes them With touch of softest rose, Which deepens in its radiance Till morning brightly glows.
"WHO did sin, this man or his parents, That he was born blind?" The disciples waited in silence The answer to find. For each one was seeing as sightless One blinded from birth; For each one was thinking in darkness Of dream of this earth.
BECAUSE God's law a law of progress is, Each swiftly passing year, each day, unfolds Unto perfection; and though hate and fear May find expression in the bitterness Of war and want; though baseless fear and dread Stalk specterlike abroad upon the earth, Gaunt witness to its needless misery; Still God is wholly good. His law supreme Encircles and upholds the universe.
THE smallest diamond gleams like rainbow fair, The meek pale moonstone opal-tinted glows; So does each healing thought and word and prayer, The myriad hues of Life and Love disclose. These are as polished stones, with grace imbued— Radiant with praise and sweet sincerity; Cherish these hidden gems with gratitude, That all mankind God's healing truth may see!
O LIFE , forever free from death, That cannot know disease or sin, Our eyes behold Thine upward way, Our feet with gladness enter in. O Truth, whose light shines bright and clear, Illumining the paths of men, Unto our troubled, anxious sense Restore Christ's seamless robe again.
Hitherto the Lord hath helped us As we faltered on life's way. Hitherto His arm hath held us; Can we doubt His love today? Hitherto hath Love sustained us— Let us not forget the years Filled with fruitage of His goodness; Grateful praise should heal our fears.