Questions & Answers
The summer's gentle breeze has given place To the triumphant winter's blustering blast. With darkening clouds the sky is overcast, That hide from view the sun's benignant face, And faded all the summer's tender grace Before the winter's devastation vast.
Between two thieves, yesterday and tomorrow, Time holds today, a trembler on a cross. One taunts with good remote, and coming sorrow, One mocks with offered cup of lees and dross.
" Nay , I will not believe,— it was not he; Ye may not me cajole to things unseen To grant a blind consent: I need to see And handle with my hands. It ne'er has been That one whose heart the Roman spear-point keen Has torn and sundered — whom the enshrouding grave Long nights and days enfolded fast, I ween — Should break his bonds and leave his lonesome cave; Nay, tell your dream to babes, such childish tales who crave.
Time is a generous-hearted friend, Who gives us from his ample store A largess for our greater good. Which rightly used but reaps us more.
Nature sings in grateful gladness, Storm and strife are stilled in song; All creation chants Thy blessings, Joy inspires the human throng; Sings the morning of Thy glory, And when stars of eve appear, Night declares in prayer and praises: God is Love, and Christ is here! Leaves and branches rustle gently As the glorious strains are heard,— Born of harmonies seraphic, For the forest sings "the Word;" Thund'rous torrents join the anthem, Waves of ocean waft good cheer, While the billows murmur sweetly: God is Love, and Christ is here! See the sun sublimely shining, Hear the music of the spheres! See God's radiant rainbow token As in grace it reappears,— Spanned as sacred, solemn symbol That the earth will ne'er be drear! Thou in truth hast kept Thy promise: God is Love, and Christ is here! When the lamps that Love has lighted To Thy children peace proclaim, All the stars in sparkling splendor Write in golden gems Thy name! Stars of Truth are they, dear Father, Firm in faith and free from fear,— In the skies we read the message: God is Love, and Christ is here! Still, of all the hymns majestic, Noblest of the universe, Is the sweet song of salvation That "the sons of God" rehearse; Far above the forest voices Rings the chorus loud and clear, Sung by man in benediction: God is Love, and Christ is here!
Couldst thou but know the hallowed peace, The heavenly gladness in the heart, When Truth's ennobling power doth start, And beetling storms of error cease: Wouldst thou arise to holier plane, Depart from pathways of the past, And break false fetters binding fast Each erring thought that seems a chain? Ah, wouldst thou not awinged ascend To meet the wondrous light revealed, And all thy empty selfhood yield, Then to Love's will in meekness bend? Thus mayst thou see, with vision pure, The Life divine so near to thee,— Couldst thou again an earth-child be, Couldst thou a worldly thought endure? Oh, let thy inward eyes unclose, And waken from the mortal dream: How vain all that to sense may seem, Eternal all that Science shows!
Though boughs were interlaced and old, The seeking sunbeams yet found room To kiss with light each waiting frond Of brave ferns growing in the gloom. And there be patient hearts that grow In places where the shade is dense; Though barriers be thick and old, Love reaches these with recompense.
Oh , healing words! that thwart the power of pain And bring the erring thought to light again,— That, opening wide the rust-grown door of years, Proclaim man's heritage to list'ning ears. Oh, healing thought! that silently forgives, Knowing no breath of aught but goodness lives,— That brings the sinner to his bended knee And bids God's child arise in sanctity.
Oh , healing words! that thwart the power of pain And bring the erring thought to light again,— That, opening wide the rust-grown door of years, Proclaim man's heritage to list'ning ears. Oh, healing thought! that silently forgives, Knowing no breath of aught but goodness lives,— That brings the sinner to his bended knee And bids God's child arise in sanctity.
I deemed I saw him plead his piteous cause, Him that a heartless world unheard would ban,— Would hurl to darkest doom,—him that the laws Of earth and heaven would hold since time began Basest of mortals,—whom defend who can? For he for filthy bribe betrayed and sold His friend, the heaven-born friend of friendless man. Methought he gazed upon the ground, and told Through his thick-falling tears his misery multifold.