The Mountain Spring and Other Poems Part 2

Captives by Babel's limpid streams, We hung our harps on willows there; Wept over Zion; and our dreams, Waking or sleeping, she did share.

Our victors, with their battle arms, Derided, jeered, and scorned our tears; Required mirth, diversion's charms, To thus allay their guilty fears.

"Sing us a song" is their demand, "Yea, sing us one of Zion's songs!"

How can our voices thus expand To what to us and G.o.d belongs?

How can we on this heathen sh.o.r.e, Surrounded by idolatry, Sing songs that unto us are more Than all their glittering pageantry?

Jerusalem, should we forget, We pray our hearts and tongues be still!

Jerusalem! Oh, may we yet Wors.h.i.+p upon thy holy hill.

Babylon, thou art to be destroyed!

Thy doom's foretold in prophecy; And happy be the means employed To hurl thee to thy destiny.

THE LIVING WATER

_I that speak unto thee am he._--John 4:26.

She left her home that morn In fair Samaria's land, All heedless of her state forlorn, Sin-bound, both heart and hand.

With prejudicial pride She scorned the meek request Of One who sat the well beside, With heat and thirst opprest.

"Thou art a Jew," she said, "And asketh drink of me?

Samaria's daughter was not bred To deal with such as thee."

She would not yield a sip E'en if its maker sued, While he from love, with thirsting lip, Sought and her heart renewed.

He made her ask for life, Eternal life through him, And "living water" was the type To her perception dim.

O yes! She fain would taste And never thirst again, And never cross the burning waste In weariness and pain!

Her life he questioned now; Revealed her history.

She must have blushed. How could he know?

Here was a mystery!

Abashed she now replied, "Thou art a prophet, sir!"

And straightway sought with clannish pride Instruction's voice to hear; Instruction that will bless The world each pa.s.sing day, For every spot man's feet may press, There may he praise and pray.

The woman lent her ear, Then urged Messiah's plea.

Amazing words she now doth hear, "I that speak unto thee am he."

What joy! The angels too Must share it from above.

She left her water-pot, and flew On feet made swift by love.

Oh, will these tidings last?

This news, it must be spread!

"He knows my present, knows my past; This is the Christ," she said.

That woman lost in sin Drank of the living spring, Then swiftly sped dead souls to win, And to that fountain bring.

Forbid that we should shrink To publish grace so free, For all who will that tide may drink And live eternally.

They begged that he would stay, Believed the truths unfurled, And joyfully received that day The Saviour of the world.

JESUS INTERCEDES

_Seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them._--Hebrews 7:25.

When winding up the path of life, Sometimes mid thorns, sometimes mid flowers, Oft weary of its toil and strife, Oft weary of its wintry hours, There is one thought than all more sweet From care my longing heart to free; 'Tis this--oh, wondrous to repeat-- That Jesus intercedes for me.

And always when the path is steep, I cling unto this wayside rope: Nothing can give so great relief, Nothing can give a brighter hope.

'Tis like a stately spreading palm, Which forms my spirit's canopy, 'Neath which I breathe the soothing balm That Jesus intercedes for me.

And when I reach the sea of death, To sail its silent waters o'er, This thought shall calm my latest breath And waft me to the golden sh.o.r.e.

Not only that my Savior died, The atoning lamb on Calvary, But--was there ever love so wide?-- Still lives and intercedes for me.

EVE'S FLOWERS

Eve must have wept to leave her flowers, And plucked some roots to tell Of Eden's happy, sinless bowers, Where she in bliss did dwell.

Roses and lilies, pansies gay, Violets with azure eyes, Her favorites must have been, for they Seem born in paradise.

And when they drooped, did she not sigh And kiss their petals fair, Thinking, "Alas, ye too must die And in our sorrow share"?

And then perhaps unto her soul This answer sweet was given, "Like you we fade and perish here; For you we'll bloom in heaven."

Roses and lilies are the type Of him who from above, The lamb of G.o.d, gave up his life, A sacrifice of love.

He was her hope in those sad hours Of blight and sure decay; The sin that drove her from her flowers His blood could wash away.

COME UNTO ME

"Come unto me!" Ah, gentlest word E'er breathed in human ear!

"I am thy Savior and thy Lord; Dear child, thou need'st not fear.

"Come unto me in sorrow's hour When life seems dark and drear; I'll s.h.i.+eld thee from the tempter's power; Dear child, thou need'st not fear.

"Come unto me when hopes have flown Like leaves wind-swept and sere, When every joy thou may'st bemoan; Dear child, thou need'st not fear.

"Come unto me. I'll give thee rest, Will wipe away each tear; Come lean thy head upon my breast; Dear child, thou need'st not fear."