The Mountain Spring and Other Poems Part 4

_All my ways are before thee._--Psalm 119:168.

Awake, O soul, awake!

Enter thy cell of thought, And there in calmness meditate On what G.o.d's word has taught.

There's nought within thy scope, No influence thou hast sown, No gloomy doubt, no joyful hope, But unto him are known.

Awake! but grovel not In ashes of despair, Christ's precious blood can cleanse each spot; Cast on him every care.

Before him are thy ways, But in his mercy free He further yet his love displays, And intercedes for thee.

Awake to holy fear And praise thy G.o.d on high; Be it thy joy to praise him here And praise him in the sky.

"ABIDE WITH US"

"Abide with us!" Where could we go?

Thou art our strength, thou art our tower, Our refuge from the ills below, In darkness light, in weakness power.

"Abide with us!" We would prevail, And plead that thou be ever near To banish doubts when they a.s.sail, And give deliverance from fear.

"Abide with us" in words of love, For thou dost say, "Come unto me."

Oh, guide us to thy home above To dwell in joy and peace with thee!

O BETHLEHEM!

"For he is our peace."

O Bethlehem, where Christ was born And angels watched him where he lay, When cradled on that holy morn That ushered in earth's promised day!

O Bethlehem, it was thy star Which guided o'er the deserts wild Those who had journeyed from afar To gaze upon the sinless child!

O Bethlehem, 'twas thine to see G.o.d's choir announce the Saviour's birth, And hear those waves of melody Chant peace and good will to the earth!

O Bethlehem, 'twas thine to weep With Rachel o'er the crimson woe When cruel hands did vainly seek To quench heaven's radiance below!

O Bethlehem, we hear thy call To joy and bliss, and would not cease To praise him who has died for all Who will accept his blood-bought peace!

RING THE BELLS

Ring out the bells of heaven!

Obey the great command, That all may hear their melody On mountain, sea, and land, The chimes of glory sounding, Ascending to the sky; Jesus our Savior reigneth Forever more on high.

Ring how he bore our trials And sorrows here below; Of his lamb-like, sinless nature, Purer than falling snow; How he gave his life to banish The clouds of midnight gloom That brooded o'er creation And o'er the dreary tomb.

Ring of the well of Sichar And the everlasting tide, With which its sparkling waters His imagery supplied.

Ring of his mighty power To comfort and to heal, His gentleness and sympathy In either woe or weal.

Ring of his blood that speaketh Than Abel's, better things, And to the guilty conscience Sweet peace and pardon brings.

Ring how he burst death's fetters In rising from the grave, And from its lasting bondage Will all his people save.

Ring how he intercedeth And ever lives above For all who trust and serve him, Rejoicing in his love; Of the many mansions he's prepared Of everlasting rest, Whose joys no tongue can utter Nor tell how glad and blest.

Awake, then, to your duty, O church of Christ, awake!

Behold the beauty of their feet Who the glad tidings take!

Reach out and ring the bells of heaven; Blest be the hands that give The truth, that all who listen May hope and joy and live!

Ah, 'tis a wondrous story!

Good news to all the world!

The gospel means glad tidings Wherever 'tis unfurled.

Great G.o.d, impart thy Spirit That all who love their Lord May see in life a flitting hour To obey and speak his word.

THE DESERT SPRING

"Oh, no, my lord, she cannot stay; Cast out this bond maid with her mocking child, For they cannot be heirs with thine and mine."

Abraham was sad, for he had prayed, "O G.o.d, That Ishmael may dwell within thy sight!"

And now the message came to him, "Fear not!

In all that Sarah says list to her voice.

In Isaac shall thy seed be called. Also I'll make of Hagar's son a nation great, Because he sprang from thee."

Then Abraham rose At early dawn, and lading Egypt's child With water and with bread, sent her grief-worn With Ishmael to wander lone within Beersheba's wilderness. While yet the air Was cool, and nature locked in the embrace Of morn, likely the child was blithe and gay, Unheeding the sad face and drooping form Of her who doubtless turned from childhood's tents In tears of woe.

Thrilled with his Arab blood He raced along; and thus to fancy's ear He prattled on: "O mother, do not weep!

The Princess Sarah cannot chide us now.

We're free! I love the wilderness! I love The earth and sky! Look at those birds, Far as the fleecy clouds! And here Are flowers with which to wreathe my bow.

With it I'll bring thee deer and fowl to dress, When by and by we reach a babbling stream Where we may safely dwell."

On, still on, Through arid plains, with blistering feet, Beneath a burning sky, they toil along.

The lad no longer talks of birds and flowers, But begs for water--water just to cool His parching throat; and likely 'twas that when Noon's shadows mirrored the encircling hills, He saw the empty flask, and must at last Have fainted on the scorching sand.

We read That Hagar cast him 'neath a shrub, and then, Withdrawing quite a s.p.a.ce, she prayed, "O G.o.d, Let me not see his death!" and so sank down Upon the ground to watch him where he lay, And wept such tears as touched the world on high With sympathy divine. G.o.d heard the lad, And from his radiant home an angel spake: "What aileth thee, O Hagar? Rise and take The lad, and stand him on his feet. I'll make Of him a nation great." Her eyes were opened; And she saw a well, from which with joyful haste She filled her flask and gave the weakling lad A draught which gave him back to health And life again.

Water!--a type of Christ, G.o.d's son, that whosoever will may drink That everflowing stream of love and live Eternally! The angel's prophecy foretold Those countless hordes, those tented caravans, Whose graceful steeds have plied through centuries past Those barren, trackless wastes; some of the men Who, Egypt-bound with spicery and balm, Halted beside the lonely pit, and bartered there For that young lad whose coat dyed in the blood Of kids, made Jacob with wild agony exclaim, "This is my Joseph's coat! He has, no doubt, Been rent in twain by beasts!"