Poems with Power to Strengthen the Soul Part 97

--Robert Browning.

FAITH IS THE VICTORY

Encamped along the hills of light, Ye Christian soldiers, rise, And press the battle ere the night Shall veil the glowing skies; Against the foe in vales below Let all our strength be hurled; Faith is the victory, we know, That overcomes the world.

His banner over us is love, Our sword the word of G.o.d; We tread the road the saints above With shouts of triumph trod; By faith they, like a whirlwind's breath, Swept on o'er every field; The faith by which they conquered death Is still our s.h.i.+ning s.h.i.+eld.

On every hand the foe we find Drawn up in dread array; Let tents of ease be left behind, And--onward to the fray; Salvation's helmet on each head, With truth all girt about, The earth shall tremble 'neath our tread, And echo with our shout.

To him that overcomes the foe White raiment shall be given; Before the angels he shall know His name confessed in heaven; Then onward from the hills of light, Our hearts with love aflame, We'll vanquish all the hosts of night In Jesus' conquering name.

--John H. Yates.

RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES

Yes, we do differ when we most agree, For words are not the same to you and me, And it may be our several spiritual needs Are best supplied by seeming different creeds.

And, differing, we agree in one Inseparable communion, If the true life be in our hearts; the faith Which not to want is death; To want is penance; to desire Is purgatorial fire; To hope is paradise; and to believe Is all of heaven that earth can e'er receive.

--Hartley Coleridge.

THE LORD WILL PROVIDE

Though troubles a.s.sail, and dangers affright, Though friends should all fail, and foes all unite, Yet one thing secures us, whatever betide, The promise a.s.sures us, "The Lord will provide."

The birds, without barn or storehouse, are fed; From them let us learn to trust for our bread: His saints what is fitting shall ne'er be denied, So long as 'tis written, "The Lord will provide."

When Satan appears to stop up our path, And fills us with fears, we triumph by faith; He can not take from us, though oft he has tried, The heart-cheering promise, "The Lord will provide."

He tells us we're weak, our hope is in vain; The good that we seek we ne'er shall obtain: But when such suggestions our graces have tried, This answers all questions, "The Lord will provide."

No strength of our own nor goodness we claim; Our trust is all thrown on Jesus's name: In this our strong tower for safety we hide: The Lord is our power, "The Lord will provide."

When life sinks apace, and death is in view, The word of his grace shall comfort us through; Not fearing or doubting, with Christ on our side, We hope to die shouting, "The Lord will provide."

--John Newton.

Art thou afraid his power will fail When comes thy evil day?

And can an all-creating arm Grow weary, or decay!

IF WE BELIEVED

If we believed we should arise and sing, Dropping our burdens at his pierced feet.

Sorrow would flee and weariness take wing, Hard things grow fair, and bitter waters sweet.

If we believed, what room for fear or care Within his arms, safe sheltered on his breast?

Peace for our pain, and hope for our despair, Is what he meant who said, "I give thee rest."

Why linger, turn away, or idly grieve?

Where else is rest--the soul's supremest need?

Grandly he offers; meanly we receive.

Yet love that gives us rest is love indeed.

The love that rests--say, shall it not do more?

Make haste, sad soul, thy heritage to claim.

It calms; it heals; it bears what erst ye bore, And marks thy burdens with his own dear name.

Carried in him and for him, can they harm Or press thee sore, or prove a weary weight?

Nay, nay; into thy life his blessed calm Shall drop, and thou no more be desolate.

TO FAITH

Beside thy gracious hearth content I stay, Or with thee fate's appointed journey go; I lean upon thee when my step is slow, I wrap me with thee in the naked day.

With thee no loneliness, no pathless way; The wind is heaven's, to take as it shall blow; More than thy voice, thy hand, I need not know; I may not murmur, for I shall not stray.

WAIT ON G.o.d

Not so in haste, my heart!

Have faith in G.o.d, and wait; Although he seems to linger long He never comes too late.

He never comes too late; He knoweth what is best; Vex not thyself, it is in vain; Until he cometh, rest.

Until he cometh, rest; Nor grudge the hours that roll; The feet that wait for G.o.d, 'tis they Are soonest at the goal.

Are soonest at the goal That is not gained by speed; Then hold thee still, O restless heart, For I shall wait his lead.

--Bradford Torrey.

BEGONE, UNBELIEF

Begone, unbelief, my Saviour is near, And for my relief will surely appear.

His love in time past forbids me to think He'll leave me at last in trouble to sink.

Since all that I meet shall work for my good, The bitter is sweet, the medicine food; Though painful at present, 'twill cease before long, And then, oh, how pleasant the conqueror's song!

--John Newton.

As yonder tower outstretches to the earth The dark triangle of its shade alone When the clear day is s.h.i.+ning on its top, So, darkness in the pathway of man's life Is but the shadow of G.o.d's providence, By the great Sun of Wisdom cast therein; And what is dark below is light in Heaven.