In the plan divine All for good combine, Contrarious seasons one kind will obey: It was a summer bright When creation's light First dawned on chaos and made Eden gay; "It was the winter wild, When the heaven-born Child, All meanly wrapped, in the rude manger lay." CXIII. COME, said Jesus' sacred voice, I will guide you to your home; Weary pilgrim, hither come! Thou who houseless, sole, forlorn, Long hast roamed the barren waste, Sinner, come! for here is found Balm that flows for every wound; Peace that ever shall endure; Rest eternal, sacred, sure. MARK the soft-falling snow, To heaven from whence they fall But water earth through every pore, Arrayed in beauteous green The harvest bows its golden ears, So, saith the God of grace, Shall truth from heaven descend, The purpose I intend; Millions of souls shall feel its power, And bear it down to millions more. O HALLOWED memories of the past, In vain shall man deny, Or bid your mission cease, Of love, and hope, and peace. For hearts the beautiful that feel, While bursts confession forth, No miracle on earth E'er match'd the heart of man. And while from out our dying dust In death there is no fear, There's radiance through the gloom, While love and hope are here, The angels of the tomb. Then, hallowed memories of the past, In vain shall man deny, Or bid your mission cease; The stars yet prophesy Of love, and hope, and peace. CXVI. LIGHT, light in darkness; the daylight dawns, raising the soul to the hope of glory. Truth comes to mortals, brighter than sunshine. Man is advancing, led by the Most High, to endless ages of joy, and blessing infinite. Ꭰ ONCE in the busy streets Did Wisdom cry aloud; And then she perished, mid the scoffs Of the misguided crowd. Once in the quiet grove Did Wisdom's accents charm; And then she perish'd by the blows Of Conquest's iron arm. In Palestine and Greece, Thus Wisdom's voice was hushed; Yet Echo oft the sound renewed, Though Wisdom's sons were crushed. But ever, in the skies, In earth, and sea, and air, Does Wisdom teach the human heart, And none can crush her there. Systems and teachers change, But ne'er from Nature's truth and love Shall Wisdom pass away. |