Bees in Amber Part 13

I faced a future all unknown, No opening could I see, I heard without the night wind moan, The ways were dark to me,-- "I cannot face it all alone O be Thou near to me!"

I had done sums, and sums, and sums, Inside my aching head.

I'd tried in vain to pierce the glooms That lay so thick ahead.

But two and two will not make five, Nor will do when I'm dead.

And then I thought of Him who fed Five thousand hungry men, With five small casual loaves of bread,-- Would he were here again!-- Dear G.o.d! hast Thou still miracles For the troubled sons of men?

He has, He will, He worketh still, In ways most wonderful.

He drew me from the miry clay, He filled my cup quite full.

And while my heart can speak I'll tell His love unspeakable.

"Rest in the Lord!"--I saw it there, On the tablets of the night.

And, comforted, I dropped my care Where burdens have no weight.

Then, trustfully, I turned and slept, And woke, and it was light.

G.o.d works to-day as He did of old For the lightening of men's woes.

His wonders never can be told, His goodness no man knows,-- His Love, His Power, His Tenderness,-- Nor shall do till life's close.

His kindness is so very great, His greatness is so good.

He looks upon my low estate, He gives me daily food.

And nothing is too small for Him,-- Yes, truly! G.o.d is good.

SOME--AND SOME

Some have much, and some have more, Some are rich, and some are poor, Some have little, some have less, Some have not a cent to bless Their empty pockets, yet possess True riches in true happiness.

THE PRINCE OF LIFE

O, Prince of Life, Thy Life hath tuned All life to sweeter, loftier grace!

Life's common rounds have wider bounds Since Thou hast trod life's common ways.

O, Heart of Love! Thy Tenderness Still runs through life's remotest vein; And l.u.s.t and greed and soulless creed Shall never rule the world again.

O Life of Love!--The Good Intent Of G.o.d to man made evident,-- All down the years, despite men's fears, Thy Power is still omnipotent.

O Life! O Love! O Living Word!-- Rent Vail, revealing G.o.d to man,-- Help, Lord! Lest I should crucify, By thought or deed, Thy Love again.

JUDGMENT DAY

Every day is Judgment Day, Count on no to-morrow.

He who will not, when he may, Act to-day, to-day, to-day, Doth but borrow Sorrow.

DARKNESS AND LIGHT

There is darkness still, gross darkness, Lord, On this fair earth of Thine.

There are prisoners still in the prison-house, Where never a light doth s.h.i.+ne.

There are doors still bolted against Thee, There are faces set like a wall; And over them all the Shadow of Death Hangs like a pall.

_Do you hear the voices calling, Out there in the black of the night?

Do you hear the sobs of the women, Who are barred from the blessed light?

And the children,--the little children,-- Do you hear their pitiful cry?

O brothers, we must seek them, Or there in the dark they die_!

Spread the Light! Spread the Light!

Till earth's remotest bounds have heard The glory of the Living Word; Till those that see not have their sight; Till all the fringes of the night Are lifted, and the long-closed doors Are wide for ever to the Light.

Spread--the--Light!

_O then shall dawn the golden days, To which true hearts are pressing; When earth's discordant strains shall blend-- The one true G.o.d confessing; When Christly thought and Christly deed Shall bind each heart and nation, In one Grand Brotherhood of Men, And one high consecration_.

INDIA

A land of lights and shadows intervolved, A land of blazing sun and blackest night, A fortress armed, and guarded jealously, With every portal barred against the Light.

A land in thrall to ancient mystic faiths, A land of iron creeds and gruesome deeds, A land of superst.i.tions vast and grim, And all the noisome growths that Darkness breeds.

Like sunny waves upon an iron-bound coast, The Light beats up against the close-barred doors, And seeks vain entrance, yet beats on and on, In hopeful faith which all defeat ignores.

But--time shall come, when, like a swelling tide, The Word shall leap the barriers, and The Light Shall sweep the land; and Faith and Love and Hope Shall win for Christ this stronghold of the night.

LIVINGSTONE

To lift the sombre fringes of the Night, To open lands long darkened to the Light, To heal grim wounds, to give the blind new sight, Right mightily wrought he.

Forth to the fight he fared, High things and great he dared, He thought of all men but himself, Himself he never spared.

He greatly loved-- He greatly lived-- And died right mightily.

Like Him he served, he walked life's troublous ways, With heart undaunted, and with calm, high face, And gemmed each day with deeds of sweetest grace; Pull lovingly wrought he.

Forth to the fight he fared, High things and great he dared, In His Master's might, to spread the Light, Right lovingly wrought he.