Chapter VII: Part II (3)

At morn the shadows slant toward the west, but toward the east at night: so when the sun of life declines the shadows stretch away toward the everlasting hills whence the eternal beams of day shall arise.

THE CRUCIFIED OF GALILEE.

Methought I stood, at close of day, Where soft the balmy breezes play, And bright beneath the Eastern skies The sacred hills of Canaan rise, And saw him on the shameful tree,-- The Crucified of Galilee!

I heard the mocking throng deride The anguish of the Crucified; I saw the brilliant sun grow dim; I heard creation shriek for him; I saw him die, and die for me,-- The Crucified of Galilee!

And then I saw the veil upraised From the eternal world, and gazed Upon the scene in deep surprise; One form alone could fix my eyes; I knew him, yes, indeed 'twas he,-- The Crucified of Galilee!

And though upon his lovely brow A beam of glory rested now; Though angels praised his holy name; Yet still I knew he was the same Who hung upon the shameful tree,-- The Crucified of Galilee!

I knew him by his tender air; I knew him by the fervent prayer He breathed for those for whom he died; I knew him by his wounded side; By these I knew that it was he,-- The Crucified of Galilee!

I knew him by the loving smile With which he welcomed sinners vile; I knew him, for he took a share In all his children's griefs and care; I knew him by his love for me,-- The Crucified of Galilee!

The vision faded from afar; But still 't is memory's guiding star, To cheer the night and point a way Unto an everlasting day, When I, with unveiled eyes, shall see The Crucified of Galilee!

THE ASCENSION.

A well-known group stood on the mountain side And in their midst appeared the Crucified. Oft had they stood in that sequestered place, Their beaming eyes fixed on their Saviour's face; But never met on Olivet's fair brow With such emotions as they cherished now; And never with such eager spirits hung Upon the words that fell from Jesus' tongue; For never had their Master's voice before Sounded so sweet as when--his mission o'er,-- He gathered round him that devoted band, To give his blessing and his last command: "Go ye, and teach all nations in my name-- The Jew and Greek, the bond and free, the same; But first proclaim a Saviour's love to those Who thirsted for his blood, and mocked his woes, That they, believing, through his death may live, And know their risen Saviour can forgive. Ye shall declare salvation's waters free, And bid all nations to the fountain flee; And though ye meet with perils dark and drear, And tribulation be your portion here,-- Though persecution, with uplifted sword, Shall call for blood, and your own blood be poured,-- Yet know that I, your Saviour and your friend, Will be with you till life itself shall end; And with all those who boldly shall proclaim To a lost world salvation through my name, In every land, in every age and clime, Till the last trump shall sound the knell of time."

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The humble followers of the Nazarene In silent awe gazed on the wondrous scene; Beheld their Lord in power and glory rise Up the bright pathway of the parting skies; And while they strove with piercing eyes in vain To catch one glimpse of that dear form again, Two angels left the bright and heavenly shore, And messages of joy and love they bore. Oh, glorious message to that faithful band, Who on the mountain's top bewildered stand! Oh, glorious sound to every ransomed soul, From sea to sea, from spreading pole to pole In every age, oh, tell the tidings o'er-- "That very Jesus shall return once more!" Hark! angel-voices rend the vaulted sky, In thrilling tones those shining angels cry, "Why stand ye gazing on yon glistening dome? Heaven has received your risen Master home! The time will come, when, as ye saw him rise, He shall descend in power the parted skies."

THE HEBREW'S LAMENT.

Thou art the land of all my dreams,--
Thy wanderer's heart is thine,
And oft he lingers by thy streams,
O holy Palestine!

A stranger in a stranger's land
O'er hill and vale I roam;
But hope forever points her hand
Towards my father's home.

They tell me that on Zion's hill
The Cross and Crescent shine:
But oh, my heart is with thee still,
Beloved Palestine.

I know that Israel's weary race
Are scorned on every shore,
And scarcely find a dwelling-place
Where they were lords before.

Yet, 'mid the darkness and the gloom,
A light begins to break;
O Israel, from the dreary tomb
Thy buried hopes awake,--

And lips that raise the fervent prayer,
"How long, O Lord, how long?"
Shall change the wailings of despair
To the triumphant song.

And I may live to see the hour--
The hour that must be near,--
When in his royalty and power
Our Shiloh will appear.

Till then my prayers will rise for thee,
Till then my heart be thine,
O land beyond the stormy sea,
O holy Palestine.

WHEN SHALL I RECEIVE MY DIPLOMA?

For many long years I have been in the school of affliction, and during that time how often I have asked the questions, When will my course be completed? when shall I receive my diploma? But let me first consider: Am I prepared for the grand examination in which angels are to be the spectators, and God himself judge? Here teachers and professors--however skilled in human wisdom, friends and relatives-- however anxious for my welfare, must step aside and leave me alone before the dread tribunal! In the presence of my fellow-creatures I might wear the robes of hypocrisy and appear in reality what I am not; but what would this avail me in the presence of Him who knows every thought even before it is formed, and whose searching eye can take in at a single glance the past, present, and future of my history?

O dreaded hour! who can wonder that timid mortals put it far in the distance, and even strive to shut their eyes to its stern reality? What folly! Were the light of revelation quenched forever, there is that within every human breast which warns of a judgment to come and of a righteous retribution. Swift as the planets roll in their orbits around the sun, still swifter advances that terrible scene around which the hopes and fears, the joys and miseries of eternity cluster. It is the great centre of attraction, not only for one age or one nation, but for all who have drawn the breath of life from the grand creation anthem of stars and angels (Job 38:4-7) till stars and angels again lift up their voices in concert, and swear that "Time shall be no longer." Yet the life, the heart of each individual there will be as closely examined as if the court of Heaven were sitting for him alone, and he the only person for whom the joys of Paradise or the pains of Hell were prepared by eternal Justice!

ALONE WITH JESUS.

Alone with Jesus! leave me here, Without a wish, without a fear,-- My pulse is weak and faint my breath But is He not the Lord of death? And if I live, or if I die, 'T is all the same when He is nigh.

Alone with Jesus! ye who weep, And round my bed your vigils keep, My love was never half so strong, And yours--oh, I have proved it long, But when had earthly friend the power To comfort in a dying hour!

Alone with Jesus! oh, how sweet In health to worship at his feet! But sweeter far when day by day We droop, and pine, and waste away, To feel his arms around us close, And in his bosom find repose!

Alone with Jesus! how secure, Vile in myself, in him how pure; The tempests howl, the waters beat, They harm me not in my retreat; Night deepens--'mid its gloom and chill He draws me nearer to him still.

Alone with Jesus! what alarms The infant in its mother's arms? Before me death and judgment rise,-- I turn my head and close mine eyes, There's naught for me to fear or do, I _know_ that he will bear me through!

Alone with Jesus! earth grows dim,-- I even see my friends through him; Time, space, all things below, above, Reveal to me one Life, one Love,-- That One in whom all glories shine, All beauties meet--that One is mine!

THE LOST BABE.

There was a bower that love had reared
And beautified with care;
One day a messenger appeared
And asked admission there.

He was not welcome to the bower,
For something in his face,
Where'er he went, had always power
To cloud the brightest place.

Love barred the door, and cried, "Forbear,
Thou art no bidden guest";
Then gathered up her jewels rare
And hid them in her breast.

Still louder knocked he than before,
And still he was denied;
Then, laughing at the well-barred door,
He threw it open wide.

"I come from Paradise above,"
The messenger began:
"Oh, not in anger but in love
God worketh out his plan.

"Sent from the King's eternal throne
My mission to fulfill,
I ask one jewel of thine own,--
It is the Master's will:

"One birdling from the parent nest,
One lamb from out thy fold,
To nestle in the Saviour's breast
As did the babes of old.

"How safe! Her resting-place how sweet!
But thou wilt sadly miss
The busy hands, the dancing feet,
The prattle and the kiss.

"There comes an hour, so long foretold
That many deem it vain,
When in his arms thou shalt behold
That precious lamb again.

"When earth and sea at God's command
Their treasures shall restore
Then thou shalt clasp this little hand,
Nor dread a parting more."

Love wept--her very bosom bled
For that lost little one;
But Faith supported her and said,
"The Master's will be done."

THE DAY OF WRATH.

"The great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" --Rev. 6:17.

The nations tremble, and the isles are moved; All cheeks are gathering paleness; lips are dumb That smiled in scorn but yesterday, or proved The day of wrath would not for ages come; Each eye is fixed--there seems nor life nor breath In that vast human sea,--but ah! it is not death.

The morning broke in splendor, as it rose Upon the fated Cities of the Plain; And men went forth refreshed from their repose, Where duty called them, or the love of gain; When sudden as the lightning's vivid glare Like heated furnace glowed the earth, the sea, the air.

From the Equator to the frozen Pole, All nations saw, and understood "the sign"; The seventh angel sounded! like a scroll The heavens departed, and a Form divine And awful in its grandeur was revealed,-- The sun and moon grew pale, and earth astounded reeled.

Then rose a wail of anguish and despair-- By men, by angels, never heard before; The tones of earth and hell were mingled there, Henceforth to be thus mingled evermore Beyond the reach of Mercy's loving ear, Who wept and pleaded once--but will no longer hear.

But hark! in contrast what a shout of joy Goes up to heaven; it tells of victory won O'er sin and death, o'er all that can destroy,-- It tells of life eternal just begun,-- Of bliss coeval with the endless years,-- Of love that waited long for Him who now appears.

My soul consider--'t is no idle flight Of fancy, when she pictures thus the day When sun and planets shall withdraw their light, And heaven and earth like smoke shall pass away; God hath declared it; and our Saviour hath, And lo, it hastens fast--that dreadful day of wrath.

Where wilt thou find a shelter from the storm? Not wealth, nor power, nor friends can succor then; How wilt thou gaze upon that glorious Form That seals the doom of angels and of men? How wilt thou stand before the judgment seat And every idle word, and thought, and action meet?

O Lamb of God whose blood was shed for me,-- Redeemer, Saviour, Lover of mankind,-- Spread over me thy robes that I in Thee A shelter from that dreadful storm may find,-- And calm amid the tumult and despair Look at the great white throne, and see my Surety there!

THE BELIEVER'S SAFETY.

Ah, Christian, why is thy heart sad and thy brow clouded? Hast thou been gazing down into the depths of thine own soul, and--art thou startled at what thou hast there seen? Hast thou met with evil thoughts which thou wouldst gladly never have harbored, and art thou despairing because of thy short-comings and unworthiness? Art thou looking to the future with dread, and trembling lest in the hour of trial and temptation thou wilt fall?

Turn away thine eyes from the pollution of thine own sinful heart, and gaze upon One who has become a perfect sin-offering for thee. True, thou art frail and unworthy, but the Lamb that was slain _is worthy_, and his perfection is enough for thee; his righteousness alone recommends thee to the Father. Dost thou trust in him with all thy heart? Dost thou hope for eternal life because he died? Then thou art safe. "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath thee are the everlasting arms." The storms may howl, and tempests may gather around thee; the billows may rage, but they only lash the Rock upon which thou standest. "Though the earth be removed, and the mountains be cast into the midst of the sea;" yet thou art safe, for he who made the heavens and the earth is thy Father. He who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, and sealeth up the stars; "who alone spreadeth out the heavens and treadeth upon the waves of the sea," is thy nearest and dearest friend. The same voice which said, "Let there be light, and there was light;" which commanded the raging waters, "Hitherto shalt thou come, but no farther: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed," is still whispering in thine ear, "Fear thee not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God." Yes, thou art safe! thou art trusting in the mighty One of Israel, and thou shalt never be confounded.

Thou hast been looking away into the regions of the blessed; thou hast beheld with an eye of faith the things which God has prepared for those that love him, and amid the ineffable glory of that beautiful world thou hast heard the voices of the redeemed from the earth, saying: "Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb," until thou hast longed to join with them in the song of redemption, singing praises forever and ever to him who has ransomed thee with his own precious blood. Then a cloud has gathered over thee, thy sinfulness has risen like a mountain, and thou hast sighed in thy spirit, "Oh, that I were sure of a part with them; oh, that I was safe as they!" and thou art as safe this moment with thy feet upon the Rock of Ages, as if thou didst walk the golden streets of the New Jerusalem, or bow with the angelic hosts around the dazzling throne of thy Creator. Thou art safe, for thy "life is hid with Christ in God"; and could'st thou ask for a surer hiding-place! Thou hast entered into an everlasting covenant with the King of kings, and while thou dost cling to his side shall it ever be broken? Thou hast entrusted thy soul into his hands, and is he not able to "keep that which thou hast committed unto him?" Thine enemies are many and powerful, but what are they compared to the living God? In the hour of temptation "he will never leave thee nor forsake thee"; when thy foes surround thee on every side, and the darkness of midnight gathers over thy soul, the Almighty arm shall lift up a standard, and thou shalt safely repose "under the shadow of his wings." "The Lord is thy rock, and thy fortress, and thy deliverer." "The Lord is thy light and thy salvation; whom shalt thou fear? The Lord is the strength of thy life, of whom shalt thou be afraid?"

Then look up, Christian! 'tis no time for desponding. The glittering spires of the Eternal City are already heaving in sight; perchance another storm, another beating against the fragile bark, and thou art there! Already the music of that glorious land steals softly over the roaring billows, and reminds thee thou art nearing the peaceful shore. Already the dark cloud which gathers above thy head is tinged with the beams of immortal glory, and away in the distance thou canst behold the first faint glimmerings of the Morning Star. Joy for thee, O wanderer! the shadows of the night are passing away, and the unclouded morning comes on apace!

Yes, thou art safe! lift up thine eyes,
And calm thy anxious fears;
The Sun of glory gilds the skies,
And Christ thy life appears.

End of Project Gutenberg's Canadian Wild Flowers, by Helen M. Johnson