Ye quiet slumberers, make room
In your still home,
For the new stranger who has come!
How many graves around us lie!
How many homes are in the sky!
Yes, for each saint doth Christ prepare
A place with care:
Thy home is waiting, brother, there.
Jesus, Thou reignest, Lord, alone,
Thou wilt return, and claim Thine own.
Come quickly, Lord! return again!
Amen! Amen!
Thy seal is ever, now and then!
WITH STEADY FEET THEY PRESS ALONG.
N, in the morn's first pleasant smile;
On, in the heat of the blazing noon;
On, when the twilight's shades beguile;
On, 'neath the light of the midnight moon.
Sing they the pilgrims' marching song,
That little band with their banners high,
As with steady feet they press along
To the King's fair palace beyond the sky.
They have left the graves of their loves behind,
Their fairest treasures are buried deep;
Their hopes are scattered by storm and wind,
And tearful watchers their vigils keep :
They have no home 'mid the pastures fair,
No resting place when the dew-drops fall;
But they hasten home, for their rest is there,
And they follow the Master's clarion call.
They go to the bright long-promised land:
Shall this tear-dimmed world steal their hearts away?
They will join the holy angelic band:
Shall the sinful, the faithless, win their stay?
They will dwell amid beautiful fadeless flowers:
Shall the weeds of this desert please their eyes?
They go where love lights the deathless hours:
Should they ever halt 'mid these vanities?
Nay, nay; they peer through the shadows dim,
And see the towers of the Father's home;
They listen, and catch the distant hymn
Which bids them to endless glory come.
On, in the morn's first pleasant smile;
On, in the heat of the blazing noon;
On, when the twilight dews beguile,
Home they press-they will reach it soon.
ARTHUR TOZER RUSSEL.
JESUS, guide our way
To eternal day!
So shall we, no more delaying,
Follow Thee, Thy voice obeying ;
Lead us by Thy hand
To our Father's land!
When we danger meet,
Steadfast make our feet!
Lord, preserve us uncomplaining
'Mid the darkness round us reigning!
Through adversity
Lies our way to Thee.
Order all our way
Through this mortal day;
In our toil with aid be near us;
In our need with succor cheer us;
When life's course is o'er,
Open Thou the door!
I SAIL TO THE LAND OF THE BLEST.
N! on! through the storm and the billow,
By life's checkered troubles opprest,
The rude deck my home and my pillow,
I sail to the land of the Blest.
The tempests of darkness confound me,
Above me the deep waters roll,
But the arms of sweet Pity surround me,
And bear up my foundering soul.
With a wild and mysterious commotion
The torrent flows, rapid and strong,
Towards a mournful and shadowy ocean
My vessel bounds fiercely along.
Ye waters of gloom and of sorrow,
How dread are your tumult and roar!
But oh, for the brilliant to-morrow
That dawns upon yonder bright shore'
O Pilot the great and the glorious,
That sittest in garments so white,
O'er death and o'er Hell "the Victorious,"
The Way and the Truth and the Light,
Speak, speak to the darkness appalling,
And bid the mad turmoil to cease:
For hark! the good Angels are calling
My soul to the haven of Peace.
Now ended all sighing and sadness,
The waves of destruction all spent,
I sing with the children of gladness
The song of immortal content.
Soar! Spirit, on bounding pinion,
The monarch of endless days;
To JESUS the Prince of dominion
Give honor, and glory, and praise.
O'ERCOME AND REIGN WITH ME.
"To him that overcometh."
HO, Lord of Glory, will partake
Most largely of Thy bliss?
To whom, sweet Saviour, dost Thou make
Thy sweetest promises?
To him who overcomes, Thy voice
With sevenfold grace doth sound:
He who overcometh shall rejoice,
With sevenfold glory crowned.
Soul! wouldst thou from the battle shrink, And flee before the foe?
Dost thou beneath the burden sink,
And in the dust lie low?
O! waste not there vain tears and sighs!
The trumpet soundeth clear;
O'ercome, and to my glory rise!
O'ercome, and triumph here!
Wouldst thou a fairer lot require
And lighter tasks essay?
Dost thou a brighter sun desire
And wish a smoother way?
What saith the Master? Overcome
And thou shalt feast with Me,
In Paradise shalt make thy home,
And eat of life's fair tree.
Does earth withhold from thee her smile?
Hast thou no glory here?
Do men reject thee and revile?
What saith thy Saviour dear?
O'ercome, and I will name thy name
Before my Father's throne;
Heaven from my mouth shall hear thy fame
And my true servant own.
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