How little do we know of Christ, or God, Of our almighty Friend and risen Lord! So many creeds and mystic rites to prove, We scarcely learn the lesson "God is love." Yet with our boasted wealth of sacred lore, We know not what the future hath in store. The world moves on, with mingled joys and woes, And what its wrongs shall right, God only knows.
To earthly idols blindly clinging close; Grasping for gold, yet finding only dross; Seeking for joy and peace in paths obscure, Though Jesus shows a pathway safe and sure; Toiling and fainting many a weary day, While God and heaven seem very far away,— We vaguely feel our need of guidance there, Yet lift not up our hearts to God in prayer.
Anon, perchance, dark clouds bedim our sky, And sudden danger, death and misery Engulf the soul in surging waves of woe, Till the heart's deepest founts of grief o'erflow, 'Tis then we lift up pleading hands and cry, E'en while the Father has been ever nigh. Watching with pity over our distress, Yearning each wayward child to win and bless.
And when to Him, with aching hearts, we turn, The truth so sweet and beautiful we learn,— That God, our Father, is forever near, To lift each burden, wipe away each tear. Thy kingdom come, O God, on earth below! Till all, Thy goodness and Thy mercy know; And knowing, worship Thee with love sincere, With humble reverence and with filial fear.
O, guard our feet from every hidden snare! Hallowed be duty, sorrow, pain and care! Till our uplifted hearts so pure may be, That angels loud shall shout in ecstacy O'er souls once lost in misery and sin, To the Good Shepherd's fold now gathered in, And O, what joy through paradise shall ring When a rejoicing world His praise shall sing!
