THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 
 dui, ic^ii). 

 
 ^fe<i/
 
 CAPERNAUM 
 
 AND OTHER POEMS 
 
 BY 
 
 WILLIAM SAUMAREZ SMITH, D.D., D.C.L. 
 
 LATE ARCHBISHOP OF SYDNEY 
 
 PRIMATE OF AUSTRALIA AND TASMANIA 
 
 FORMERLY FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE 
 
 AND PRINCIPAL OF ST. AIDAN's COLLEGE, BIRKENHEAD 
 
 EDITED BY HIS SISTERS 
 
 LONDON: ELLIOT STOCK 
 
 62, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.G. 
 
 1911
 
 Set./ c_ 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 Memoir ...... 
 
 Capernaum. A Seatonian Poem . 
 
 SHORTER POEMS 
 PART I 
 
 Where is Home? .... 
 Tangled Threads .... 
 The Eve of St. Bartholomew's Day 
 Autumn Tints .... 
 
 Good-bye 
 
 Lo! I AM with you all the days . 
 The Mystery of Pain . 
 Strangely He Works . 
 The Pendulum of Life . 
 
 Light 
 
 Peace, perfect Peace . 
 
 Little Things .... 
 
 Lead me in the Way Everlasting 
 
 Longing for the Day . 
 
 The Preacher's Prayer 
 
 Waiting .... . . 
 
 Partings 
 
 Prayer and Praise 
 A Picture Gallery 
 The Hand and the Map 
 
 PAGE 
 
 ix 
 I 
 
 39 
 41 
 42 
 
 44 
 46 
 
 47 
 49 
 
 50 
 52 
 53 
 55 
 56 
 58 
 
 59 
 60 
 
 61 
 
 63 
 64 
 66 
 68 

 
 vi CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 PART II. SEASONS AND OCCASIONS 
 
 Christmas I 73 
 
 Christmas II 75 
 
 Epiphany 76 
 
 God's Peace: 2ND Sunday after Epiphany . . 77 
 
 Good Friday 78 
 
 Good Friday: Suspense and Sorrow ... 80 
 
 Easter Day 81 
 
 The Morning Star 82 
 
 God's never-failing Providence: 8th Sunday 
 
 after Trinity ,.,.... 83 
 
 Baptism 84 
 
 Wedding Hymn 86 
 
 Silver Wedding 87 
 
 Asleep in Jesus 88 
 
 The Years Glide on 90 
 
 Missionary Hymn, Speed the Message . . . 91 
 
 Queen Victoria's Jubilee, 1887 .... 93 
 
 The Coronation of King Edward VII . . 95 
 
 PART III. FROM 1890 
 
 Early Spring in New South Wales 
 
 To a Veteran Soldier of Christ 
 
 God will Clear the Way 
 
 Rest in the Lord . 
 
 Within and Without 
 
 God Determines 
 
 Good Guidance 
 
 Affirmative Faith 
 
 He Made the Stars also 
 
 99 
 
 lOI 
 
 102 
 103 
 104 
 
 105 
 106 
 107 
 109
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 God is Light 
 
 All our Ideals .... 
 Thou shalt Remember the Lord thy 
 
 FUGA VlTM 
 
 To A Beloved Physician 
 Growing Older .... 
 Bitterness for Peace . 
 A Life attuned to God . 
 He Knoweth the Way that I take 
 To Come of Age .... 
 Bless the Lord, O my Soul . 
 Thou shalt Understand Hereafter 
 
 Why? 
 
 Hopefulness ..... 
 On the Birth of a Grandson 
 To my Grandson .... 
 From Home to Home 
 Tranquillity ..... 
 
 Forward 
 
 Their Sky they Change 
 God Rules and Loves . 
 
 A Voyage 
 
 Our Ship Fares on . . . 
 
 Which Way? 
 
 Bewildered ..... 
 
 Angels 
 
 How TO Spin Life's Threads . 
 
 While Years go on 
 
 Farewell ..... 
 
 God 
 
 Vll 
 PAGE 
 
 no 
 III 
 
 1X2 
 
 114 
 116 
 117 
 118 
 119 
 
 121 
 
 122 
 123 
 
 126 
 127 
 128 
 129 
 130 
 
 132 
 
 135 
 136 
 
 137 
 
 139 
 140 
 
 141 
 
 143 
 144
 
 MEMOIR 
 
 THE Author of "Capernaum and Other Poems" 
 was one who, naturally reserved, could yet voice 
 his thoughts and greetings in verse to his family and 
 friends. The shorter pieces in the present volume 
 have been selected from a large number of such occa- 
 sional poems, most of which were written with no 
 thought of publication. Much more of interest might 
 have been added but for the loss of his MS. books, 
 and other possessions, in the S.S. " Waratah," which 
 disappeared so mysteriously in the summer of 1909 
 near the Cape. 
 
 William Saumarez Smith and his twin sister were 
 born in 1836 at St. Helier's, Jersey. He was the eldest 
 son of Richard Snowdon Smith (son of Joseph Smith, 
 of Shortgrove, Essex, who was Pitt's private secretary), 
 and his mother was Anne (daughter of James Robin, 
 of Petit Menage, Jersey). His father at that time was 
 a Lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade, but eventually took 
 Holy Orders, and spent most of his long life in un- 
 wearying work at Brighton. 
 
 When quite a child, Willie, as he was always called, 
 decided to become a clergyman, and in accordance 
 with his steadfast character, he never changed his mind.
 
 X MEMOIR 
 
 He passed from Mr. Maiden's School at Brighton to 
 Marlborough College under Dr. Wilkinson and Dr. 
 Cotton. In writing about the son to the father, Dr. 
 Cotton, afterwards Bishop of Calcutta, always referred 
 to the excellent conduct and high principles shown 
 by him, and when promoting him to be head Prefect 
 of the School, said, " He is just as simple and natural 
 as when I first knew him." 
 
 From Marlborough he went to Trinity College, 
 Cambridge, and distinguished himself by taking a 
 First Class in Classics and Theology, and amongst 
 other prizes he twice gained the Seatonian Prize for 
 a Sacred Poem. 
 
 He was ordained Deacon in 1859 and Priest in i860 
 at Ely, and that same year became Fellow of Trinity. 
 Soon after, he went out to India as Chaplain to the 
 Bishop of Madras, Dr. Cell. This increased his love 
 for missionary work, which he never failed to help by 
 word and deed whenever he had the opportunity. 
 
 After his return from India, he became Vicar of 
 Trumpington, near Cambridge, and in 1869 by the 
 wish of Dean Howson, of Chester, and Dr. Lightfoot, 
 afterwards Bishop of Durham, he undertook the Prin- 
 cipalship of St. Aidan's Theological College, Birken- 
 head, which had been closed. Here his patience and 
 earnestness conquered many difficulties. The College 
 was soon filled with students, a mortgage of ^10,000 
 paid off, and a chapel built. 
 
 To quote the words of an old student, " There were
 
 MEMOIR xi 
 
 certain elements in his character, kindness, cheerful- 
 ness, and an unfailing tolerance towards our mental 
 immaturities, which compelled loyalty and devotion 
 to his person. With his high spirits and buoyancy of 
 temperament, there was mingled a certain stern Puri- 
 tanism which was manifested in a strict discipline. 
 These strongly contrasted elements in his character 
 were the secret of his success as the Head of a 
 Theological College. He was once described as a 
 * big ' man — big not only physically, but ' big ' men- 
 tally, and, above all, * big ' spiritually. There was no 
 littleness in his composition, and he was so great of 
 heart that he failed to see the ' littleness ' of others. 
 His enthusiasm, coupled with his simple faith, gave 
 him power and authority over the hearts and minds 
 of his students. He convinced us all of his sincerity 
 and of his devotion to his Lord." 
 
 After twenty years the call came to Sydney, New 
 South Wales, and on St. John the Baptist's Day, 1890, 
 he was consecrated Bishop of Sydney, which also in- 
 cluded the Primacy of Australia and Tasmania. The 
 title of Archbishop was conferred in 1897. 
 
 Ten days before his consecration, his beloved wife, 
 nee Florence Deedes, died, leaving him with eight 
 children. Sorrowing, yet as always going straight on 
 in the path of duty, he started for Australia with a 
 sister, and his three elder children. He had the trial 
 of separation from his younger children, whom for the 
 sake of education, he left in England for some years
 
 xii MEMOIR 
 
 with his father and twin sister. After all his sorrow 
 this voyage probably helped in giving him fresh 
 thoughts. He became keenly interested in watching 
 the course of the ship, and in studying charts and 
 maps. The clear starry heavens of the Southern 
 Hemisphere also appealed strongly to him, and ever 
 after he loved to linger in his walks home after 
 evening services and meetings, to note some fresh 
 position of a constellation, or to exclaim on the beauty 
 of the scene. 
 
 His work now lay under the Southern Cross, and 
 amidst many difficulties and perplexities he worked on 
 steadfastly and hopefully. Patience, deliberation, and 
 consideration for others were some of his character- 
 istics. Under a somewhat abrupt manner was a depth 
 of tenderness and sympathy, and many can recall the 
 unobtrusive ways in which he held out a generous 
 helping hand to those in need or sorrow. 
 
 In his Diocese he was trusted, even by those who 
 might not agree with him. The work which was being 
 quietly and patiently done, was hardly noticed during 
 his lifetime, but it may be remembered how much of 
 what is now recognized as an integral part of church 
 work in the Diocese was inaugurated during his epis- 
 copate. 
 
 A debt of i^7,ooo on the Cathedral and Buildings 
 was paid off, as well as ;^5,ooo raised for the Deanery 
 Endowment Fund. His earnest wish that Parochial 
 Churches should free themselves from debt, resulted
 
 MEMOIR xiii 
 
 in many successful efforts, and enabled him to have 
 the joy of consecrating those churches. Moore Theo- 
 logical College was re-opened; the Sydney "Mission 
 to Seamen" was reorganized and a chaplain appointed. 
 The Church of England Grammar School for Girls was 
 founded, as well as the Deaconess Institution with its 
 branches, the " Home of Peace," Children's Home, etc. 
 Also a successful branch of the " Mothers' Union " 
 was started, as well as other organizations. 
 
 The various missions in connection with the Austra- 
 lian Church — Melanesian Mission, Church Missionary 
 Association, New Guinea and Aboriginal Missions — 
 claimed and found in the Archbishop ready and 
 warm support. The last two missions were started 
 after his arrival in Sydney. The founder of the New 
 Guinea Mission, Rev. Albert Maclaren, left Sydney 
 in 1 89 1, and three months after laid down his life 
 for New Guinea. But the mission thus begun has 
 taken root in the land, and the first Bishop was 
 consecrated in 1898. Also the Archbishop was much 
 interested in the Yarrabah Mission to Aboriginals in 
 North Queensland, which was founded in 1892 in 
 connection with the Board of Missions, and in 1893 
 he ordained the first missionary who worked there. 
 He enjoyed two visits to Yarrabah, and as the 
 " Aboriginal News " said, " His memory as a Father 
 in God will ever be kept in Yarrabah." 
 
 The Archbishop was certainly a genuine hard 
 worker, and many wondered that he could devote so
 
 xiv MEMOIR 
 
 many hours at a stretch to his labours. With infinite 
 patience he would seek out the essentials of a matter, 
 and would spare no pains to ensure accuracy. Inter- 
 views with persons, events, ideas were recorded with 
 care and order. His life was a life of toil, and a life of 
 prayer, and when, after due deliberation on a matter, 
 a stand had to be made, he was firm as a rock. 
 
 " I will hope continually and will yet praise Thee 
 more and more," was his favourite motto, and in the 
 smaller poems can be traced his never-failing trust in 
 God's guidance. 
 
 A grateful tribute to his memory was written by a 
 layman officially connected with him during his life 
 in Sydney: " His unwearied devotion to the duties of 
 his high office, his christian forbearance, his endeavour 
 to secure peace and harmony amongst us, his unvary- 
 ing desire to find the good in every man, must ever 
 make his memory treasured by those who were brought 
 in contact with him." 
 
 Another who knew him well, also wrote, " How 
 wholly true he was! You could not picture him as 
 shuffling, as equivocating, as dissembling. He was 
 honest as the day. I never saw once the least sign of 
 envy or spite or any inclination to retaliate. The 
 simplicity and sincerity of his disposition were the 
 cause of many not understanding him, they could not 
 realize that a man with such great attainments, and 
 in so high a position, could be as natural and truthful 
 as a child."
 
 MEMOIR 
 
 XV 
 
 As Primate he was loved and honoured by his 
 brother Bishops, and there was much happy inter- 
 course with them when he visited their various Dio- 
 ceses, and when they all met for the General Synod 
 which assembled every five years at Sydney. One 
 Bishop in speaking about him stated that " during the 
 nineteen years of his episcopate he saw the foundation 
 of the Ecclesiastical Provinces of Sydney, Melbourne 
 and Brisbane, and the formation of seven new Dio- 
 ceses," and he continued, " though evangelical in his 
 private opinions, he was absolutely fair," And another 
 Bishop wrote, "He will take a great place in the history 
 of the Australian Church, which has developed greatly 
 under his Primacy, and he has always promoted that 
 development most loyally." 
 
 Here may be added some touching words from a 
 sermon preached the Sunday after his death by a bro- 
 ther Archbishop, at St. Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney. 
 " Unworldliness is written broadly over his whole career ; 
 unworldliness is the message which by his life and 
 death he preaches to our world-stained hearts. It was 
 not worth his while to be popular, it was not worth 
 his while to seek success; he was able to let these 
 things pass by him because of his belief in the Unseen. 
 Two things struck me in conversations and confer- 
 ences, his belief in the Divine Guidance, and his belief 
 in the Divine Government of the world; and because 
 he believed in these things, he was able to attain to a 
 calmness of mind which lay deeper than his anxieties."
 
 xvi MEMOIR 
 
 He was also honoured and trusted by the Free 
 Churches in the Commonwealth, and one who knew 
 him well wrote, " To many quite outside his juris- 
 diction he was a real Father in God, wise, kindly, 
 tolerant and sympathetic. He extended the influence 
 of the Anglican Church far beyond her own borders, 
 and was in a very real sense, though not in that usually 
 intended, the Primate of Australia." 
 
 As to his private life, "he lived much in his 
 Bible," said one who knew him, " no one could go 
 into his study and see the ' stand up ' desk covered 
 with his Bibles, authorized, revised, Hebrew, etc., 
 without perceiving his life-long devotion to the 
 written word." Many will recall how beautifully 
 he read the Lessons in the Cathedral and other 
 churches. 
 
 In the strenuous life of a Bishop, times of relaxa- 
 tion were rare, but now and then he would take part 
 of a day off to watch some important cricket match, 
 with keen enjoyment. 
 
 His love for reading was intense, and it was wonder- 
 ful how in his crowded life he managed to devour 
 some of the books and writings of the day. How 
 reading tempted him may be gleaned from his joke 
 about himself that he was not to be trusted in a book- 
 shop for fear of " the indulgence of buying." Lan- 
 guages also interested him greatly, and he could read 
 eight or nine. On one occasion at the Baptism of 
 some Chinese converts at the Cathedral, having
 
 MEMOIR xvii 
 
 specially learnt the words, he was able to baptize them 
 in their own language. 
 
 Those who were able to see him in his happy home 
 at Bishopscourt, delighted to see him throw aside 
 his work for an hour or two, and enjoy like a boy the 
 simplest pleasures. And away in the country when 
 visiting his clergy, any children that he met would 
 find in the Archbishop a ready playmate. 
 
 In Holy Week of 1909 there were as usual Musical 
 Services in the Cathedral, the Archbishop also giving 
 a short address. Some who were present on the 
 Wednesday, will never forget the earnestness of his 
 closing words on the love of Christ, which proved to 
 be the last that he spoke in his Cathedral pulpit. 
 He ended by quoting the verse: 
 
 " And there, with all the blood-bought throng 
 
 From sin and sorrow free, 
 I'll sing the new Eternal Song 
 
 Of Jesu's love to me." 
 
 The next morning, apparently well, he did his usual 
 work, but that afternoon in his office at the Diocesan 
 Registry he was found unconscious, and the letter he 
 was writing was never finished. It was thought that 
 during the next ten days he never regained conscious- 
 ness, and on Sunday evening, April i8th, 1909, he 
 " crossed the bar." 
 
 His sudden death in the midst of his work produced 
 a wonderful effect in Sydney. The people recognized 
 that he had devoted his life to his adopted country, 
 
 b
 
 xviii MEMOIR 
 
 and there were many who gave touching proofs of 
 how much they loved and honoured their Primate. 
 The Cathedral was filled to overflowing for the first 
 part of the Burial Service by a representative and 
 sympathetic congregation. No signs of mourning 
 were there. The lovely white flowers and impressive 
 and beautiful music gave a note of Easter Victory and 
 Peace. 
 
 Large numbers of people lined the long route of 
 five miles to the beautiful Waverley Cemetery, which 
 reaches down to the shores of the Pacific Ocean. The 
 description of the scene given by one of the Sydney 
 papers may fitly conclude this brief sketch: "A soft 
 but clear air hung over the Cemetery, and there was 
 a lazy beat of rolling water against the rocks below. 
 To sea only a solitary tug was distinguishable, and 
 further out a column of smoke denoted a steamer 
 against the horizon. The elemental calmness, and 
 the absence of distracting incident served to hush 
 and further impress the very large crowd." After the 
 last hymn — " For all the saints who from their labour 
 rest " — was sung, " the people gradually withdrew, 
 and left only the rollers of the Pacific beating against 
 an empty headland, and the fresh breeze of the ocean 
 stirring the grass about a new-turned grave."
 
 Inscription on Bronze Mural Tablet in 
 St. Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney 
 
 Sacred to 
 
 the Memory of 
 
 The Most Reverend William Saumarez Smith, D.D,, D.C.L. 
 
 Archbishop of Sydney, Metropolitan of New South Wales, 
 
 and Primate of Australia and Tasmania, 
 
 Who fell asleep April iS"" 1909 
 
 Aged 73 years 
 
 In the 20"* year of his Episcopate. 
 
 A humble Servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, 
 
 A man of profound learning, 
 
 A just Administrator, 
 
 He illustrated his teaching by the example of a saintly life. 
 
 A devoted father, 
 
 A true friend. 
 
 His labours were crowned by his death in the 
 
 Diocese that he loved. 
 
 Buried at Waverley, 
 
 The first occupant of the See interred within its borders. 
 
 This Memorial is a token of affectionate gratitude 
 from his fellow Churchmen.
 
 CAPERNAUM 
 
 A SEATONIAN POEM 
 
 B
 
 Jesu dulcis memoria 
 Dans vera cordi gaudia 
 Sed super mel et omnia 
 Ejus dulcis prassentia. 
 
 S. Bernardus.
 
 PART I 
 THE SEARCH 
 
 "His own city." 
 
 OL AND of lands, what sacred mem'ries wake 
 At thought of thee, and clust'ring round me make 
 My enraptured spirit fain to soar awhile 
 Above the petty things which here beguile 
 Man's feeble soul, and keep him in the dust! 
 Aye, golden mem'ries are they, which no rust 
 Of earth's corroding cares can spoil for me, 
 Mem'ries of Zion, and of Galilee! 
 
 Joy mixt with sorrow; gladness seen through tears; 
 Glimpses of heav'n beyond poor passing years 
 Of earthly feebleness and sin ; bright hope 
 Beaming upon dark clouds of unbelief, 
 And fringing with her light the pall of grief. 
 That men no longer should despairing grope; 
 Dread words of doom ' fast following deeds of love. 
 Yet gracious words of one who would reprove 
 That He might save; works wondrously divine 
 Of mighty mercy, making glory shine 
 
 ^ See Matt. xi. 20-24. Luke, x. 13-16.
 
 4 CAPERNAUM 
 
 In regions where, before, men sat in gloom ; ' 
 
 And, at the last, that Death which made death die, 
 
 And from the very portals of the tomb 
 
 Sent forth the pledge of immortality; — 
 
 They come, they come! those mem'ries of the past 
 
 Now singly vivid, now succeeding fast. 
 
 Sometimes, like light'ning flash 
 
 Followed by thunder-crash, 
 
 They stir the listless soul ; at other times, 
 
 As now to me, they seem like distant chimes 
 
 To one who, on some tranquil summer eve, 
 
 Walks through the fields to church; upon his ears 
 
 Soft falls the soothing sound ; he cannot grieve, 
 
 Peace holds him ; yet his eyes are full of tears. 
 
 So come those sacred mem'ries now to me. 
 
 Heard softly in their mingled melodies, — 
 
 As one may hear, not seeing, through the trees 
 
 Low mutter'd murmurings of a far off sea, — 
 
 Mem'ries of Zion, and of Galilee! 
 
 'Twas dawn; I stood upon the silent shore 
 Of thy long-look'd-for lake, Gennesaret, 
 Which strain'd imagination oft before 
 Had pictured bright and beautiful ; I set 
 My eager eyes upon the wish'd-for sight, 
 Thy waves just tinted with the yellow light 
 Of the advancing morn, and my heart leapt 
 Within me: was it joy, or was it grief 
 
 ' See Matt. iv. 13-17.
 
 CAPERNAUM 5 
 
 That moved me then, and made the ready tear 
 
 Start to my eyes as if to give relief 
 
 To some full pent-up tide which could not bear 
 
 Longer restraint? I joy'd, and yet I wept. 
 
 'Twas not the sight of beauteous scenery, 
 
 The fertile plain, the hills, the bright'ning sea, 
 
 Which touch'd my heart, I could not praise nor blame,' 
 
 For not of them I thought when through my frame 
 
 Tingled the flood of strong emotion; no! 
 
 I thought of Him who, years and years ago. 
 
 Had seen of that which then I saw, had walk'd 
 
 Upon that shingly beach, and there had talk'd 
 
 To crowds who hung upon His lips of grace,^ 
 
 And saw the love-light beaming from His face, — 
 
 I thought of Him, the Holy and the True, 
 
 The King of Heaven, the despised Jew, 
 
 The Man of Nazareth, th' Incarnate God, 
 
 I thought of Jesus! He, my Saviour, trod 
 
 The paths which now I tread ; the morning light 
 
 Which glowing round me groweth into day 
 
 Has often shone on Him when the long night 
 
 Of lone prayer on these hills had pass'd away; 
 
 Those rippling waters oft have kiss'd His feet 
 
 When standing on the shore, or from the seat 
 
 1 " It is a moment if any," says Dean Stanley of his first view 
 of the Lake of Tiberias, " when recollections of the past disarm^ 
 any attempts to criticise the details of the actual scene." Sinai 
 and Palestine (3rd Edition), p. 369. 
 
 "" Comp. Ps. xlv. 4, and Luke, v. i.
 
 6 CAPERNAUM 
 
 In Simon's boat^ He spake His words of power. 
 Oft in the cool of morn, or soothing hour 
 Of stilly eve, the fisher's humble bark 
 Has borne Him o'er the lake, and even so 
 Has by His presence been a very Ark 
 In which, safe from surrounding care and woe, 
 His chosen ones might rest, secure in Him. 
 ***** 
 
 I thought and thought, — and still my eyes were dim 
 With weeping when I turned to leave the spot 
 That I might seek what was, but now is not 
 The favour'd resting-place of Love Divine, 
 And find at least some certifying sign 
 E'en though it were a ruin, speaking doom. 
 Of Christ's OWN CITY, fair Capernaum. 
 
 And all that day I search'd, once and again, 
 Gennesaret's now desolated plain, 
 Which skirts the lake upon the v/est, and looks 
 Like a soft-cushion'd bed, whereon the brooks, 
 Tired of toils in mountainous ravine, 
 Are fain to linger, ere they leave the scene. 
 And lose themselves in the deep-basin'd ^ sea. 
 'Twas not thus once; this deep tranquillity. 
 Like the sad silence of a grave-yard, hangs 
 
 ^ See Matt. xiii. 2, with Luke, v. 3. 
 
 * "... What makes it unhke any of our Enghsh lakes is the 
 deep depression which gives it something of the strange unnatural 
 character that belongs in a still greater degree to the Dead Sea." 
 Sinai and Palcsti^ie, p. 370.
 
 CAPERNAUM 7 
 
 O'er what were busy haunts of men, where pangs 
 Were felt and pleasures fled, and human life 
 Show'd its capacities for peace and strife 
 In the thick-peopled ^ towns of Galilee. 
 
 I search'd. The few poor huts of Magdala 
 Were all I found, save, now and then, amid 
 A tangled mass of thorns, half seen, half hid. 
 Shapeless and mournful ruins. Here a few 
 Old marble slabs round which the rank weeds grew, 
 Might mark the site of rich ' Bethsaida ; 
 And that low mound,' from which hewn stones, scarce 
 seen 
 
 ^ The plain of Gennesaret (or Chinnereth) was a very populous 
 district when our Lord dwelt there. It was crowded with towns 
 and villages, in which the "busy stir of life" manifested itself in 
 most diverse ways. Roman soldiers, Galilean fishermen, pro- 
 sperous merchants, a hardy and somewhat turbulent peasantry 
 contributed to make up a picture of energetic restless life to 
 which no greater contrast can be conceived than the present 
 aspect of the plain, as described by travellers. See Sinai and 
 Palestine, pp. 375-377, and 382. Josephus affirms that, owing to 
 the fecundity of the soil, Galilee was covered with towns and 
 villages, the smallest of which contained above 15,000 inhabitants. 
 
 ^ It is not impossible that Bethsaida derived its name from 
 the fisheries established there, which were doubtless a lucrative 
 source of income to their owners. 
 
 ^ At Khan Minyeh " Dr. Robinson remarked a low rnound, 
 with ruins occupying a considerable circumference, and here he 
 is inclined to seek the probable position of the ancient Caper- 
 naum." Others advocate the place called Tell Hum. (See a well- 
 written article on Capernaum, in the Family Treasury, for 1859, 
 signed j. D. B.)
 
 8 CAPERNAUM 
 
 Jutting from rubbish, say there might have been 
 In olden times large buildings here, may be 
 For aught we know — none can speak certainly — 
 The spot I seek, where once Capernaum stood. 
 
 My search had ceased. I could no longer seek 
 
 Where naught was sure. A melancholy mood 
 
 Crept o'er me when from a commanding peak 
 
 Of one of Galilee's green hills I gazed 
 
 Upon the plain and lake beneath, amazed 
 
 To find so desolate and sad a view. 
 
 Alas! the stern prophetic words ^ were true 
 
 Which spake of coming woe, those words which fell 
 
 Unheeded, like the sound of funeral bell 
 
 On careless ear; for hearts with sin engross'd 
 
 Think of and love the present pleasure most, 
 
 Blind to the future wrath. 
 
 The empty plain, 
 The lake unspeckt by fisher's sail, how changed 
 Their aspect now from that they bore when He, 
 Whose gentle ministry of mercy ranged 
 Hence as a centre throughout Galilee, 
 Look'd on their bustling scenes, with much of pain 
 And more of pity! Where is now the crowd 
 Which, following eagerly His footsteps, bow'd 
 Attentive ears to the good words which flow'd, 
 Fresh as the stream at Horeb's rock bestow'd, 
 
 ' Matt. xi. 20-24.
 
 CAPERNAUM 9 
 
 From One who taught " not as the Scribes," but spake 
 
 With earnest utterances such as make 
 
 The dull heart feel, the slumb'ring conscience wake, 
 
 And tell of God? Where now the fishermen 
 
 Mending their nets upon the strand, or fain 
 
 To launch into the deep at His command? 
 
 Where the proud Pharisee? the learned Scribe? 
 
 And those for whom they had a ready jibe. 
 
 The publicans and sinners, wretched band, 
 
 Whose very wretchedness call'd for the love 
 
 Of Him who came to save the lost, and heal 
 
 Those whose disease none other could remove? 
 
 Gone! Gone! and mournful voices seem to steal 
 
 O'er the deserted plain with cries of Woe ! 
 
 Aye, bitter woe hath pass'd upon the land, 
 
 For all its once so joyous towns lie low. 
 
 Lie low, of all their joy and pride bereft 
 
 By the destroying Angel's wrathful hand: 
 
 Thistles and thorns, symbols of primal curse 
 
 On God's world spoilt by man, now roughly nurse 
 
 In ruin's cradle all that yet is left 
 
 Of what was once the neighbourhood and home 
 
 Of Jesus! 
 
 " Woe to thee, Capernaum " ' — 
 (So spake He when thou hadst been highly blest 
 With Him, Immanuel, for thy guest, 
 And unbelieving turn'dst thy face away,) 
 
 ^ Matt. I.e.
 
 10 CAPERNAUM 
 
 " Woe unto thee which art exalted now, 
 
 " Down to the very dust of death shalt thou 
 
 " Be humbled, for if Sodom had but seen 
 
 " The mighty works which in this place have been 
 
 " Wrought by my hand, it had remain'd this day." 
 
 Aye, woe has come upon the land ; no more 
 
 Chorazin and Bethsaida are known. 
 
 And heaps of desolate fragments still disown 
 
 A proper name upon Gennesaret's shore. 
 
 Woe! Woe! the mournful voices seem'd to glide 
 
 O'er the lone lake and plain, and up the side 
 
 Of thorn-enfolded ^ hills, filling the air 
 
 With melancholy wailings. 
 
 Long I gazed. 
 And then descending to the beach sat there, 
 Reading the gospel-story, till it raised 
 My thoughts from the dead Past to Him who lives 
 To-Day as Yesterday the same, and gives 
 To all who follow Him, and bear the cross, 
 A life and home beyond all reach of loss. 
 
 The sun went down behind the hills, and soon, 
 Queenly 'mid circling stars, the bright-faced moon 
 Gleam'd on me, mirror'd in the tranquil lake; 
 With lingering, reluctant steps I take 
 My homeward path, as one afeard to break 
 
 * "... The ' Nabk ' or thorn-tree . . . here breaks out along 
 the hill-sides in thick jungles." Sinai and Palestine (p. 370).
 
 CAPERNAUM ii 
 
 The charm which binds him to some sacred place, 
 Who wishes that he may with ease retrace, 
 In mem'ry's backward journeyings, each link 
 Of the enchaining bond, and fondly think 
 Again the thoughts inspired by the scene 
 So sad yet calm, so mournful yet serene. 
 
 END OF PART I
 
 12 
 
 PART II 
 
 THE DREAM 
 
 " Sleep hath its own world." 
 
 I 
 
 I SLEPT; but whilst in soft repose 
 My wearied limbs were wrapt, 
 Before my wakeful spirit rose 
 In long succession — at the first, perplext, 
 One picture ever mingling with the next, 
 But afterwards to order growing 
 And like a gentle river flowing, — 
 Visions of fancy, such as might 
 Be deem'd of all most apt 
 To circle me with thoughts that night, 
 While still, like th' underswell of ocean 
 The past day's tide of strong emotion 
 Heaved in my breast, and all around 
 My resting-place was holy ground. 
 
 II 
 
 Methought I saw the lake again 
 But not, as in the day, with pain;
 
 CAPERNAUM 13 
 
 For on its blue expanse 
 
 Merrily seem'd to dance 
 Hundreds of sunlit sails, and on 
 Its margin, ever and anon, 
 Gleam'd, sparkling in the laughing light 
 Houses and temples rich and bright; ^ 
 
 And, shouting on the shore. 
 Were groups of fishers, such as those 
 Who at the Master's call arose. 
 Forsaking all to follow Christ, 
 
 And, found in Him far more 
 Than earth's best wealth and highest priced 
 
 Could ever give, and then. 
 Leaving their work for nobler toil. 
 Amidst the world's confused turmoil 
 
 Became " fishers of men." 
 
 Ill 
 This first appear'd, and nothing more, 
 
 But soon in medley strange, 
 Scene swiftly chasing scene I saw. 
 
 And change succeeding change; 
 
 As in dissolving views 
 
 With which we would amuse 
 
 ' "... We see that the whole basin [of the sea of Galilee] must 
 have been a focus of life and energy ; the surface of the lake 
 constantly dotted with the white sails of vessels, flying before 
 the mountain gusts, as the beach sparkled with the houses and 
 palaces, the synagogues and the temples of the Jewish or Roman 
 inhabitants." Sinai and Palestine, "p. 375.
 
 14 CAPERNAUM 
 
 Our gazing children while they ope 
 At quickly glancing chromatrope 
 Wide eyes of wonder, even so 
 My visions flutter'd to and fro, 
 And rested not, but hurrying by 
 A moment seen, the next they fly, 
 And tho' I fain 
 Would still retain 
 The glittering forms which pass and pass 
 Before my dreaming sight, as in a glass, 
 I feel myself unable 
 
 To beckon them to stay, 
 Or bid them go away. 
 Or make the fleeting vision stable. 
 
 IV 
 
 At length a calmer mood 
 Came o'er the spirit of my dream. 
 
 Methought an old man stood 
 Upon the beach ; close by a stream ' 
 Emptied itself into the lake, 
 Pouring its waters through a brake 
 Of oleander mixt with thorn ; 
 Above, bright fields of waving corn 
 Clad its low banks, and further on 
 Gleam'd in the sunlifjht the white stone 
 
 't>' 
 
 1 
 
 One of the supposed sites of Capernaum is near the Ain-et-tin, 
 i.e. the Fountain of the Fig-tree, from which an abundant stream 
 flows into the lake close by a high projecting rock.
 
 CAPERNAUM 15 
 
 Of some large town, from which the hum 
 Of business and of revelry, 
 Now dimly, now defiantly, 
 Invaded the old man's quiet spot: 
 Then by some means, I know not what, 
 I felt I saw Capernaum. 
 
 V 
 
 The old man's look was grave and sad; 
 And, though around him voices glad 
 Of children, playing on the sand, 
 Rang in his ears on either hand, — 
 And from a high projecting rock ^ 
 Rebounded, dim, as if the shock 
 Had ta'en a little of the breath, 
 But not avail'd to silence quite 
 The merriment and gladsome might 
 Of those young voices, — he the while 
 Silent look'd on without a smile: 
 They life enjoy'd; he thought on death: 
 
 VI 
 Yet not upon his own ; his faith 
 Was fix'd ; Jesus of Nazareth, 
 The Prophet, who on Calvary died, 
 But rose the third day, glorified, 
 And afterwards from Olivet 
 
 * See last note.
 
 i6 CAPERNAUM 
 
 Ascended in a cloud, would come 
 Again and take him safely home; 
 He knew it; He had firmly set 
 His heart's best hopes on things above, 
 And rested in His Saviour's love: 
 
 VII 
 
 Not for himself the old man mourn'd, 
 But that his fellow-townsmen scorn'd 
 The humble faith they would not share: 
 Th' Anointed One had spoken there 
 Wise words of warning, and had done 
 Deeds which proclaim'd Him as the Son 
 Of God, but they refused the light 
 Which shone amongst them, calmly bright, 
 And now the shade of death to come 
 Hung over doom'd Capernaum. 
 
 VIII 
 Thus had he mused, till a sad streak 
 Of moisture down the wither'd cheek 
 Betray'd the sorrow of his heart; 
 A gentle child was standing near, 
 And, when he saw the falling tear, 
 He brought, as anxious to impart 
 The only comfort that he knew, 
 A sprig of rosy flow'rs which grew 
 Upon the river's side; with this 
 He sidled up, and press'd a kiss
 
 CAPERNAUM 17 
 
 Upon the aged sorrower's hand: 
 
 Like the refreshing influence 
 
 Of rain upon the new-mown land/ 
 
 So on him came the soothing sense 
 
 Of the child's simple kindliness; 
 
 He took him in his arms, and said, 
 
 Just bending o'er the little head, 
 
 " Child, may the God of Abraham bless 
 
 " Thy growing years, and shield thee well 
 
 " From all the snares of earth and hell ! 
 
 " 'Tis now some thirty years and three 
 
 " Since a fair, gentle child " like thee 
 
 " (He is not living now — God's will 
 
 " Is best — my restless soul, be still!) 
 
 " Nestled in other arms than mine, 
 " And words of blessing richly fell 
 " From One of whom I love to tell, 
 " From One who was a Teacher, sent 
 " From Heav'n, and in Him strangely blent 
 
 " The Human, and Divine." 
 
 IX 
 
 Then quick the little lad replied, 
 With eager looks of childish pride 
 
 ^ See Ps. Ixxii. 6. 
 
 ^ The old man's son (of whom he speaks) is identified with 
 the little child mentioned Matt, xviii. 2. Thirty-three (or accord- 
 ing to the more accurate chronology thirty-seven years) would 
 bring us to the year 65 A.D., which is the time of the supposed 
 incident in the dream. 
 
 C
 
 i8 CAPERNAUM 
 
 In knowing whom the old man meant, 
 " I know thou meanest Him who went 
 " Through all the country round about, 
 " And poor, sick folk were taken out ' 
 " That He might cure them of their pain, 
 " And make them all quite well again, 
 "Jesus they call'd Him; He is GoD 
 " As well as man, and though He trod 
 " Upon this earth. He's now on high, 
 " Ascended into the blue sky." 
 
 X 
 
 With earnest look the old man said, 
 
 " Thou'rt right, my child," and wondered 
 
 That never at the love-feast (where 
 
 The Christian brethren met for prayer 
 
 And joyful union of praise 
 
 In those — the Church's early — days,) 
 
 His eyes had seen that eager boy, 
 
 Whose simple words thrill'd him with joy, 
 
 For he had long'd for sympathy. 
 
 And now this fresh simplicity 
 
 Of child-like trust touch'd his sad heart 
 
 With thankfulness, and heal'd the smart 
 
 Of many a bitter sneer and jest 
 
 Which late had marr'd his sense of rest. 
 
 '■ See Matt. xv. 30, Matt. viii. 16. Luke, iv. 40.
 
 CAPERNAUM 19 
 
 XI 
 
 And as he gazed at him and smiled, 
 Thus prattled on that little child : 
 " And do you know that father says, 
 *' Once, when my good old Lysias 
 " (He is my father's best-loved slave, 
 " He 's very kind, and strong, and brave,) 
 " Was sick with palsy, Jesus came 
 
 " Near to our house,' and spake 
 " Some gracious words, and then the frame 
 " Of that poor stricken man was cured, 
 " And all the pain that he endured 
 " Left him at once: was He not good? 
 " And Lysias, and my father too, 
 " Finding in Him a Prophet true, 
 " Gave up their gods of stone and wood 
 
 " For the good Jesus' sake." 
 
 XII 
 
 " I know thee now," the old man cried, 
 "And is thy father back, and well?" 
 The child had hardly time to tell. 
 When in the distance he espied 
 
 A tall and martial form ; 
 Then bounding from the old man's knee 
 Ran to his father eagerly : 
 
 Bright were the looks, and warm 
 
 ^ See Luke, vii. 6.
 
 20 CAPERNAUM 
 
 The fatherly embrace which met 
 
 The running boy. Meanwhile 
 His aged friend, anxious to get 
 Some words of converse, forward came 
 
 And with a friendly smile. 
 Saluting th' other by his name. 
 Said thus: "Well met. Centurion! 
 "Welcome to thee! thy little son 
 " Is like his father! When didst come 
 " Back to our loved Capernaum?" 
 
 XIII 
 "Hail, friend! I came but yesterday," 
 The soldier said, " and must away 
 "Before three days have run their course; 
 
 " Hast thou not heard the news? 
 " Six thousand foot, a thousand horse, 
 " Are ordered down to Sepphoris: ' 
 
 ' When Vespasian brought down his army from Antioch to 
 Ptolemais about the end of the year 65 a.d. Placidus, we are 
 told by Josephus, was ordered to take a thousand horse and six 
 thousand foot to the aid of Sepphoris, whose inhabitants had not 
 joined the insurgents of Galilee. Josephus adds, " that the thous- 
 and horse were very troublesome to him in plundering the neigh- 
 bouring country." I think it not at all an improbable supposition 
 that the large, unfortified villages and towns on the plain of Gen- 
 nesaret were rendered uninhabitable, if not entirely destroyed, 
 during the period which Vespasian occupied in subduing Galilee, 
 viz. A.D. 65-67. If so, Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum met 
 with their doom at the hands of the same soldiers who afterwards 
 destroyed Jerusalem, and again fulfilled prophetic denunciations 
 which our Lord had uttered.
 
 CAPERNAUM 21 
 
 " There will be work for us, I wis, 
 
 " And I must not refuse 
 " To fight for order and for Rome: 
 " But my heart aches for the old home. 
 " Here was I station'd first, and here 
 " In the first blush of my career 
 *' I learn'd what now I hold more dear 
 "Than life or honour: yet 'twas not 
 " Till years had lapsed, old friend, since first 
 " I met thee on this very spot 
 " And spoke of Jesus, that the thirst 
 " Of my poor soul was satisfied ; 
 " By suff ring and by sorrow tried, 
 " I learnt, at last, this world was vain, 
 
 " And then my soul was turn'd 
 " To Him who heal'd my servant's pain, 
 
 "To Him who never spurn'd 
 " A suppliant for His mighty aid ; 
 "And, oh! how earnestly, I pray'd 
 " That He would mercifully heal 
 " My sin-sick soul : and now I feel 
 
 " My prayer was heard on high ; 
 "Jesus will help, uphold, forgive; 
 " For Him I wish and strive to live, 
 
 Prepared in Him to die." 
 
 XIV 
 Then said the other, speaking low 
 With deep emotion, " Is it so?
 
 22 CAPERNAUM 
 
 " My long'd-for friend, then it is well, 
 " For Jesus gives, what none can tell, 
 
 " The peace which passeth thought, 
 "In which our souls alone can find, 
 
 " What this world never brought, 
 " A grateful view of things behind, 
 " A hope of better things to come, 
 " A hope of an enduring home." 
 
 XV 
 Then follow'd converse long and sweet, 
 Such as is fitting when friends meet 
 After long severance. They talk'd 
 Of earlier times when they had vvalk'd 
 Together by the lake, and heard 
 
 Their loving Master's voice. 
 And many a deed and many a word, 
 Recall'd to mem'ry, cheer'd them then, 
 But most His sympathy with men ' 
 
 Strengthen'd them to rejoice. 
 
 XVI 
 
 Well they remember'd those old days 
 Whose light still shone, as shine the rays 
 At sunset when the dark'ning sky 
 
 ■ When Jesus emerged from the retirement of Nazareth and 
 took up his abode on the busy shores of the lake of Gennesaret, 
 He began and continued that course of merciful interpositions 
 which St. Matthew tells us were a fulfilment of the words of 
 Esaias, " Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses."
 
 CAPERNAUM 25 
 
 Retains a tender brilliancy, 
 
 And, ling'ring still, the golden light 
 
 Will not be quench'd in utter night. 
 
 They spake of sabbaths long gone by, 
 
 When in the synagogue He taught ^ 
 
 The eager listeners earnestly. 
 
 And words with marv'llous mystery fraught ^ 
 
 Offer'd God's life to dying men, 
 
 And join'd our earth to heav'n again. 
 
 XVII 
 And still they paced that pebbly beach. 
 And talk'd on, each reminding each. 
 Of wond'rous works which Jesus did ; 
 His fame, said they, could not be hid; 
 All Syria heard, and people came 
 From Judaea and Jerusalem, 
 And from all parts of Galilee, 
 And Jordan's further bank,' to see 
 The mighty Prophet who had come 
 From Naz'reth to Capernaum.^ 
 
 XVIII 
 But suddenly, methought, 
 Their voices sadder grew; " Ah, me! " 
 
 See Luke, iv. 31. 
 
 - A special instance maybe found in John, vi : for the discourse 
 of our Lord recorded in that chapter took place at Capernaum 
 (see ver. 59). 
 
 3 See Matt. iv. 25. 
 
 * See Matt. iv. 13.
 
 24 CAPERNAUM 
 
 One seem'd to say, " how soon we let 
 " Our best thoughts slip, how soon forget 
 "In this world's busy rivalry 
 
 "The wonders God hath wrought! 
 " He came to us, how few received! 
 " He preach'd to us, how few believed! 
 " His mightiest deeds were deeds of love; 
 " We heeded not, and from above 
 " Anger for love now cometh down, 
 " And our once high exalted town 
 " Will crumble in the dust, sad sign 
 " Of human sin, and wrath divine." 
 
 ***** 
 
 XIX 
 A fearful change came o'er my dream: 
 The lake was there, and that same stream 
 Still pour'd its waters through the brake 
 Of thorn and flow'rs ; but the blue lake 
 Was red with streaks of human gore,^ 
 And strew'd along the frightful shore 
 Were fest'ring corpses ; all the air 
 
 ' Josephus gives the following description of the lake after 
 the siege of Tarichasa by the Romans, under Titus, in 67 A.D. 
 "Then might have been seen the whole lake discoloured with 
 blood, and choked with dead ; for not one [of those who attempted, 
 in rafts and boats, to continue the resistance to the Romans after 
 the town had been taken,] escaped. Dreadful on the following 
 days was the stench diffused throughout the country, and shock- 
 ing the spectacle presented. For the shores were covered with 
 wrecks and with swollen carcases."
 
 CAPERNAUM 25 
 
 Seem'd tainted with pestifrous breath, 
 And naught around, but spake of death. 
 Here swollen limbs lay ghastly, there 
 Some shatter'd planks, or broken masts, 
 Proclaim'd disaster worse than blasts 
 Of sudden storm-wind. Then I look'd 
 Towards the town, but hardly brook'd 
 The cruel sight which met my eyes ; 
 Ruin had fall'n on wall and gate, 
 Houses and streets were desolate, 
 And only shrieks of pain, or sighs 
 Of hopeless sorrow seem'd to come 
 From the once glad Capernaum. 
 
 XX 
 
 The sad sounds seem'd to die away 
 
 In sadder silence; nevermore 
 
 May children on that fertile shore 
 
 Run from their neighb'ring home to play 
 
 Beside the water's edge, or wait 
 
 To see the scaly glittering freight 
 
 Of fisher's boat unladed there. 
 
 Hush'd are their merry voices now; 
 
 The beaming eye, the wrinkled brow. 
 
 That bright with youth, this lined with care, 
 
 Are crush'd by death's impartial hand; 
 
 Fell desolation sweeps the land ; 
 
 Unpeopled now is ev'ry town ; 
 
 Corn-fields and vines are trampled down ;
 
 26 CAPERNAUM 
 
 Each lordly house, each homely hut 
 In open emptiness is shut 
 From human owners, — some are fled, 
 Plunder and war have left their dead, — 
 And the wild foxes make their den 
 In what were homes of living men. 
 
 XXI 
 
 One further change came o'er my dream. 
 The quiet scene of yesternight 
 Once more appear'd ; and when the light 
 Of morning with its cheerful gleam 
 My strangely chequer'd visions broke, 
 In peaceful calmness I awoke. 
 
 END OF PART II
 
 27 
 
 PART III 
 
 THE LESSON 
 
 "If in seeking for some vestige of the Saviour's earthly dwell- 
 ing-place a voice reminds us like that of the angel at the sepulchre 
 that ' He is not here, he is risen,' the sight of Magdala and the 
 remembrance of Mary may tell us that He still makes His abode 
 as of old, with every one that is of a humble and contrite heart. 
 If we have sought for a city and only found a grave, the search 
 is not vain if we decipher the epitaph written over it, and over 
 many a spot once blessed with light as clear and privileges as 
 exalted : ' Because of unbelief they were cast off; but thou stand- 
 est by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear. For if God spared 
 not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.'" 
 
 ("Capernaum," by J. D. B., in The Family Treasury^ 1859.) 
 
 I FOUND not what my soul was wont to crave; 
 I sought a city, but I found a grave ; 
 I sought the home of Christ on earth, I found 
 A heap of melancholy stones, wrapt round 
 With weeds and briars, and these, some people said, 
 Were relics of the city call'd '^His own " ; 
 And some denied, and pointed further on 
 To Tell Hum's larger ruins at the head 
 Of the famed lake to which my pilgrimage 
 Had taken me. 
 
 Well, let the critics wage 
 Their endless controversy, but to me
 
 28 CAPERNAUM 
 
 My disappointed curiosity 
 
 Has taught me lessons I shall ne'er forget 
 
 Upon the shores of blue Gennesaret. 
 
 I sought a city, and I found a grave, 
 (For desolation's ruthless wave 
 Had swept all signs of the old busy life 
 From the once sacred place;) what then? shall I 
 About dead bones stir up a fruitless strife, 
 Pain'd at the perishable memory 
 Of outward things? Nay, rather let me learn. 
 As one who bending o'er a funeral urn 
 Lifts up his thoughts from ashes to the sky, — 
 From death's sad monument they thankful fly 
 To where death is not known, where no decay 
 May take the bloom of beauty's life away. 
 Where mortal changes cease, and joy and love 
 Are never marr'd in God's bright courts above, — 
 So let me learn to look beyond the earth. 
 Nor think the wayside ruins * of such worth 
 That I by them should fretful stay, and lose 
 In mournful mists below the heaven's glad hues. 
 
 'Tis strange, indeed, that on the very spot 
 Where living fountains sprang, their trace should not 
 
 ^ " Nor by the wayside ruins let us mourn 
 
 Who have th' eternal towers for our appointed bourne." 
 Keble'S Christian Year (ist S. after Trin.).
 
 CAPERNAUM 29 
 
 Be found ; but who for that should glory less 
 In the full river's spreading blessedness? 
 
 Sin pusheth Eden from the world ; no sign 
 Is left to us, whereby we may divine 
 The habitation of the primal man, 
 When all was " very good," nor yet the ban 
 Had pass'd upon our race, nor death had thrown 
 Its gloomy shade of suffring and of woe 
 On all that else would gladden man below. 
 But not for that do we, despairing, moan 
 The past, nor hope the less that there shall come 
 A brighter Eden, and a better home. 
 
 The second Adam came, and dwelt awhile 
 On earth; the Very Light of God did smile 
 Upon a land of darkness and of death ; 
 But now the light is gone; 'tis dark once more 
 Upon Gennes'ret's highly favour'd shore; 
 No more amid the hills of Nazareth 
 The Son of Mary roams, and Galilee 
 Has lost His impress of divinity; 
 No glory shines to mark the hallow'd place 
 Where He abode, no monumental trace 
 Is left whereon we might, admiring, gaze 
 And mingle lamentation with our praise: 
 But not the less we seek our Saviour's home 
 And find in heav'n the true Capernaum.' 
 
 ^ The name Capemaum (omi ^D^) may, and possibly does, 
 mean "Abode of comfort."
 
 30 CAPERNAUM 
 
 I sought a city, and I found a grave, 
 Empty and nameless by Gennes'ret's wave: 
 But clear and sweet the voice HOPE uttereth 
 From the deserted plain of Chinnereth, 
 And bids us, ling'ring not in the dead Past, 
 To urge our onward path, and upward cast 
 The looks that meet not with contentment here ; 
 She bids us cease the moan, and dry the tear, 
 As at the garden-tomb at dawn of day. 
 When Death's dark covering was roll'd away, 
 " He is not here," the white-robed Angel said, 
 " Why seek the Living One among the dead? " 
 He is not here, He lives; this dying world 
 Might not long hold Him back; God's heav'n un- 
 
 furl'd 
 Its golden curtains,^ and received Him in 
 Where naught is touch'd by Death or spoilt by sin. 
 
 He is not here; He lives; heaven's glassy sea" 
 Is better than the lake of Galilee, 
 The golden-streeted new Jerusalem 
 Is better worthy of Capernaum's name 
 Than earthly city, worthy to be call'd 
 City of comfort! there a glorious band, 
 Thousands on thousands, the bright angels stand 
 And chant the Saviour's praise ; sorrow and grief 
 Enter not in; the scorn of unbelief 
 
 ' " And a cloud received Him out of their sight." Acts, i. 9. 
 ^ Rev. iv. 6.
 
 CAPERNAUM 31 
 
 Has ceased; the painful fast, the lonely prayer, 
 Hunger and thirst and want are unknown there. 
 O glorious dwelling of the Lamb! O blest 
 Abode of Jesus, where the joy and rest 
 Dread not a coming woe, and never more 
 The curse may come upon that happy shore! 
 
 But other tones, and sterner, blended rise 
 With those in which Hope points to Paradise; 
 Fear mingles v/ith our joy and pride is still'd 
 By the sad signs of God's just wrath fulfill'd. 
 
 Capernaum had glory once; God's Son, 
 The Holy Jesus, the Anointed One, 
 Held there His ministry of truth and grace; 
 Often her citizens beheld that face 
 So mark'd with toil and care yet so divine 
 That from its every lineament and line 
 Beam'd forth pure rays of awful saintliness. 
 Ready to punish, where they might not bless. 
 Oft in their synagogue He taught, and by 
 The lake, where fishermen would daily ply 
 Their wonted tasks, and many gladly heard 
 What times He spake His life-inspiring word : 
 Demoniacs, whose awful madness scared 
 All others, so that none, though wishing, dared 
 To proffer help, were calm'd and cured by Him ; 
 Hush'd was the inner turbulence, each whim 
 Of frantic fury ceased, and at his word
 
 32 CAPERNAUM 
 
 The demons fled, acknowledging the Lord: 
 
 The dead He raised ; the wither'd hand grew strong 
 
 At his command ; fever and leprosy 
 
 Were banish'd by His touch immediately; 
 
 And people brought their dear ones, who had long 
 
 Suffer'd from divers maladies, and pray'd 
 
 That He would heal ; gently the Saviour laid 
 
 His hands upon the sick, and they were well. 
 
 Favour'd Capernaum ! who can rightly tell 
 The many mighty works which Jesus did 
 That thou might'st see in Him the Messenger 
 Of God to man? alas! thou didst defer 
 Thine opportunity, and well He chid 
 Thy slow, hard heart, and prophesied the fate 
 Which one day soon should make thee desolate! 
 
 City, where Matthew heard the sacred call,' 
 And, hearing, straightway left behind him all 
 His once-prized plans, and hopes of worldly gain, 
 To follow Jesus, why didst thou remain 
 So dull of heart, so wrapt in worldliness, 
 That, at the last, e'en God's own will to bless 
 Withstood by unbelief, (most awful thought!) 
 Yielded to thine unwillingness, and brought 
 Thy ruin on thee, as, in times of old. 
 When Sodom's sin cried up to heav'n, the fire 
 Of vengeance, swift descending, did enfold 
 
 ' Mark, ii. 14.
 
 CAPERNAUM 33 
 
 The guilty cities of the southern plain in dire 
 Destruction : but, Capernaum, far worse 
 Thy crime than theirs, and meriting a curse 
 More, and more bitter! they in darkness were 
 Compared with thee, but thou didst Night prefer 
 After the Light had come, and, when it shone, 
 Thy soul still slept, as if there had been none. 
 
 The glory is departed now ; the lonely sod 
 Moulders above thy tomb, and from the plain 
 So favour'd once, cometh a cry of pain 
 Which waileth, "Ichabod! ah, Ichabod, 
 " The glory is departed now ; God's Ark 
 " Is taken from us ; ah, 'tis dark, 'tis dark ! " 
 
 O fair, lost city! like a widow ^ now 
 With hair dishevelled, and discrowned brow, 
 I see thee stand : a wreck of beauty lies 
 In those deep-sunken, melancholy eyes, 
 (All else about thee speaks of death), and this 
 Is but the sorrow for a former bliss. 
 Despair has paled her faded cheeks ; her grief 
 Has made her like a brown and wither'd leaf, 
 Hopeless of second spring: she seems to speak, 
 But her sweet voice is now a mournful shriek ; 
 Surely she moaneth out dread names of woe 
 Which Israel's prophet utter'd long ago,* 
 
 ' Comp. Lam. i. i. "" See Hosea, i. 6-9. 
 
 D
 
 34 CAPERNAUM 
 
 And thus about herself, methinks, she sings 
 Unto a tuneless harp with broken strings: 
 
 " Sadly fallen, sorely sinning! 
 "Oh! how diff'rent my beginning 
 
 " From my awful doom ! 
 " Ephraim's daughter once Thou loved'st, 
 " Now from out Thy sight removed'st 
 
 " To a dreadful doom ! 
 " Lo-Ruhamah! name of anger! 
 " Once beloved, now a stranger, 
 
 " Un-beloved one! 
 " Once Immanuel's chosen city, 
 " Now none bears me love or pity, 
 
 " Un-beloved one! 
 "Sadly fallen, madly sinning! 
 "Oh! how difif'rent my beginning 
 
 " From my awful doom ! 
 " Sons of Jacob whom thou loved'st 
 " Thus from out thy sight removed'st 
 
 " To a cursed doom! 
 " For a name of wrath Thou gavest 
 " To the people once Thou saved'st 
 
 " Not Thy people now! 
 " Call them now Lo-Ammi, cast them 
 " Far away, my love has pass'd them, 
 
 " Not my people now! " 
 
 The phantom of my vision fades away, 
 
 Yet that sad plain, and hills, and lake convey
 
 CAPERNAUM 35 
 
 The echo of her words, and speak the doom 
 
 Which long has overwhelm'd Capernaum. 
 
 And have we here no warning lesson giv'n 
 
 To mingle with the HOPE which points to heav'n? 
 
 Ah, yes! REMORSE and RuiN bid us fear 
 
 Lest when the Light of Light draws near 
 
 We should, with faithless hearts, neglect and spurn 
 
 The love which once removed may ne'er return. 
 
 So ends my tale : 'tis blent of hope and grief; 
 Evoking faith, it chideth unbelief; 
 Telling of sin's dread doom, it wounds our heart 
 With searching pain, but straightway heals the smart 
 By thoughts of Him whose mercy saves from sin, 
 And does its work amid the world's wild din. 
 Away from passing things it points our eyes 
 To those which, in the hidden depth of skies 
 Above our earth, for endless ages last. 
 Where ne'er an irrecoverable Past 
 Casts gloom upon a Present full of woe, 
 But, like a river's broad,' continuous flow, 
 There runneth on a tide of boundless peace, 
 Where joy dies not, and pleasures never cease. 
 
 O sweeter than the thoughts of Galilee, 
 O brighter than Gennes'ret's sunlit sea, 
 City of God! my heart still longs for thee! 
 In thee my Saviour lives: thy jasper wall ^ 
 
 ' See Isai. Ixvi. 12; xlviii. 18. ^ See Rev. xxi. 11, etc.
 
 36 CAPERNAUM 
 
 May ne'er in sightless ruins sadly fall ; 
 
 Thy gates of pearl, thy streets of shining gold, 
 
 May never with the lapse of time grow old ; 
 
 Immortal beauty crowns thee; sin has fled; 
 
 I SEEK THE LIVING ONE, WHERE NONE ARE DEAD. 
 
 Lo! He comes quickly. Even so, LORD, come, 
 
 And take us to Thine own CAPERNAUM.' 
 
 * See note on page 29. 
 
 END OF PART III
 
 SHORTER POEMS 
 PART I
 
 39 
 
 WHERE IS HOME? 
 
 WHERE love is found without alloy, 
 And sorrows never come 
 To interrupt the course of joy — 
 There, there, is home. 
 
 Where friends are met in union, 
 
 And foes can never come 
 To mar the sweet communion — 
 
 There, there is home. 
 
 Where purity and peace are found, 
 
 And sin can never come 
 To stain with guilt the holy ground — 
 
 There, there is home. 
 
 O wanderers in a world of pain 
 
 And sorrow and unrest. 
 Why seek (or passing ]oys and gain — 
 
 A useless quest? 
 
 Join those who seek a better rest 
 
 And riches that will last. 
 Who, hopeful here, are fully blest 
 
 When this life's past.
 
 40 WHERE IS HOME? 
 
 Home is not here, nor here is joy, 
 
 No longer idly roam, 
 Your pleasures bring you but annoy. 
 
 You're far from home. 
 
 But seek the Land which knows not woe, 
 Come with us Heavenwards, come; 
 
 Earth may not hinder us — and so, 
 God bring us Home!
 
 41 
 
 TANGLED THREADS 
 
 SOMETIMES it seems as if the threads of Hfe 
 Were flung abroad all carelessly 
 With none to take them up, or to arrange 
 The order of their symmetry. 
 
 Here a bright golden thread of hope or joy, 
 And there dark sorrow's gloomy hue ; 
 
 Here suffering's sickly skein of ashen gray, 
 There gladness bright as heaven's own blue. 
 
 And yet the web is woven day by day, 
 (Describe its course who may or can,) 
 
 So strangely mixt, so gay and yet so sad 
 This particoloured life of man! 
 
 O God, I can nor choose nor weave the threads 
 
 Their intricacy beats my skill; 
 Do Thou Thyself take up the work, and shape 
 
 My life according to Thy will. 
 
 India, 1863.
 
 42 
 
 ON THE EVE OF 
 ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S DAY 
 
 On Millais' Picture, "The Huguenots" 
 
 THEY stood among the flowers 
 Beside the leafy wall, 
 And over and around them 
 The night began to fall. 
 
 With tearful eye and quivering lip, 
 
 And mute imploring face, 
 She stands before him this once more 
 
 In their loved meeting-place. 
 
 His left hand holds her throbbing head, 
 His right, around her thrown. 
 
 With resolute fingers pulls away 
 The badge he may not own. 
 
 And yet that badge might save his life; 
 
 If he would but consent 
 To wear it only this one night. 
 
 She would be quite content.
 
 EVE OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S DAY 43 
 
 " Nay! darling, cease to tempt; thou wouldst 
 
 " Not have me purchase life 
 " By treason to the cause of truth, 
 
 " My love, my hoped-for wife! " 
 
 He said, and o'er his sadden'd face 
 A look of sweet, grave tenderness, 
 
 Blended with patient, firm resolve, 
 
 Half sooth'd, half heighten'd her distress. 
 
 ****** 
 
 They parted, ne'er to meet on earth ; 
 
 That night his martyr'd spirit fled ; 
 They told her at the morning light, — 
 
 Ere sunset came, she too was dead. 
 
 Rutnagherry, India, 1864.
 
 44 
 
 T" 
 
 AUTUMN TINTS 
 
 'HE summer glow has pass'd, 
 The days are short'ning fast, 
 And leaves are falling round us ; 
 Yet glorious is the autumnal tide 
 Which bids farewell to summer pride 
 And with a softer joy has crown'd us. 
 
 Look round, and take delight 
 In blended colours bright; 
 As far as vision reaches ; 
 
 Purple and red, and brown and green 
 And where, thro' dark fir boughs is seen 
 The burnish'd splendour of the beeches! 
 
 Look round, and lift thy heart 
 To take a thankful part 
 In nature's mellow chorus; 
 Those tinted trees and bushes say 
 We need not send our joys away 
 The' darkling winter be before us.
 
 AUTUMN TINTS 45 
 
 Look round, and let thy gaze 
 Grow into earnest praise 
 Of God from whom proceedeth 
 
 Each beauteous sight of lovely things, 
 And who in every season brings 
 Some gladness still to him who heedeth. 
 
 Yea! when from yonder tree 
 Its golden glories flee, 
 And all the beauty waneth, 
 
 Winter shall but prepare for spring, 
 And God be proved in everything, 
 Giver of goodness that reinaineth. 
 
 1868.
 
 46 
 
 GOOD-BYE 
 
 THINK of it well, the word often spoken 
 With tears for its dress, and a kiss for its token; 
 The word that we utter so oft with a sigh, 
 The last word in parting, the tender " Good-bye." 
 
 Think of it well, for, though it bring sadness. 
 It holds too within it a spring of great gladness; 
 Low tho' our spirits, 'twill raise them on high 
 To think of the meaning of saying " Good-bye." 
 
 A prayer and a wish are contain'd in this greeting. 
 Sufficient to calm the heart's anxious beating; 
 We may smile when we weep, and trust while we sigh, 
 When we say " God-be- with-ye" in saying "Good-bye." 
 
 " God's presence go with ye," all good things providing, 
 To comfort and shield, and give you good guiding! 
 Oh ! when we say this, Joy stands very nigh 
 To the sorrow which stirs us in saying " Good-bye." 
 
 1869.
 
 47 
 
 "LO! I AM WITH YOU ALL THE DAYS. 
 
 Matt, xxviii, 20. 
 
 " A LL the days! " so saith the Lord, 
 ■L\. We will trust His gracious word; 
 Jesus with His people stays, 
 Ever present, all the days. 
 
 'Mid the tempests He is nigh, 
 Whisp'ring softly, " It is I ; " 
 Him we greet in sunshine rays, 
 He is with us all the days. 
 
 Do we ask how this may be 
 When His form we cannot see? 
 'Tis His Spirit who conveys 
 Comfort to us all the days. 
 
 In the home, and in the heart; 
 With our friends, or quite apart; 
 In our varied tasks and ways. 
 He is with us all the days.
 
 48 " LO! I AM WITH YOU ALL THE DAYS " 
 
 Thro' all changing scenes of earth, 
 From the feeble hour of birth, — 
 In our youth, and in our prime, — 
 In old age's waiting time, — 
 
 Victors in the latest strife, — 
 Waking then to fuller life, — 
 Thee we bless, and Thee we praise, 
 Loving Saviour, all the days. 
 
 1882.
 
 49 
 
 THE MYSTERY OF PAIN 
 
 On Receipt of a Book, "The Mystery of Pain," by 
 James Hinton 
 
 I THANK thee, Brother, for thy gift, 
 The " Mystery of Pain." 
 I trust that ill will end in good, 
 And loss be turn'd to gain. 
 
 For all the " Mystery of Pain " 
 Is known to Him above, 
 And He, the everlasting King 
 Is " Mystery of Love." 
 
 E
 
 50 
 
 STRANGELY HE WORKS 
 
 Job, xxiii, 8-10. 
 
 STRANGELY He works, I cannot trace 
 His secret plan: 
 He hides it in some distant place 
 
 From poor, weak man. 
 
 Backward I look, or forward strain 
 
 My weary eyes: 
 To right : to left — but all in vain 
 
 No stars arise. 
 
 Tis dark behind me: and before 
 
 Clouds ev'ry where! 
 
 My sorrow seemeth almost more 
 Than I can bear. 
 
 But this of comfort have I still. 
 
 He knoweth well 
 The way I take: good is His will, 
 
 I'll not rebel.
 
 STRANGELY HE WORKS 51 
 
 For as the gold, thro' fire pass'd 
 
 Doth brighter shine; 
 
 And dull at first, comes out at last 
 Beauteous and fine, 
 
 So is the soul, which God hath tried. 
 
 No longer dim 
 With earthly ore, but purified 
 
 And fit for Him.
 
 52 
 
 THE PENDULUM OF LIFE 
 
 SILENTLY swinging, swinging on, 
 Hither and thither as moments run, 
 Strangely thou preachest to everyone, 
 Penduhim swinging, swinging on. 
 
 Silently passing, passing on, 
 Glideth the time till life be done, 
 Never thou stayest for anyone. 
 Pendulum swinging, swinging on. 
 
 Patiently swinging, swinging on, 
 Where thou art set, thou doest thy part. 
 Bidding us keep a contented heart, 
 Pendulum swinging, swinging on. 
 
 Silently moved and moving on. 
 Whether we heed thee, or heed thee not, 
 Calmly thou seem'st to survey our lot, 
 Pendulum moving, moving on. 
 
 Oh! as we gaze at thee swinging on. 
 Grateful for mercies now in the past, 
 Hopeful for mercies ever to last. 
 May we on God all our burdens cast, 
 Pendulum swinging, swinging on.
 
 53 
 
 LIGHT 
 
 Isaiah^ xlii, i6. 
 
 GOD the cheering word has spoken, 
 Word which never can be broken, 
 Shining star-like, thro' the night ; 
 / will make the darkness light. 
 
 Is thy sky o'ercast with gloom? 
 Seems for radiance left no room? 
 Thro' some rift hope darteth bright, 
 God will make the darkness light. 
 
 Doth some sorrow cast a shade? 
 Art thou of some woe afraid? 
 Soothe thy sorrow, quit thy fright ; 
 God will make the darkness light. 
 
 Dark and dang'rous seems the path? 
 Black with sin, and Satan's wrath? 
 On thy side is Christ's own might ; 
 God will viake the darkness light.
 
 54 LIGHT 
 
 Anxious is thy soul and vex'd? 
 Still with mystery perplex'd? 
 Seest naught to left or right? 
 God will make the darktiess light. 
 
 Patiently pursue thy way, 
 Night still groweth into day; 
 And, on Zion's holy height, 
 God will 7nake the darkness light.
 
 55 
 
 -PEACE, PERFECT PEACE" 
 
 PEACE, perfect peace, is theirs who stay 
 Themselves upon the Lord each day, 
 Who, 'mid earth's weariness and care. 
 Breathe inwardly diviner air. 
 Imparting strength for all the way: 
 
 Strength in the midmost eager fray, 
 Strength when the mortal powers decay, 
 Until Death brings, as angel fair, 
 Peace, perfect peace. 
 
 What may not such souls do and dare? 
 
 Ready their Master's cross to bear. 
 Knowing He will not say them nay. 
 While in His love they watch and pray. 
 
 Hoping one day with Him to share 
 Peace, perfect peace. 
 
 1882.
 
 56 
 
 LITTLE THINGS 
 
 In Answer to a Letter 
 
 I 
 
 The Complaint. 
 
 OTS of little things " 
 / Like the flutterings 
 Of mosquitoes' wings 
 
 Scare and bother me; 
 I must do them, that I know, 
 Yet there 's nothing much to show, 
 While my hours seem to go 
 
 Somewhat fruitlessly. 
 
 " Lots of little things " 
 Full of fidgettings, 
 Every morning brings 
 Burdening my back; 
 I must bear them, that I know, 
 Yet there 's nothing much to show. 
 No great issues seem to flow 
 
 From the trivial track. 
 
 " Lots of little things " 
 As of slender strings 
 Causing murmurings 
 Cumber all my life.
 
 LITTLE THINGS 57 
 
 Nothing great seems ever done 
 No great victory ever won 
 Yet I cannot, must not shun 
 This ignoble strife. 
 
 The Consolation. 
 
 Faithful be — then nothing 's small, 
 Faithful to Thy Master's call, 
 Faithful be in little things, — 
 This a greatness o'er them flings — 
 
 Faithful be! 
 
 Patient be — there 's nothing lost 
 Even when thy will seems cross'd 
 Patient be in little things. 
 This a comfort o'er them flings — 
 
 Patient be. 
 
 Cheerful be — if God's thy Friend, 
 Every trouble has its end: 
 Cheerful be in little things. 
 This a radiance o'er them flings — 
 
 Cheerful be. 
 
 Faithful, patient, cheerful be! 
 Live thy whole life christianly, 
 Glorifying little things 
 Till the heavenly paean rings, 
 
 Victory! 
 
 1885.
 
 58 
 
 "LEAD ME IN THE WAY EVERLASTING" 
 
 Psalm ex XXIX. 
 
 LEAD me," Lord, as on I fare 
 Thro' the quickly fleeting years, 
 Saved from sin, and freed from fears, 
 Whilst on Thee I cast my care. 
 
 " Lead me in the way," O Lord, 
 When I cannot understand ; 
 What I need is Thine own Hand; 
 This can timely aid afford. 
 
 Led by Thee, I plant my feet 
 In the " everlasting " way; 
 Keep me that I may not stray. 
 Should I sore temptations meet. 
 
 Then whatever changes come 
 I will gladly go thro' all. 
 Till I hear Thy final call 
 To the Everlasting Home.
 
 59 
 
 LONGING FOR THE DAY 
 
 Isaiah, xxi, 1 1, 
 
 WHAT of the night? O watchman say, 
 " My heart is yearning for the day, 
 " The gloom is great ; grim forms affright 
 " My sadden'd soul ; I long for light 
 " To pierce the darkness and dismay: 
 " Seest thou some glint of gladd'ning ray? 
 " Or must I in death-shadow stay, 
 " Bereft of all that makes life bright? 
 
 "What of the night?" 
 
 The watchman answers from his height, 
 " The morning cometh, beauteous sight 
 " For those who seek it : therefore pray, 
 " And turn ye to the Lord alway ; 
 " So shall ye sing, in glory dight, 
 
 "What of the night!"
 
 6o 
 
 THE PREACHER'S PRAYER 
 
 LORD, when my heart is slow to feel, 
 ^ And when my lips are slow to speak. 
 And yet my heart still Thee doth seek, 
 And yet my lips would Thee reveal ; 
 
 Then send Thy gracious Spirit, Lord, 
 That He may my dull heart inspire. 
 And touch my lips with heavenly fire. 
 So shall I hear and speak Thy word. 
 
 And other hearts with love will glow. 
 
 And other lips Thy word proclaim. 
 
 So shall we glorify Thy Name, 
 
 And Heaven's light shine on Earth below.
 
 6i 
 
 WAITING 
 
 Psalm xxviii, 14. 
 
 WAITING Thy will, dear Lord! 
 That will of wisest love 
 Which rules us from above; 
 Whate'er that will may be, 
 It must be best for me; 
 O help me still 
 To wait Thy will. 
 
 Waiting Thy word, dear Lord! 
 With wish to hear and know, 
 So that the seed may grow, 
 And take in me deep root 
 And bring forth precious fruit; 
 O help me, Lord, 
 To wait Thy word!
 
 62 WAITING 
 
 Waiting Thy time, dear Lord ! 
 As knowing Thou dost plan 
 Beyond the ken of man, 
 What food each hour may bear 
 For all beneath Thy care ; 
 
 Show me Thy way 
 To wait Thy day! 
 
 Waiting Thy call, dear Lord! 
 To live and work for Thee, 
 Or die, and come to Thee. 
 Whate'er the summons be, 
 It will be best for me; 
 
 Thou art my all, 
 I wait Thy call!
 
 63 
 
 PARTINGS 
 
 PARTINGS are over," with a sigh 'tis said, 
 Often as friend from friend is severed ; 
 The strain is past, there comes a strange reHef, 
 Something of gladness mitigates our grief. 
 
 Partings are never over here below. 
 As this life hurries on we come and go, 
 Hither and thither; then we yield our breath, 
 And undergo the mystery of death. 
 
 Ah then! O blessed hope, which Christ has given, 
 We meet again in bliss which we call heaven; 
 " Partings are over " then, but meetings never, 
 We part to meet, nor part again for ever.
 
 64 
 
 PRAYER AND PRAISE 
 
 ART thou troubled in thy life, 
 Sore beset by sin and strife? 
 Wearied, wounded, worn with care, 
 Tempted almost to despair? 
 
 Lift thy heart in prayer. 
 
 Does some foe or fear assail thee? 
 Does some wonted comfort fail thee? 
 Seems there none thy grief to share. 
 None that can thy burden bear? 
 
 Lift thy heart in prayer. 
 
 Prayer will bring a sure relief; 
 Prayer will soothe thee in thy grief; 
 Prayer will drive thy fears away; 
 Prayer will change thy night to day ; 
 
 Lift thy heart and pray. 
 
 Then when gladness comes again, 
 When thy heart is free from pain. 
 When the sunshine's welcome rays 
 Greet thee in thy various ways, 
 
 Lift thy heart and praise.
 
 PRAYER AND PRAISE 65 
 
 When thou know'st thy sins forgiven, 
 When thou holdest hopes of heaven, 
 When, from care and sorrow free 
 Thou enjoy'st thy liberty, 
 
 Do it thankfully. 
 
 Help us. Lord, in prayerful mood 
 Still to live, with gratitude; 
 Still to Thee our hearts upraise 
 Both in glad and mournful days; 
 
 Blending Prayer and Praise.
 
 66 
 
 A PICTURE GALLERY 
 
 I PACED to-day by pictured walls, 
 And watch'd what painters' art might do 
 To blend the beautiful and true 
 In all that mortal man befalls. 
 
 Landscapes I saw, of wood and hill, 
 Of rocks and rivers, fields and trees. 
 Of tranquil glades, and stormy seas, 
 
 With nature's charms the eye to fill. 
 
 Portraits I saw, of varied kind 
 
 Of men and women, young and old, 
 Figures and faces manifold; 
 
 Some show'd off dress, and some show'd mind. 
 
 Scenes, too, of all that makes up life. 
 Historic deeds, and home-spun mirth. 
 Visions from heaven, haunts of earth, 
 
 Now peace and joy, now strain and strife. 
 
 Pathos and laughter, gloom and glee, 
 
 Here those that dance, there those that pray ; 
 Solemn and sad, grotesque and gay. 
 
 In infinite variety.
 
 A PICTURE GALLERY 67 
 
 Methought with all this diverse range 
 Of fact and fancy, thought and wit, 
 The thankful heart will find it fit 
 
 To raise itself, mid things that change, 
 
 To one who guides with wise control, 
 Beyond our best imagining. 
 Nature and man, the Eternal King, 
 
 Who claims our body, spirit, soul. 
 
 1889.
 
 68 
 
 THE HAND AND THE MAPi 
 
 I HAD a Friend whose Hand was guiding me, 
 A Friend who loved me well, 
 Able to save from each perplexity, 
 For He was wise and good exceedingly. 
 Far more than I could tell. 
 
 I had a Alap, which purported to show 
 
 All windings of the way, 
 And details gave, which I was fain to know, 
 Longing to see to which place I should go. 
 
 And how, and on which day: 
 
 My path was often dark, nor could I trace 
 
 Much on the onward track ; 
 Only one step! then would I slacken pace. 
 Think of my map, not of my Friend's dear face, 
 
 But He would call me back. 
 
 ' "You will mostly find nothing clear but the next step. Yet 
 your heart need not sink for that, a Saviour's hand to guide you 
 is better than any map. I have found the times when I was 
 longing for the map were just those when I was losing hold of 
 the Hand." — Prentiss.
 
 THE HAND AND THE MAP 69 
 
 " Loose not thy hold of me; I know the land, — 
 
 Thou know'st not what may hap, — 
 Trust in my love, I fully understand 
 Thy wants and weaknesses; keep hold; My Hand 
 
 Is better than thy map."
 
 PART II 
 SEASONS AND OCCASIONS
 
 73 
 
 CHRISTMAS 
 
 HAIL! to the morn 
 When Christ was born, 
 To banish night, 
 And give us light. 
 
 Light that shall grow and never die. 
 Light of " the Dayspring from on high." 
 
 Hail! to the morn 
 
 When Christ was born. 
 
 To conquer sin, 
 
 And help us win 
 
 Joy that shall grow and never die, 
 Joy of " the Dayspring from on high." 
 
 Hail! to the morn 
 
 When Christ was born, 
 
 To give us scope 
 
 For boundless hope, 
 
 Hope that shall grow and never die, 
 Hope of " the Dayspring from on high."
 
 74 CHRISTMAS 
 
 Hail! to the morn 
 
 When Christ was born, 
 
 And from above 
 
 Brought endless love, 
 
 Love that shall grow and never die, 
 Love of " the Dayspring from on high." 
 
 Hail! blessed Christ! 
 
 Treasure unpriced! 
 
 Hope, Joy, and Love, 
 
 Come from above. 
 
 Light that will grow and never die. 
 Light of " the Dayspring from on high."
 
 75 
 
 CHRISTMAS 
 
 II 
 
 TREES die, and flowers fade: the winter's snow 
 Hides the green fields from view; 
 But dreary though the scene may be below, 
 
 In heaven we see a sunny hue: 
 And as the church bells peal, with cheery chime 
 
 Their Christmas melody, 
 We joy that o'er all changes wrought by time, 
 Love rules eternally. 
 
 1886.
 
 76 
 
 EPIPHANY 
 
 " We have seen his star and are come to worship him." 
 
 O LIGHT of life! O heavenly King! 
 Led unto Thee, we fain would bring 
 Such varied tribute as we may 
 Of hearty service, and we pray 
 That thou wilt take our offerintr: 
 
 Smile on us, as we humbly cling 
 In rapture of blest worshipping, 
 Low at thy feet from day to day, 
 O Light of Life! 
 
 'Tis light, more light, we want alway; 
 
 Send to us. Lord, the cheering ray 
 That turns our winter into spring, 
 And makes our hearts with joy to sing; 
 
 Be thou our Star, our Strength, our Stay, 
 O Light of Life! 
 
 1884.
 
 77 
 
 GOD'S PEACE 
 
 (Collect for 2nd Sunday after Epiphany) 
 
 ^' f~^ OD'S peace" amid the dreadful din of war; 
 vJ "God's peace" within the trusting heart; 
 'Tis this we pray for, this we ever need ; 
 O gracious Spirit, this impart! 
 
 Years pass, and pass; th' appointed changes come; 
 
 Soon will our earthly service cease; 
 But come what may, in all the stress and strain 
 
 Of stormy times, Christ's Voice says, " Peace." 
 
 " God's peace" we pray for, and in Christ Himself 
 The answer comes, so sure, so sweet; 
 
 And this, whate'er each passing year may bring, 
 With tranquil confidence we meet. 
 
 " Grant us Thy Peace, O Lord," be this our pray'r. 
 
 Thro' all the days of earthly strife, 
 With steadfast hope of that " beyond the veil," 
 
 The " perfect peace " of heav'nly life. 
 
 Sydney^ 1900.
 
 78 
 
 GOOD FRIDAY 
 
 SAVIOUR, lifted up on high 
 On the cross of Calvary, 
 By the victory Thou didst win, 
 Upward from the world of sin 
 
 Draw me unto Thee! 
 
 Upward, Lord, to heaven's own light, 
 Upward from the gloom of night. 
 Upward from the realm of woe. 
 From the snares of th' Evil Foe, 
 
 Draw me unto Thee! 
 
 Draw me, Saviour, from the earth. 
 Draw me from its short-lived mirth, 
 Draw me from its vain turmoil, 
 Feeble pleasures, fruitless toil. 
 
 Draw me unto Thee! 
 
 Upward to Thyself on high 
 Draw me, Saviour, or I die; 
 Once in death uplifted. Thou 
 High in glory sittest now, 
 
 Draw me unto Thee!
 
 GOOD FRIDAY 79 
 
 Thou dost draw me, O my Lord, 
 Fain would I obey Thy word, 
 But my heart is very cold, 
 And, Lord, Satan still is bold. 
 
 Draw me unto Thee! 
 
 Saviour, let Thy wondrous love 
 All my love within me move. 
 Then still feed the sacred fire. 
 Burning brighter, leaping higher. 
 
 Till I come to Thee
 
 8o 
 
 A GOOD FRIDAY MEDITATION 
 
 On Suspense and Sorrow 
 
 DARK was that hour on Calvary's Hill 
 Which wrapt the earth in awful gloom ; 
 There seem'd for hope and joy no room 
 And all the presage boded ill ! 
 
 And yet we know how that dark hour 
 Was herald of the brightest light 
 That ever dawn'd on human sight, 
 
 Proving God's wondrous Love and Power. 
 
 The hope and joy of Easter tide 
 Has peace and comfort for us all ; 
 Whate'er of care and sorrow fall 
 
 On us, in God we will confide.
 
 8i 
 
 EASTER DAY 
 
 CHRIST is risen! Death is conquer'd! 
 (So the Easter greetings say,) 
 Death and darkness are defeated, 
 Life has victory to-day. 
 
 Pleasures pall? and sorrows haunt us? 
 
 Pain and sickness foster grief? 
 Ah! the joy that 's set before us 
 
 Gives us ever sweet relief. 
 
 Thro' the changing scenes we witness, 
 
 Brighter shines the Saviour's love, 
 In our life of imperfection 
 Shaping us for life above. 
 
 Life is ours in rich abundance, 
 Life in Christ our living Lord, 
 
 Life, secured in wondrous fashion 
 By His Spirit and His word. 
 
 Banish we, then, all our doubtings, 
 Foolish fancies, faithless fears! 
 
 Darkness flees! The tomb is empty! 
 Everlasting life appears. 
 
 G
 
 82 
 
 THE MORNING STAR 
 
 Rev. xxii, i6. 
 
 AS torn with doubt, and toss'd with pain I lay, 
 A gentle voice came to my heart one day, 
 Which seem'd to still the sorrows of my soul, 
 And make my sorely wounded spirit whole. 
 
 It was the voice of Jesus in His word, 
 
 A voice unheeded oft, tho' often heard ; 
 
 It spake of power above a world of sin, 
 
 It spake of peace above a world of din. 
 
 It spake of hope beyond a world of death, 
 
 And, like God's primal vivifying breath 
 
 Infused, made me a living man again. 
 
 Strong, in God's might to conquer ill and pain ; 
 
 And oft as sorrow, doubt or fear, assails. 
 That voice to comfort, and to calm, avails. 
 Which nigh me seems, yet from the Height afar 
 Proclaims, / am the Bright and Morning Star.
 
 83 
 
 GOD'S "NEVER FAILING 
 PROVIDENCE" 
 
 (Collect for 8th Sunday after Trinity) 
 
 GOD'S " never failing Providence," 
 That orders all things high and low, 
 Thrills thro' the heart with gladd'ning glow, 
 Our strength, our joy, our sure defence! 
 
 " It never faileth," blessed thought! 
 Mid many changes, much distress, 
 God meaneth still to guide and bless; 
 
 With goodness all His acts are fraught. 
 
 " It never faileth," come what may 
 
 Of sore perplexity or pain ; 
 
 God's ruling turns our loss to gain. 
 And evil bends beneath His sway. 
 
 "It never faileth," day nor night, 
 
 However dark the hour may be! 
 
 Herein is our felicity, 
 God's Providence sets all things right. 
 
 1908.
 
 84 
 
 BAPTISM 
 
 ■ Into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and 
 of the Holy Ghost.'' 
 
 FATHER, this child we give to Thee, 
 Whom Thou to us hast given ; 
 And pray Thee that her path on earth 
 May be the path to heaven. 
 
 To Thee, O Son of God most high— 
 Who didst to earth come down 
 
 To bear for us the bitter cross, 
 And win the heavenly crown, 
 
 We give this little one, and pray 
 
 That she may ever be. 
 In valiant fight, and faithful work. 
 
 True follower of Thee. 
 
 O Holy Spirit, Fount of life 
 
 And purifying power, 
 To Thee we give this child, and pray 
 
 That from this sacred hour,
 
 BAPTISM 85 
 
 All that is good may grow in her 
 
 All that is evil die, 
 Until the life on earth be chang'd 
 
 For perfect life on high. 
 
 O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, 
 
 Great God, whom we adore, 
 Receive this child, and in Thy name 
 
 Keep her for evermore. 
 
 Amen.
 
 86 
 
 A WEDDING HYMN 
 
 "Heirs together of the grace of life." 
 
 BLESS, Lord, to-day the plighted troth 
 When hands and hearts unite, 
 Seeking Thy benison divine, 
 Thou source of love and light. 
 
 Bless, Lord, the bond of wedded bliss, 
 
 When two are link'd in one. 
 Yoked by thy grace for mutual help 
 
 Till earthly life be done. 
 
 Bless, Lord, Thy children's onward path 
 
 Whate'er that path may be; 
 Thou art their Strength, their Aid, their Joy; 
 
 Still lead them nearer Thee. 
 
 O Father, fount of purest love, 
 
 On Thee our cares we cast; 
 Bring us, thro' every chance and change. 
 
 To Thine own Home at last. 
 
 1903.
 
 87 
 
 A SILVER WEDDING 
 
 RING out, dear hearts, the silver bells 
 Of grateful inward melody! 
 Years pass ; love lasts ; and all life tells 
 
 A tale of mercy, tho' it be 
 Mingled with measured medicine of pain. 
 To shape our souls for their eternal gain. 
 
 1888.
 
 88 
 
 ASLEEP IN JESUS 
 I Thessalonians, iv, 14, 
 
 FREED from the body's feebleness, 
 Freed from all painful weariness, 
 Freed from the yoke of daily toil, 
 
 Asleep, they rest. 
 By Jesus blest 
 
 And HE is with them, they with him. 
 
 In visions of delight, tho' dim; 
 
 They feel no pain, they have no fear, 
 
 They dread no woe, they shed no tear; 
 
 In sleep they rest 
 With Jesus, blest. 
 
 And ever in their visions they 
 Are stirr'd by hope of coming day. 
 When glorious bodies they shall take, 
 And in full vigour, joyful, wake; 
 
 And thus they rest, 
 In Jesus, blest.
 
 ASLEEP IN JESUS 89 
 
 O blessed sleep! O visions glad! 
 
 The thought of death need not be sad, 
 
 To those for whom it ends all strife 
 
 And is a stage to fuller life, 
 
 To those who rest 
 In Jesus, blest.
 
 90 
 
 THE YEARS GLIDE ON 
 
 THE years glide on, and some perchance will say 
 'Tis sad to see life slipping fast away: 
 
 The years glide on ; our pleasures come and go, 
 And some complain they're overtopp'd with woe: 
 
 The years glide on ; and death draws nigh apace, 
 And some will bid us shrink from his embrace; 
 
 The years glide on; a short, sad, finite thing 
 Is this poor life; so earthly poets sing: 
 
 But what say I about the circling years. 
 
 So strangely mingling for us smiles and tears? 
 
 The years glide on ; and bring a nobler life. 
 Where woes shall cease, and rest succeed to strife ; 
 
 The years glide on ; and death is but the door 
 Which lets us throug-h to " life for evermore: " 
 
 ^fc>' 
 
 The years glide on ; Christ lives, and with Him we, 
 Life here is prelude to Eternity. 
 
 December 2,1, 1885. 
 January i, 1886.
 
 91 
 
 SPEED THE MESSAGE 
 
 TELL it out, the Lord is King: 
 Tell it out in accents clear, 
 Message meet for every land, 
 
 Message meant for every ear. 
 Light, and love, and life to bring; 
 Tell it out, the Lord is King! 
 
 Tell it out, 'tis God's desire 
 Written in His word of grace; 
 
 Message fit for human need. 
 Fit for every clime and place, 
 
 Light, and love, and life to bring; 
 
 Tell it out, the Lord is King ! 
 
 Tell it out, proclaim the Christ, 
 Tell the message far and wide ; 
 
 Doors are open, enter them ; 
 Messengers be multiplied. 
 
 Light, and love, and life to bring; 
 
 Tell it out, the Lord is King!
 
 92 SPEED THE MESSAGE 
 
 Everywhere the peoples 3/earn 
 For the mighty healing word ; 
 
 Christians, speed the message forth, 
 Let it everywhere be heard, 
 
 Light, and love, and life to bring; 
 
 Tell it out, the Lord is King! 
 
 Spread the Gospel of the King, 
 Tell it out to all the earth. 
 
 You who have it in your heart, 
 
 You who know its boundless worth, 
 
 Light, and love, and life to bring; 
 
 Tell it out, the Lord is King!
 
 93 
 
 A HYMN FOR OUEEN VICTORIA'S 
 JUBILEE, 1887 
 
 Strength and honour are her clothing ; and she shall rejoice 
 in time to come.'" 
 
 FIFTY years our Queen hath reign'd 
 Calling forth a love unfeign'd ; 
 Nobly hath she honour worn, 
 Duty done, and sorrow borne, 
 Lift your hearts, then; raise a song 
 Grateful, jubilant, and strong; 
 
 Praise the Source of all good things, 
 Praise the Lord, the King of Kings. 
 
 Fifty years have pass'd since she, 
 
 Blending might with modesty. 
 
 Took the royal seat and name 
 
 Mid her people's loud acclaim; 
 
 Years have pass'd, and she hath stood 
 
 Faithful to her people's good ; 
 
 Praise the Source of all good things, 
 Praise the Lord, the King of Kings.
 
 94 QUEEN VICTORIA'S JUBILEE 
 
 Fifty years of royal state, 
 
 She hath kept inviolate 
 
 All the promise of her youth, 
 
 Firmness, purity, and truth ; 
 
 So, in God's grace, we have seen 
 
 Good the woman, great the Queen ; 
 
 Praise the Source of all good things, 
 Praise the Lord, the King of Kings. 
 
 Fifty years of wondrous change 
 Widen all her Empire's range, 
 Stretch the bounds of human ken, 
 Quicken intercourse of men, 
 While beneath her fostering rule 
 Flourish Realm, and Church, and School; 
 Praise the Source of all good things, 
 Praise the Lord, the King of Kings. 
 
 Fifty years have come and fled ; 
 Holy memories of the dead. 
 Mingling with our festive glee. 
 Solemnize her jubilee, 
 Point to hopes beyond the earth 
 Point to life of better worth: 
 
 Praise the Source of all good things 
 Praise the Lord, the King of Kings,
 
 95 
 
 THE CORONATION OF KING 
 EDWARD VII 
 
 AUGUST 9, 1902 
 
 OH ! crowned Christ, who, set on high 
 At God's right hand in glory, 
 Guidest with ever gracious eye 
 Th' unfolding human story, 
 With mercy and with favour bless 
 
 Our double Coronation, 
 And let it be in faithfulness, 
 A holy consecration. 
 
 For King and Queen we humbly pray. 
 
 That they, in Christ abiding, 
 May exercise a righteous sway 
 
 O'er all the Realm presiding: 
 God guide our King, and keep him true. 
 
 To Faith's most sacred learning, 
 Amid life's windings holding clue. 
 
 Just, godly, and discerning.
 
 96 CORONATION OF KING EDWARD VII 
 
 Oh! Father, let Thy Spirit fill 
 
 All hearts with high desire, 
 That rulers and their people still 
 
 May feel the heaven-sent fire. 
 May leave each base and lower aim, 
 
 Thy kingly truth pursuing, 
 That all may glorify Thy name 
 
 In thinking and in doing! 
 
 Sydney, 1902.
 
 PART III 
 FROM 1890 
 
 H
 
 99 
 
 EARLY SPRING IN NEW SOUTH 
 
 WALES 
 
 THE poplars are in bud, 
 The peach is on the bloom, 
 The coral trees with scarlet gleam 
 Blazon the winter's doom. 
 
 The willows, which were bare, 
 Now wave with tinge of green, 
 
 And ev'rywhere around my path 
 Tokens of spring are seen. 
 
 Farewell to cold and rain, 
 Farewell to cloud-clad skies. 
 
 The yellow wattle blossoms shine. 
 And hopes of spring arise. 
 
 Tis true we have not here 
 Old England's May or June; 
 
 'Tis true our song birds cannot match 
 The thrush and blackbird's tune !
 
 100 SPRING IN NEW SOUTH WALES 
 
 Yet birds, and flowers, and trees, 
 Have their own signs to show, 
 
 When winter merges into spring 
 And grass begins to grow. 
 
 Be thoughts of spring glad thoughts 
 Of hope and growth and life! 
 
 God give us grateful hearts, e'en tho' 
 The world with war is rife. 
 
 The seasons come and go. 
 
 Age after age is sped ; 
 And by God's overruling love 
 
 Nature and man are led. 
 
 In Him all things are fair, 
 All changes work His will; 
 
 Winter relaxes into spring, 
 God's love is working still.
 
 lOI 
 
 TO A VETERAN SOLDIER OF 
 CHRIST 
 
 William Macquarie Cowper, Dean of Sydney. 
 
 WE greet thee, Veteran Warrior, to-day! — 
 We greet thee with a grateful, glad acclaim — 
 Who for Christ's truth, and not for wealth or 
 fame, 
 Hast battled on, where'er thy duty lay. 
 Wise in the council, steadfast in the fray, 
 
 Striving to guard from blemish and from blame 
 The Church's honour, and the Christian name- 
 Accept our welcome on thine onward way. 
 
 O faithful minister of God's " good news," 
 O courteous gentleman and loyal friend. 
 
 Not one amongst us is there would refuse 
 
 A meed to thee of heartfelt love and praise ; 
 All, all will join, the cordial prayer to raise, 
 
 " God give thee grace and peace unto the end" 
 
 Jiilyz, 1895.
 
 102 
 
 "GOD WILL CLEAR THE WAY" 
 
 A complaint cleared away. 
 
 " \ LL seems trouble and worry and work," 
 l\ Duties keep coming I may not shirk, 
 Trials accumulate one on another, 
 Seems as if life were nothing but bother! 
 
 But " God will clear the way " some day. 
 
 " All seems work and trouble and worry," 
 Everything mix'd and all in a hurry; 
 Things get broken, and temper is tried. 
 What we'd like most seems quite put aside. 
 
 But " God will clear the way" some day! 
 
 " All seems work and worry and trouble," 
 Rest seems diminish'd, and labour seems double, 
 Illness and weakness, and age bring us sorrow, 
 And none of us knows what shall be on the morrow! 
 But " God will clear the way" some day! 
 
 Trouble and worry and work there must be. 
 Yet right through them all my comfort I see, 
 He who to succour us came from above, 
 Tells us that God is Infinite Love, 
 
 And " God will clear the way " each day. 
 
 Sydney, 1896.
 
 10- 
 
 REST IN THE LORD 
 
 REST IN THE Lord: commit thy way 
 To Him, whose wisdom, day by day, 
 Rules all things lovingly and well ; 
 To Him thy joys and sorrows tell ; 
 Before Him all thy problems lay; 
 For He will never say thee nay, 
 When thou to Him wilt humbly pray; 
 Fret not thyself; thy terrors quell ; 
 Rest in the Lord! 
 
 Fears may arise, and foes be fell, 
 Yet doubting thoughts do thou repel, 
 God will be still thy strength and stay ; 
 Fret not thyself, come what come may, 
 God's love o'erarches heaven and hell ; 
 Rest in the Lord! 
 
 Jenolan Caves, N.S.W. 
 1899.
 
 I04 
 
 WITHIN AND OUTSIDE 
 
 IN open air and underground 
 Wide Nature's wonders still are found ; 
 One day we enter mystic caves, 
 Wherein a darkling river laves 
 The silent hoUowness below, 
 Whilst upper grottoes, glittering, glow 
 With shapes fantastic, fair, and fine, 
 Where'er the light is shown to shine, 
 
 And we, bewilder'd with delight 
 
 Praise God for such a splendid sight. 
 
 Next day we view a gorge tremendous. 
 
 Sheer sandstone walls, and depths stupendous. 
 
 Rocks shining in the sunlight sheen. 
 
 Mingling of colours grey, and green, 
 
 Paths winding up and down, to guide 
 
 The pilgrim by the mountain side; 
 
 Then to a picnic tea we go 
 
 To height above from deep below. 
 
 And so with varied, fresh delight, 
 
 Praise, for another splendid sight. 
 
 Expeditions to Jenolan Caves and Katoomba, Blue Mountains, 
 N.S.W. 
 
 Katoomba, 1899.
 
 I05 
 
 GOD DETERMINES 
 
 AcU, iv, 28. 
 
 "/^^ OD determines what shall be;" 
 
 \JJ Is not this a blissful thought 
 That, whatever happens, He 
 Brings all evil unto naught? 
 
 Men may blindly rave and rage. 
 Speak, or act, with cruel spite, 
 
 Fierce and direful war may rage ; 
 God from wrong will fashion right. 
 
 Earthquakes topple towers down, 
 Storm and drought sad havoc make, 
 
 Every visage wears a frown. 
 All foundations seem to shake! 
 
 " God determines what shall be," 
 Gracious is His purpose still. 
 
 Through all clouds of mystery 
 Even evil works His will. 
 
 Praise Him then, and trust His grace, 
 Fear not what the years may bring; 
 
 Through all range of time and space, 
 "God determines;" He is King.
 
 io6 
 
 GOOD GUIDANCE 
 
 GOD is our Guide; He knows the way, 
 Where we but feebly grope; 
 He gives us hope, 
 Each day. 
 
 God is our Guide; all must be well; 
 And our life's every phase 
 Shall still His praise 
 Forth tell. 
 
 God is our Guide; recurring years 
 Prove all His guidance good, 
 And understood 
 Our fears. 
 
 God is our Guide; He'll lead us on. 
 By patient wisdom blest, 
 " Until our rest 
 Be won." 
 
 Trust thy Good Guide, thro' all thy days ; 
 His Spirit never cease 
 To grant thee peace 
 Always!
 
 I07 
 
 AFFIRMATIVE FAITH 
 
 Job, xi, 27 with Ps. cxli, 9 (P.B.) 
 
 YEA, Lord! " I do believe Thy power and love, 
 " Thou art the Christ, the Son of God," above. 
 Who didst to earth come down, 
 And born of woman, gav'st to human birth 
 A sanctity of most momentous worth, 
 Pledge of celestial crown! 
 
 " Yea, Lord ! " I do believe Thy word of hope, 
 Which will not let us lamentably grope 
 
 Mid grave-clothes and the grave, 
 But raiseth us from death, and all that dies. 
 To " life indeed," and home beyond the skies, 
 
 O mighty One to save! 
 
 "Yea, Lord!" "mine eyes," tho' they be dim with tears, 
 " Look unto Thee " to free my soul from fears. 
 
 And make me brave and strong ; 
 Thou liftest souls from this world's din and dust 
 To higher, holier life; in Thee I trust, 
 
 To Thee do I belong.
 
 io8 AFFIRMATIVE FAITH 
 
 " Yea, Lord! " I do believe, and I would fain 
 In spite of feebleness my faith maintain, 
 
 Whate'er may come of grief; 
 Thou art the Lord of life, I know it well, 
 And I believe the truth which Thou dost tell; 
 
 " Lord, help my unbelief! " 
 
 " Yea, Lord! " for time and for eternity 
 Thro' all the passing years, I trust in Thee, 
 
 And Thee my Saviour hail ; 
 At Thy sweet voice all jarring discords cease. 
 The storm winds sink, and there is gladsome peace, 
 
 Thy word can never fail.
 
 I09 
 
 HE MADE THE STARS ALSO" 
 
 O STARRY heights, descried afar! 
 O wondrous wealth of endless space! 
 Beyond the power of man to trace, 
 God only knows you as you are! 
 
 He stretch'd the heavens in His might; 
 We gaze, and ponder, and admire 
 Those distant orbs of scatter'd fire, 
 
 Claiming our reverence, awe, delight. 
 
 A silent harmony of night 
 
 Sounds thro' the gleaming of the skies; 
 
 And to our lips old words arise, — 
 " O praise Him, all ye stars of light." 
 
 Their praise to Him is still to shine. 
 
 As God hath placed them, large or small ; 
 Each interlink'd with each and all, 
 
 By wisdom of the Hand Divine. 
 
 O starry canopy above, 
 
 O'erarching us with mystery, 
 
 We see in thee Infinity 
 Of order'd Beauty, Law, and Love!
 
 no 
 
 "GOD IS LIGHT AND IN HIM IS NO 
 
 DARKNESS AT ALL" 
 
 To a friend who had become blind. 
 
 GOD give thee light within, dear friend, 
 To shine in mind and heart, 
 Now that it is thy cross to feel 
 The light of day depart ! 
 
 God give thee light in darkest hours 
 
 And make thy vision clear 
 To see diviner things, that spread 
 
 Shelter from every fear! 
 
 God give thee light! for He is Light 
 
 And sent His Christ to show 
 The path that leads to perfect joy 
 
 From darken'd scenes below. 
 
 God give thee light! may hope unshamed 
 
 And patient faith be thine! 
 May the good Comforter within 
 
 Illuminating shine! 
 
 *fc> 
 
 God guide us all in various paths. 
 Where'er He deemeth right! 
 
 Though many days be dim and sad 
 " He maketh darkness light."
 
 Ill 
 
 "ALL OUR IDEALS" 
 
 ''TT^IS good to have high hopes, and high desires, 
 A To plan reforms, lamenting all that's wrong 
 And weak in our surroundings ; to be strong 
 
 For betterment of all sorts ; God inspires 
 
 Such aspirations; they are inward fires 
 
 Kindled by faith in Him, which makes us long 
 For victory complete and triumph song. 
 
 For Hallelujahs of celestial "quires"; 
 
 " All our ideals " soar upward, but the day 
 Of their fulfilment is not in our hands, 
 And we are call'd to work in patience still ; 
 
 God's Purpose ripens, tho' it seem to stay; 
 
 What oft perplexes us. He understands, 
 Be 't ours to labour on : HE will fulfil. 
 
 Sydney^ IQOQ-
 
 ri2 
 
 "THOU SHALT REMEMBER THE LORD 
 
 THY GOD" 
 
 Deut. viii. 
 
 w 
 
 HEN we our Lord, our God, forget, 
 We sow the seeds of sad regret, 
 And never gain true wealth. 
 Or health. 
 
 But when we mindful are to serve, 
 Nor from His goodly precepts swerve. 
 He gives us all we need 
 Indeed. 
 
 " We do not live alone by bread," 
 But by almighty wisdom led, 
 
 Are strengthen'd to fulfil 
 His will. 
 
 He leads us thro' the wilderness, 
 Nor doth His mercy fail to bless: 
 
 What gives the Promised Land? 
 His Hand.
 
 REMEMBER THE LORD THY GOD 113 
 
 Remember, then, the Lord thy God, 
 Find comfort in His "staff and rod;" 
 To Him you do belong ; 
 Be strong. 
 
 Remember how His wondrous Love 
 Was manifested from above; 
 
 What frees from harm and loss? 
 Chrisfs Cross. 
 
 1901.
 
 114 
 
 FUGA VIT^ 
 
 DEAR daughter, what a " fugue" is, you can tell 
 And play one too, and play it well ; 
 A theme with many voices, (is it not?) 
 In which the keynote's ne'er forgot; 
 Varied the setting, but the stream will run 
 Until the " climax " comes, and all is done. 
 
 " Tonic," and " Dominant," and " Episode," 
 Work out the theme with varying mode ; 
 
 Reiterations sequent swell the song 
 That rushes rapidly along ; 
 
 And, thro' the changes, still persists the theme; 
 
 Many the currents, and yet one the stream. 
 
 Dear daughter, in the " fugue " of life. 
 
 Sing on, sing on, amidst the strife. 
 Thy " tonic" Truth, to keep thee fix'd yet free, 
 
 Whatever " episodes " may be. 
 And Love thy " dominant " (Truth's comrade dear) 
 To rule thy varied movements, far or near!
 
 FUGA VIT^ 115 
 
 Life hurries on, and in it we repeat 
 
 Experience, or sad or sweet, 
 While to the " climax " still we wend our way, 
 
 Leaning on Him, who is our stay, 
 Who calls out music in us, and has given 
 Earth for awhile, and for " finale," Heaven. 
 
 1901.
 
 ii6 
 
 FROM A MINISTER OF CHRIST 
 
 To a "beloved physician." 
 
 THE " Good Physician " is a type 
 Of what we too should strive to be ; 
 To go about, and help, and heal, 
 And succour those in misery. 
 
 friend, whom all my kinsfolk praise. 
 Thou bear'st the gracious Christ in mind, 
 
 Ready and prompt with sympathy 
 A doctor careful, skill'd and kind. 
 
 1 thank thee for thy services. 
 
 And pray that thou may'st still be blest 
 In all thy goings in, and out, 
 Till, after toil, God gives us rest. 
 
 The lands and sea divide us far; 
 
 In Christ we may united be. 
 And strive to take a humble share 
 
 In His most gracious Ministry.
 
 117 
 
 GROWING OLDER 
 
 WHAT shall we say, as years pass on, and bring 
 A touch at times of weary diffidence, 
 When we no longer can maintain pretence 
 Of being strong as once we were, — or sing 
 As once we did, — or move with youthful swing 
 Along life's pathway? shall we take offence, 
 And murmur 'gainst " the ways of Providence," 
 And sigh for close of earthly wandering? 
 
 Nay! for our strength and joy fade not within; 
 
 The body weakens, but the spirit lives ; 
 
 From strength to strength we go, and glad Her feel 
 How, in the warfare which we wage with sin. 
 
 Our God the needed grace and guidance gives, 
 Until the Perfect Life He shall reveal. 
 
 igo2.
 
 ii8 
 
 BITTERNESS FOR PEACE 
 
 Isaiah^ xxxviii, 17 
 
 BLAME not the "bitterness" in life that seems 
 To mar the happiness of mortal man ; 
 For laws of lasting joy, beyond our ken, 
 Are minister'd by Him who justly deems 
 What men require: His goodness brightly beams 
 Behind the cloudiest skies we see, and when 
 He chooses, lo! lights up the gloomiest den 
 With visions glorious, and heav'nward dreams. 
 
 Behold, ''■for Peace is all the Bitterness'' \ 
 God humbles to exalt, and wounds to heal; 
 Let us not murmur, nor despond, but feel 
 
 That His design is evermore to bless; 
 
 Christ lifts each trusting soul from out the grave, 
 
 Bidding us all be patient, cheerful, brave. 
 
 Sydfiey, 1902.
 
 119 
 
 A LIFE ATTUNED TO GOD 
 
 TUNE Thou my life, and let its discords be, 
 By Thy good grace, resolved in harmony. 
 Such as may sound Thy praises still, 
 And be in concert with Thy will : 
 
 Tune Thou my life, and let Thy spirit play 
 On every thought and feeling day by day. 
 Making of me an Instrument 
 Touch'd by Thy Fingers, well content: 
 
 Tune Thou my life, and if some string should break 
 By sudden chance, as I my journey take, 
 
 Give me at once a new supply 
 
 From Thy full treasury on high : 
 
 Tune Thou my life, and let me use for Thee 
 " All kinds of music," song, and chant, and glee, 
 That each contributory chord 
 May swell " the music of the LORD: " 
 
 Tune Thou my life, and let me meekly bow 
 
 To Thy wise guidance, (Gracious Master, Thou!) 
 
 So shall my days give glad acclaim 
 
 To spread the glories of Thy name.
 
 I20 A LIFE ATTUNED TO GOD 
 
 Tune Thou my life to wider issues yet, 
 Whereof we now but scanty glimpses get, 
 Till, ripen'd by Thy constant Love, 
 We join the glorious Choir above! 
 
 1902.
 
 121 
 
 "HE KNOWETH THE WAY THAT I TAKE" 
 
 " T T E knoweth " each of all the paths we take, 
 
 A i. And whatsoe'er, in each, may us befall ; 
 He can our restless spirits tranquil make; 
 Our Heavenly Father " knoweth " all. 
 
 Far from each other we may be, or near, 
 But none of us can be beyond His call; 
 We lift our mutual prayers; our God will hear; 
 Our Heavenly Father " knoweth " all. 
 
 We go our several ways, and His wise love 
 
 Is ever over us; let naught appal! 
 Each pathway leads to perfect bliss ; 
 
 Our Heavenly Father " knoweth " all. 
 
 1903.
 
 I 22 
 
 "TO COME OF AGE" 
 
 " 'nr^O come of age " points back, and on; 
 A Our eyes are dim with mystery, 
 Shadow'd with fears of what may be, 
 And memories of childhood gone! 
 
 " To come of age " stirs thought within 
 Of life expanding, and we dream 
 Visions of mingling gloom and gleam, 
 
 A strife 'twixt righteousness, and sin. 
 
 We want to know so many things, 
 
 We want more knowledge and more light; 
 
 We wish henceforth to walk aright; 
 We're full of endless questionings. 
 
 Yet all our future may be faced 
 
 With trust in God, who works our good. 
 By acts not always understood. 
 
 But always well and wisely placed. 
 
 Our former blessings call for praise. 
 
 And hope looks on for further store; 
 For He will bless who bless'd before. 
 
 And guide and guard us all our days.
 
 123 
 
 "BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL, AND 
 FORGET NOT ALL HIS BENEFITS" 
 
 LORD, let me not forget the constant love, 
 Wherewith Thou dost my opening path sur- 
 round, 
 With loving-kindness all my days are crown'd, 
 And benefits are shower'd from above: 
 
 Thou gav'st ; Thou givest yet. 
 Lord, let me not forget! 
 
 Pardon for all my sins ; a life redeem'd ; 
 Healing for sicknesses; in sorrow, peace; 
 The hope of future joys that never cease; 
 Such mercies may not lightly be esteem'd : 
 
 Thou gav'st ; Thou givest yet ; 
 
 Lord, let me not forget! 
 
 A heavenly Father's pity, kind and wise, 
 For frail and feeble children of the dust 
 Thou daily show'st, all merciful and just; 
 Thy countless benefits I fain would prize; 
 
 Thou gav'st; Thou givest yet; 
 
 Lord, let me not forget!
 
 124 "BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL" 
 
 The years glide on ; Thy mercy still the same 
 Abides, for those that fear Thee, does not change. 
 Has " unto children's children " widest range; 
 Let all within me bless Thy Holy Name! 
 
 Thou gav'st ; Thou givest yet, 
 Lord, let me not forget! 
 
 Man's mortal days are like the short-lived grass, 
 Like fading flowers, which bud, and bloom, and die; 
 But Thou hast given us Immortality, 
 We live in Thee ; the earthly days may pass : 
 
 Thou gav'st; Thou givest yet; 
 
 Lord, let me not forget!
 
 125 
 
 "THOU SHALT UNDERSTAND HERE- 
 AFTER" 
 
 IN a dark room they work'd ; and each had part 
 Of an extensive broidery of lace 
 Whereon to ply their busy hands apace, 
 And on each portion one bright ray did dart, 
 To guide the worker; yet the master's art 
 
 Alone avail'd throughout the darken'd place, 
 To blend into a finish'd feat of grace 
 The separate workmanships of hand and heart : 
 
 It is a parable of life; the room 
 
 Is God's great world, wherein we sit and ply 
 A wondrous pattern on a complex loom, 
 
 A small part only reach'd by any eye: 
 Yet God adjusts the little each can do; 
 He sees the whole: one day weHl see it too. 
 
 1904.
 
 126 
 
 WHY? 
 
 " What I do," said the Christ, " thou knowest not now, 
 but thou shalt know hereafter." 
 
 ""1 ^ 7"HY is it thus?" we sometimes say, 
 V V Perplex'd, and wearied on our way. 
 When trials come apace, and night 
 O'erclouds a scene that once was bright 
 And makes those sad, who once were gay; 
 We pause, we ponder and we pray. 
 But still that thought will with us stay 
 While tears flow down, and blur our sight; 
 
 "Why is it thus?" 
 
 Ah! let not woes our heart affright; 
 God knoweth all, and ruleth right; 
 We know not now; there comes a day, 
 When mind and heart will never stray, 
 Nor need to ask, in any plight, 
 
 "Why is it thus?" 
 
 1904.
 
 12/ 
 
 HOPEFULNESS 
 
 THE mist will clear," tho' thick the haze 
 That hampers now thine eager gaze, 
 As, from some hill top looking round, 
 Their eyes, as 'twere, by bondage bound, 
 Pilgrims feel blinded in their ways, 
 Yet patiently their prayers they raise ; 
 A God-sent hope their fear allays. 
 An inward voice they hear resound ; 
 " The mist will clear." 
 
 So doubt thou not, there shall be found 
 An " open'd " way from off dark ground, 
 And from thy wearied soul's amaze 
 Thou shalt awake to songs of praise; 
 
 All life with brightness shall be crown'd; 
 " The mist will clear." 
 
 Alverstojie, Tasmania.
 
 128 
 
 ON THE BIRTH OF MY GRANDSON 
 
 ANOTHER gift from God's good treasure store, 
 Another launching of a human soul 
 On stormy waves that round and round us roll ; 
 An added link to chain of lives before. 
 The chain of history growing more and more, 
 Another call for guidance and control, 
 To point the path unto the heavenly Goal, 
 And teach " a child of God " upward to soar. 
 
 Such is our darling newly born, and we 
 For father, mother, son, our prayer uplift, 
 And praise our God for this so gracious gift, 
 
 Who holds the keys of each life's mystery. 
 
 Alpha and Omega, Great Lord of all, 
 
 Saviour from death, our Stay whate'er befall. 
 
 1904.
 
 129 
 
 TO MY GRANDSON 
 
 On the first anniversary of his birth. 
 
 THOU art a little Bud, my grandson dear, 
 A possibility of larger life 
 Is hid within thee — Shall we hope or fear 
 
 Thinking of what may come of din and strife? 
 
 We'll hope for Blossom, and for goodly Fruit, 
 
 A growth of healthy " actuality," 
 In such surroundings as may fitly suit 
 
 To nourish all the heavenly life in thee. 
 
 May that life ripen, (tho' we parents know 
 
 How much may hinder and impede the growth 
 
 Of what is good): May God His grace bestow. 
 And still protect thy soul and body, both! 
 
 " From strength to strength," thro' every turn and 
 change. 
 
 May Jesus " lead thee on," until one day 
 In Home and City set beyond the range 
 
 Of sin and death we meet. For this I pray. 
 
 1905. 
 
 K
 
 I30 
 
 FROM HOME TO HOME 
 
 WELCOME 
 
 FROM Home to Home" she went, and came; 
 and we 
 With waving Welcome hail'd her lovingly. 
 From Home to Home on earth, o'er sea and land 
 How wand'ring kinsfolk roam, a scatter'd band! 
 And as life lengthens, joys with sorrows blending, 
 We wonder where we'll meet, and when the ending! 
 But there's a Home, to which our pathways lead. 
 Which, for us all, will be a Home indeed: 
 Our God who guides us knows the journey's plan 
 Which mortal eyes can never rightly scan : 
 He leads us onward thro' appointed ways, 
 And promises His Presence "all the days:" 
 Then fare we on, with mutual help and love, 
 From changing Homes to that blest Home above! 
 Whate'er may come of toil and pilgrimage, 
 The " Father's House " is our sure heritage ! 
 From Home to Home we move, and trials past, 
 We all shall meet again " Safe Home " at last. 
 
 1905.
 
 131 
 
 TRANQUILLITY 
 
 (See Collect for 21st Sunday after Trinity.) 
 
 "To my dear friend and brother," George Henry Stanton, 
 Bishop of Newcastle, N.S.W. 
 
 TRANQUILLITY to thee, dear friend, 
 May God from highest heaven send, 
 That thus, in spite of strain and stress 
 From weaken'd body's weariness. 
 Thy mind may on His grace depend 
 
 Who guides thee thro' the wilderness, 
 And will His people always bless 
 And graciously to them extend 
 
 Tranquillity. 
 
 Naught from His care can ever rend 
 
 The trusting heart. He will defend 
 E'en in the utmost helplessness. 
 When doubts and fears upon thee press. 
 
 And perfect for thee in the end 
 
 Tranquillity. 
 
 1905.
 
 132 
 
 FORWARD 
 
 IT is a troubled sea, and wind-beat waves 
 Dash noisily against our vessel's side; 
 And yet the ship fares onward — boldly braves 
 The foaming waters — is not terrified. 
 
 A parable for us, when tranquil days are o'er, 
 And seasons come of sorrow and of strife; 
 
 And yet we onward move to that bright shore 
 Where, safe in port, we reach the peaceful life. 
 
 Christ guides the vessel, though we see no Form 
 Of Him who walk'd the waves of Galilee; 
 
 He knows the way we go, and rules the storm, 
 His Presence cheers us, both on land and sea. 
 
 So let us trust Him, as our years go by, 
 
 E'en though thro' mist and spray our eyes be dim ; 
 He leads us to the long'd-for Home on high, 
 
 We'll speed each other on with thoughts of Him. 
 
 1906.
 
 133 
 
 "THEIR SKY THEY CHANGE, BUT NOT 
 
 THEIR MIND WHO RUN ACROSS 
 
 THE SEA" 
 
 NOR space nor distance can divide 
 The souls that love each other well, 
 For real love does not sink and swell 
 With every ebb and flow of tide. 
 
 Deep waters cannot quench its light, 
 Nor earth-born barriers shut it out, 
 Whate'er life's changes bring about, 
 
 It lives and glows, for ever bright. 
 
 Changes to both of us have come; 
 
 We who were near now sit apart ; 
 
 But sympathy of mind and heart 
 Dwells in both North and Southern " Home." 
 
 The tie that sweetly links us fast. 
 Wherever in the world we go, 
 Is " fellowship with God " ; this know. 
 
 And blest is Future, Present, Past.
 
 134 "THEIR SKY THEY CHANGE" 
 
 We travel to and fro : the range 
 Of journeyings is wide and far, 
 From Southern Cross to North Pole-Star, 
 
 But love like ours can never change. 
 
 God guide us o'er life's troublous Sea, 
 Whate'er befall of stress and strain. 
 Till by God's grace we safely gain 
 
 The Haven where we wish to be. 
 
 1906.
 
 J5 
 
 GOD RULES AND LOVES 
 
 YES ! 'tis a strong sweet thought, 
 With endless comfort fraught, 
 That o'er all changes and removes, 
 God rules, and loves. 
 
 His Providence is wise, 
 Whatever we devise ; 
 He uses ^//things as His tools, 
 
 God loves, and rules. 
 
 All nations are His care; 
 All souls His pity share; 
 He shapes each life in His own Schools; 
 He loves, and rules. 
 
 Our plans oft meet a hitch ; 
 God's blessing makes us rich ; 
 He turns dry places into pools ; 
 
 He loves and rules. 
 
 Then come to us what may, 
 Let's trust God day by day, 
 Sure that through changes and removes 
 God rules, and loves. 
 
 1906.
 
 136 
 
 A VOYAGE 
 
 Thoughts for a birthday. 
 
 WE ponder, voyaging from shore to shore, 
 On weather, — distances, — and ports of call; 
 Topics of talk are there, yet, thro' them all, 
 And underneath each thing that we explore, 
 The Hope, which brightens for us more and more. 
 Is Hope of Home (whatever may befall 
 In journeyings thither, great or small,) 
 And joining loved ones, left by us before: 
 
 Emblem of life, its passing days and years! 
 We voyage onward ; varied are the scenes ; 
 
 Some days are calm, and others tempest-toss'd, — 
 But Hope still brightens joys, and conquers fears; 
 
 Our Captain, Christ, our chart His word; which 
 means 
 
 Fulness of joy, when this world's waves are cross'd! 
 
 On board RM.S. Orotava^ 1908.
 
 137 
 
 "OUR SHIP FARES ON" 
 
 A rondeau composed in the Indian Ocean. 
 
 OUR ship fares on, from Sea to Sea, 
 Towards the port where we would be ; 
 Tranquil, at times, the wind and wave, 
 Or dashing billows rage and rave. 
 Yet on we move continually. 
 
 Trusting that what we inly crave 
 May find fulfilment when we have 
 The joy of long'd-for liberty; 
 
 Our ship fares on. 
 
 So, thro' life's mutability. 
 
 We travel, sometimes tranquilly, 
 
 And then, perhaps toss'd about but brave 
 With hope that He will guide and save. 
 
 Who leads us to Eternity; 
 
 Our ship fares on. 
 
 1908.
 
 138 
 
 "WHICH WAY?" 
 
 OUR prayers are offer'd, and we're sure 
 Answer of good will come, 
 But which way God will choose to give 
 His answer? — we are dumb. 
 
 Lord, let Thine answer cheer our hearts, 
 
 Whate'er that answer be ; 
 The "yea," or " nay," is in Thine hands 
 
 We leave it all to Thee! 
 
 Which way? we ponder, in suspense, 
 
 But sure Thy will is best. 
 For Thy great love is strong, and wise, 
 
 And in that love we rest. 
 
 Which way? We ask, but leave to God 
 
 All that is future yet; 
 He promises to guide and help. 
 
 And He will not forget. 
 
 Submissive to Thy will, we pray; 
 
 The answer comes from Thee, 
 Rich with some blessing from Thy Throne, 
 
 Whatever it may be. 
 
 igo8.
 
 139 
 
 BEWILDERED 
 
 THE scene is shadow'd o'er with mist and clouds, 
 We cannot clearly trace our way, 
 Our hearts with sore anxiety are bow'd, 
 O ! for some light of day. 
 
 Illumine, Lord, our minds; Thy sunshine send 
 
 Into our darken'd path, that so 
 We may, unfaltering, trust Thee to the end, 
 
 And by Thee guided go. 
 
 O lead us, Lord, and by Thy Spirit still 
 
 Inspire, strengthen, and sustain. 
 That we may know, and do, Thy Holy Will, 
 
 Nor ever walk in vain. 
 
 London^ igo8.
 
 I40 
 
 ANGELS 
 
 " Composed before sunrise on the ' Ortona's ' boat-deck as we 
 were nearing Port Said, October i, 1908." 
 
 THE " Messengers of God," a countless host, 
 Are everywhere dispersed to do His Will ; 
 In heaven, on earth, o'er land and sea, they still 
 Ply their appointed tasks, nor think to boast 
 Of what they do themselves, then gladden'd most 
 When thro' their hearts there runs the grateful thrill 
 Of being used, and fitted to fulfil 
 Their King's commands, each at his given post: 
 
 Ah! God, we fain would be Thine " Angels," sent 
 
 To minister Thy mercy here below. 
 Strong in Thy strength, and humbly confident 
 
 That Thou wilt use us wheresoe'er we go, 
 Thy Messengers, to succour, and to aid, 
 The souls, which Thou, Lord, for Thyself hast made.
 
 141 
 
 HOW TO SPIN LIFE'S THREADS 
 
 On words quoted from a calendar. 
 
 "S 
 
 PIN carefully," my Soul! to thee 'tis given 
 To work for God, preparing earth for heaven : 
 The work is difficult, and delicate, 
 Nor may thy diligence or skill abate; 
 A watchful eye, and ready hand are needed 
 So let this precept evermore be heeded, 
 
 " Spin carefully! " 
 
 "Spin prayerfully," my Soul! self-trust disown, 
 For power and patience come from God alone; 
 If thou wouldst be successful, pray thou must, 
 Apart from God, thou dwellest in the dust; 
 But He can lift thy weakness into strength. 
 And give thee wish'd-for victory at length, 
 
 " Spin prayerfully! "
 
 142 HOW TO SPIN LIFE'S THREADS 
 
 " But leave the thread with God," that thou may'st 
 weave 
 After His will, and not thyself deceive; 
 He knows the pattern which He will require, 
 And, shaping thee, will fill thy heart's desire; 
 Be docile in His hands; let Him decide 
 How thou shalt work, and seek no other guide, 
 
 " But leave the thread with God." 
 
 Blackheath, New South Wales, 1909.
 
 143 
 
 w 
 
 WHILE YEARS GO ON 
 
 HILE years go on, nor can we say 
 What each may bring or take away, 
 Teach me, O Lord, to trust Thee still, 
 And yield me to Thy gracious will, 
 Nor ever from Thy precepts stray; 
 Be Thou my constant Strength and Stay, 
 My Shield to guard me every day, 
 From dangers that would work me ill. 
 While years go on. 
 
 Thy purposes of grace fulfil, 
 Thy wisdom cure my lack of skill, 
 And through earth's turmoil and affray, 
 Send out Thy light, and truth, I pray. 
 To lead me to Thy Holy Hill, 
 
 While years go on. 
 
 1909.
 
 144 
 
 A FAREWELL MESSAGE 
 
 On leaving England, September, igo8. 
 
 Farewell ! 
 
 Good be with ye ! 
 
 A Dieu! 
 
 F 
 
 AREWELL!" we say, — and weep 
 In heart, if not with eyes, — 
 Then go our several ways, or smooth or steep, 
 Scarce knowing where our destin'd pathway Hes. 
 
 " Good-bye! " we say and feel 
 
 A thrill of grief within 
 Letting a melancholy o'er us steal 
 With mournful memories of what has been. 
 
 " x^dieu ! " we say with hands 
 
 That grasp, and lips that kiss, 
 And some are left, and some to distant lands 
 Voyage; and all, who part, each other miss. 
 
 Yet let us not forget 
 
 To read the words anew ; 
 We'll find therein both prayer and blessing set, — 
 Those parting words — Farewell! Good-bye! A Dieu! 
 
 CHISWICK PRESS: PRINTED BY CHARLES WHITTINGHAM AND CO. 
 TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE, LONDON.
 
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