THE BORDER-LANDS. FATHER, into thy loving hands While wandering in these Border-Lands Father, I would not dare to choose These Border-Lands are calm and still, And solemn are their silent shades; And my heart welcomes them, until The light of life's long evening fades. I heard them spoken of with dread, 128 The Border-Lands. But since thy hand hath led me here, Stood on its brink, as now I stand, There has been nothing to alarm My trembling soul; how could I fear While thus encircled with thine arm? I never felt thee half so near. What should appall me in a place Surely 't is here my soul would be. - They say the waves are dark and deep, That faith has perished in the river; They speak of death with fear, and weep. Shall my soul perish? Never, never! I know that thou wilt never leave The soul that trembles while it clings To thee: I know thou wilt achieve Its passage on thine outspread wings. And since I first was brought so near The Border-Lands. I cannot see the golden gate Unfolding yet to welcome me; I cannot yet anticipate The joy of heaven's jubilee. But I will calmly watch and pray, To see his glory, and rejoice. 129 THE TRUE LIGHT. To thee, to all, my sinking voice, In all but Him our sins have been, God's perfect will for all mankind. The shadows round me close and press, And more I seem its light to bless Than aught near worlds could give to me. As light and warmth to noontide hours, So heaven to heavenly souls belongs. DUST TO DUST. OH blessing, wearing semblance of a curse, For mingling with the life-blood, through each vein The venom of the Serpent's bite has run, And only thus might be expelled again,Thus only health be won. Shall we not then a gracious sentence own, Now since the leprosy has fretted through The entire house, that Thou wilt take it down, And build it all anew? Build it this time, since Thou wilt build again, An holy house where righteousness may dwell; And we, though in the unbuilding there be pain, Will still affirm, — ’T is well. |