SLEEPING, BETWEEN TWO SOLDIERS, BOUND WITH TWO CHAINS." " THOU thrice denied, yet thrice beloved, In sharpest perils faithful proved, The prayer is heard-else why so deep He loves and is beloved again— Can his soul choose but be at rest? Sorrow hath fled away, and pain He dearly loves, and not alone: For his winged thoughts are soaring high Where never yet frail heart was known To breathe in vain affection's sigh. He loves and weeps-but more than tears Have sealed Thy welcome and his loveOne look lives in him, and endears Crosses and wrongs where'er he rove : That gracious chiding look, Thy call To win him to himself and Thee, Sweetening the sorrow of his fall Which else were rued too bitterly. Even through the veil of sleep it shines, And spares awhile his blissful trance. His dream is changed-the Tyrant's voice Not Herod but an Angel leads. He dreams he sees a lamp flash bright, But 'tis a gleam of heavenly light That fills up all the ample gloom. The flame, that in a few short years Deep through the chambers of the dead Shall pierce, and dry the fount of tears, Is waving o'er his dungeon-bed. Touched he upstarts-his chains unbind- Then all himself, all joy and calm, The pastoral staff, the keys of heaven, "PETER SEETH THE DISCIPLE WHOM JESUS LOVED." LORD, and what shall this man do?' If his love for Christ be true, Christ hath told thee of his end: Ask not of him more than this, He in youth shall find his rest, Whether in his lonely course (Lonely, not forlorn) he stay, Cheat the toil and cheer the way: Who doth hearts as streams command. Gales from heaven, if so He will, In the lonely mountain rill, Than the meeting waters make : Who hath the Father and the Son, May be left, but not alone. Sick or healthful, slave or free, Wealthy, or despised and poor What is that to him or thee, So his love to Christ endure? When the shore is won at last, Who will count the billows past? Only, since our souls will shrink At the touch of natural grief, When our earthly loved ones sink, Lend us, Lord, thy sure relief; Patient hearts, their pain to see, And thy grace, to follow Thee. |