Golden grains, and other poems

Front matter

, V I «

9' .

o

Dedication

To her, the dear companion of my life,

For forty years and more my faithful wife ;

Who trod the paths of duty by my side,

Preface

Without any pretension to classic lore, or exalted taste, these lines of varied numbers are offered as a small contribution to the fund of literary leaflets so abundant in this great harvest of the world's manifold and multiform books. They are golden messages of peace and goodwill, and are published by request of many friends, who have thought that they will be the means of increasing the happiness of those who may read them. It is hoped that my readers may find something to please and profit them when more vigorous thoughts and words may be laid aside for a season, and a lighter literary diet may be enjoyed for a leisure hour.

If the volume should incline the minds and hearts of those who read it to a keener sense of gratitude to God, and a greater interest in the ways of God to man, the author's most sanguine wishes will find their fulfilment.

r. c. P.

(vii)

Contents

FACE

Abraham's Offering ........ .28

Fraternal Faith . . . . . . . . . . 31

I. Behold the heralds of goodwill to all !

Their feet are clothed in beauty, on the hills, With eager haste, on all the world they call,

Their message every heart with rapture fills.

Glad tidings sweetly on the mountains rang, The most enchanting music ever heard ;

The watchman's voice with charming beauty sang In notes of promise from the holy word.

" Break forth with joy, together sing," ye saints, News of salvation to all nations bring ;

Proclaim a peace, and silence woe's complaints — Let heaven and earth unite, and praises ring.

I I

BEAUTIFUL FEET UPON THE MOUNTAINS.

Messiah comes to reign in love and power, Among his people over land and sea ;

Hail him with gladness ! hail this happy hour! The world's Sabbatic, glorious jubilee !

Beautiful feet of seers and sages. Crowd the mounts of holy song,

Publishing along the ages

Notes to cheer the inquiring throng.

Prophets, with enraptured vision. Saw the coming Saviour's light ! . In their high and holy mission. Shed a dazzling beauty bright !

On the mount of benedictions.

Where the matchless sermon rang,

Mourners pressed with sad afflictions Jesus' praise with gladness sang!

Pentecostal mount of glory.

Thronged by feet, and tongues of fire. Shine like hallowed flames before me,

Glowing, shining, broader, higher. •

BEAUTIFUL FEET UPON THE MOUNTAINS.

Beautiful feet, from every nation, To all lands, the earth around,

Went forth to proclaim salvation,

Matchless word ! — Enchanting sound !

Beautiful feet, on " Mount Ascension," / Feet divine ! with glory shod,

Arose (while hundreds gave attention), And ascended up to God !

Beautiful feet of those who saw him. Feet now swift to run the race.

Went forth everywhere proclaiming, Jesus' name, who saves by grace.

Beautiful feet of heralds crying,

Glory to Messiah's name !

With angelic cohorts vying,

In the sweet, sublime refrain.

Feet that gladly run to carry Bread to hungry children, dear ;

Haste in love, and do not tarry. Seeking saddened hearts to cheer !

BEAUTIFUL FEET UPON THE MOUNTAINS.

Feet as fleet as hinds or reindeer, Swift to run from danger nigh ;

But when duty calls to suffer, Into death or danger fly !

Beautiful feet upon the mountains !

Heralds of the king of kings !

Bearing news of flowing fountains,

From the healing water springs.

Feet of Moses on the mountain, With Jehovah, where the law

Of the Lord to us was given, With sublime and solemn awe !

Law divine ! Love's moral sanction ;

Love to God, and love to man; Flaming law of moral action.

Law revealing Mercy's plan.

Holy law and just and righteous ; '

Teacher of the scheme sublime !

Which by grace points us to Jesus' Saving sacrifice — Divine !

BEAUTIFUL FEET UPON THE MOUNTAINS.

Oh what beauty shines around him !

And around his heralds' feet ; On the mountain tops before him,

Their approach with joy we greet.

Hear the angel chorus sounding, Glory to God ! above ! below !

" Peace and goodwill," by grace abounding. Go and tell it, quickly go !

Prophetic chorus, sing the story :

" Lo ! the Desire of Nations" comes.

See the heavenly, matchless glory. O'er the hills and temple-domes !

Beautiful feet of eastern magi, With their gifts of shining gold.

Come and adore the infant Eloi, With honors that had been foretold.

Beautiful feet of holy women.

First at Jesus' hallowed tomb,

To salute the rising Saviour,

Bursting from the sombre gloom.

BEAUTIFUL FEET UPON THE MOUNTAINS.

Hear the joyous exclamation Of the angels, as they stand

At the open grave, awaiting Jesus' resurrection grand !

"Jesus, whom ye seek is risen !" Death could not his body hold

He has left the monster's prison, Life eternal to unfold !

Forty days his feet still tarried, In this vale of death and gloom.

Then ascended up to heaven, From the dark and dismal tomb.

Oh the blessed, risen Saviour !

Now enthroned on Zion's hill !

In the glory of his Father,

Where the angels do his will.

Oh what glory shines around him. On his throne of love and power !

Where the Cherubim adore him.

On his high and lofty tower.

BEAUTIFUL FEET UPON THE MOUNTAINS.

Crying Holy! Holy! Holy!

Flying as they sing and shine; Veil their faces with the lowly, . While they praise the King Divine !

Feet that run from evil tidings, And from dangers flee apace,

Find their surest, safest hidings In the smiles of Jesus' face.

Beautiful feet, that bear the banners Of the cross, when foes combine ;

By their meek and lowly manners, Conquering by their love sublime.

Beautiful feet on mount of mercy, Higher than all human hate,

Bearing water to the thirsty ; Such as these are truly great.

See the feet of her advancing From the wilderness of woe;

By her beauty, hearts entrancing. In this desert world below.

BEAUTIFUL FEET UPON THE MOUNTAINS.

Leaning on the arm of Jesus, Her beloved — clothed in white;

Who so lovely and so precious, Sheds on her his glory bright,

Clothed in sunlight, clear as whiteness;

On the moon, her beauteous feet; On her head a crown of brightness,

Glowing stars its charms complete.

" Like an army," with her banners, Waving over hills and plains ;

See the beauteous feet advancing, Hear the holy, heavenly strains !

Shod with gospel truth and beauty. See her grandly marching on ;

Conquering by love and duty, Many battles she has won !

O the sweetness of her music !

Peace and love are on her tongue ; And salvation sounds triumphant,

Goodness is their battle-song.

II. Pentecost

The prophet had foretold the glowing flood Of purifying fire which was to come Upon the servants and handmaiden-hood Of the Messiah. — And now the hum

Of mighty wind fills all the place around Where they assembled, at their Lord's command, To wait the coming of the gospel sound, Bidding them bear the news to every land.

" In the last days," said he, " my Spirit I will pour" On all my people, in the world all o'er ; "And they shall prophesy by visions and by dreams," And all the nations shall behold salvation's streams lo

PENTECOST.

Flooding the world with cleansing power and grace, Light, life, and beauty to the fallen race. Here men of all lands were gathered in a band, To hear the word of God, and go at his command

To preach salvation all the world around, And to all nations bring the gospel sound. "Filled with the Holy Ghost," these heralds spoke, And life and light from moral midnight broke

O'er all these lands, whence these believers came, They went forth to proclaim his hallowed name. This baptism of fire, by prophets long foretold, Glowed in their hearts, and onward rolled ;

Cleansing, and saving, by its power divine. Consuming dross, and causing light to shine. Amazed and dazzled, many could not see What this could mean ; — what could it be ?

Peter, the ardent and impulsive man, Glowing with Spirit light, at once began To tell, with the inspired eleven. That this was that which was to Joel given.

PENTECOST. . n

" Your sons and daughters shall receive the power To prophesy ;" and the Spirit's shower Shall pour upon his servants everywhere ; And handmaids of the Lord in it shall share.

" Day of the Law," on Sinai's mountain given, Day of the Gospel Flood ! sent down from heaven, Day of the promise, left by Christ the Lord, Fulfilled to all that meet in love's accord.

In this we see the law and gospel light, Shining in cloven tongues of glory bright ; And hear from every mouth the matchless sound, Salvation's offer to the world, all 'round !

Behold the light on every mortal brow ! Descending, like fire, upon the assembly now ! Hark ! Medes and Parthians join the news to tell. And those who in old Mesopotamia dwell ;

Cretes and Arabians unite to tell, God's wonders, and his praise to swell ! Now flaming tongues, and an intense desire, Kindle in glowing hearts a hallowing fire ;

And love, which comes from heaven, a glory sheds, Wherever loving feet the nation treads. " Go preach my gospel !" and baptize, and lo, " I will go with you, whereso'er you go !"

" My word shall not return fruitless, and void ;" Not one essential truth can be destroyed; The gospel of goodwill and peace to men, Will surely to its source return again

With fruits of joy and peace a hundredfold. And teeming stores of blessedness untold. From hearts all filled with loving flame, And lips aglow with Jesus' name.

Like floods of purifying light. Dispelling all the gloom of night ; Till sin and ignorance shall hide, And Jesus clothes his' spotless bride.

Oh happy messenger of gospel light !

Thy matchless voice makes every thought so bright ;

The world unsaved, in sadness and in woe.

To thee presents a picture all aglow !

The sky which seems all hung in sable night, Under the eye of faith is morning light. Behold the heathen in their darkness cry For light ! and lo ! the heavenly light is nigh !

Heralds of mercy, bring the " Precious Word !" And nations own that Jesus is the Lord ! Let all the people bring their offerings now, To Jesus Christ let all the nations bow !

Send to the world the light of life Divine !

" The truth, the way," which make the darkness shine.

Hail, hallowed name ! that every name excels ;

" In whom all wisdom, in perfection dwells !"

Sing his abounding grace from shore to shore, Go tell his love to all whose sins he bore ; The tongue of fire has lit the flame abroad. And the dark regions have been led to God !

PENTECOST.

Behold the sable lands illumed with light, Where thousands lately dwelt in moral night. See idols fall before the rising Sun ! And many nations shout the victory won !

One God revealed in Jesus' shining face ! And sinners saved by his abounding grace ! One Priest ! one Prophet ! and one reigning King ! All worshippers to him their offerings bring !

Before his throne all men and angels bow, Jesus, high over all, in glory now ! Our only mediator pleads our cause, And bears the stroke of violated laws.

" He bore our sins" on Calvary's tragic tree ! And lives forever our high priest to be ! A priest forever ! who for sin atones ! A king ! who all believing subjects owns !