By one now present with the Lord he thus adored.
Yes! there Thou art—the One True God, and yet—
“A MAN” (1 Tim. 2:5)—“the Man Christ Jesus,”— God in flesh,” (1 Tim. 3:16, Greek)
In all Thy radiant beauty seated there
At God’s right hand—THE REPRESENTATIVE (Heb. 9:24)
Of each of all Thy members here on earth!
‘Fountain of life eternal!’—where I cleanse
A troubled conscience from all trace of sin! —
Thou River of my deep and perfect peace! —
Rock of my rest! Shelter from every storm!-
‘Balm of my wounded spirit!—Morning Star’
Of all my future—Haven of my hopes! —
‘O DAY SPRING from on high! whose cloudless light’
Has beam’d upon me, banishing my night
With dawn of heaven’s unfailing brilliancy!
Thou hast forever risen on my soul,
‘Thou Sun of Righteousness, and Life, and Peace!’
NOR SHALL the powers of hell, with all their spleen,
Nor all the workings of old buried me,
Deprive me of the honor so supreme
Of always laboring to “rest” in Thee—(Heb. 4:11)
SO satisfied—SO happy—oh, SO still—
SO quiet—SO at rest from fear of ill—
For “I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7)—am walking on
“The water” of God’s own unfailing “Word,” (Eph. 5:26)
In which I can’t help seeing I “have died” (see Greek of Col. 3:3)
That this “old man” was crucified with Christ; (Rom. 6:6)
And so was I! (Greek of Gal. 2:20) Hence “old things passed away,” (2 Cor. 5:17)
And “all things new” at least in God’s account,
Not mine—for He says He “hath reconciled
Us to Himself” (2 Cor. 5 “I 8)—hath quicken’d us with Christ, (Eph. 2:5)
And in so doing given a NEW LIFE
In which we are so “all of one” with Christ, (Heb. 2:11)
That what “is true” of Him is true of us; (1 John 2:8)
Hence “as he is so are we in this world”—(1 John 4:17)
Is true to faith, though not to common sense;
But then HOW faith delights and honors God!
Such simple, real, unhesitating faith
As quails’ at, nothing “—vindicating God,
And the exceeding riches of His grace:
THE FAITH that takes Him at His OWN BARE word,
And lets it “all be true;” (Rom. 3:4) yea, MAKES IT TRUE:
Which goes such lengths as to accredit God
For ALL THE LOVE and mercy in. His heart;
Responds instinctively to ALL His mind—
Re-echoes ALL His thoughts and sentiments—
Replies “Amen!” to ALL that He has done-
Reflects back on Himself “the true light” (1 John 2:8) of
The knowledge of “IT ALL” (2 Cor. 4:6)—His greatest “joy”—(3 John 1:4)
His “glory” (Rom. 4:20)—all His heart’s unwearied love.
Faith too, retaliates upon the foe,
And ‘stead of giving place, MAKES him succumb
Before the greater power of that word
Which GOD HAS MAGNIFIED ‘bore all His name! (Psalm 138:2)
Then WHY NOT, O my soul! DO JUST THE NAME;
And so continue winner of life’s game?
C. C. EVERSFILDS