John 17:18.
FROM the brightness of the glory,
“Go ye forth," He said;
“Heal the sick and cleanse the lepers,
Raise the dead.
Freely give I thee the treasure,
Freely give the same;
Take no store of gold or silver—
Take My Name.
“Carry neither scrip nor raiment,
Neither shoes nor staves;
Walk unburdened through the deserts,
O'er the waves.
Thou art fitted for the journey,
How so long it be;
Thou shalt come, unworn, unwearied,
Back to Me.
“Thou shalt tell Me in the glory
All that thou hast done,
Setting forth alone; returning
Not alone.
Thou shalt bring the ransomed with thee,
They with songs shall come
As the golden sheaves of harvest,
Gathered home.”
Then I went as He had told me—
He, the Lord in heaven;
Went in power of the Spirit
He had given,
And the sick arose rejoicing,
Bore away their bed;
And in might of life eternal
Rose the dead.
And a light beyond the sunlight
Did the blind man see;
Loud and sweet the dumb sang praises,
Lord, to Thee.
And the leper from his exile
Came Thy grace to own,
Falling low in rapturous worship
At the throne—
Where He sitteth, working wonders,
High at God's right hand,
More than when an outcast stranger
In the land.
From the throne in heaven speaks He—
Speaks, and it is done;
Thus does God delight to honor
Christ, His Son.
Thus with instruments of music
Do His servants stand,
Harp and lute the King has fashioned
With His hand.
And "the music of Jehovah"
Sounds from every chord;
He who makes that glorious music
Is the Lord.
He by them tells forth God's praises
To the ears of men,
And to God His praise ascendeth
Yet again.
He alone, the Mighty Preacher,
Gathering in His own.
And the praise to God returning,
His alone.
T. P.