I was a wandering sheep, I would not be controlled; But now I love my Shepherd's voice, I love, I love the fold. I was a wayward child, I once preferred to roam; But now I love my Father's voice, I love, I love his home. Horatius Bonar [1808-1889] STAINS THE three ghosts on the lonesome road Spake each to one another, "Whence came that stain about your mouth No lifted hand may cover?" "From eating of forbidden fruit, Brother, my brother." The three ghosts on the sunless road Spake each to one another, "Whence came that red burn on your foot No dust or ash may cover?" "I stamped a neighbor's hearth-flame out, Brother, my brother." The three ghosts on the windless road Spake each to one another, "Whence came that blood upon your hand No other hand may cover?" "From breaking of a woman's heart, Brother, my brother." "Yet on the earth clean men we walked, Glutton and Thief and Lover; White flesh and fair it hid our stains That no man might discover." "Naked the soul goes up to God, Brother, my brother." Theodosia Garrison [18 Sheep and Lambs 3509 A HYMN TO GOD THE FATHER WILT Thou forgive that sin where I begun, Wilt Thou forgive that sin which I have won I have a sin of fear, that when I've spun And having done that, Thou hast done; I fear no more. John Donne [1573-1631] SHEEP AND LAMBS ALL in the April evening, April airs were abroad; The sheep with their little lambs The sheep with their little lambs All in the April evening I thought on the Lamb of God. The lambs were weary, and crying With a weak human cry, I thought on the Lamb of God Going meekly to die. Up in the blue, blue mountains Rest for the little feet. But for the Lamb of God Up on the hill-top green, Only a Cross of shame Two stark crosses between. All in the April evening, April airs were abroad; I saw the sheep with their lambs, Katharine Tynan [1861 "ALL'S WELL!” EIGHT bells! Eight bells! their clear tone tells The midnight hour is here, And as they cease, these words of peace Fall gently on my ear: "All's well! All's well!" Fond thoughts fly far, where loved ones are, From those dear homes the echo comes, "All's well! All's well!" Swift through the deep our course we keep, To shores unseen we steer, No thought of ill our souls shall chill, Nor wind nor wave we fear: "All's well! All's well!" Thus o'er life's sea our voyage may be "All's well! All's well!" And when for me, earth, sky, and sea One by One May this sweet note still downward float, From some undying sphere: 3511 William Allen Butler [1825-1902] LIVING WATERS THERE are some hearts like wells, green-mossed and deep As ever Summer saw; And cool their water is,-yea, cool and sweet;— But you must come to draw. They hoard not, yet they rest in calm content, And not unsought will give; They can be quiet with their wealth unspent, So self-contained they live. And there are some like springs, that bubbling burst To follow dusty ways, And run with offered cup to quench his thirst Where the tired traveller strays; That never ask the meadows if they want What is their joy to give;— Unasked, their lives to other life they grant, So self-bestowed they live! And One is like the ocean, deep and wide, Wherein all waters fall; That girdles the broad earth, and draws the tide, Feeding and bearing all; That broods the mists, that sends the clouds abroad, That takes, again to give;— Even the great and loving heart of God, Whereby all love doth live. Caroline Spencer [18 ONE BY ONE ONE by one the sands are flowing, One by one thy duties wait thee- Learn thou first what these can teach. One by one (bright gifts from heaven) One by one thy griefs shall meet thee; Do not look at life's long sorrow; See how small each moment's pain; Every hour that fleets so slowly Do not linger with regretting, Hours are golden links, God's token, Adelaide Anne Procter [1825-1864] UNBELIEF THERE is no unbelief; Whoever plants a seed beneath the sod |