Yet a Little While by S. J. Thayer

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 5, 1865

"Yet a Little While."

By S. J. Thayer

A LITTLE while longer the cross must we bear, Before the rich joys of the blest we shall share; A little while, only, a little while given, In which to prepare for a glorious Heaven. O let us rejoice, while the time we improve, To perfect ourselves for the mansions above.

Yet a little while longer to watch and to pray, That the tempter allure us not out of the way, A little while only, to sorrow and weep, For those who already have fallen asleep.

A little while left us in which to prepare An ark, as did Noah; and take refuge there, And to earnestly beg of each dear child and friend, To come and go with us ere cometh the end.

Yet a little while only while Christ intercedes, A little while Mercy will linger and plead; Shall we sit down in stupor and watch for the day, While our friends and our neighbors are sleeping away

The time, all unconscious that danger is near, Or soothed by the cry, "We have nothing to fear, The war is now over, Peace blesses our land, Henceforward in safety and triumph we stand?"

O brother, O sister, these lines who may read, But a little while longer is left us indeed; For sudden destruction will follow the cry Of peace, and of safety, which now swells so high.

We have friends without God, or a hope in the world, Who will soon in a vortex of ruin be hurled; Should they choose not to listen to aught we may say, Still there may be help; for to God we can pray.

There is power with God, and he heareth the cry, Of those who are willing themselves to deny, Who strive in all things when his will is made known, To walk in the light, making his will their own.

A little while longer! the parents sit by, And watch the dear child, while the fever runs high, They see how it suffers, and struggles for breath, And know that those struggles must soon end in death; They kneel! and how think you these parents will pray? Will they seek the dear Lord in a calm, quiet way? Nay, with hearts full of love and the danger in sight, Besieged would the throne be, they'd pray with their might.

Do we see the last moments so fast passing by, And still have no feeling for those who must die? No hearts full of pity, compassion and love, No power to prevail with the Ruler above? Oh then let us weep for our own lukewarm state, And seek for repentance, before it's too late; And rouse us to work in the little while given, And pray with a zeal that is worthy of Heaven.

A little while longer! Oh earth does look drear, Compared with the home of the Christian so near; Oh, I must behold it, that city so bright, And stand with the ransomed in robes clean and white; Give strength, blessed Saviour, to follow thy way, That I may sing praises to thee in that day. And help me while striving to gain the reward, To feel for the blinded, who love not the Lord. S. J. THAYER. Buckland, Mass., Aug. 20.