p. 1 | Left at Athens Alone by ELIZA H. MORTON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 18, 1915

“Left at Athens Alone”

By ELIZA H. MORTON

ELIZA H. MORTON

Proud city, beautiful—Athens of old— Metropolis of heathendom! We see A picture of thy glory and thy pride, Thy architecture and thy paintings fair, The statues of thy heroes deified, Thy marble halls with stately stairways wide, Thy temples, tablets, and thy costly shrines, Appealing to the senses and the soul.

Amid that pomp and splendor stood a man Of God, the Paul of ancient days, the Paul Who saw in holy vision Christ the Lord, And ever ’after followed in his train. Alone in Athens, left alone! Alone To face a city steeped in sin! Alone, And yet ’twas good, he thought, to be alone. And there the brave apostle stood to meet Idolatry in most alluring forms. Intelligence and culture, beauty, art, And all that wealth could purchase met his eye; Yet God was honored not, and all was vain.

A burning message from his lips burst forth, And he declared to all the Unknown God, The One who made the world and all therein, Who dwelleth not in temples made with hands, The One who soon will come to judge the world. Though Paul was left alone, he faltered not, But, calm and self-possessed, preached truth in love. Yea, lifted high the cross to win from sin.

O ye of earth, this lesson learn: Look up! Thy strength will be renewed; be brave, be strong, And ne’er despond. The truth of God will shine Amid the glare, amid the tinselled dross Below, and some will listen to the word, The cities of our day must hear the truth Of God; and honest souls will stand the test, And with the lonely workers praise the Lord.

Portland, Maine.