A LITTLE WHILE | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 27, 1869

A LITTLE WHILE.

What is this that he saith, A little while? John xvi, 18.

Oh! for the peace that floweth as a river, Making life's desert places bloom and smile; Oh! for the faith to grasp Heaven's bright forever, Amid the shadows of earth's little while!

A little while, for patient vigil-keeping, To face the stern, to wrestle with the strong; A little while, to sow the seeds with weeping, Then bind the sheaves, and sing the harvest song.

A little while, to wear the weeds of sadness, To pace—with weary step through miry ways; Then to pour forth the fragrant oil of gladness, And clasp the girdle round the robe of praise.

A little while, midst shadow and illusion, To strive by faith, love's mysteries to spell; Then read each dark enigma's bright solution, Then hail sight's verdict, He doeth all things well.

A little while, the earthen pitcher taking To way-side brooks, from far-off mountains fed; Then the cool lip its thirst forever slaking Beside the fullness of the Fountain Head.

A little while to keep the oil from failing, A little while, faith's flickering lamp to trim; And then, the Bridegroom's coming footsteps hailing, To haste to meet him with the bridal hymn.

And He who is himself the gift and giver, The future glory and the present smile, With the bright promise of the glad forever Will light the shadows of the little while.