THIS I DID FOR THEE: WHAT DOST THOU FOR ME?
By C. R. Austin
I gave my life for thee,
My precious blood I shed,
That thou might'st ransomed be,
And quickened from the dead.
I gave my life for thee;
What hast thou given for me? I spent long years for thee,
In weariness and woe,
That one eternity
Of joy thou mightest know.
I spent long years for thee;
Hast thou spent one for me? My Father's house of light,
My rainbow-circled throne,
I left for earthly night,
For wanderings sad and lone;
I left it all for thee;
Hast thou left aught for me? I suffered much for thee—
More than thy tongue can tell,
Of bitterest agony,
To rescue thee from hell.
I suffered much for thee;
What dost thou bear for me? And I have brought to thee,
Down from my home above,
Salvation full and free,
My pardon and my love.
Great gifts I brought to thee;
What hast thou brought to me? Oh! let thy life be given,
Thy years for me be spent,
World-fetters all be riven,
And joy with suffering blent.
I gave myself for thee;
Give thou thyself to me? BRO. SMITH: In looking over the Parish Visitor, I read the foregoing lines, and feeling that they truthfully and forcibly represent what Jesus has done for us, I have copied them. I feel that I need to realize daily that Jesus is asking me these questions; but how are they answered in my life? It is the great desire of my heart to give myself to him, but “the gift, alas, how poor!” even when fully given. And yet what wondrous love dwells in his heart, that he should not only be willing to accept of us when we come, but that he has been pleading for 1800 years, with just such unworthy mortals, to come and accept Heaven's richest blessing, even life eternal, from his loving hand. And in all these long years he has not grown weary; but now, just before he finishes all his pleading, it seems to me he manifests a double interest for us, in condescending to come and stand at the door and knock for admission, that he may be with us to guide us through the perils that thicken around our way. And shall we arise and bid him enter, “a welcome guest?” Or shall we fold our hands in lukewarmness, while probation's last hours are closing? Oh! how we shall want to walk with him over the plains of the new earth. May God help us who have seen the glorious light of present truth to secure him for a companion, and so heed his counsels and walk in his light that we shall at last share in the rich reward he has promised the overcomer. Yours in hope,
C. R. AUSTIN.
Berkshire, Vt., April 12, 1870. NOTE. It is said that a pious artist once executed a very impressive painting of the Saviour in his dying agonies upon the cross, and beneath it placed this inscription: “This have I done for thee; what hast thou done for me?” Imagine yourselves looking upon this scene, and listening to these words as from the Lord himself. How could the powers of the ear and eye be employed to convey in a smaller compass a greater lesson to the human mind? From this circumstance the foregoing beautiful lines, copied by Sr. Austin, were probably written.—ED.