THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH by Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 12, 1901

THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

III

MRS. L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE

Once more I heard that mocking word: “Oh, yes; thy Christ hath power, I know; But can He cleanse a heart of sin, And make it clean and white as snow? I know the worlds were framed by Him, I’ve seen the mighty seraphim Bow low before Him day and night, Make known His power and own His might. The hosts of hell have often heard And felt the power of His word, And often, e’en their lawful prey This MAN hath snatched and borne away. Death can not hold Him, this I know; But can He wash as white as snow A human heart all black as night, And make its crimson sin-spots white?”

Then quick before my startled gaze, The while I stood in deep amaze, A human soul, deformed with sin, All black and hideous within, Before my trembling spirit stood, Devoid of light, devoid of good.

It seemed that in that fearful hour, To me was granted wondrous power, And I could see each hidden sin Which lurked that guilty soul within. There shameless lust took root and slept, And crime his reckless orgies kept, Idolatry, and murder, too, With bloody hands of crimson hue, And every vile and nameless sin, Like raging demons, lurked within.

I looked, and from the cross of Christ There fell one drop of blood, when, lo! It touched that soul all black with sin, And made it whiter than the snow. And o’er those plague-spots vile and dread, The righteousness of Christ was spread, “O miracle of grace!” I cried, “All praise to Christ the Crucified!”

And then from earth and sea and sky I heard ten thousand voices cry, Till from creation’s farthest bound The word went echoing round and round: “Again the hosts of hell have failed, AND JUDAH’S LION HATH PREVAILED.”