THOUGHTS FOR REFLECTION.
By E. M. WARREN
My sister, brother, do we feel how precious are these
years,
While God's sweet Spirit still invites and seems to
wait so near?
Think of those hours—those bitter hours when we
had grieved away
The gentle voice of truth and love which warns and
woes to-day. It seemed that we had sinned so long, God could no
more forgive,
Oh! such a dark and hopeless life, 'twas misery to
live.
Such gloominess and such despair, and strife and
bitter hate;
And evil spirits seemed around to drive us to our
fate. Yet when we cried again to God, and put away our
sin,
He did forgive and rescue us, and gave us joy again.
But think, the years are hast'ning fast, the time is
almost o'er
When if we grieve the warning voice 'twill come to
us no more. Ah! there will be a famine then, than lack of bread
more drear,
For men shall wander north and east, the word of
God to hear.
From sea to sea and to and fro; but searching all is
vain,
For none then offer pardoning love, or ever shall
again. Then, oh! to think so many years God's mercy was
so free,
His holy book he scattered wide, that all might read
and see,
And 'mid the perils of the time, again he sent us
word,
His Spirit came with power and light and showed us
where we erred. Alas! how could we be so blind? Why did we let
them go?
Thank God! we have not, by his grace we'll heed
and love them too.
In anything, when he suggests which is the better
way,
We'll feel that surely he knows best and trust him
all the day. My brother, sister, when we heed all that the Lord
has said,
He'll give us joy and peace and light, the darkness
will have fled.
His word says, He that followeth me shall not in
darkness stand,
But he shall have the light of life e'en to the better
land. God's precious blessing in our soul and beaming in
our face,
We shall give light to other hearts, and make them
know his grace.
And when we've reached the bliss of Heaven, many
may clasp our hand,
And say, You helped to lead us here—to this immortal land.