ARISE YE, AND DEPART; FOR THIS IS NOT YOUR REST by Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 10, 1900

“ARISE YE, AND DEPART; FOR THIS IS NOT YOUR REST.”

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

MRS. L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE.

Sweet spring had come; the earth was fair; The scent of blossoms filled the air, And singing birds were everywhere, My heart to cheer.

“How sweet a place is this for rest,” I said; “I’ll end my weary quest And bide me here.”

But scarcely had my tired feet Found rest within an arbor sweet, So cool, so quiet, so complete, When quick I heard

A solemn voice: “Arise, depart; O foolish, slumbering, slothful heart! Hear ye my word;

“For this is not your rest, my child, Go search o’er sin’s dark mountains wild, For tempted, wandering souls beguiled In error’s night; Arise, depart; why bide ye here? Canst find no weary heart to cheer With rays of light?”

His voice smote on my slumbering ear; I rose and looked; afar and near Were sad hearts waiting words of cheer And courage brave; E’en while I lingered idly there, A thousand souls in dark despair, Whom I might save,

Were sinking in eternal night, Without one gleam of blessed light, Or one sweet star of hope so bright, To calm their fear,— Were hastening to the darksome tomb, In hopeless, rayless, endless gloom, With none to cheer.

And then I said: “My soul, arise! The voice of God within thee cries; E’en though the path of duty lies ’Mid dangers dire, Who knoweth but thy feeble hand May snatch some soul, like burning brand From out the fire?” To lead some wanderer to the right— Some priceless soul—from endless night, To guide some bark, with beacon light, Toward heavenly shore, Be this thine aim, O soul of mine! Then thou, like sun and stars, shalt shine Forevermore.