Building the Wall by Frances E. Bolton

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jan 14, 1913

Building the Wall

By Frances E. Bolton

By Frances E. Bolton

[Reprinted from the "Signs of the Times"]

The beautiful flock, the blood-bought flock, The Master of love is seeking, Leading them out of forest and rock, From desert and marsh-land reeking. Into the fold. From day to day He builds where the wall is torn away.

The wall is the hedge that was made above— The law of the Father's giving; And every commandment calls in love To the test of a Christlike living. But scorned by enemies past all speech, They build up falsehood to hide their breach.

And lo! as the Master's bleeding hands Would build the wall that's broken, The enemies send their deterring bands To tear away truth's token. Charging ever, they come abreast To break love's wall that must stand the test.

The under-shepherds as watchmen wait, On guard to avert disaster; They keep the foes outside the gate, And toil to aid the Master. The Sabbath of God in undimmed light Shines out to the flock as a beacon light.

But why are the Master's bleeding hands Toiling to build the broken? A storm is gathering o'er all lands, The clouds of the world give token; And safe in shelter of love's own rock The Master gathers His beautiful flock.

The storm will rage, the wolves will wait, The enemies rage and wonder; But all in vain at the love-built gate The engines of wrath will thunder. Sheltered close to the blood-stained wall, No ill to the beautiful flock will fall.

When the storm is past, when the wrath is spent, The enemies will be flying, Their wall of untempered mortar rent, The Dead Sea fruit of lying; But those who toiled with the blood-stained One Will hear the approving word, "Well done."

And then the flock, the beautiful flock, With the Master of love forever, Will rest in shade of the sheltering rock, And feed by the purling river. Sweeter and rarer throughout the years, They'll join the music that thrills the spheres.