THE COMING OF THE LORD.
By S. B. S. W.
“At even, or at midnight, or at cockcrowing, or in the morning.” It may be at the closing day,
When from the golden west
The sun’s gleam slowly dies away,
Bringing the hour of rest,
And the twilight shades are slowly
Gathering round thy home,
And a silence calm and holy
Sweetly pervades thy room,
Then in the stillness, watch and pray,
At the closing day
Thy Lord may come. It may be at the midnight hour,
When earth is hushed in sleep,
When clouds of darkness round thee lower,
And angels vigil keep;
When the lights are out, the fire’s faint glow
Scarce piercing through the gloom,
Although no footstep, soft and low,
Is heard within thy room,
Watch and pray, at the midnight hour,
Though the darkness lower
Thy Lord may come. It may be when the herald of dawn
Sounds forth so shrill and clear,
When dewy night is almost gone,
And day is drawing near,
When the waning moon is sinking low,
And stars are growing dim,
And fitful slumbers come and go,
While quiet reigns within.
In that calm hour, oh! watch and pray,
Ere the dawn of day
Thy Lord may come. It may be in the morning bright,
When shades of night are gone,
And the sun’s early slanting light
Gleams over hill and lawn;
When the birds are gaily singing
Their songs around thy home,
And the morning air is winging
Sweet fragrance in thy room,
Watch and pray, in the early light,
In the morning bright
Thy Lord may come. —S. B. S. W., in The Christian Press.