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ROCK OF AGES

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 2, 1874

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 43, No. 25.

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“ROCK OF AGES.”

“Rock of Ages, cleft for me,” Thoughtlessly the maiden sung; Fell the words unconsciously From her girlish tongue; Sang as little children sing; Sang as sing the birds in June; Fell the words like light leaves down On the current of the tune— “Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in thee.”
“Let me hide myself in thee,” Felt her soul no need to hide; Sweet, the song as song could be— And she had no thought beside; All the words unheedingly Fell from lips untouched by care, Dreaming not that each might be On some other lips a prayer— “Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in thee.”
“Rock of Ages, cleft for me”— ’T was a woman sung them now, Sang them slow and wearily— Wan hand on her aching brow, Rose the song as storm-tossed bird Beats with weary wing the air, Every note with sorrow stirred— Every syllable a prayer— “Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in thee.”
“Rock of Ages, cleft for me”— Lips grown aged sang the hymn Trustingly and tenderly— Voice grown weak and eyes grown dim, “Let me hide myself in thee,” Trembling through the voice and low, Ran the sweet strain peacefully, Like a river in its flow, Sung as only they can sing Who behold the promised rest— “Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in thee.”
“Rock of Ages, cleft for me”— Sung above a coffin lid; Underneath, all restfully, All life’s joys and sorrows hid, Nevermore, O storm-tossed soul! Nevermore from wind or tide, Nevermore from billow’s roll, Wilt thou need thyself to hide. Could the sightless, sunken eyes, Closed beneath the soft gray hair; Could the mute and stiffened lips Move again in pleading prayer, Still, aye, still the words would be, “Let me hide myself in thee.”