HE GOETH BEFORE THEM,

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 24, 1867

“HE GOETH BEFORE THEM,”

[BRO. SMITH: I send you the following beautiful and comforting poem for the Review, copied from “The Shadow of the Rock.” M. F. M. FISH.]

The winds blow fierce across the barren wild; The storm-clouds gather darkly on our way, ’Tis cold! But, oh, that loving face and mild, Which goes before! there first the shadows stay, And tempests reach Him first, our Shepherd’s there; What He endures shall we complain to bear?

The night comes on—’tis dark! the stars are dim! We cannot see the way! But, oh, that form Which goes before! the night comes first to Him, And darkness first is His,—as was the storm. Shall we shrink back, or tremble to go on Where He, our Shepherd, first for us hath gone?

The way is rough, and wearying steeps arise; And thorns are there to wound our aching feet. But, oh, those sacred footsteps, firm and wise, Which go before! they first the roughness meet, And briers reach them first! Oh! shall we dread To bear His cross—to walk where He hath led?

The stream is reached;—the river dark and cold; The waves are high! But, oh, that mighty One, Who goes before!—the billows o’er Him rolled! He crossed the waters first, and shall we shun The final anguish which our Shepherd bore, His hand shall guide us to the other shore!

He goes before! And so we may not look Backward at all, but onward evermore; Keeping in sight the blessed path he took, Patient to bear each cross He meekly bore; Trusting His wisdom in the darkest hour; Overcoming every trial through His power!

He goes before! a shield against the storm; A shadow in the noon-day,—lights at night; In danger’s hour, there is the Shepherd’s form; But just beyond; though fears may dim our sight, Oh! earthly flock fear not forevermore! Where’er we walk, our Shepherd “goes before!”