“BY THY WORDS CONDEMNED,” MATT. 12:37.
By Lucy Morris Chaffee
We talk all day of a thousand things,
Till its wasted light grows dim;
We talk—till slumber its soft chain flings
Over weary lip and limb—
Of the countless gifts God’s mercy brings,
But never a word of him! We meet and greet, and our tongues run on
With the deal we have to say,
And many a name of a cherished one
Slips off from our lips to-day;
But never a thought of our God’s dear Son
Does a word that we speak betray. We come from church, and we linger long
On the beautiful songs we’ve heard,
On the gifted prayers and the listening throng,
And the tears by the sermon stirred;
But of Him to whom should be prayer and song,
Of Him not a single word! Our vows have been made to the Lord who died,
Our names with his people’s named,
But what if we should—when that day betide—
Be silent and shrink ashamed,
When some “by their words shall be justified,”
And some “by their words condemned”!