MY DISCIPLINE by M. D. C.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 4, 1879

MY DISCIPLINE.

By M. D. C.

Large plans for work my heart had made,— The Master's work—I loved it well. Sure he will gladly take my aid: “Master, my feet shall run to tell Thy message; I'll glad service give, Early and late.” He coldly said, “I need thee not; Go—wait.”

“But, Lord, thy poor I'll come and feed; I'll comfort each desponding heart, And in their dark and bitter need Pour in thine oil to heal their smart. My heart yearns for thy service; May I go?” More coldly still he answered Only, “No.”

Shut in, the prisoner strains his chain, And on his weary bed makes moan, Till soothed by ease of bitter pain, The restless heart more patient grown. “Yes, Lord, I wait; but send thy light,” I only said. No answer came, no glimmering ray; Darkness instead,—

Darkness so dense it hid his face. I strove in vain his hand to feel; While marshalled ’round, each in its place, And armed with an avenging steel, The sins of glad and happy years Menacing stood. “Guilty, unclean, O Lord,” I cried, “Cleanse in thy blood.”

Like frowning mountains, dark and high, My sins more closely hedged me ’round; Shut from his ear my bitter cry, Giving me neither look nor sound. Humbled and contrite now I cry, Low in the dust, “Lord, I am vile, I'll bear thy rod; ’Tis just.”

Upon my bare and quivering soul The stinging blows fell one by one; Bleeding and bruised, one glance I stole, And knew the hand of God’s dear Son. “I’ll bear each blow,” I meekly said, “Dear Son of God; Slay, if thou wilt, I’ll kiss Thy rod.”

Like spider’s web the hand has brushed, My “plans” have vanished into air; The good I purposed he has crushed; And now I sit without a care, Content to serve, content to wait; I have no will. But deep within my heart I wear His smile.

— M. D. C., in Christian Weekly.