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THE SOURCE OF POWER

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 9, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 48.

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THE SOURCE OF POWER.

THE noblest lesson taught by life, To every great heroic soul Who seeks to conquer in the strife, Is self-control.
Truth grants no scepter to the hand Where pride and passion hold the sway; He who with honor would command Must first obey.
An honest doubt is oft the seed Of truth, that bright celestial flower, And weakness, through some noble deed, Is changed to power.
The brave of heart, the pure in mind, Will dare to see the truth aright, While coward souls, perverse and blind, Will shun the light.
But though unnumbered eyes were closed, Still would the sun as brightly shine, And truth, by all the world opposed, Is still divine.
The servile reverence of the past, Which marks the worship of to-day, Before the truth advancing fast, Must pass away.
And strength of soul and breadth of thought, And inspiration from above, Shall be by earnest spirit sought In truth and love.
A voice, whose word of power sublime Transcends the might of human law, Shall in the truth's appointed time The world o'erawe.
Then "Tyranny, which oft unfurled Her blood-stained banner to the sky," Shall from her throne of power be hurled And, helpless, die.
The world is sick and sore at heart, With patient hope deferred too long, And seeks for one who knows the art, To make her strong.
The man who dares to think, to live True to his soul's divinest light, Will to the world an impulse give For truth and right.
The cross may meet his noblest deeds, The fagot blaze at every word; Yet o'er the angry strife of creeds He will be heard.
Thus, through the fire and through the flood, All bruised and scarred and battle worn, Baptized in sweat and tears and blood, Great souls are born.
That which is crucified to-day The distant future shall adore, And truths which error seeks to slay, Live evermore.
Great souls e'er set their standard high, And, toiling on through storm and night, They wake the nations with their cry, For "light, more light!"
The world will learn, when wiser grown, This lesson comes with every hour, That right is might and truth alone The source of power.
—Selected.