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WHOM THE LORD LOVETH

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 20, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 3.

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"WHOM THE LORD LOVETH."

By Fannie Bolton

BY FANNIE BOLTON.
"Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth." "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten." "Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth; therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Lord." "For a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations; that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ; whom having not seen, ye love."
Whom the Lord loveth, think we of this When sorrow moveth its shadow on bliss? When sorrow broodeth, and pain is keen, Is the jewel of promise clearly seen?
No; when the sorrow shadows us so, And the light of the morrow is tinged with woe, Oh, the fact of the chastening looms above The truth of the Father's tender love!
Yet think of the beauty of this light, And the hard-set duty will all grow bright. Say not, "He scourgeth with chastening rod," But say, "The Lord loveth." Think this of God.
Have you seen a mother her child reprove? Was her love all over, her tender love, When her love, like a weapon of pain, flashed bright To cut the evil that grieved her sight?
Oh, but her bosom felt every dart, And she longed to gather close to her heart The child she chastened, to soothe his woe, And lead his steps where his feet should go!
So doth our Father chasten, reprove; He longs to gather the child of his love Close to his bosom, his love to prove; Think not of the chastening, think of his love.
And, oh, how tender his hand will be! And, oh, how quickly the wrong you'll see! And, oh, how lovely the right will prove! Think not of the chastening, think of his love.
Oh, in the Father's love believe, And hard it will be that heart to grieve! Let the Spirit brood like a gentle dove, And God's chastening all will be filled with love.
Then how the stubborn heart will break! And low as a child your place you'll take, Close to the Father's bosom, and pray, "I bless thee, Lord, for thy rod to-day.
"Oh, keep my feet in the path of right! Guide me and lead me through day and night. Save me from self; let me learn of thee; Great is thy tender love to me."