THE CHRISTIAN FAITH by Eliza H. Morton

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 12, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 19.

THE CHRISTIAN FAITH.

By Eliza H. Morton

BY ELIZA H. MORTON.

In every age and clime have weary hands Been lifted high to God. In darkness men Have groped, and in the noonday light have not Forgot to seek for something to adore.

Some say the Christian faith is but a myth, An idle tale; a poet's dream, a vain, Delusive fancy of the brain. Not so; Its ideal is the grandest ever held Before the mind of man. For, lo, 'tis God In mercy reaching down to save the lost;

'Tis sacrifice in that which touches chords Of love. 'Tis love transcendent in its power. The heathen sacrifice to win to self Attention from their gods. Those whom the Lord Have called think not of self, but seek to shed Abroad the light of truth, to comfort those Who need a gentle word, to stay the tide Of sin, to lift the fallen, and to help All those who struggle to be free from lust, From envy, and from woe. 'Tis God in man Transforming day by day the human heart Into the likeness of the one pure Life; For "by beholding we are changed." What can Be nobler than the giving up of self, The consecration of the powers of the mind And heart to the great work of lifting men From depths of degradation to the heights Of heaven. This is the life of Christ, and this The life of everyone who truly takes his yoke.

Ye say all this can be performed Without the Christian hope and faith. Not so. The purposes of men are weak. He knows Far better than he of himself can do. He thinks great deeds are wrought in human strength; But, lo, the pride of life casts o'er his work A blackening blot, and self comes in to mar The beauty of the soul. Some power above Must quicken man, and touch and tender hearts, Before the highest good on earth can come. O Father, give us of thy power, we pray!