"And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!"—2 Sam. xxiii, 14, 15.
In the Hold, long oppressed, by Earth's wearisome strife,
My soul is athirst, for the Waters of Life—
And longs for the Well-spring, at Bethlehem's gate,
Where its Fount gushes freely, this thirst to abate.
Oh! who will break THROUGH, in the Strength of the Lord,
And at once Overcome—by his Spirit and Word—
The uncircumcised Host, that opposeth His reign,
And bid the sweet waters of Life FLOW again?
Oh! who will "GO UP," and the Land now possess,
In the Name of the Highest his Sabbaths redress—
'Till the Praise of that NAME in loud chorus shall rise,
From Mountain and Valley, from Ocean and Skies?
Oh! who shall BETWEEN the bright Cherubims PASS,
And Restore the LOST garden of beauty at last;
Who shall give to its long desert bowers their bloom,
And say to the Saved, and the Ransomed, RETURN!
FOR ONE we have Waited, for ONE we have Sought—
While lords and gods many, great wonders have wrought;
But NONE has brought forth—the SALVATION the LOVE,
And we WAIT yet ANOTHER, to come from Above.
His Name must be Jesus! no other we know,
Who can BID the wide Stream of REDEMPTION to flow;
Who can BREAK through the Host, the Inheritance bless,
And RESTORE the lost Children of EDEN to REST.
C. S. M.