Your ShelfYour Projects

The King's Vigil

6%

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Dec 3, 1912

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 39, No. 47.

Read the full edition

The King's Vigil

By Llewellyn A. Morrison

By Llewellyn A. Morrison
"It came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called unto Him His disciples: and of them He chose twelve, whom also He named apostles." Luke 6: 12, 13.
All the long night, o'er Galilean meadows Falleth the fragrance of the odorous hills; All the night long, amid the quiet shadows The crystal dew distils.
Night hath her gifts of sweetness and of healing, Her boons for burdens, and her balms for care; Yet in the dark and silent night hours kneeling, Pleadeth the Christ in prayer.
His feet are humid in the misty grasses; Damp are His locks by Nature's chrismal tears; And the new day appears. Yet, still the vigil, till the darkness passes,
Great and momentous are the issues pending: An alien world's redemption has begun; Forth to the work, His work, He now is sending His workmen with the sun.
The work He came to do—the wondrous story He left the heaven of heavens to bear and tell— That work is God's, the kingdom and the glory, And power invincible.
So all the night, until the morning breaketh, Under the stars, while hast'ning angels wait, He spake with Him whose matchless counsel maketh The certainties of fate.
Who may declare the burning words outspoken, Or breathed in silence to the heart of Love? The holy hush is breathless and unbroken; The record is above.
Strong are the foes that hinder and resist Him; Sinful and sordid sons of men are dumb; Feeble and frail the heralds who assist Him; Yet must He overcome.
What need for virile manhood, pure, immortal; Of fearless faith and fealty for the strife! Never may one, unaided, gain the portal, Or win eternal life.
Yet must the seed be sown the wide earth over— The Word be sent o'er every land, abroad; Love be proclaimed that maketh man a lover Of goodness and of God.
He calleth some to carry forth the message— The lowly ones whose hearts to Him incline; The truth their shield and buckler; the embassage Mighty because divine.
Still, still behind the call the Master prayeth To armor and equip them as with flame; And still within the soul the Spirit sayeth, "Be strong! Go in His name!"
Who harken and obey, His favor sendeth. At eventime with gleanings shall they come, And fail not; for a mighty host attendeth To shout them "Welcome home!"