WORK | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 24, 1881

WORK.

I've heard some glorious songs betimes, Of love, and war, and wine, Bright fancies woven into rhymes. Another theme is mine— 'Tis work, and men of horny hands, Creation's sovereigns true, The nobles of their native lands, And not the titled few.

Ere first from out chaotic sleep Arose this nether world, The Spirit moved along the deep, And back the darkness furled; And working with omniscient will The superhuman plan, A lesson taught, and teaches still, That work is good for man!

When Adam was from Eden sent, By the divine command, Obedient at the word he went To till the virgin land; In exile toiling all his days, Long lengthen'd out that ran, Chanted his glorious Maker's praise,— The primal workingman.

But when the sons of Adam grew, And multiplied apace, The way of Heaven no more they knew, And ran a sinful race; All, all save they of Noah's blood Fell 'neath Jehovah's ban, Who bore above the whelming flood His own loved workingman.

When from the children-slayer's hand, Fast from the Jordan side, Away to Egypt's distant land Where Nilus pours its tide, Madonna with her infant fled, To 'scape dire Herod's ban, Who then the youthful Saviour led? A simple workingman.

To sow the new-evangel seed, To point the way to Heaven, To heal the sick, to raise the dead-- To whom were these things given? Not to the great ones of the earth! The proud of purse or pen,— To chosen ones of humble birth, Poor, simple workingmen. —N. Y. Tablet.