p. 14 | PROVE ALL THINGS by Frances Eugenia Bolton

Pacific Press Publishing Company · MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA · Sep 27, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 39.

"PROVE ALL THINGS."

By Frances Eugenia Bolton

BY FRANCES EUGENIA BOLTON.

("Be ye . . . tender hearted, forgiving, . . . even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.")

You have heard a gossip's story, And the tale was dark and gory, Growing worse as it grew hoary. Bring the criticized before thee. We will prove the words so spoken, Give the story seal and token, That it spread as truth, invoking Justice. Lest a heart be broken, Prove all things.

Perhaps it half in jest was started, May be falsehood with it darted, Truth long since from it hath parted, It may wrong one broken hearted. If for justice only, let us Prove all things that come to fret us, Prove all things that come to set us Heart from heart. Lest we regret this, Prove all things.

But if weakness hath so riven, If the soul long, long hath striven, Yet hath fallen, think how Heaven Gave its all to say "forgiven." Then, considering thine own weakness, In sweet pity, and in meekness, Go to give a comfort token To a heart that may be broken, Prove all things.

Suddenly my heart is weeping, There's a vision upward sweeping, 'Tis the cross with arms outfaring, 'Tis the Christ His bosom baring, And a tide of love, pain-riven, Pours for us, for us, aye, even For our sins. Since we're forgiven, Can we shut this soul from heaven? Prove all things.