THE MIRACLE AT NAIN by W. Morley Punshon

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · May 24, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 21.

THE MIRACLE AT NAIN

By W. Morley Punshon

W. MORLEY PUNSHON

FORTH through the solemn street The sad procession swept, Pacing its mournful way with measured feet, While inly wept One mourner, in a grief Stern as the silent years, Which seemed to mock the common weak relief Of outward tears.

Keen was her sense of loss, An agony untold; For death had seized amid a world of dross, Her piece of gold. They bore her only son, Star of her evening, fled; Whose lesser light recalled that vanished one Now long since dead.

For her best loved had died; And, stunned from former bruise The widow's oil of life had dried Within her cruse. Desert her heart, and bare; Like lone house on a wild; No voice to make blithe music on the stair— No laughing child.

No solace from the past, No hope in days to come, She cowered as if sorrow's second blast Had struck her dumb. But, near the city's verge, A sudden silence came; The hired mourners swift forebore their dirge, As if in shame

To mourn a lifeless clod With such despairing cry, While the Redeemer, "the strong Son of God," Was passing by. He came and touched the bier. They wait in curious pause: Has He the power and will to interfere With nature's laws?

He walked upon the waves! His word the thousands fed!— Is He imperial in the place of graves Over the dead? Then spake the royal word; And quick with rushing throes, The red life in the clay obedient heard; The dead arose!

And so—just as before— Unconscious of eclipse; Like babe who only knows that night is o'er From mother's lips; Or one who, free from harm, From the engulfing sea, Comes home and finds all on his father's farm Which used to be;

The same through endless time, Thus Jesus healeth now, With "many crowns" for victories sublime, Upon His brow— Conqueror in each stern fight O'er mortal sin and dread, And mighty, from corruption's foulest night, To raise the dead.