REFLECTIONS by R. F. C.

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 17, 1857

REFLECTIONS.

By R. F. C.

UPON a rising ground southwest of Nile, I set me down to rest and muse awhile. And there is Friendship also now in view, But earthborn friendship often proves untrue. How vain, alas! the friendship of the world, Already doomed, and soon to ruin hurled! Its friendship is but enmity with God, And soon must sink beneath the iron rod. And thou, fair villa, soon must share the fate Of those who pray when praying is too late! If Jesus wept o'er Jews' approaching doom, In whose proud, stubborn hearts he found no room, Would he not weep, if now he were on earth, To see its pride, and gayety, and mirth? The people filled with earth, and heaven forgot, Their doom impending, and they know it not! Ah! how is it the earth is lulled to sleep? Are there no shepherds set a watch to keep? Shepherds there are, but they can't understand, Their cry of peace and safety fills the land; And thus the worldly, thoughtless, careless throng, Are lulled to quiet by this siren song. But suddenly the day of wrath shall rise, And sweep away the refuges of lies; And they that trusted in the words of men, Will see their doom, and curse their leaders then. Then howl, ye shepherds! for your race is run, Your flocks are ruined, and yourselves undone. The shepherds then will find no place to flee, But all the ruin they have wrought must see, And drink the dregs of that imbittered cup, Which they for others and themselves filled up. The lion leaves his covert with a bound, And desolation spreads the earth around.

R. F. C. Nile, Allegany Co. N. Y., Aug 12th, 1857.