THE PILGRIM'S COUNSELOR.
By E. W. Darling
I HEAR a voice, a voice within me speak,
Dost thou, O pilgrim, love thy Saviour well?
Hast thou aught with thee thou wouldst not forsake
To gain his favor or to do his will? Do earthly friends entice thy steps astray?
Do earthly hopes excite a warm desire?
Do earthly treasures steal thy heart away?
Or earthly passions kindle up strange fire? Oh pilgrim, let not earthly things allure
Thy heart's affection from thy God above;
But keep the temple of his Spirit pure,
And thou shalt know in truth that God is love. Then murmur not though all the great of earth,
And those that walk in pomp and earthly power
Despise thy name, despise thy humble birth,
And scorn with thee to spend a fleeting hour. Oh better far, more worthy of thy choice,
The sweet communion that He deigns to hold
With those that meekly listen to his voice,
Than all the wisdom man has ever told. If thou canst gain His favor here below
By walking in the way of righteousness,
O blessed portion thine; for thou shalt go
To spend an endless life in realms of bliss.
E. W. DARLING.
Waukon, Iowa.