p. 1 | The Christian Race

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 25, 1862

The Christian Race.

THE heart is fixed, and fixed the eye, And I am girded for the race : The Lord is strong, and I rely On his assisting grace ; Race for the swift, it must be run ; A prize laid up, it must be won.

And I have tarried longer now, (Pleased with the scenes of time), Than fitteth those who hope to go To heaven, that holy clime ; Who hope to pluck the fruit which grows Where life's immortal river flows.

The atmosphere of earth, oh ! how It hath bedimmed the eye, And quenched the spirit's fervent glow, And stayed the purpose high ; And how these feet have gone astray, That should have walked the narrow way !

Race for the swift, I must away, With footsteps firm and free ; Ye pleasures that invite my stay, And cares are naught to me ; For lo ! it gleameth on my eye, The glory of that upper sky.

"A prize laid up," said he who fought That holy fight, of old, For me in Heaven yet for me not Alone that crown of gold ; But all who wait till thou appear, Saviour, the diadem shall wear.

Patiently wait—so help thou me, O, meek and holy One, That dim although the vision be, The race I still may run ; This eye, thus lifted to the skies, This heart, thus burning for the prize.