Duty | AdventAI

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 17, 1864

Duty.

"No matter where," if duty calls thee, go! Amid contagion, poverty, and death, Bend o'er the sufferer in his hour of woe, Nor fear the blast of pestilential breath.

Go o'er the wintry ocean! tremble not When night, and storm, and darkness, round, above, Hover like ravens—self-approving thought In thy soul nestles, like the soft-winged dove.

Go to the desert! burning heats by day, Nor foes by night, disturb thy sweet repose; Up-springing flowers adorn thy lonely way; To slake thy thirst, the sudden fountain flows.

Speak thou, as duty bids thee, truthful words; If danger threatens, still be bravely true. Trust thou in Him who rules the raging floods, And thou shalt triumph o'er the billows too!

Speak thou for the oppressed! Be thou his friend. "Mercy," the poet saith, like heaven's own rain, "Is doubly blessed," which upward doth ascend To gather might, then break on earth again.

Toil in thy Master's vineyard! Watch and pray! Toil for thy race, for whom the Saviour bled: Let his example cheer thee on thy way; And if he bids thee, toil for daily bread.

Do, suffer, die, at duty's call divine, Nor rest from battle till the victory's won; Then, soldier of the Cross, a crown is thine— Then, faithful servant, hear thy glad "Well done!"