How can it while I hear thee say, "Press forward and prevail!"
Even above the tempest's swell I hear thy voice of love,--
Of hope and peace, I hear thee tell, And that blest home above;Through pain and death I can rejoice.
If but thy strength be mine,--
Earth hath no music like thy voice, Life owns no joy like thine!
Spirit of Faith, I'll go with thee!
Thou, if I hold thee fast, Wilt guide, defend, and strengthen me, And bear me home at last;By thy help all things I can do, In thy strength all things bear,--
Teach me, for thou art just and true, Smile on me, thou art fair!
I have given the last memento of my sister Emily; this is the last of my sister Anne:--
I hoped, that with the brave and strong, My portioned task might lie;To toil amid the busy throng, With purpose pure and high.
But God has fixed another part, And He has fixed it well;I said so with my bleeding heart, When first the anguish fell.
Thou, God, hast taken our delight, Our treasured hope away:
Thou bid'st us now weep through the night And sorrow through the day.
These weary hours will not be lost, These days of misery, These nights of darkness, anguish-tost, Can I but turn to Thee.
With secret labour to sustain In humble patience every blow;To gather fortitude from pain, And hope and holiness from woe.
Thus let me serve Thee from my heart, Whate'er may be my written fate:
Whether thus early to depart, Or yet a while to wait.
If Thou shouldst bring me back to life, More humbled I should be;More wise--more strengthened for the strife--
More apt to lean on Thee.
Should death be standing at the gate, Thus should I keep my vow:
But, Lord! whatever be my fate, Oh, let me serve Thee now!
These lines written, the desk was closed, the pen laid aside-- for ever.