(Luke 21 :6.)
Through a scene of sin and sorrow
Lies our lowly pilgrim way,
All around us death and darkness,
All before us blissful day;
And the Morning Star of promise
Brightly shines our hearts to cheer,
As we follow in the pathway
Of the One who is not here.
Full of deep, divine compassion
For a lost and ruined race-
All His mighty love constraining,
And His glory veiled in grace,-
As the lowly Man of Sorrows,
God the Son, to man came near;
But the world He died to ransom
Cast Him forth-He is not here.
Though no halo of earth's glory
Shone o'er manger, cross, and grave,
Brightly shone His love's devotion,
Stooping down so low to save:
From the wise and prudent hidden,
Unto babes the vision's clear
Of the grace and of the glory
Of the One who is not here.
O'er the world's most pleasing prospect
Lies the shadow of the cross;
In the light of Christ in glory
All earth offers is but dross.
This delusive scene around us
Boundeth all the world holds dear;
We have found our rest for ever
In the One who is not here.
Still the Gentile wields earth's scepter,
Still the crown His brow adorns;
For the King whom God anointed
Man had but the reed, the thorns;
And the Jew, in earth's sad story,
Deep hath writ with blood and tear
Of a crucified Messiah-
By His own rejected^here.
And the sea of nations heaving
In the throes of wild unrest-
Lawlessness and strife prevailing,
Evil flaunting unrepressed-
Tell aloud in sin and suffering,
Sadly graved on every bier,
That a groaning, marred creation
Cries aloud-He is not here !
Long 'neath sin and Satan's bondage
Hath the earth in thraldom lain,
Waiting the divine Deliverer,
And Messiah's glorious reign.
On the world's horizon loometh
Signs that soon He may appear-
Signs that gladden, signs that sadden,
All who're waiting for Him-here.
But He cometh as the Bridegroom,
Ere appearing as the King,
His beloved Bride enraptured
To the Father's house to bring;
And we're waiting and we're looking
For the Day-Star to appear,
For our pilgrim hearts are longing
For the One who is not here.
W. L. G.