The heavier the cross
the nearer God;
No cross without
no God within!
The prince of darkness thus is trod
Amid the world’s false glare and din.
Oh
happy he
with all his loss
Whom God hath set beneath the cross.
the better saint;
This is the touchstone God applies.
The gardens many would be faint
Unwet by showers from weeping eyes!
The gold by fire is purified;
The saint is by much trouble tried.
the stronger faith:
The loaded palm strikes deeper root;
The vine juice sweetly issueth
When men have pressed the clustered fruit;
And courage grows where dangers come
Like pearls beneath the salty foam.
the deeper prayer;
The bruised herbs most fragrant are.
If sky and wind were always fair
The sailor would not watch the star;
And David’s Psalms had ne’er been sung
If grief his heart had never wrung.
the more inspired;
From vales to climb to mountain crest;
The pilgrim
of the desert tired
Longs for the Canaan of his rest.
The dove has here no rest in sight
And to the ark she wings her flight.
the easier to die;
Death is a kinder face to see;
Our life’s decay we dare defy
From life’s distress we then are free.
The cross sublimely lifts our faith
To Him who triumphed over death.
Thou Crucified! the cross I bear.
The longer
may it dearer be;
And lest I faint while ling’ring here
Implant Thou such a heart in me
That faith and love may flourish e’er
Till for the cross the crown I wear.
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