Rebekah Smith

“ The turmoil, care, and strife,
The tears, the sighs, that may beset
The orphan’s path in life.
Poor little orphan child!
’Tis bitter hard to roam
In this cold, dark, unfeeling world,
Both friendless and alone,
Where friendship ends in selfish aims,
Lips smile but to deceive,
Unkindness mars the spirit’s peace,
And leaves the heart to grieve.
Poor little orphan child!
For thee is pained my heart;
Should sickness pale thy rosy cheek,
And light and hope depart,—
Oh, who would then be near to bathe
The weary, aching head,
And twine around thee, arms of love,
And joy and gladness shed. ”

“ When Jesus speaks it will be calm, the storm and wind subside;
Oh! may it last till all is gone of selfishness and pride.
All else but this we could endure; this then is what we need;
Our very idol must be slain, and we from self be freed.
Then are we fit for Heaven’s use, to help build up God’s cause,
To boldly speak in his defense, and vindicate his laws.
Oh! be it ours to live for God, his glory all our aim;
He’ll work in power when we come to him in Jesus’ name.
All that is wrong will he remove, and bring the truth to light;
Oh! we can trust our all with him; his ways are just and right. ”

“ His vanity and pride!
We are left to sin, to punish sin,
No consolation here;
Reflection only swells the tide
Of anguish sad and drear.
Our falls oft cause a bitter grief,
That no redemption knows;
The deep, the painful, bleeding wound,
Time here can never close.
The die when cast, the ship when sunk,
To light can never rise.
Our good name lost—and all on board,
Then goes in sad surprise.
Oh! what a vacancy then made,
An empty, aching void;
Our peace of mind in silence crushed,
And hope’s bright boon destroyed. ”

“ O grave thou canst no victory bring!
[071]
By Jesus, our Deliverer, freed,
No light of sun or moon we need.
His glory is the city’s light,
And with him there we’ve all a right.
Each bitter pang which here we bear,
Will be a gem of glory there.
Th’ eternal weight of glory, wrought
By suffering is not dearly bought.
Be cold indifference, grief or pain
Mine to endure—the loss is gain.
Through sorrow’s depths I here would wade
To be through sufferings perfect made.
Worldly Sorrow.
Worldly sorrow worketh death;
Sink not beneath its power ”

“ Greater still our joy in Heaven, when in robes of glory clad.
He will hide in his pavilion; there we’re safe from every foe,
Under the Almighty’s shadow we can through disasters go;
Well can we bear wrongs and censure, while God knows our innocence,
While he justifies us freely; is our shield and our defense.
Glory to the Lord, my Saviour! glory to his holy name!
Oh! for his sake I can suffer, bear reproach and grief and shame!
[065] Who, with such a friend as Jesus, can be troubled or dismayed?
Who while on the waters walking, said, ’Tis I, be not afraid. ”

“ The dearest joys of earth can ne’er
One solid pleasure give;
We’re only blest when we can know
That ’tis for God we live.
We love by nature what he hates;
We shun ourselves to see;
We love our appetites and pride,
Ease and carnality.
The strife must come, and self must die,
Our idols all be slain;
How sad should they o’er us at last
Their cruel victory gain!
Too soon we cannot overcome
Our every sin and wrong.
Through Jesus let us conquer self,
And join the blood-washed throng. ”

“ Why thus sink in sight of Heaven?
Flee, oh! flee the tempter’s snare!
There is power with God in prayer;
He is ready to forgive,
Saying, Look to me and live.
[073] The Darkness of Despair.
The heart knows its bitterness, thought ’t may be said,
You are happy and blest all the while;
The depth of your misery, your burden of sin
May in anguish be hid ’neath a smile.
Thy waves and thy billows are over me gone,
With the Psalmist, I mournfully say,
And ask, Why cast down? Why disquieted, opprest?
’Tis why I’ve no heart now to pray?
Has the Spirit been grieved? Has it taken its flight? ”

“ I’m coming home again.
Charity.
There is a way more excellent, so traced the sacred pen,
Than e’en to share the precious gifts which God vouchsafes to men;
It is to draw for every act our motive from above,
And make our whole of mortal life a holocaust of love.
For though the mind with all the wealth of human lore expand,
Though e’en an angel’s glowing words we hold at our command,
If in each thought and word expressed, no charity abound,
’Twill but be like the tinkling brass, the cymbal’s hollow sound. ”

“ And where was anguish, grief and tears,
Now smiles and bliss and joy appears.
To be forever with the Lord,
To share the infinite reward,
To sit with him upon his throne,
To see and know as we are known.
In everlasting songs divine,
In sweetest union all will join.
Who can describe the bliss there’ll be,
When blessed with immortality?
The Vanity of Earth.
Sickness prostrates; helpless sufferer,
Who can stem the sorrowing tide?
Oh! how vain, when death approacheth,
Earthly pleasures, wealth and pride. ”

“ Jesus sees, he feels, he pities; he for us keen anguish knew,
He was numbered with transgressors; harmless, but his friends were few.
Those immersed in love’s deep ocean, nothing will or can offend;
They will bow in sweet submission, knowing Heaven will them defend.
Let us then our suffering brother seek where’er his lot is cast;
Priests and Levites having seen him, on the other side have passed;
But of God he’s not forsaken; He has known each bitter pang;
He has seen his tears and sorrows, and has known from whence they sprang.
Jesus sees when best to succor, every wrong will bring to light ”

“ This anguish, though deep, must in silence be borne,
Abroad, home afflictions should not be made known.
Beware when ’tis said, Oh! how happy you are,
Not even to hint there’s a skeleton there,
The sight of which fills with deep anguish the heart,
Oh! ’tis nought to see loved ones and kindred depart.
When the grave has enclosed them, the grief wears away;
But oh! living griefs on the stoutest hearts prey;
Though you smile and seem joyful, ’tis but to conceal
The depth of the misery you inwardly feel. ”

“ Then each suffering child of sorrow would be watched with tender care,
Love and pity for the erring would be felt and witnessed there.
Strife and jealousy would vanish; love be felt that works no ill;
Peace, sweet peace, and joy and gladness, would each home and bosom fill.
Love Not the World.
Love not the world, trust not its joys; uncertain is their stay;
Its treasures I’ve so highly prized, on wings have flown away. ”

“ The saints will come forth in immortal array,
Their triumph o’er death and the grave be complete,
The living be changed, and together ascend,
Their glorious Redeemer in Heaven to meet.
With him forever, ’tis said they will be,
And the song of their victory never shall end.
Forever with Christ in his glorious home,—
Oh, who can such glory and bliss comprehend?
[059]
And are we prepared for this glorious place?
Are we able to stand when the Lord shall appear?
Our victory o’er self must be full and entire,
Or still for ourselves may we tremble and fear. ”

“ In the dark places of the earth thy footsteps may we trace,
By fruitful fields and verdant plains where once were desert wastes.
The orphan rises up with joy thy coming steps to bless,
And widows, smiling through their tears, their grateful thanks express.
To clothe the naked, feed the poor, bestowing joy for pain;
To bring relief to those who long in suffering have lain;
To cause the sad, despondent heart to sing aloud for joy—
These are thy works, sweet Charity, thy holy, blest employ.
We welcome thee, O Heavenly grace! be thou our constant guide ”

“ God’s own searching eye is on us! Jesus feels our every grief!
He’ll not leave his own thus wounded, but will bring them swift relief;
Making known our every duty, teaching where he’d have us go,
Saying, Fear not! I’ll be with you, and all needed help bestow.
Though you see your bread withholden, find no place to lay your head;
Cast your all on Heaven’s protection: God to life can raise the dead!
Who the widow’s oil replenished? Who kept good her needed store,
When Elijah shared her morsel, having naught to purchase more?
If we blindly hug earth’s treasures, where shall we a shelter find? ”

“ Sin comes in many a dazzling form,—
Fearful the tempter’s power,
Oh, God of love forbid thy fall,
In the dark, trying hour.
Poor little orphan child!
Should tears e’er dim the eye,
And grief and sorrow fill the soul,
And friends no one be nigh;
There is a friend above, on whom
Cast all thy earthly care,
Who ne’er forsakes the fatherless,
But hears the orphan’s prayer. ”

“ Triumph in Jesus’ name alone,
And sit with him upon his throne.
This right with his own blood he bought;
Oh! bliss beyond all human thought,
Where ransomed throngs the Lord adore,
And sing free grace forevermore.
Submission.
The Saviour knows our every grief;
He knows the time to give relief:
When we are purified and tried,
And our whole wills are sanctified.
How to destroy our dross and tin,
And cleanse us from each stain of sin,
What to inflict, the Lord knows best;
’Tis only ours to stand the test. ”

“ Why this dark depth of grief and gloom, this anguish and despair?
The unpardonable sin you mourn, is not yet yours to bear.
Why thus disquieted, cast down? Hope thou in God; he’ll give
The very blessing you most need; look up to him and live.
This crushing weight of heartfelt grief, this flow of sorrow’s tide,
Will ere long bring the sad report, Of broken heart he died.
God knows what has befallen you, knows why the sore event;
Wait until he shall show you why this bitter cup was sent.
[046]
Be at your post, where’er it be; the claims of life fulfill.
Be no one act or motive wrong ”

“ Though I’ve passed through afflictions, in sorrow and tears,
In feeling still young, and in sympathy true,
I would have the world better for my passing through.
I’m glad I have seen you; I’ve one more to love,
On whom to ask blessings that come from above.
This friendship new-formed—may it ever increase,
And we find in Jesus true heavenly peace.
[027] To Aaron A. Smith, On his leaving to join the Army.
For one who can fill such a place in the choir,
Whose musical talents none can but admire,
Who is loved and looked up to as teacher and guide,
To leave for the war, will be felt far and wide. ”

“ God will relieve from sin’s dark, heavy load;
He will reveal himself a present help,
And make for us a sure and safe abode.
For such as these a resting place remains,
When earth’s dark scenes and trials all are o’er;
A home in Heaven where saints and angels are
Chanting glad songs of glory evermore.
Deny Thyself.
The word we preach is nigh thee,
Is in thy mouth and heart,
To cease from every evil,
From every idol part. ”

“ Where Is Thy God? “My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?” Ps. 42: 3.
Through day and night my tears have been my meat,
Anguish and grief there find a blest retreat;
The spirit crushed, the heart with anguish riven,
Almost forgets there will be rest in Heaven.
Dear loved one sleeping—sympathy, oh, where?
Is there no one who will our sorrows share? ”

“ Such the remembrance I would have, alive or in my grave,
To have been the humble instrument some sinking soul to save.
[080] For this I turn from pleasure’s scenes, to weep with those that weep;
To strive their sufferings to assuage, their confidence to keep.
Though on them glows the copper tint, though African their race,
What matters these distinctions of their nation, lot, or place?
For oh! the highest joy of earth is comfort to impart
To those who lie ’neath fortune’s frowns, with sad and suffering heart. ”