Consolation

CONSOLATION
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

LL are not taken; there are left behind
Living Beloveds, tender looks to bring
And make the daylight still a happy thing,

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And tender voices, to make soft the wind:

But if it were not so-if I could find

No love in all this world for comforting,

Nor any path but hollowly did ring

Where "dust to dust" the love from life disjoin'd;
And if, before those sepulchres unmoving

I stood alone (as some forsaken lamb

Goes bleating up the moors in weary dearth)
Crying "Where are ye, O my loved and loving?"—
I know a voice would sound: "Daughter, I am.
Can I suffice for Heaven and not for earth?"

ABIDE WITH ME

Henry Francis Lyte

BIDE with me! Fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens: Lord, with me abide!

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When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, Oh, abide with me!

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away:
Change and decay in all around I see;
Oh, Thou, who changest not, abide with me!

Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word,
But as Thou dwell'st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free,—
Come, not to sojourn, but abide with me!

Come not in terrors, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings:
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea;
Come, Friend of sinners, and thus abide with me!

Thou on my head in early youth didst smile,
And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left thee:

On to the close, O Lord, abide with me!

Abide with Me

I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me!

I fear no foe with Thee at hand to bless:
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death's sting, where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes: Shine through the gloom, and point me to the

skies:

Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain

shadows flee:

In life and death, O Lord, abide with me!

ABIDE WITH US

T

Horatius Bonar

IS evening now!

O Saviour, wilt not thou
Enter my home and heart,

Nor ever hence depart,

Ever when the morning breaks,

And earth again awakes?

Thou wilt abide with me,

And I with Thee.

The world is old!

Its air grows dull and cold;

Upon its aged face

The wrinkles come apace;

Its western sky is wan,

Its youth and joy are gone.

O Master, be our light,

When o'er us falls the night.

Evil is round!

Iniquities abound;

Our cottage will be lone
When the great Sun is gone;

O Saviour, come and bless,

Come share our loneliness;
We need a comforter;

Take up thy dwelling here.

Smooth let it be or rough,

It will be still the best;

Winding or straight, it matters not,
Right onward to Thy rest.

I dare not choose my lot;
I would not, if I might;
Choose Thou for me, my God;
So shall I walk aright.

The kingdom that I seek

Is Thine, so let the way
That leads to it be Thine,

Else I must surely stray.

Then take my cup, and it
With joy or sorrow fill,

As best to Thee may seem;

Choose Thou my good and ill;