THE ELDER BROTHER. YES, for me, for me he careth Yes, o'er me, o'er me he watcheth, Ceaseless watcheth, night and day: Yes, even me, even me he snatcheth From the perils of the way. Yes, for me he standeth pleading, Ever for me interceding, Constant in untiring love. Yes, in me abroad he sheddeth His paternal wing of might. THE ELDER BROTHER. Yes, in me, in me he dwelleth;— Thus I wait for his returning, 195 LIFE FROM THE DEAD. SPIRIT of everlasting grace, Infinite source of life, come down, These tombs unlock, these dead upraise, Thy glorious power and love make known. Breathe o'er this valley of the dead, Send forth thy quickening might abroad, Till, rising from their tombs, they spread, In full array, the host of God! Thy heritage lies desolate, And all thy pleasant places mourn; O look upon our low estate, In loving kindness, Lord, return! Now let thy glory be revealed, Now let thy presence with us rest ;— O heal us, and we shall be healed! O bless us, and we shall be blest! EVER NEAR. I CLOSE my heavy eye,— I lift my soul on high Through the darkness drear. Be thou my light, I cry, Saviour ever dear! I feel thine arms around, Saviour, ever near! With thee let me be found, So shall I never fear, Whatever ill abounds ; Saviour, ever dear! Thine is the day and night, Saviour, ever near; Thine is the dark and light, Be thou my covert here; O shield me with thy might, Saviour, ever dear! 198 IT IS FINISHED. And when I come to die, Saviour, ever near, Receive my parting sigh: And, in the hour of fear, Be to my spirit nigh, Saviour, ever dear! IT IS FINISHED. BLESSED be God, our God! Who gave for us his well-beloved Son, His gift of gifts, all other gifts in one. Blessed be God, our God! What will he not bestow? Who freely gave this mighty gift, unbought, Unmerited, unheeded and unsought, What will he not bestow? He spared not His Son! 'Tis this that silences each rising fear, 'Tis this that bids the hard thought disappear, He spared not His Son! |