Southern Christian Advocate

MAN'S REFUGE.

Ask of a soul, if penance, prayers and tears,
If sacraments and words of peace from men,
Can heal the anguish of its deadly wounds
And raise it from the dust of death again!
Let that alone forever; it may serve
Where men are only talking of the way,
And must suffice where clearer light is not,
But ill beseems the children of the day.
They see their right to better hope than this.
(And while they meekly use each offer'd aid,)
In due obedience to the word of God,
Their help is only on the 'Mighty ALB.'
To Him, 'Jehovah's fellow,' yet the Man
Of sorrows, laden with his brother's grief.
They bring their burdens; and they seek from Him
The free, the full, the sweet, the sure relief.
Nor does he disappoint them: from his heart
Pouring the healing, life-restoring stream,
The 'misery and the iron' melt away,
Like the dark vision of a troubled dream.
For 'once' the Almighty spake; yea, more than 'twice'
I heard the same; and this was his decree—
That power and mercy are in Christ alone,
To set the self-despairing sinner free.
Even now, perhaps, some ray of light breaks forth,
And thou art mov'd to seek his face to-day;
Fall prostrate where thou art, and call on Christ,
'Thou art already answered, if thou pray.'
Then hath He heard the voice of thy desires;
Yes, ere he heard it, he had thoughts of peace,
And sent his Spirit to make known his name,
And bid thy fruitless search and sorrows cease.