Fugitive Poetry. 1600–1878/Submission under Affliction

Submission Under Affliction Inculcated from the Examples of Christ.

Hebrews xii. 1-13.

Behold what witnesses unseen Encompass us around;Men, once like us, with suff'ring tried, But now with glory crowned.

Let us, with zeal like theirs inspired, Begin the Christian race,And, freed from each encumb'ring weight, Their holy footsteps trace.

Behold a witness nobler still, Who trod affliction's path,Jesus, at once the finisher And author of our faith.

He for the joy before Him set, So gen'rous was His love,Endured the cross, despised the shame, And now He reigns above.

If He the scorn of picked men With patience did sustain,Becomes it those for whom He died To murmur or complain?

Have ye like Him to blood, to death, The cause of truth maintained?And is your heav'nly Father's voice Forgotten or disdained?

"My son," saith He, "with patient mind Endure the chast'ning rod;Believe, when by afflictions tried, That thou art loved by God."

His children thus most dear to Him, Their heav'nly Father trains,Through all the hard experience led Of sorrows and of pains.

We know He owns us for His sons, When we correction share;Nor wander as an alien race, Without our Father's care.

A father's voice with rev'rence we On earth have often heard;The Father of our spirits now Demands the same regard.

Parents may err: but He is wise, Nor lifts the rod in vain;His chast'nings serve to cure the soul By salutary pain.

Affliction, when it spreads around, May seem a field of woe;Yet there, at last, the happy fruits Of righteousness shall grow.

Then let our hearts no more despond, Our hands be weak no more;Still let us trust our Father's love, His wisdom still adore.