"COME UNTO ME."
The sweetest words that ever fell
By mount or wave, in shrine or cell,
Or, altar-chanted, stole through aisle
The tortured heart from pain to wile,
Are these the Master spoke when free
He walked thy shores, fair Galilee!
And called his burdened followers there
With tender love and pitying prayer:
Whoe'er ye be, alien or neighbor, father, mother, maiden, with grief and care opprest,
Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest!
By mount or wave, in shrine or cell,
Or, altar-chanted, stole through aisle
The tortured heart from pain to wile,
Are these the Master spoke when free
He walked thy shores, fair Galilee!
And called his burdened followers there
With tender love and pitying prayer:
Whoe'er ye be, alien or neighbor, father, mother, maiden, with grief and care opprest,
Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest!
What glorious hope uplifts the throng
As float these blessed words along!
Prophet nor priest nor angels seven
Had opened thus the gate of heaven,
And he who treads, like them, the sod,
Must be Messiah, Son of God!
Oh, life had been a weary quest,
But now they shall find rest, find rest!
Transporting grace that thus distils
The dew of peace upon their hills,
And, far from court or Temple's shrine,
Takes, for the lowest, thought divine!—
As float these blessed words along!
Prophet nor priest nor angels seven
Had opened thus the gate of heaven,
And he who treads, like them, the sod,
Must be Messiah, Son of God!
Oh, life had been a weary quest,
But now they shall find rest, find rest!
Transporting grace that thus distils
The dew of peace upon their hills,
And, far from court or Temple's shrine,
Takes, for the lowest, thought divine!—
