Poems (Gifford)/Comfort
For works with similar titles, see Comfort.
COMFORT.(Isaiah xl.; Psalm cxlvii. 3, 4.)
Oh, faint hearts, bewildered, weary, Desolate and near despair,Wherefore harbour dire forebodings? Wherefore live a life of care?
Seems it that the Lord forgetteth? That your way is hid from Him?Seems it that all judgment ceaseth? Wherefore let your faith grow dim?
Know ye not, have ye not heard it, That the everlasting GodNever wearieth nor fainteth, Charged with all His creature's load?
Hark! He speaketh to His people, "Comfort ye, oh, comfort ye!"He hath sent to you good tidings, Pardoned your iniquity.
He shall feed you, He shall lead you, He hath made, and He will bear;He that spread yon vault of brightness, To whom will ye Him compare?
Come out 'neath the starlit heavens, Lift your eyes and wondering gaze;Know the infinite Creator, Muse upon His works and ways.
How to keen and earnest vision, Do His marvels multiply!Oh, the grand thought-staggering numbers Of the wonders of the sky!
Far as aided eye can measure Vistas vast of glowing light,Suns and suns in sparkling splendour Are revealed to human sight.
And what untold interests cluster Round each distant, mote-like star!Systems mighty, minute matters Crowd the universe afar!
Oh!in vain all penetration To explore those heights profound!Ye but catch a feeble glimmer Of the outer circle's bound.
But the Lord, Who bids you trust Him, Counts the stars, gives each a name;All their manifold surroundings His continual bounty claim.
He upholds them, not one faileth, He sustains them hour by hour.What a parable of gladness! Must not He be strong in power?
This is He Who in compassion Comes the broken heart to heal;Ye cannot escape His notice, All your burdens He can feel.
Sins and sorrows, wounds and weakness, All the woe in sad hearts pent,All their need, and all their longing To the Lord is evident.
Let the stars then whisper to you Precious words of tenderest cheer,Waiting on the Lord Almighty Ye can have no cause for fear.
Yea, though heaven and earth shall perish As of old He hath decreed,An inheritance eternal Is reserved for you indeed.
Thus your God, your Saviour blesses, Bids you glad and hopeful be,Promises all help and vigour, "Comfort ye, oh, comfort ye!"