Poems (Hoffman)/None Shall Be Lost Whom God Can Save

by Martha Lavinia Hoffman

NONE SHALL BE LOST WHOM GOD CAN SAVE

Could we only realize God's great love for us,
Tearing off Doubt's dark disguise,
Looking with Faith's cloudless eyes,
Would we grieve Him thus?

Sometimes we may almost feel that God scarce would care
Should the last dread thunder's peal
Set our doom's eternal seal
In the gulf—Despair.

Or like some great judge austere, righteous in His wrath,
Just, unchangeable, severe
One to honor, One to fear
For the power He hath.

God, who made the world so fair, God who gave us breath,
Lo, the sparrow knows His care!
Will He ought of effort spare,
View unmoved our death?

What last hope would we neglect that might save a dying friend?
O the horror to reflect
On one life eternal wrecked
Drifting to its end!

"God is justice," we may cry, fearing from His throne above,
For our sins He bids us die,
While the holy words reply:
"God is love."

Love repining at our fall, Love rejoicing to forgive,
Love that hears our every call,
None might perish, but that all
Turn to Him and live.

O that we could comprehend dimly the great height and depth
Who His pledge of love did send,
Through that kind and loving friend
Who o'er Lazarus wept!

"Round our souls are Satan's coils strong to weigh us down,
O that Love that tireless toils,
Robbing death of noble spoils,
Calling to our crown!

O inhuman would we prove, carelessly engrossed,
Mocking all a Father's love,
Love that warmeth from above,
Ere His child is lost!