Poems (Jordan)/Ministry
MINISTRY
O trackless miles companionless I tread,
O'er desert stretches of unbroken gray!
O altars, where God's priestly will hath led
My life to sacrifice, day after day!
O, bitter cups, my trembling lips must drain
Which tasteless make all joys from earthly well!
Red fields, where hopes by Duty's hand are slain,
Or where I fight the vizored hosts of hell!
O'er desert stretches of unbroken gray!
O altars, where God's priestly will hath led
My life to sacrifice, day after day!
O, bitter cups, my trembling lips must drain
Which tasteless make all joys from earthly well!
Red fields, where hopes by Duty's hand are slain,
Or where I fight the vizored hosts of hell!
********
Through weary lands and echoless, shall I
Be brought to riches, else unfound, beyond?
And shall coins from that black-mined treasure, buy
Heart-helps, which shall to others' needs, respond?
Shall greedy altars (—like none others built,
And far from beaten paths of sympathy—)
Receive my life-blood—by long weapons spilt—
To save the best in friend or enemy?
Be brought to riches, else unfound, beyond?
And shall coins from that black-mined treasure, buy
Heart-helps, which shall to others' needs, respond?
Shall greedy altars (—like none others built,
And far from beaten paths of sympathy—)
Receive my life-blood—by long weapons spilt—
To save the best in friend or enemy?
Do all those battles waged in secrecy,
Leave fewer foes for other lives to meet?
And does the cup of gall prepared for me,
Mean that another's shall contain the sweet?
Then—welcome lonely path and cruel cross!
Welcome the cup—I life it willingly!
Welcome each servant,—Trial, Grief or Loss,
By which my life is gowned for ministry!
Leave fewer foes for other lives to meet?
And does the cup of gall prepared for me,
Mean that another's shall contain the sweet?
Then—welcome lonely path and cruel cross!
Welcome the cup—I life it willingly!
Welcome each servant,—Trial, Grief or Loss,
By which my life is gowned for ministry!