Christ in Man

How beautiful the wondrous plan
Of God in Christ, and Christ in man;
Which helps prophetic souls to trace
Bright heaven beneath the human face.

'Tis true,  He  shines in brook and tree;
But  brighter shines, oh man, in thee.
Oh, dim not with the shades of sin,
The glory which should gleam within.

In  thee doth Jesus walk the earth;
In  thee He speaks of heavenly birth;
In  thee instructs, in thee rebukes,
With wisdom not in earthly books.

Look not to heaven's celestial dome;
In holy hearts He makes His home;
And let it be thy thought and care,
To seek, and find, and know Him there.

— Christ in the Soul (1872) XLVI.

The Thorny Diadem

Oh, breathe not to my soul the name
Of joys that bear the mark of earth;
What bond or likeness can they claim
With souls that have a heavenly birth?

Like snows, that melt beneath the sun,
Like flowers thrown heedless on the river,
They shine a moment, then are gone,
A moment here, then flown forever.

Oh no! We cannot stop for them;
Not joys, not crowns would suit us now;
We ask the thorny diadem
Which bound the Savior's bleeding brow.

— American Cottage Life (1850).

Entire Consecration

If men of earth, for earth's renown,

Are willing long to wait or toil,

Nor shrink to lay existence down

Upon the war-field's bloody soil;­

If there is nought they'll not endure,

If there is nought they will not dare,

To make their hopes, their purpose sure,

Their wealth to gain, their wreath to wear;-

Oh, say, shall we, who bear a name

That intimates our heavenly birth,

Behold our efforts put to shame,

When placed beside the zeal of earth?

'Tis Jesus calls. For his dear sake,

If they their all for earth have given,

Oh, let us haste his cross to take,

And give our hearts, our all for heaven.

— American Cottage Life (1850).