148 I WILL, MY CHILD. "Lead me into the paths of thy testimony." (NEW) 1. The way 2. The day 3. The way 4. The path is dark, my child, but leads to light; goes fast, my child, but is the night' long, my child; but it shall be is rough, my child; but, oh! how sweet is I would not always have thee Darker to me than day? In Not one step longer than is Will be the rest for wea-ry "I SAW then in my dream, that they went on in this their solitary ground, till they came to a place at which a man is apt to lose his way. Now, though when it was light their guide could well enough tell how to miss those ways that led wrong, yet in the dark he was put to a stand. But he had in his pocket a map of all ways leading to or from the Celestial City: wherefore he struck a light (for he never goes without his tinderbox), and takes a view of his book or map, which bids him to be careful in that place to turn to the right hand. And had he not been careful here to look in his map, they had in all probability been smothered in the mud; for just a little before them, and that at the end of the cleanest way too, was a pit, none knows how deep, full of nothing but mud, there made on purpose to destroy the pilgrims in. "Then thought I with myself, 'Who that goeth on pilgrimage but would have one of these maps about him, that he may look when he is at a stand, which is the way he must take."" 5 The throng is great, my child, but at thy side And thro' the throng Lead safe along, my child. 6 The cross is heavy, child; yet there was One Thy cross laid down, Receive thy crown, my child. THEN the pilgrims desired with trembling to go forward: only they prayed their guide to strike a light, that they might go the rest of their way by the help of the light of a lantern. So he struck a light, and they went by the help of that through the rest of this way, though the darkness was very great, 2 Pet. 1:19. But the children began to be sorely weary, and they cried out unto Him that loveth pilgrims to make their way more comfortable. So by that they had gone a little further; a wind arose that drove away the fog, so the air became more clear. Yet they were not off (by much) of the Enchanted Ground; only now they could see one another, and the way wherein they should walk. soon. soon. Beyond the calming and the fretting, Beyond rememb'ring and forgetting, I shall be soon. 4. Beyond the parting and the meeting, I shall be soon; Beyond the farewell and the greeting, 5. Beyond the frost-chain and the fever, Beyond the rock waste and the river, 1. Long my spirit pined in sor- row, Watching, wait-ing 2. Ye, who sigh for holy pleasures, Ye, who mourn for 3. How the angel- band rejoic- es, When a kneel- ing all in vain; Wait - ing holy sin, "Keep on mor- tal prays; Hear them Now when they were almost at the end of this ground, they perceived that a little before them was a solemn noise as of one that was much concerned. So they went on, and looked before them: and behold they saw, as they thought, a man upon his knees, with hands and eyes lifted up, and speaking, as they thought, earnestly to one that was above. They drew nigh, but could not tell what he said; so they went softly till he had done. When he had done, he got up, and began to run towards the Celestial City. Then Mr. Great-heart called after him, saying, "Soho, friend! let us have your company if you go, as I suppose you do, to the Celestial City." So the man stopped and they came up to him. But as soon as Mr. Honest saw him, he said, "I know this man." Then said Mr. Valiant-for-truth, "Prithee, who is it?" "It i one," said he, "who comes from whereabouts I dwelt. His name is Stand-fast; he is certainly a good pilgrim." for a gold- en mor-row, Free from earth-ly care and pain. praying," heavenly treas-ures In the end you're sure to win. in heaven-ly voi- ces, "Keep on pray-ing," all your days: cry When I heard a Wrestle with the Pray until you sweet voice say-ing, In the accents of a friend, Cheer up, brother," keep on praying," Lord of glory, Lay your troubles at his feet, Plead with faith in Calvary's story reach fair Ca-naan, Reach the pearl-y gates of day, Then your bliss shall end in glo- ry, Chorus. Keep on pray-ing to the end. When our wayward tho'ts are straying, When God's mercy Till your joys are all com-plete. And shall nev-er pass away. |