"untitled"

"Life ! great mystery ! Who shall say
What need hath God of this poor clay ?
Formed by his hand with potent skill-
Mind , Matter , soul and stubborn will:
Born but to die , sure destiny - death
Then where , oh ! where this fleeting breath?
Not one of all the countless throng ,
Who lived and died and suffered long ,
Returns to tell the great design -
That future , which is yours and mine.
We plead , O' God for some new ray
Of light for guidance on our way;
Based not on faith but clearer sight,
Dispelling these dark clouds of night;
The doubt, this dread, this trembling fear;
These thoughts that mar our blessings here
This restless mind , with bolder sway
Rejects the dogmas of the day
Taught by jarring sects and schools,
to fetter reason with their rules.
We seek to know Thee as thou art -
Our place with Thee - and then the part
We play in this stupendous plan,
Creator Infinite , and man.
Lift up this veil obscuring sight;
Command again : "Let there be Light"
Reveal this secret of Thy throne
We search in darkness the unknown"

to this we reply

Life's unsealed mystery soon shall say
What joy hath God in this poor clay ,
Formed by his hand with potent skill
stamped with his image - mind and will;
Born not to die - no , a second birth
Succeeds the sentence - "earth to earth"
For one of all the mighty host ,
Who lived and died and suffered most -
Arose , and proved God's great design -
That future ,therefore , yours and mine
His Word discloses this new ray
Of light , for guidance on our way ;
Based now on faith , but sure as sight ,
Dispelling these dark clouds of night :
The doubt , the dread , the trembling fear ,
The thoughts that marred our blessings here .
Now , Lord , these minds whose bolder sway
Rejects the dogmas of to - day ,
Taught by jarring sects and schools ,
Fettering reason with their rules ,
May seek and know Thee as Thou art,
Our place with Thee , and then the part
We play in this stupendous plan ,
Creator Infinite , and man .
Uplifts the veil , revealing quite
To those who walk in heaven's light
The glorious mystery of His throne
Hidden from ages , now made known

Studies in the Scriptures volume 1
copyright © 1886

it does not specify if he is the writer
but it's 1st presentation is in quotes

before the answer back ...

 

TRUTH MOST PRECIOUS

TRUTH MOST PRECIOUS

Great truths are dearly bought , the common truth .
..... Such as men give and take from day to day
Comes in the common walk of easy life ,
..... Blown by the careless wind across our way .

Great truths are dearly won , not found by chance ,
..... Nor wafted on the breath of summer dream
But grasped in the great struggle of the soul ,
..... Hard buffeting with adverse wind and stream .

Sometime 'mid conflict , turmoil , fear and grief ,
..... When the strong hand of God , put forth in might ,
Ploughs up the subsoil of the stagnant heart
..... It brings some buried truth-seeds to the light .

Not in the general mart , 'mid corn and wine ;
..... Not in the merchandise of gold and gems ;
Not in the world's gay hall of midnight mirth ,
..... Nor 'mid the blaze of regal diadems .

Not in the general clash of human creeds ,
.....Nor in the merchandise 'twixt church and world ,
Is truth's fair treasure found , 'mongst tares and weeds ;
..... Nor her fair banner in their midst unfurled.

Truth springs like the harvest from the well-ploughed fields ,
..... Rewarding patient toil , and faith and zeal .
To those thus seeking her , she ever yields
..... Her richest treasures for the lasting weal .

Studies in the Scriptures by Charles Taze Russell.
volume one page 64
COPYRIGHT © 1886

 

THE DAY IS AT HAND

while there are many "errors" in the volumes "Studies in the Scriptures" which work
started being written over 130 years ago. The one thing notable is Charles love for
the Christ verily exudes in his writings ...and while we have been fighting our way
out of Roman religions slavery since the 15th century , I can forgive his error and
rejoice in his search and giving us so much to think about what has been taught
to mankind over the centuries ..Truly he WAS a brilliant writer and I found many
precious truths among his works ...even if at times we have to consider ourselves
gleaners of truths among the fields and holding fast to what is fine ..I can only
simply offer some of his poetic work from those volumes , untainted I hope in their
words ...

THE DAY IS AT HAND

Poor fainting pilgrim , still hold on thy way - the dawn is near
True thou art weary now ; but yon bright ray , becomes more clear.
............... Bear up a little longer ; wait for rest ,
............... Yield not to slumber , though with toil oppressed.

The night of life is mournful , but look on - the dawn is near
Soon will earth's shadowed scenes and forms be gone ; yield not to fear !
............... The mountain's summit will , ere long be gained,
............... And the bright world of joy and peace attained.

'Joyful through hope' thy motto still must be - the dawn is near !
What glories will that dawn unfold to thee ! be of good cheer !
............... Gird up they loins ; bind sandals on thy feet ;
............... The way is dark and long ; the end is sweet .


Studies in the Scriptures volume 1
copyright © 1886
page 136
Charles Taze Russell

 

A LORDS DAY OFFERING

A LORDS DAY OFFERING

..... "I offer Thee :
Every heart's throb , they are Thine ;
Every human tie of mine;
every joy and every pain;
every act of mind or brain-
..... My Blesses God !
Every hope and every fear;
every smile and every tear;
every song and hymn,
..... 'Laudamus Te '
"Take them all , my Blessed Lord,
Bind them with thy secret cord;
Glorify thyself in me ,
..... Adored One !
Multiply them by thy Word
Strengthen bless , increase my Lord
..... Of perfect love !
..... Thou First and Last !"

Charles Taze Russell
Studies in the Scriptures volume 1
copyright © 1886
page 88

 

SUNSHINE OVER ALL

Sunshine over all

"What folly , then" the faithless critic cries ,
With sneering lip and wise , world knowing eyes,
"while fort to fort and post to post repeat
The ceaseless challenge of the war-drums beat,
And round the green earth , to the church-bells chime,
The morning drum-roll of the camp keeps time,
To dream of peace amidst a world in arms ;
Of swords to plowshares changed by Scriptural charms ;
Of nations drunken with the wine of blood,
Staggering to take the pledge of brotherhood,
Like tipplers answering Father Matthews call .
* * * * * *
Check Ban or Kaiser with a barricade
Of ' Olive leaves and resolutions made;
Spike guns with pointed Scripture texts , and hope
To capsize navies with a windy trope ;
Still shall the glory and the pomp of war
Along their train the shouting millions draw ;
Still dusky labor to the parting brave
His cap shall doff and beauty's kerchief wave ;
Still shall the bard to valor tune his song ;
Still hero-worship kneel before the strong ;
Rosy and sleek , the sable gowned divine ,
O'er his third bottle of suggestive wine ,
To plumed and sworded auditors shall prove
Their trade accordant with the law of Love ;
And Church for State , and State for Church shall fight,
And both agree that might alone is right. "

Despite the sneers like these , O faithful few ,
Who dare to hold God's Word and witness true ,
Whose clear-eyed faith transcends our evil time,
And o'er the present wilderness of crime
Sees the calm future with its robes of green
It's fleece-flecked mountains , and soft streams between,
Still keep the track which duty bids ye tread ,
Though worldly wisdom shake the cautious head .
No truth from heaven descends upon our sphere
Without the greeting of the skeptic's sneer ;
Denied , and mocked at , till it's blessings fall
Common as dew and sunshine over all .


this is listed as from Whittier
which must be John Greenleaf Whittier
but I found none of this among his works
so named ...but his works would be
available ..listed as one of the Fireside poets
1807 to 1892 ...of which many works are
not copyrighted
Studies in the Scriptures volume page 36