VI.

VENITE AD ME OMNES.

--_Matt._ xi. 28.

“Come to Me, heavy-laden ones, come all!” I hear, I rise, I hasten at His call; ’Neath burden bent, across the threshold steal, The curtain lift, and in His Presence kneel: There loose my load--and wide, With none to check nor chide, Scattering, a sorry sight, on every side,

They fall--pains, troubles, cares--lying, how meet, About the weary, way-worn, wounded Feet; Under the Eye of yore bedimmed with tears, The Heart Gethsemane oppressed with fears, The Heart that sore afraid Strong supplication made, And with a sweat of blood the Father prayed.

Beneath His glance, as snow ’neath sunny ray, Some of my cares dissolve and melt away, And some He takes and smoothes a little space The less to chafe, and lays again in place. ’Tis mystery to me How some He smiles to see, And how on some His tears fall tenderly.

One I hold up to Him, and pleading pray, “This, Lord, just this, in pity take away!” And ever comes His word with cheering smile: “A little longer, trust Me yet awhile; Each pang of keen distress, Each prayer, I mark and bless, Each in its hour shall show forth fruitfulness”.

_That_, my life’s woe, against a bleeding Side Is pressed, and lo! transfigured, glorified, It glows as crystal flushed with rosy ray. “O gem unprized! Restore it, Lord, I pray; As costly gift from Thee Dear shall it be to me”; And in my heart I hide it lovingly.

A lightened load He lays on me, all sweet With words of love--and thus I leave His Feet, With steadier step to plod on day by day, With stouter heart to climb the upward way; And when anew life’s strain Frets me with weary pain, I take my load and go to Him again.