Contents of Volume III: The Kingdom of Heaven
The centurion, begging that the Lord would heal
His suffering servant, did great faith reveal.
Behold, with joy return the mourning train
Come forth to bury that young man of Nain.
The prisoner, John, makes question by his friends;
News of His works, the answer Jesus sends.
“What went ye to the wilderness to see?”
Cried Jesus, praising John’s fidelity.
A woman anoints His feet with costly nard;
Christians shall know thy deed—her great reward.
He walks in Galilee, and women tend,
And gladly of their substance on Him spend.
The sower sowed in various kinds of ground;
The Lord to hearts of men a likeness found.
Who knows the things of God and doth not tell,
Like him who hides a lamp, doth not do well.
Together are let grow the wheat and tares,
Till each kind to its place the reaper bears.
Thou think’st to watch the growing of the seed?
A secret, that,—so by God’s will decreed.
A grain of mustard-seed, so small to see,
May yet become a mighty sheltering tree.
Thou’st found a treasure? Go and sell thine all,
Ere thou this treasure all thine own may’st call.
The woman hid the leaven in her flour;
The Word hid in a heart shall rise with power.
A merchant came upon a pearl of price
And forthwith bought—by liberal device.
And, “Have ye understood?” the Saviour cried;
“Yea, Lord,” they said, but in their lives denied.
“Thy mother and Thy brethren would Thee see;”
“These be My kinsfolk—they who follow Me.”
Proud Nazareth rejected Him who came
To save the humble: Do not we the same?
Jesus came walking o’er the stormy sea;
His friends, relieved, were there—where they would be.
The demoniac raged as fierce as angry storm;
Christ spake,—and meek he sat who’d wrought such harm.
The little maid was raised by Jesus’ hand:
“Now, see ye no man tell,” the Lord’s command.
A woman crept behind and healing took;
Christ made her happy by a pitying look.
Two blind men came and cried on Him for sight:
The Lord restored to these the joys of light.
A dumb deaf man sat moody by the way;—
Christ taught dumb lips to praise His name that day.
The time had come to send the Twelve abroad,—
Bless’d messengers to carry forth the Word.
As father charges son would cross the seas,
So Christ, their Father, gave His charge to these.
“Dangers I see await you on your way;—
Be prudent, friends, and bide a better day.
But have no fear; knows not your Father all
Of good or ill His children shall befal?
Yet ye must bear the cross, nor shrink in shame
From any obloquy or any blame.
Of this be sure, whoever you befriends,
Your Father in heaven will make that man amends.”
Forth fared the Twelve in pairs to do His will,
And as they went, the Lord was with them still.
With joy these men returned to shew their Lord
How it had prospered with the seed, His Word.
Now, John the Baptist prisoned in strong tower
To chide the king had used a prophet’s power:
The king sware foolish oath to grant what boon
The princess asked of him; vindictive, soon—
“Give me John Baptist’s head,” she cried; and, lo,
The sorry king bade arméd men to go
And bring the prophet’s head. The news was brought
To John’s disciples; quick they Jesus sought
And told their grief to Him. “Come ye apart,”
Saith Christ to the weary Twelve; with tender heart
They follow Him and tell what things befel
In all the cities—whether ill or well.