No word of Thine but gives before it takes, And taking, generous compensation makes, And effort asking, energy awakes, O Master, say it! A warning maybe--frighted love’s disguise, How stern soe’er in seeming, kindly wise, Unveiling danger to unwary eyes? O Master, say it! Thy voice is ever music to mine ear, Silence alone o’erwhelms my soul with fear Say all, say freely what I crave to hear, O Master, say it! One tender word to Thomas brought belief, One pitying word, a kingdom to a thief, One only word would bring my soul relief, O Master, say it! New shape would aims, desires, affections take, New power of sacrifice within me wake, New need of toil and suffering for Thy sake, O Master, say it! One word, I know, Thou hast for me--a word In the still hours of prayer how often heard, Not long, perchance, its welcome sound deferred, O Master, say it! Word life’s incessant prayer must wrest from Thee; Word holding my eternal destiny, Word I must hear or perish utterly, O Master, say it! When past my little day of time and grace, Lone in another world I seek my place, And trembling fall before Thy unveiled Face, Dear Master, say it! _Come!_--blest recall from exile’s weary years, Rest from the awful strife ’twixt hopes and fears, Sweet word of welcome after toil and tears, O Master, say it! Though silent now, keep Thou that word in store, The word to make me Thine for evermore; By all Thy loving-kindness, I implore, Dear Master, say it! XX. A DIVINE PLAINT. My people have done two evils. They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and have digged to themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.--_Jer._ ii. 13. What heart so hard but could find a motive for contrition in this tender reproach! No question here of the Divine majesty outraged, the Divine rights infringed. The harm _to ourselves_--this is the evil we have done by forsaking God. And He stands sadly by, watching our futile efforts to fill with earth’s sorry pleasures the hearts created for Himself.