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Coming to the King - A Book of Poetry

By Frances Ridley Havergal


      Coming to the King

      By

      Frances Ridley Havergal

      Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually
      before Thee and that hear Thy wisdom. 1 Kings 10:8

       
      Coming to the King

      I came from very far to see
            The King of Salem, for I had been told
      Of glory and of wisdom manyfold,
         And condescension infinite and free.
      Now could I rest, when I had heard his fame,
         In that dark lonely land of death, from whence I came?

      I came (but not like Sheba's queen), alone!
               No stately train, no costly gifts to bring;
      No friend at court, save One the King!
            I had requests to spread before His throne,
      And I had questions none could solve for me,
               Of import deep, and full of mystery.

      I came and communed with that mighty King
               And told Him all my heart, I cannot say
      In mortal ear what communings were they
         But wouldst thou know,
            So too, and meekly bring
      All that is in thine heart and thou shalt hear
         His voice of love and power
                     His answers sweet and clear

      O happy end of every weary guest!
            He told me all I needed graciously:--
         Enough for guidance, and for victory
               O'er doubts and fears enough for quiet rest,
            And when some veiled response
                  I could not read
                     It was not hid from Him, this was enough indeed

      His wisdom and His glories passed before
         My wondering eyes in gradual revelation
      The house that He had built its strong foundation
         Its living stones and, brightening more and more
      For glimpses of that palace far away,
            Where all his loyal ones
                  Shall dwell with Him for aye.

      True the report that reached my far-off land
             Of all His wisdom and transcendent fame,
         Yet I believed not until I came
      Bowed to the dust till raised by royal hand
            The half was never told by mortal word,
         My King exceeded all the fame that I had heard

            Oh happy are His servants! happy they
      Who stand continually before His face,
               Ready to do His will of wisest grace!
         My King! is mine such blessedness to-day?
               For I too hear Thy wisdom line by line,
         Thy ever brightening words in holy radiance shine

                     Oh, blessed be the Lord they God who sat
            Our King upon His throne
                  Divine delight
         In the Beloved crowning Thee with might
            Honour and majesty supreme and yet
         The strange and Godlike secret opening thus--
      The Kingship of His Christ ordained through love to us!

         What shall I render to my glorious King?
      I have but that which I receive from Thee
      And what I give, Thou givest back to me,
            Transmuted by Thy touch, each worthless thing
         Changed to the preciousness of gem or gold,
               And by thy blessing multiplied a thousand fold

         All my desire Thou grantest whatsoer I ask!
             Was ever mythic tale or dream so bold as this reality,
         This stream of boundless blessings flowing full and free?
      Yet more than I have thought or asked of Thee
            Out of Thy royal bounty still Thou givest me.

      Now--I will turn to my own land and tell,
         What I myself have seen and heard of Thee,
      And give Thine own sweet message, "Come and see"
         And yet in heart and mind for ever dwell
      With Thee, my King of Peace, in loyal rest,
         Within the fair pavilion of Thy presence blest.

       - J R HAVERGAL
      



      Our King

      O Saviour, precious Saviour,
            Whom yet unseen we love,
      O Name of might and favour,
               All other names above!
      We worship Thee, we bless Thee
            To Thee alone we sing
      We praise Thee, and confess Thee
               Our holy Lord and King

      In Thee all fulness dwelleth,
               All grace and power divine,
         The glory that excelleth,
                  O Son of God, is Thine!
      We worship Thee, we bless Thee
             To Thee alone we sing,
      We praise Thee and confess Thee,
               Our glorious Lord and King
      



      Led in Peace

      "Ye shall go out with joy and
            be led forth with peace."
                                           Is. IV. 12.

      With joy thou shalt be girded,
               With peace thou shalt be led;
      And everlasting glory shall rest upon thy head;
            The hills break forth in singing;
                     the shadows flee away:
         This is thy King and Saviour--
                  He will not say thee "Nay!"
      



      His Presence

                  Oh Saviour if Thy presence here
               Can such bright joy impart
                  What must it be in that sweet home
            Where Thou its glory art
         Here through faith's vision small and fine
      One glimpse of Thy dear face
            Kindles a glow in lonely hearts,
         No cloud can e'er efface.

       - Cecilia Havergal
      



      Springs of Peace

      Springs of peace, when conflict heightens
         Thine uplifted eye shall see,

         Peace that strengthens calms, and brightens,
      Peace itself a victory.

      Springs of comfort strangely springing
               Through the bitter wells of woe,
         Founts of hidden gladness, bringing
            Joy that earth can ne'er bestow
      



      The Welcome to the King

                     Midst the darkness, storm, and sorrow
            One bright gleam I see,
      Well I know the blessed morrow
               Christ will come for me

      Midst the light and peace and glory
               Of the Fathers home,
         Christ for me is watching, waiting--
               Waiting till I come

      Long the blessed Guide has led me
               By the desert road;
         Now I see the golden towers--
            City of my God.

            There amidst the love and glory,
      He is waiting yet;
               On His hands a name is graven,
         He can ne'er forget.

      There amidst the songs of heaven--
            Sweeter to His ear
         Is the footfall through the desert,
               Ever drawing near.

            There, made ready are the mansions,
      Glorious, bright and fair;
               But the Bride the Father gave Him
         Still is wanting there.

      Who is this who comes to meet me
            On the desert way,
         As the Morning Star foretelling
               God's unclouded day?

      He it is who came to win me,
               On the cross of shame
         In His glory well I know Him,
            Evermore the same

            Oh! the blessed joy of meeting,
      All the desert past!
               Oh! the wondrous words of greeting
         He shall speak at last!

      He and I together entering
               Those bright courts above,
         He and I together sharing
            All the Fathers love.

            Where no shade nor stain can enter
      Nor the gold be dim,
               In that holiness unsullied
         I shall walk with Him

      Meet companion then for Jesus,
               From Him, for Him made,
         Glory of Gods grace for ever
            There in me displayed

            He who in His hour of sorrow
      Bore the curse alone,
               I who through the lonely desert
         Trod where He had gone

      He and I in that bright glory
               One deep joy shall share
         Mine to be for ever with Him
            His that I am there
      



      The King of Love

      The King of Love my Shepherd is
                     Whose goodness faileth never,
            I nothing lack if I am His
                  And He is mine for ever.

      Where streams of living waters flow,
                     My ransomed soul He leadeth,
            And where the verdant pastures grow
                  With food celestial feedeth
      



      God is Love and God is Light

         God is Love, His mercy brightens
            All the path in which we rove,
      Bliss He forms, and woe He lightens,
               God is Light and God is Love

         Chance and change are busy ever,
               Worlds decay and ages move,
      But His mercy waneth never
            God is Light and God is Love.
      



      Thine eyes shall see the King

      Thine eyes shall see! Yes, thine, who, blind erewhile,
            Now trembling towards the new-found light dost flee,
      Leave doubting, and look up with trustful smile.
                  Thine eyes shall see!

      Thine eyes shall see the King! The very same
            Whose love shone forth upon the curseful tree,
      Who bore thy guilt, who calleth thee by name
                     Thine eyes shall see!

      Thine eyes shall see the King, the Mighty One,
            The many crowned, the light-enrobed, and He
      Shall bid thee share the kingdom He hath won
                  Thine eyes shall see!
      



      I am Thine

            Jesus Master!
      I am Thine,
            Keep me faithful keep me near,
      Let Thy presence in me shine
            All my homeward way to cheer,
      Jesus! at Thy feet I fall,
            Oh, be Thou my all in all
      



      Is it for Me?

                  Is it for me, dear
            Saviour Thy Glory and Thy rest?
      For me, so weak and sinful oh, shall
            I thus be blessed?
      Is it for me to see Thee in all Thy glorious grace
            And gaze in endless rapture on Thy beloved face?

         Behold Thee in Thy beauty, behold Thee face to face,
               Behold Thee in Thy glory and reap Thy smile of grace
            And be with Thee for ever, and never grieve Thee more!
      Dear Saviour I must praise Thee and lovingly adore.
      



      Going to Christ

         I go to Christ my Saviour
      With every little need
      The help He always gives me
         Is wonderful indeed

         I go when I am mourning
      The loss of loved ones near
            He speaketh words of comfort sweet,
         He doth my spirit cheer

      I go when I am fearing
         The cruse of oil will fail
      He sendeth me the needful means
         And thus doth prayer prevent

       - Cecilia Havergal
      



      My King and Master

               Christ my King, my Master, let my whole life be,
      Spent in blessed service only until Thee
            Let me serve Thee gladly, That the world may know
         'Tis a happy privilege, Thee to serve below.

      Let me serve Thee humbly,
                  Thine be all the praise,
         'Tis Thy love alone which tunes my feeble lays;
      Let me serve Thee quickly--Time will soon be o'er
         I would fain lead many to heaven's peaceful shore.

      Let me serve Thee ever,   from morning until eve,
         My earliest and my latest breath, my King, Thou shall receive.
      And oh when service here is spent, and Heaven is won
            Grant that I too, dear Master, may hear Thy sweet "Well done!"

       - Cevilia Havergal
      



      Under His Shadow

      "Under His shadow," with Christ alone
            Here, love He whispers in tenderest tone,
         Treasures unfolding, riches of grace
               Thus for life's battle my soul doth He brace.

      "Under His shadow," a near page of life.
            Opens before me, apart from the strife
      Oh! will Thou show me Master and King
            How I may glory unto Thee bring!

      "Under His shadow" may life be passed
            Daily and hourly on till the last,
         Then no more shadows, all shall have fled
      When we awake like Jesus our Head.

       - M A Spiller

      I sat down under His shadow with great delight. Cant. II G

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