ALL THE WAY THE LORD MY GOD LED ME

As vessel storm-tossed in the midnight darkness,
As captive in his dungeon pines for home, light, love;
As caged bird doth wound itself 'gainst prison bars;
So was my soul tossed, tried, bound with iron bands,
Till, like my Lord, by earth and heaven rejected,
My soul in agony wailed out its bitter cry.
God's own hand drew back that Pall of thick, black darkness
His Spirit moved-God spake and said, "Let there be light.",
His own good time had come to heal my broken heart,
To give the balm of pardon through redeeming love
To clothe in panoply of war, and send me forth
Beneath Faith's shield, to fight against the "Man of Sin,"
Break down the walls of that fair, whited sepulchre
The Church of Rome-and show the rottenness within.
He Who sent me forth at first, kept me to this day,
Confusion on my foes has poured, and dire dismay.
As polished shaft, held me, in His own right hand,
Strengthened 'and blest me, now no longer desolate
To find my bed on forest leaves, all sad and alone;
The best and noblest of the earth are now my friends.
And when I relate what for me my Lord has done,
God's own Elect are strengthened, blest, and comforted,
And weary burdened souls encouraged to press on.
God gave me for husband one of the best of men.
A convert to Christ, Who alone can pardon sin!
Papal attempts on our lives won him the Martyr's crown.
At the age forty-nine his saintly life laid down
His life was spent in Truth's defense, his work--well done.
But God's own time for me to rest has not yet come.
I bless and praise, and magnify God's Holy Name,
For bringing me safely through Rome's furious rage.,
Till this day, when seventy-six, marks my life's page.
I know my God will shield me, till my sun shall set
In fullness of His own time, and His words "Well done,"
Shall greet me, at the pearly gates of "Home, Sweet Home."
"How God brought me from darkness into light."

-By Edith O'Gorman-Auffray, the Converted Nun, August 29th, 1869.