THE CHRISTIAN'S RACE

JOSEPH JOHN GURNEY

Where classic Elis spreads its level plain, 
Breathless they run a withering crown to gain;
No weight impedes them in their rapid flight, 
Their loins-are girded, and their vest is light, 
While circling multitudes inflame his soul,
The victor bounds impetuous to the goal;
There, with spread arms, the noble Umpire stands,
Grace on his lips, the laurel in his hands;
The painful struggle once himself had borne,
The frame exhausted, and the hope forlorn;
Yet great his victory; and now serene,
He pours his golden gifts, and rules the scene.
   Speed on believer! urge thy sacred course, 
Though faint thy nerve, exhaustless thy resource; 
Defy the stormy blast, the burning sun,
When weak yet strong, when halt prepared to run; 
Refreshed by streams which meet no mortal eye, 
Sustained by hidden manna from the sky, 
In simple faith, pursue thy swift career, 
Unchecked by indolence, untamed by fear. 
But O! beware lest some dear idol, prest 
With strong emotion to thy anxious breast, 
Some favourite passion, some besetting sin, 
Some fond ambition that still lurks within, 
Like golden wedge or leaden weight, be found, 
To bid thy footsteps linger o'er the ground;--
Discard, dismiss them all, and free as air, 
To yon pearl gates with ardent hope repair.
   Enlivening accents from the apostle's lyre,
With comfort fraught, and winged with heavenly fire!
But mine the rankling thorn, the wound, the smart, 
The dreary darkness of the lonesome heart,
The oppressive power of Satan's cumbering wing, 
His foul suggestions and his torturing sting; 
How can I rise triumphant to behold
Those gates of pearl, those streets of glass and gold, 
Those purest gems which once on earth were known, 
But now are sparkling in the Saviour's crown? 
I wrestle not with flesh and blood alone, 
High powers of wickedness inspire the groan, 
The rulers of yon black impending sky, 
Buffet my soul, and bid me curse and die !
   Come! cease thy mourning, stay thy wild lament, 
For thee sweet messengers of joy are sent; 
Unseen--but yet beholding--round thee stand 
Angelic witnesses, a glorious band,
Assist thy progress through this vale of woe,
And tell of climes where tears no longer flow.
Vast was the host proud Syria sent of old,
To drag Elisha from the embattled hold;
Alarmed his servant eyed the advancing force,
The thousand chariots, the unnumbered horse;
But friends, from heaven, surrounded,--more were they 
Than all the foemen of that dread array; 
And soon unfolding to his wondering view, 
They proved the prophet safe, the promise true. 
Such bright allies against infernal power,
Camp round the christian in each dangerous hour, 
Pity his conflicts, wipe his useless tears, 
Polish his armour, and dispel his fears. 
Thou child of grace! for thee a golden tie 
Binds heaven to earth in tenderest sympathy; 
When to his God one weeping sinner turns, 
Joy in the hearts of myriad angels burns,
And for salvation's heirs--no gulph between--
The myriad angels minister unseen.
   Nor those pure powers alone who never fell, 
But saints redeemed from sin, and death, and hell, 
Whose stains were purged in Zion's sacred flood, 
Free-born, yet purchased with a Saviour's blood.
Two such were sent on Christ himself to wait, 
Partake his counsels, and assist his state,
When Hermon's dewy top, or Carmel's height, 
Beheld the Lord, and beam'd with borrowed light. 
Ye ransomed souls, from various land and clime, 
Gathered to glory in your Saviour's time;
One faith, one practice, led you to the skies,
One blood redeemed you, and one song employs! 
Patriarchs and prophets storied in the page
Which charms and teaches through each passing age, 
The truly great Of men, in whom were joined,
The childlike credence, and the master mind;
The simple too yet wise, of every name,
The watchful, humble, followers of the Lamb;
Some dear companions of our happier days,
Whose modest virtue was their highest praise, 
Though well adorned they were with sight and sense 
And learning's store, and bright intelligence--
Do they not see thee, mourner, call thee friend,
Pray God to speed thee to thy journey's end?
   Hail Christian fellowship! thy comforts prove 
Our faith divine, our God a God of love; 
Unlike the unions of this changing world, 
Dear for a day-- and then to ruin hurl'd--
Thy band with cords of heavenly strength entwined, 
And yet so soft, so tender, so refined, 
Displays Jehovah's wisdom; He ordains 
Its gentle force to mitigate our pains.
One mind pervades the children of the Lord, 
Who draw their wisdom from his written word, 
Renounce the elements of human strife, 
Deeply imbibe the message fraught with life, 
Repent their folly, weep their sin and thrall, 
And rest in Jesus as their all in all.
One mind--because one Holy Spirit theirs,
Their light, their strength, the answer to their prayers, 
Their friend to guide them, by no doubtful ray, 
Through all the labyrinths of this darksome day, 
Their cleanser, searcher, soother kindly given,
The power that seals them as the sons of heaven.
   Joined to the head, where the sensorium lies, 
They learn to feel, to love, to sympathize; 
A mystic body, knit in living bonds--
One member grieves--each distant nerve responds. 
Yet, while a common life pervades the whole, 
Distinctive features mark each single soul, 
And soul with soul combines, by special ties, 
Peculiar love, and choice affinities.
As changing form with diverse colour blends,
God gains his vast variety of ends;
Ten thousand forms of fitness spring to view,
And Zion blooms in beauty ever new. 
Nor is it likeness only that inspires
The excelling warmth of friendship's heaven-born fires; 
Far different qualities in union meet, 
That each the other may assist, complete. 
Thus sound discretion, clothed in gentlest love, 
Constrains the rash to admire and then approve; 
Thus zeal superfluous yields to just control,
Thus weakness leans upon the hardier soul.
   I sing of friendship--I have lost a friend, 
Whose faithfulness and truth could never bend; 
Hers was the cultur'd and the lucid mind, 
The generous heart, the conduct ever kind, 
The temper sensitive yet always mild, 
The frank simplicity of nature's child--
Nature unspoiled by fashion or by pride, 
And yet subdued by grace, and sanctified; 
The cheerfulness, devoid of base alloy,
That bade her speed her even course with joy, 
Yet left full scope, thro' her revolving years, 
For love's fond grief, and pity's softest tears; 
The abstinence from self a humble view
Of all she said, arid did, and thought, and knew; 
The elder's judgment in the youthful frame,
And love to God and man, a deathless flame.
   Ere childhood yet its playful course had run, 
Day's beam from heaven upon her spirit shone, 
Taught her twas strength and happiness to pray, 
Led her young footsteps to the narrow way,
And while pure pleasure seemed her cup to fill,
Gave her to know, the truth is lovelier still.
Her early covenant not vainly made,
Like some fair flower, she blossom'd in file shade, 
Till with advancing years affliction came,
And wan disease oppress'd her slender frame. 
Anxious we watched her, while through many a day, 
In calm repose, on Jesu's breast she lay;
Her virtues grew in sorrow's lingering hour,
Her faith was deepen'd by the Saviour's power--
She rose, replenished with abundant grace,
For larger duties, in a wider space.
Blest was our union; all that life endears
Brightened the current of those rapid years, 
Brightened and swelled--around, her bounty flowed, 
Her soul, enlarging, with fresh fervour glowed;
Her views of truth extending more and more,
As scripture, daily studied, spread its store,
'T was hers each rougher wave of life to smooth, 
To advise and comfort, elevate and soothe.
Fondly we hoped, when with no faltering voice, 
She bade her friends in Jesus Christ rejoice, 
Fondly we hoped her gifts with years would grow, 
To enlarge, improve, the struggling church below; 
But God ordained a higher walk of love, 
In boundless regions, with the blest above;
The summons came, the accepted hour was given, 
Her sainted spirit smiled, and sprang to heaven.
   Sweet to commune with those whose race is run! 
The church in heaven, on earth, in Christ is one; 
We feel their charity the grave survive, 
Their pure affection cannot cease to live, 
Till that blest moment when at Jesu's feet,
In heaven's high courts, his people all shall meet, 
For ever joined to the seraphic throng,
In perfect love, and one harmonious song.
   Such then our comrades, such the timely aid 
That helps to wing our footsteps through the shade 
Of life's short course; but lo! .superior far, 
To every creature, beams the morning star,
Leads and attracts us o'er the toilsome way,
The glorious herald of eternal day.
   Jesus! the Lord and Umpire of the race,
In thee thy friends ten thousand beauties trace; 
Image of God, to thee my heart appeals, 
The Father's attributes thy face reveals; 
Glory, and grace, and truth that cannot move, 
Unbending holiness, unfathom'd love, 
Omniscient wisdom too, and matchless skill 
To form the soul, and regulate the will; 
Thyself once plunged in sorrow's deepest wave, 
Thou knowest to sympathize, thou know'st to save: 
In thee God's power with human pity blends, 
From thee our faith begins, in thee it ends!