Believe not those who
say
The upward path is smooth,
Lest thou shouldst stumble
in the way,
And faint before the truth.
It is the only road
Unto the realms of joy;
But he who seeks that blest
abode
Must all his powers employ.
Bright hopes and pure delight
Upon his course may beam,
And there, amid the sternest
heights,
The sweetest flowerets gleam.
On all her breezes borne,
Earth yields no scents like
those;
But he that dares not gasp
the thorn
Should never crave the rose.
Arm--arm thee for the fight!
Cast useless loads away;
Watch through the darkest
hours of night;
Toil through the hottest
day.
Crush pride into the dust,
Or thou must needs be slack;
And trample down rebellious
lust,
Or it will hold thee back.
Seek not thy honour here;
Waive pleasure and renown;
The world's dread scoff
undaunted bear,
And face its deadliest frown.
To labour and to love,
To pardon and endure,
To lift thy heart to God
above,
And keep thy conscience
pure;
Be this thy constant aim,
Thy hope, thy chief delight;
What matter who should whisper
blame
Or who should scorn or slight?
What matter, if thy God approve,
And if, within thy breast,
Thou feel the comfort of
His love,
The earnest of His rest?
