Poems (Shipton)/The Recognition

by Anna Shipton

THE RECOGNITION.

Their eyes were opened, and they knew Him."—Luke xxiv. 31.

When Jesus first upon my vision stole,
His love reproved my unbelieving soul:
Terror and joy within my bosom stirred;
Revealed to faith—I grasped the Incarnate Word,
                My God! My Lord!

Closed was each portal to the world around—
Sin's shadow dark—yet He an entrance found;
Soft as the dawn, clear as morn's golden flood,
Thy light disclosed the token of the Blood,
                My Lord! My God!

Thus sweetly spake He: "Child! reach forth thine hand,
And be not faithless, but believe." The band
Of sin was loosed. "Peace!" It was all I heard;
By tender mercy conquered, I adored
                My God! My Lord!

His goodness fills my very soul with praise;
No other sound can prayer's faint pinions raise;
Her glad thanksgivings seek no sweeter chord,
My heart pours out her joy in one blest word,—
                My God! My Lord!

Reject it not! Thou, the Crucified!'
Thou hast for me, so lost and faithless, died;
Thou who with peace my way-worn feet hast shod,
Oh, guide me in the path that Thou Thyself hast trod,
                My Lord! My God!