| The Secrets of a Beautiful Life |
Chapter 10 |
Page 3 |
Older Christians will understand this. There are many things in the Bible which had little meaning for them in life’s earlier day, but which one by one have shone out bright and beautiful along the years, as stars come out in the evening sky when the sun fades from the heavens. Even in childhood the words were said over and over; but they were repeated thoughtlessly because there had been no experience to prepare the heart to receive them. Then one day there crept a shadow over the life, and in the shadow the long familiar words began for the first time to have meaning. Other experiences of care, trial, and loss followed, and the precious words became more and more real. Now, in old age, as the sacred texts are repeated, they are the very rod and staff to the trembling, trusting spirit. No better illustration of this truth can be given than we have in the familiar lines which tell how as old hymn was learned: —
“Rock of Ages, cleft for me!”
Thoughtlessly the maiden sung;
Fell the words unconsciously
From her girlish, gleeful tongue;
Sang as little children sing;
Sang as sing the birds in June;
Fell the words like light leaves down
On the current of the tune—
“Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee!”
“Let me hide myself in thee!”
Felt her soul no need to hide —
Sweet the song as sweet could be,
And she had no thought beside;
All the words unheedingly
Fell from lips untouched by care,
Dreaming not that they might be
On some other lips a prayer—
“Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee!”
Rock of Ages, cleft for me!”
‘Twas a woman sung them now,
Pleadingly and prayerfully.
Every word her heart did know;
Rose the song as storm-tossed bird
Beats with weary wing the air,
Every not with sorrow stirred,
Every syllable a prayer—
“Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee!”
“Rock of Ages, cleft for me!”
Lips grown aged sung the hymn,
Trustingly and tenderly,
Voice grown weak and eyes grown dim—
“Let me hide myself in thee!”
Trembling though the voice and low,
Ran the sweet strain peacefully,
Like a river in its flow;
Sang as only they can sing
Who life’s thorny path have pressed;
Sang as only they can sing
Who behold the promised rest—
“Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee!”
“Rock of Ages, cleft for me!”
Sung above a coffin-lid—
Underneath, all restfully,
All life’s joys and sorrows hid;
Nevermore, O storm-tossed soul,
Nevermore from wind and tide,
Nevermore from billows’ roll,
Wilt thou need thyself to hide.
Could the sightless, sunken eyes
Closed beneath the soft gray hair;
Could the mute and stiffened lips
Move again in pleading prayer,
Still, aye still, the words would be,
“Let me hide myself in thee!”
Thus, as life goes on, the meaning of Christ’s words come out clearer and clearer, until the child’s heedless repetition of them becomes the utterance of the faith and trust of the strong man’s very soul.
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