Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PRECIOUS THINGS, by FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PRECIOUS THINGS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Oh what shining revelation of his treasures god hath given
Last Line: Oh, what precious consummation of the precious things of god!
Subject(s): God


I.

O WHAT shining revelation of His treasures God hath given!
Precious things of grace and glory, precious things of earth and heaven.
Holy Spirit, now unlock them with Thy mighty golden key,
Royal jewels of the kingdom let us now adoring see!

II.

Christ is precious, oh, most precious, gift by God the Father sealed;
Pearl of greatest price and treasure, hidden, yet to us revealed;
His own people's crown of glory, and resplendent diadem;
More than thousand worlds, and dearer than all life and love to them.

III.

Marvellous and very precious is the Corner Stone Elect:
Though rejected by the builders, chosen by the Architect.
All-supporting, all-uniting, and all-crowning, tried and sure;
True Foundation, yet true Headstone of His temple bright and pure.

IV.

Now, in reverent awe and wonder, touch the theme of deepest laud,
Precious blood of Christ that bought us and hath made us nigh to God!
His own blood, O love unfathomed! shed for those who loved Him not:
Mighty fountain always open, cleansing us from every spot.

V.

Oh, how wonderful and precious are Thy thoughts to us, O God!
Outlined in creation, blazoned on redemption's banner broad;
Infinite and deep and dazzling as the noontide heavens above;
Yet more wonderful to usward are Thy thoughts of peace and love.

VI.

Then, exceeding great and precious are Thy promises Divine;
Given by Christ, and by the Spirit sealed with sweetest "All are thine!"
Precious in their peace and power, in their sure and changeless might;
Strenthening, comforting, transforming; suns by day and stars by night.

VII.

Precious faith our God hath given; rich in faith is rich indeed!
Fire-tried gold from His own treasury, fully meeting every need:
Channel of His grace abounding; bringing peace and joy and light;
Purifying, overcoming; linking weakness with His might.

VIII.

Precious ointment, very costly, of chief odors pure and sweet,
Holy gift for royal priesthood, thus for temple-service meet;
Such the Spirit's precious unction, oil of gladness freely shed,
Sanctifying and abiding on the consecrated head.

IX.

Who shall paint the flash of splendor from the open casket bright,
When His precious loving-kindness beams upon the quickened sight!
Priceless jewels ever gleaming with imperishable ray,
God will never take it from us, though the mountains pass away.

X.

Far more precious than the ruby, or the crystal's rainbow light,
Valued not with precious onyx or with pearl and sapphire bright,
Freely given to all who ask it, is the wisdom from above,
Pure and peaceable and gentle, full of fruits of life and love.

XI.

Nor withhold we glad thanksgiving for His mercies ever new,
Precious things of earth and heaven, sun and rain and quickening dew,
Precious fruits and varied crowning of the year His goodness fills,
Chief things of the ancient mountains, precious things of lasting hills.

XII.

Such His gifts: but mark we duly our responsibility
Unto Him whose name is Holy, infinite in purity;
Sin and self no longer serving, take the precious from the vile,
So His power shall rest upon thee, thou shalt dwell beneath His smile.

XIII.

Sons of Zion, ye are precious in your heavenly Father's sight,
Ye are His peculiar treasure, ye His jewels of delight;
Sought and chosen, cleansed and polished, purchased with transcendent cost,
Kept in His own royal casket, never, never to be lost.

XIV.

Precious, more than gold that wasteth, is the trial of your faith,
Fires of anguish or temptation cannot dim it, cannot scathe!
Your Refiner sitteth watching till His image shineth clear,
For His glory, praise and honor, when the Saviour shall appear.

XV.

Precious, precious to Jehovah is His children's holy sleep;
He is with them in the passing through the waters cold and deep:
Everlasting love enfolds them softly, sweetly to His breast,
Everlasting love receives them to His glory and His rest.

XVI.

Pause not here, -- the Holy City, glorious in God's light, behold!
Like unto a stone most precious, clear as crystal, pure as gold:
Strong foundations fair with sapphires, sardius, and chrysolite,
Blent with amethyst and jacinth, emerald and topaz bright.

XVII.

Glorious dwelling of the holy, where no grief or gloom of sin
Through the pure and pearly portals evermore shall enter in:
Christ its light and God its temple, Christ its song of endless laud!
Oh, what precious consummation of the precious things of God!





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