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"I AM NOT"

John i. 21.

               "I am not;" O words unwelcome
                    To the lips of men--
                                    "I am not;" O words that lead us
                    Back to God again!
                                    
               Speech of him who knows the pathway
                    To that refuge sweet,
                                    Where is covert from the tempest,
                    Shadow from the heat.
                                    
               Speech of Heaven, from wise men hidden,
                    Unto children taught;
                                    Few the words of that great lesson,
                    Only "I am not."
                                    
               Heart of man, another language
                    Is thy native speech,
                                    Spoken by a thousand races,
                    All alike in each.
                                    
               "I am,--"rich, or wise, or holy--
                    "Thus, and thus am I;"
                                    For "I am," men live and labour,
                    For "I am," they die.
                                    
               For "I am," men dare and suffer,
                    Count all loss as gain,
                                    Toil and weariness and bondage,
                    Sin and grief and pain.
                                    
               In the blessed Gospel read we
                    How a rich man bade
                                    Christ the Lord and His disciples
                    To a feast he made.
                                    
               Well it was to feed the prophet;
                    Thus the rich man thought,
                                    But amidst his wealth and bounty
                    Lacked he "I am not."
                                    
               Then there came a sinful woman,
                    Eyes with weeping dim--
                                    "I am not," her heart was saying--
                    She had looked on Him.
                                    
               He beheld her broken-hearted,
                    Ruined and undone,
                                    Yet enthroned above the angels
                    Brighter than the Sun.
                                    
               All the while in dust before Him
                    Did her heart adore,
                                    "I am not," that song of gladness--
                    "Thou art, evermore."
                                    
               For His heart to hers had spoken,
                    To His wandering lamb;
                                    In the speech of Love Eternal,
                    He had said "I AM."
                                    
               Now she thirsts no more for ever,
                    All she would is given;
                                    None on earth hath she beside Him,
                    None beside in Heaven.
                                    
               Oh how fair that heavenly portion,
                    That eternal lot;
                                    Christ, and Christ alone, for ever--
                    Ever "I am not."
                    

H. Suso.


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