Christ My Song - 222
Oh for the peace which floweth as a river
(Jane Crewdson/Johannes Thomas Rüegg)
Oh for the peace which floweth!
"What is this that he saith, A little while?" (John 16,18)
1. Oh for the peace which floweth as a river,
making life's desert places bloom and smile!
Oh for the faith to grasp heaven's bright "for ever,"
amid the shadows of earth's "little while." PDF - Midi
2. "A little while," for patient vigil-keeping,
to face the stern, to wrestle with the strong;
"a little while," to sow the seed with weeping,
then bind the sheaves, and sing the harvest-song.
3. "A little while," to wear the weeds of sadness,
to pace with weary step through miry ways;
then to pour forth the fragrant oil of gladness,
and clasp the girdle round the robe of praise.
4. "A little while," 'midst shadow and illusion,
to strive, by faith, love's mysteries to spell;
then read each dark enigma's bright solution,
then hail sight's verdict, "He doth all things well."
5. "A little while," the earthen pitcher taking
to wayside brooks, from far-off fountains fed;
then the cool lip its thirst for ever slaking
beside the fulness of the Fountain Head.
6. "A little while," to keep the oil from failing,
"a little while," faith's flickering lamp to trim;
and then, the Bridegroom's coming footsteps hailing,
to haste to meet him with the bridal hymn.
7. And he, who is himself the Gift and Giver,
the future glory and the present smile,
with the bright promise of the glad "for ever"
will light the shadows of the "little while."
Jane Crewdson, in: Schaff, Philip: Christ in Song, 1870, 541.