| |
| “HE was led up by the Spirit,” | |
| When morning woke the day, | |
| To Moab’s lonely wilderness, | |
| And mountains far away: | |
| Not as a careless wanderer, | 5 |
| To brush the early dew, | |
| In morning light of youth and joy, | |
| ’Mid nature fresh and new. | |
| |
| Nor went he as a challenger, | |
| With the war-light in his eye, | 10 |
| To seek the powers of darkness, | |
| And Satan’s self defy: | |
| “He was led up—by the Spirit!” | |
| By God’s command he went, | |
| In grave and solemn confidence, | 15 |
| On heavenward thoughts intent. | |
| |
| And so—earth brother!—you and I, | |
| Like pilgrims side by side, | |
| “Are led up by the Spirit!” | |
| To be tempted, sifted, tried. | 20 |
| His holy summons calls us | |
| To give life’s answer now, | |
| And choose, between two altars, | |
| At which our souls shall bow. | |
| |
| And if, in this lone wilderness, | 25 |
| We meet that evil power, | |
| And he offers all earth’s sweetest joys | |
| To souls who him adore— | |
| We, too, must lift our upward eye, | |
| And answer calm and free: | 30 |
| “We serve the God who rules the sky; | |
| We cannot bow to thee.” | |
| |
| It is not chance, or evil bent, | |
| That brings us face to face | |
| With this the mighty murderer, | 35 |
| And strengthener of our race: | |
| ’Tis written oft in God’s decree, | |
| That souls in strife should grow, | |
| That Satan should our teacher be, | |
| Our best friend be a foe. | 40 |
| |
| God leads us through the darkness; | |
| He leads us towards the light; | |
| He bids us face the Evil one, | |
| And know the wrong from right; | |
| He leads us to the wilderness, | 45 |
| And by the world’s highway; | |
| He shields not from the tempest, | |
| Nor clouds the fiery ray. | |
| |
| Thus forward, upward ever, | |
| The Spirit leads us on; | 50 |
| But aye, through storm and striving, | |
| Till battle-days are done; | |
| Then onward yet He’ll lead us | |
| To spirit homes on high, | |
| Where strife and storm are over, | 55 |
| And peace crowns victory! | |
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