Poems (Shipton)/The Swelling of Jordan
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
THE SWELLING OF JORDAN.
"When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan."—Joshua iii. 8.
"As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."—Joshua i. 5.
Be still, O Jordan's billows!
And stay thy rushing tide,
Until I stem thy current"
On to the other side."
My heart with fear is sinking
As the waters touch my feet;
How shall I tread the pathway
When the wild waves o'er me meet?
And stay thy rushing tide,
Until I stem thy current"
On to the other side."
My heart with fear is sinking
As the waters touch my feet;
How shall I tread the pathway
When the wild waves o'er me meet?
I thought a band of angels
Would wait to lead me home;
I thought the gates of glory
Would glisten through the gloom—
That the joyful hymn of seraphs
Would cheer the starless wave,
And hide death's dismal pageant,
The death- throe and the grave.
Would wait to lead me home;
I thought the gates of glory
Would glisten through the gloom—
That the joyful hymn of seraphs
Would cheer the starless wave,
And hide death's dismal pageant,
The death- throe and the grave.
Darker my path is growing;
I falter on the brink;
If, with my foes contending,
My trembling soul shall shrink,
Then they who watch my halting
Before the Jordan's flood
Will cry, "Behold the boaster
Who anchored on his God."
I falter on the brink;
If, with my foes contending,
My trembling soul shall shrink,
Then they who watch my halting
Before the Jordan's flood
Will cry, "Behold the boaster
Who anchored on his God."
The rolling river whispers,
"Where is the vaunted faith
That, in life's summer morning,
Unshrinking, looked on death?
You thought to cross the Jordan
Like the light bark, fair and fleet,
And now you fail and tremble
When the cold waves kiss your feet.
"Where is the vaunted faith
That, in life's summer morning,
Unshrinking, looked on death?
You thought to cross the Jordan
Like the light bark, fair and fleet,
And now you fail and tremble
When the cold waves kiss your feet.
"Ah, stand still, and remember
Your unbelief and pride;
Read o'er your life's long record,
In stains of crimson dyed;
Your Saviour oft forsaken
And wounded, as you strayed,
Unprized the love that sought you,
Your Friend and Lord betrayed!"
Your unbelief and pride;
Read o'er your life's long record,
In stains of crimson dyed;
Your Saviour oft forsaken
And wounded, as you strayed,
Unprized the love that sought you,
Your Friend and Lord betrayed!"
All true—most true! A sinner
By pride and passion tossed,
Who had no plea for pardon,
Ruined, and dead, and lost!
But Jesus, oft forsaken,
Hath rescued me, I know,
And my sins, as red as scarlet,
Are now as white as snow.
By pride and passion tossed,
Who had no plea for pardon,
Ruined, and dead, and lost!
But Jesus, oft forsaken,
Hath rescued me, I know,
And my sins, as red as scarlet,
Are now as white as snow.
Then a song rose in the darkness.
And softly on my sight
A track of golden glory
Touched every wave with light.
'Twas a Father's sweet compassion,
Lest my weary soul should sink,
And my foes rejoice above me
As I stood on Jordan's brink.
And softly on my sight
A track of golden glory
Touched every wave with light.
'Twas a Father's sweet compassion,
Lest my weary soul should sink,
And my foes rejoice above me
As I stood on Jordan's brink.
"Nay, child, these roaring waters
Will not be passed alone,
A path is made already,
Where the living God hath gone;
And He who went before thee
Is watching o'er thee now;
His hand upholds thee, fainting,
With the death -dew on thy brow.
Will not be passed alone,
A path is made already,
Where the living God hath gone;
And He who went before thee
Is watching o'er thee now;
His hand upholds thee, fainting,
With the death -dew on thy brow.
"Yea, 'stand still,' and remember
The way thy steps were led;
His arms (the Everlasting)
Are ceaselessly outspread;
Not one good thing was lacking,
And they who watch shall see,
That as I was with Moses,
So will I be with thee.
The way thy steps were led;
His arms (the Everlasting)
Are ceaselessly outspread;
Not one good thing was lacking,
And they who watch shall see,
That as I was with Moses,
So will I be with thee.
"Fear not th' accuser's malice;
His rage shall be in vain;
And the foes that now surround thee
Thou ne'er shalt see again.
The Ark hath crossed before thee
Through Jordan's swelling flood,
And the path through these wild waters
Is traced with Jesus' blood."
His rage shall be in vain;
And the foes that now surround thee
Thou ne'er shalt see again.
The Ark hath crossed before thee
Through Jordan's swelling flood,
And the path through these wild waters
Is traced with Jesus' blood."
I trust in Thee, Lord Jesus!
Though darkness veil Thy face;
It cannot dim one promise
Of faithfulness and grace.
I passed the Red Sea's fury,
And death I shall not see;
For as Thou wert with Moses,
So wilt Thou be with me!
Though darkness veil Thy face;
It cannot dim one promise
Of faithfulness and grace.
I passed the Red Sea's fury,
And death I shall not see;
For as Thou wert with Moses,
So wilt Thou be with me!
I have no song of triumph;
My lips forget the lay;
My hand forgets her cunning
On my broken harp to-day.
But Christ is my salvation,
And all my heart can bring—
The Lamb once slain for sinners,
My Saviour, Lord, and King!
My lips forget the lay;
My hand forgets her cunning
On my broken harp to-day.
But Christ is my salvation,
And all my heart can bring—
The Lamb once slain for sinners,
My Saviour, Lord, and King!
Glory to Thee for ever,
Who rulest Jordan's wave;
Glory to Thee, Lord Jesus,
Who came to seek and save.
I hear amid the swelling
Of the dark, tempestuous tide,
"Welcome to thee, poor sinner,
For whom the Saviour died."
Who rulest Jordan's wave;
Glory to Thee, Lord Jesus,
Who came to seek and save.
I hear amid the swelling
Of the dark, tempestuous tide,
"Welcome to thee, poor sinner,
For whom the Saviour died."