Telling of Jesus (yes, you guessed it, a William Luff poem)

Telling of Jesus! how oft it would stay
Bickerings, slanderings, - Whisper them? Nay;
Sweeten thy lips with some Heavenly word,
Telling the love of thy crucified Lord.

Tell of Him ever to those who will hear:
Tell of Him even to those who forbear;
Though they despise Him, perhaps when they know
How He has loved them, some tear-drops will flow.

Talk of Him, walking alone with thy friend;
When o'er the dying thy whispers shall bend;
Breathe it to those who are sinking and sad:
Balm of the wounded, and joy of the glad.

Telling of Jesus! How vast is the theme!
None need to falter while telling of Him;
Evening and morning, by night and by noon:
Who can begin such a subject too soon?

Telling of Jesus, - the life that He lived;
Telling His death, and the curse He received;
Telling the love that still carried Him through -
Love to the sinner - His love unto you.

O! it will shorten the journey of life,
Hush its wild folly, its tumult and strife,
Lighten the spirit that bows 'neath its load,
Brighten the shadows that cross the rough road.

Sweetly the bosom with new love will beat:
At the glad music the wearying feet
Blithely will dance o'er the steep, thorny way,
Upward, still upward, toward the bright day.

Telling of Jesus wherever we go;
Telling of Jesus to friend and to foe;
Ever repeating the Name that we love,
Till we repeat it at Heaven's gate above.

Jesus, O touch with Thy finger this tongue;
Take in Thy hand this poor harp, long unstrung;
Tune its harsh discord, until it pour forth
Sweetly and fully Thine infinite worth.

Touch Thou my lips; nor my lips, Lord, alone;
Sprinkle Thy blood on this cold heart of stone:
Blood is its life; it is helpless and weak;
Quicken its life, and my lips shall then speak.


Another serious challenge!