Nothing Convinces Agnostics   “Were God, in open day, before [the eyes of agnostics], miraculously to suspend the laws of nature, they might for a time, perhaps, be impressed and confess that here was the finger of God.  It is probable, however, that this impression would not be lasting.  For in His ceaseless support and maintenance of the course of nature, such men perceive nothing to admire, nothing to adore. Were the hand that moves all worlds to arrest the sun in the heavens and cause it to stand still for even an hour, they might say, 'This is the Lord.'  But the sun may rise, and run its race, and duly set three hundred and sixty-five times in the year, and nothing is said nor is there thought of Him, at whose rebuke the pillars of heaven tremble, and by whose ordinance the everlasting mountains and the order of universal nature have their stability.”     -- William Plumer (1802-1880)   ----------------- Christ in Retrospect   I—who have the healing creed, The faith benign of Mary’s Son, Shall I behold my brother’s need, And, selfishly, to aid him shun? I—who upon my mother’s knee, In childhood, read Christ’s written word, Received His legacy of peace, His holy rule of action hear; I—in whose heart the sacred sense Of Jesus’ love was early felt; Of His pure, full benevolence, His pitying tenderness for guilt; His shepherd-care for wandering sheep, For all weak, sorrowing, trembling things, His mercy vast, His passion deep, Of anguish for man’s sufferings; I—schooled from childhood in such lore— Dare I draw back or hesitate When called to heal the sickness sore Of those far off and desolate?     -- Charlotte Bronte (1816-1855)   Our Missionaries   Forget them not, O Christ, who stand Thy vanguard in the distant land!   In flood, in flame, in dark, in dread, Sustain, we pray, each lifted head!   Be Thou in every faithful breast, Be peace and happiness and rest!   Exalt them over every fear; In peril, come Thyself more near!   Let heaven above their pathway pour A radiance from its open door!   Turn Thou the hostile weapons, Lord, Rebuke each wrathful alien horde!   Thine are the loved for whom we crave That Thou wouldst keep them strong and brave.   Thine is the work they strive to do; Their foes so many, they so few.   Yet Thou art with them and Thy Name Forever lives, is aye the same.   The conquering Name, O Lord, we pray, Quench not its light in blood today!   Be with Thine own, Thy loved, who stand Christ’s vanguard in the storm-swept land!   -- Margaret Sangster (1838-1912)