James Challen A Sacred Lyric (1853)

FROM

THE

MILLENNIAL HARBINGER:

FOURTH SERIES.

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VOL. III.] BETHANY, VA. JULY, 1853. [NO. VII.
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A   S A C R E D   L Y R I C.
BY JAMES CHALLEN.
2 Corinthians v. 2.

As weary travelers in a tent, cheerless, and sad we groan,
We've left our kindred and our friends, and tarry here alone;
The night is dark, and solitude has spread its raven wing,
And earth, with all its charms to us, is but a worthless thing.

And we are hast'ning to a place delectable for rest,
And soon we hope to lay us down, and calm our weary breast;
With earnest heart, with strong desire, we look for happier days,
When we shall spend a glorious life, in more than mortal praise.

We now are like the panting hart pursued by eager foe,
And ev'ry moment as it flies, we look to be brought low.
When morning lifts its curtain up, and shows a cheerful sky,
In deep suspense our souls are held, for we "do daily die."

Weary and faint we yet pursue, our prize is still before,
Tho' many a stormy night may come, and many a tempest roar;
A habitation in the skies, to faithful man is given--
A house not made with mortal hands, reserved for us in heaven.

      PHILADELPHIA.

[The Millennial Harbinger (July 1853): 420.]

ABOUT THE ELECTRONIC EDITION

      James Challen's "A Sacred Lyric" was first published in The Millennial Harbinger, Fourth Series, Vol. 3, No. 7, July 1853. The electronic version of the poem has been produced from the College Press reprint (1976) of The Millennial Harbinger, ed. Alexander Campbell (Bethany, VA: A. Campbell, 1853), p. 420.

      Pagination in the electronic version has been represented by placing the page number in brackets following the last complete word on the printed page. I have let stand variations and inconsistencies in the author's (or editor's) use of italics, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling in the poem.

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 22 June 1998.
Updated 2 July 2003.

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