Brotherhood

 BROTHERHOOD.

Love will work no ill to neighbor,
But will do him good;
God will know His true disciples
By their brotherhood.

Now, look at the white fields yonder,
See the grain so ripe to reap;
Then say if you're going to help them,
Or to fold your hands and sleep.

There are children by the thousand
That have never heard God's name,
On the street or round the hearth-stone,
Save in cursing or blaspheme.

His dear name, the gentle Jesus
Who loved children, oh, so much!
Ever waiting but to bless them
With divine and loving touch.

His kind heart in tender pity
For his lambs is yearning still,
And their souls are in our keeping; -
Shall we save, or shall we kill ?

Like a Cain we may not slay them,
But with thoughtless, cold neglect;
Is this true, my Christian hearers,
Stop a moment and reflect.

If God asks you for your brother,
At His judgment bar some day,
Will you say, " I'm not his keeper,"
Hide your face and turn away?

If you do, the rocks and mountains
Will not shield you from his wrath;
For He is a God of justice,
Though He tender mercies hath.

'Tis a sad and gloomy picture
Drawn with heavy heart and bowed;
But, thank God! the silver lining's
Just behind the darkened cloud.

You who have been blessed with plenty,
Homes of love and Christian grace;
Can, with generous heart consenting,
Swiftly this sad scene erase.

All the cloud may be one splendor,
Radiating floods of light,
If our love for one another
Is but measured in God's sight.