Mountain Spring and Other Poems

<h2><SPAN name="RING_THE_BELLS" id="RING_THE_BELLS" />RING THE BELLS</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> <span>Ring out the bells of heaven!<br/></span> <span>Obey the great command,<br/></span> <span>That all may hear their melody<br/></span> <span>On mountain, sea, and land,<br/></span> <span>The chimes of glory sounding,<br/></span> <span>Ascending to the sky;<br/></span> <span>Jesus our Savior reigneth<br/></span> <span>Forever more on high.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span>Ring how he bore our trials<br/></span> <span>And sorrows here below;<br/></span> <span>Of his lamb-like, sinless nature,<br/></span> <span>Purer than falling snow;<br/></span> <span>How he gave his life to banish<br/></span> <span>The clouds of midnight gloom<br/></span> <span>That brooded o'er creation<br/></span> <span>And o'er the dreary tomb.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span>Ring of the well of Sichar<br/></span> <span>And the everlasting tide,<br/></span> <span>With which its sparkling waters<br/></span> <span>His imagery supplied.<br/></span> <span>Ring of his mighty power<br/></span> <span>To comfort and to heal,<br/></span> <span>His gentleness and sympathy<br/></span> <span>In either woe or weal.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span>Ring of his blood that speaketh<br/></span> <span>Than Abel's, better things,<br/></span> <span>And to the guilty conscience<br/></span> <span>Sweet peace and pardon brings.<br/></span> <span>Ring how he burst death's fetters<br/></span> <span>In rising from the grave,<br/></span> <span>And from its lasting bondage<br/></span> <span>Will all his people save.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span>Ring how he intercedeth<br/></span> <span>And ever lives above<br/></span> <span>For all who trust and serve him,<br/></span> <span>Rejoicing in his love;<br/></span> <span>Of the many mansions he's prepared<br/></span> <span>Of everlasting rest,<br/></span> <span>Whose joys no tongue can utter<br/></span> <span>Nor tell how glad and blest.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span>Awake, then, to your duty,<br/></span> <span>O church of Christ, awake!<br/></span> <span>Behold the beauty of their feet<br/></span> <span>Who the glad tidings take!<br/></span> <span>Reach out and ring the bells of heaven;<br/></span> <span>Blest be the hands that give<br/></span> <span>The truth, that all who listen<br/></span> <span>May hope and joy and live!<br/></span> <span>Ah, 'tis a wondrous story!<br/></span> <span>Good news to all the world!<br/></span> <span>The gospel means glad tidings<br/></span> <span>Wherever 'tis unfurled.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span>Great God, impart thy Spirit<br/></span> <span>That all who love their Lord<br/></span> <span>May see in life a flitting hour<br/></span> <span>To obey and speak his word.<br/></span></div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />