WORDS O' CHEER. [Given under the inspiration of Robert Burns.] GUID FRIENDS: ALTHOUGH not present to your sight, Yet will I hauld my speech aright, O, could some cantie* word o' mine, Then wad my cup to auld lang syne, Fill to its measure. * Cheerful. The gracious powers above us, know Through Earth to Heaven; And that guid God who loves us a', Though you should stray; But all his wandering sheep will ca' So muckle † are the cares o' men, And Error, to her grousome ‡ den, So dark and eerie, Wiles those who have na heart to men'; § Puir wanderers weary. Alack! how mony a luckless wight * Trembling. † Great. + Gloomy. § Amend. | Astray. Not that he had less love for right Than countless ithers; But that he lacked the keener sight Of his guid brithers. Lo! Calvin, Knox, and Luther, cry. "I have the Truth" "and I" "Puir sinners! if ye gang agley, The de'il will hae ye, "and I." And then the Lord will stand abeigh, But hoolie hoolie! Na sae fast; When Gabriel shall blaw his blast, And Heaven and Earth awa' have passed, These lang syne saints, Shall find baith de'il and hell at last, Mere pious feints. The upright, honest-hearted man, Who strives to do the best he can, Need never fear the Church's ban, Or hell's damnation; * Stop. For God will need na special plan For his salvation. The one who knows our deepest needs, Recks little how man counts his beads, For Righteousness is not in creeds, Or solemn faces; But rather lies in kindly deeds, And Christian graces, Then never fear; wi' purpose leal, * A head to think, a heart to feel For human woe and human weal, Na preachin' loun† Your sacred birthright e'er can steal Tak' tent o' truth, and heed this well: The man who sins makes his ain hell; There's na waurse de'il than himsel'; But God is strongest: And when puir human hearts rebel, He haulds out longest. * True. † Fellow. Pay attention. |