A Cyclopædia of Sacred Poetical Quotations / Consisting of Choice Passages from the Sacred Poetry of All Ages and Countries, Classified and Arranged, for Facility of Reference, Under Subject Headings; Illustrated by Striking Passages from Scripture, and Forming Altogether a Complete Book of Devotional Poetry.

by Unknown

PURITY.

Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God.—Matthew, v. 8.

For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.—Hebrews, ix. 13, 14.

Henceforth in my name

Take courage, O thou woman,—man take hope,

Your graves shall be as smooth as Eden’s sward,

Beneath the steps of your prospective thoughts;

And, one step past them, a new Eden gate

Shall open on a hinge of harmony,

And let you through to mercy. Ye shall fall

No more within that Eden, nor pass out

Any more from it. In which hope, move on

First sinners and first mourners. Live and love,

Doing both nobly because lowlily,

Love and work strongly,—because patiently!

And for the deed of death, trust it to God,

That it be well done, unrepented of,

And not to loss. And thence with constant prayers

Fasten your souls on high, that constantly

The smile of your heroic cheer may float

Above all floods of earthly agonies,

Purification being the joy of pain.

E. B. Browning.

Blest are the pure, whose hearts are clean

From the defiling power of sin,

With endless pleasure they shall see

A God of spotless purity.

Watts.

Me through the blood of sprinkling make

Pure from defilement white as snow,

Heal me for my Redeemer’s sake,

Then joy and gladness I shall know.

J. Montgomery.

Thou holy God! preserve our souls

From all pollution free;

The pure in heart are thy delight,

And they thy face shall see.

Needham.