When The Eagle Finds

The Lord's portion is his people, Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness. He led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings, so the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him. DEUT. 32: 9-12.      T. E.'s Sermon.     When the eagle finds her brood is fledged,     She stirreth up the nest;     Gently she fluttereth over it,     And breaketh up their rest.     She taketh them, she beareth them,     She spreadeth abroad her wings,     Then soars aloft to a purer air     Above terrestrial things.     Thus, when the heart with the cares of time     Is burdened and oppressed,     'Tis only the parent hand of love     That is stirring up the nest.     He found us in the wilderness     When no strange god was nigh,     He instructed us, He kept us     As "the apple of His eye."     Now His wing is fluttering over us     And stirring up the nest,     For the Lord alone is leading us     To His bright and glorious rest.     The shining host of ransomed ones     There worship and adore;     Fulness of joy their portion is,     Pleasure forever more.     Then be glad when the Father teaches us     That this is not our rest,     And bless the hand of sparing love     That stirreth up the nest.     For those who know no chastisement     Are not the sons of God;     He chooseth His adopted ones     Beneath the chastening rod.     Thus, when the fond heart reareth up     A little ark of rest,     How soon the fluttering wing is heard     That stirreth up the nest!     But ah! He spreadeth it abroad,     And teacheth us to soar     To the realms of cloudless blessedness,     Where change is known no more.