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H o p e - Theological Virtue
Hope is a virtue theological,
It stands between the future in the past,
Hope drives the pilgrims of this puny ball,
As long as life and tribulations last.
Hope holds the Present fast as Paramount,
That strives for man's fulfillment in gears high,
But true fulfillment can be only found,
In God,-that can it's pinnacle supply.
Lo! it is faith, - not simply some belief,-
Faith deep and trusting and with wide a scope,
Hope is a certitude intuitive,-
Thus weary pilgrims need to cling to Hope.
The Holy Spirit broods over Virtue Hope,
The pilgrim's lesions and their sores to sooth,
When in discouragement they seek and grope
For light, HE send out radiant beams of truth.
To Faith is Hope most intimately bound,
And drives with confidence to persevir,
But it's by virtue LOVE that both are crowned,
Who holds high aspirations very dear.
HOPE dreams, a-cradling longing in the heart,-
Dreams that the Lord Himself may well instill,
Those ardent longings that on earth may smart,
But that Eternal Mercy will fulfill.
The Father would be loath to first instill,
And plant into man's soul these longings' fires,
If he were disinclined to well fulfill
HIS children's expectations and desires.
The trends of our world strive hard to vie
With dreams to come true and for hopefulness,
But with great cunning solely supply
Deceptive dreams that lead to more distress.
Lo! these three virtues are a Trinity,
That works that fondest dreams be realized,
It drives with holy pertinacity
To place our trusting Hope alone in CHRIST.
And now abideth faith, hope, and love, even these three: but the chiefest of these is love".
very beautiful piece!