Purification of Gold
He sat by a fire of seven-fold heat as he watched by the precious ore
And closer He bent with a searching gaze as He heated it more and more.
He knew He had ore that could stand the test and he wanted the finest gold
To mould as a crown for the King to wear, set with gems with a price untold.
So he laid our gold in the burning fire tho we fain would have said Him “Nay.”
And He watched the dross that we had not seen and it melted and passed away.
And the gold grew brighter and yet more bright but our eyes were so dim with tears.
We saw but the fire, not the Master’s hand and questioned with anxious fears.
Yet our gold shone out with a richer glow as it mirrored a Form above
That bent o’er the fire tho unseen by us with a look of ineffable love.
Can we think that it pleases His loving heart to cause us a moment’s pain?
Ah no! But He saw through the present cross the bliss of eternal gain.
So He waited there with a watchful eye with a love that is strong and sure.
And His gold did not suffer a bit more heat than was needed to make it pure.
