"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away." (Matt. 24:35)

THE ANVIL

By John Clifford, 1836-1923

I paused last eve beside the blacksmith's door,

And heard the anvil ring, the vespers chime,

And looking in I saw upon the floor

Old hammers, worn with beating years of time.

"How many anvils have you had?" said I'

"To wear and batter all those hammers so?"

"Just one," he answered. Then with twinkling eye:

"The anvil wears the hammers out, you know."

And so, I thought, the anvil of God's Word

For ages skeptics' blows have beat upon,

But though the noise of falling blows was heard

The anvil is unchanged; the hammer's gone.