Sonnet Xxxviii. Constancy Poem by Thomas Cogswell Upham

Bought by Christ's blood, and to the purchase true,
The Christian runs with cheerfulness the race,
Which God in wisdom hath seen fit to trace,
Nor turns some other object to pursue,
Nor slacks his steadfast course. Sometimes he sees
Fires in his path, or hears the serpent's breath,
Or raging men with implements of death,
But still goes on; nor like the coward flees.
The road is strait and narrow; if he turns,
Ruin awaits him; if he onward goes,
With face erect and heart with love that burns,
However green the obstacles, he knows,
That God, who hath all power, all things can do,
Will guard him in his straits, and bear him glorious through.