"Thou Shalt Follow Me Afterwards."

ALFRED GARDNER, author of this poem was one of the most indefatigable workers it has been our lot to fellowship with. The Lord prospered him in business, and he had a number of pamphlets, written by himself and scattered them over all the countryside.
He was also a poet of no mean order, and usually sent a bold original poem as at the Christmas Season. This was his last for 1934. Troubled with heart disease, he passed Home rather suddenly on 29 Dec., aged 60.
With him the "afterwards" was only "a little while."
He was indeed "A BROTHER BELOVED " (Philemon 16).

"WHERE I GO THOU CANST NOT FOLLOW ME NOW
BUT THOU SHALT FOLLOW ME AFTERWARDS" (John 13. 36).

I GO not now to glory bright,
To dwell with Christ in robes made white,
To see my Lord enthroned above,
To joy in His eternal love;
But afterwards, I shall be there,
With Him eternal bliss to share.

I GO not now to fest for aye,
'Tis mine to labour, watch. and pray,
To strive my Master's will to do,
To live for Him this life's day through;
But afterwards, I shall be there,
The rest eternal I shall share.

I GO not now my song to raise,
With ransomed hosts to hymn His praise;
To sing the anthems of the sky
In blest eternal harmony.
But afterwards, I shall be there,
And in that chorus take my share. 

I GO not now to understand,
The deep perfections love has planned,
To see life's problems all made plain,
To know the need of pang and pain;
But afterwards, I shall be there,
Then perfect knowledge I shall share.

I GO not now to join the throng,
Who to the courts of light belong,
The heights of glory to explore
With lost ones, loved ones gone before;
But afterwards, I shall be there,
The blest re-unions I shall share.

O MASTER, afterwards, I come,
Unto the mansions fair, to home,
When glory crowns Thy matchless grace,
And I shall see Thy blessed face;
Yea, afterwards, I shall be there,
And in Thy glories I shall share.
"The Witness" 1935 

The Afterward will Come.
By A. GARDNER, Hereford. 
"Afterwards it yieldeth the peaceful fruit of righteousness 
unto them that are exercised thereby" (Heb. 12. 11).

NO, not in vain the toil with sweated brow,
The arduous labours from dawn, till now;
The ploughing, harrowing, scattering precious seed;
Broadcasting words of life, to those in need;
Faith forward looks, to harvest's garnered sheaves,
The afterward will come, this faith believes.

The trials come, sore disappointments vex,
Life oft appeals, and reason will perplex,
Friends change, forsake, misunderstandings rise;
The foolish ride in triumph o'er the wise;
Yet faith looks onward, mists will pass away,
The afterward will come, of perfect day.

So hard the sorrow, weariness, and pain,
The sighs escape, the tears will flow again;
What murmuring, what weakness, what distress,
The doubts arise, grim fears the spirits press,
Then faith lays hold of promises so bright,
The afterward will come, morn follows night.

The battle rages, fierce the conflict grows;
Temptations sore, assaults from subtle foes;
The hordes of darkness harass and annoy
Uniting; God's true warriers to defy;
But faith looks on, to when the fight will cease;
The afterward will come, of perfect peace.

Yes, afterwards, in God's eternity;
All will be clear, the reasons I shall see;
Then, perfected my knowledge there above;
I then shall understand, that all was love,
The truths faith grasped but feebly here below—
The afterward will come, then I shall know.
 "Then do ye with patience wait for it" (Rom. 8. 25)
"The Witness" 1935