Thy heaven is mine, — my very soul! With music and with song. They send me challenges to right, They breathe my "Peace, be still!" Now journey inward to thyself, And listen by the way." WILLIAM C. GANNETT. THE PRAYER. ILT Thou not visit me? WILT The plant beside me feels Thy gentle dew; And every blade of grass I see, From Thy deep earth its quickening moisture drew. Wilt Thou not visit me? Thy morning calls on me with cheering tone, And every hill and tree Lends but one voice, the voice of Thee alone. Come, for I need Thy love, More than the flower the dew, or grass the rain; Come, gently as Thy holy dove; And let me in Thy sight rejoice to live again. I will not hide from them, When Thy storms come, though fierce may be their wrath; But bow with leafy stem, And strengthened follow on Thy chosen path. Yes, Thou wilt visit me; Nor plant nor tree Thine eye delights so well, My spirit loves with Thine in peace to dwell. JONES VERY. FROM WHOM BUT THEE. ROM past regret and present faithlessness Thou Life within my life, than self more near ! From all illusive shows of sense I flee To find my centre and my rest in Thee. Below all depths Thy saving mercy lies, Through thickest glooms I see Thy light arise, Above the highest heavens Thou art not found More surely than within this earthly round. Take part with me against these doubts that rise How can I call Thee who art always here How shall I praise Thee who art still most dear What may I give Thee save what Thou hast given And whom but Thee have I in earth or heaven? ELIZA SCUdder. THE PILLAR OF THE CLOUD. LEAD, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom, Lead Thou me on! The night is dark, and I am far from home- Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see The distant scene, one step enough for me. I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou I loved to choose and see my path, but now I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears, So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till And with the morn those angel faces smile Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile! JOHN HENRY NEWMAN, 1833. QUI LABORAT, ORAT. ONLY Source of all our light and life, But whom the hours of mortal moral strife Mine inmost soul, before Thee inly brought, With eye down-dropt, if then this earthly mind Can see Thee as Thou art? If well-assured 'tis but profanely bold, In thought's abstractest forms to seem to see, It dare not dare the dread communion hold In ways unworthy Thee; O not unowned, Thou shalt unnamed forgive, Shalt make that work be prayer. Nor times shall lack, when while the work it plies, Unsummoned powers the blinding film shall part, And, scarce by happy tears made dim, the eyes In recognition start. But, as Thou willest, give or e'en forbear So, with Thy blessing blest, that humbler prayer ARTHUR H. CLOUGH. FATE FOR DIVINE STRENGTH. ATHER, in thy mysterious presence kneeling, Fain would our souls feel all thy kindling love; For we are weak and need some deep revealing Of trust and strength and calmness from above. Lord, we have wandered forth through doubt and sorrow, And thou hast made each step an onward one; And we will ever trust each unknown morrowThou wilt sustain us till its work is done. In the heart's depths a peace serene and holy Now, Father- now, in thy dear presence kneeling, SAMUEL JOHNSON. |