IV. RING out, wild bells, to the wild sky, Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow: Ring out the grief that saps the mind, For those that here we see no more; Ring out the feud of rich and poor, Ring in redress to all mankind. Ring out a slowly dying cause, And ancient forms of party strife; Ring in the nobler modes of life, With sweeter manners, purer laws. Ring out the want, the care, the sin, The faithless coldness of the times: Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes, But ring the fuller minstrel in. Ring out false pride in place and blood, Ring in the love of truth and right, Ring in the common love of good. Ring out old shapes of foul disease, Ring out the narrowing lust of gold; Ring out the thousand wars of old, Ring in the thousand years of peace. Ring in the valiant man and free, The larger heart, the kindlier hand; Ring out the darkness of the land, Ring in the Christ that is to be. 11 James Montgomery. 1771. MAN IMMORTAL. MAN, to this narrow sphere confined, Whence this inheritance of hope? It is not thus; it cannot be, With views that reach eternity, Should shine and vanish like a cloud: There is,- TO ONE IN AFFLICTION. LIFT up thine eyes, afflicted soul ! One sun is set, a thousand more Their rounds of glory run, Where science lends thee to explore In every star a sun. Thus when some long loved comfort ends, And nature would despair, Faith to the heaven of heaven ascends, And meets ten thousand there; First faint and small, then clear and bright, And stars, that seem but points of light, DE PROFUNDIS. OUT of the depths of woe To Thee, O Lord! I cry; Darkness surrounds me, but I know That Thou art ever nigh Then hearken to my voice; Give ear to my complaint; Thou bid'st the mourning soul rejoice, Thou comfortest the faint. I cast my hope on Thee; Thou can'st, Thou wilt, forgive; Wert Thou to mark iniquity, Who in Thy sight could live? Humbly on Thee I wait, Confessing all my sin : Lord! I am knocking at Thy gate; Open, and take me in! Like those, whose longing eyes Watch, till the morning star (Though late, and seen through tempests) rise, Heaven's portals to unbar, Like those I watch and pray, And, though it tarry long, Catch the first gleam of welcome day, |