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. WHOM BUT THEE. JONES VERY. FRO ROM past regret and present faithlessness From the deep shadow of foreseen distress And from the nameless weariness that grows As life's long day seems wearing to its close Thou Life within my life, than self more near! 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 ch LEAD, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom, Thou me on! THE PILLAR OF THE CLOUD. The night is dark, and I am far from home Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see 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 JOHN HENRY NEWMAN, 1833 O QUI LABORAT, ORAT. ONLY Source of all our light and life, Whom as our truth, our strength, we see and feel, But whom the hours of mortal moral strife Mine inmost soul, before Thee inly brought, With eye down-dropt, if then this earthly mind Speechless remain, or speechless e'en depart; Nor seek to see for what of earthly kind 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 ARTHUR H. CLOUGH. FOR DIVINE STRENGTH. FATHER, 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 morrow — Thou 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, Our spirits yearn to feel thy kindling love; Now make us strong· we need thy deep revealing Of trust, and strength, and calmness from above. SAMUEL JOHNSON. A BIRTH-DAY PRAYER. ART Thou the Life? To Thee, then, do I owe each beat and breath, And wait Thy ordering of the hour of death, In peace or strife. Art Thou the Light? To Thee, then, in the sunshine or the cloud, Art Thou the Truth? To Thee, then, loved and craved and sought of yore, I consecrate my manhood o'er and o'er, As once my youth. Art Thou the Strong? To Thee, then, though the air is thick with night, I trust the seeming-unprotected Right, And leave the Wrong. Art Thou the Wise? To Thee, then, do I bring each useless care, And hush her cries. Art Thou the Good? To Thee, then, with a thirsting heart I turn, |