Yes! In my spirit doth thy spirit shine, I am, O God! and surely Thou must be! Thou art directing, guiding all, thou art! The chain of being is complete in me; I can command the lightning and am dust! A monarch and a slave; a worm, a god! Whence came I here? and how so marvellously Creator! yes, thy wisdom and thy word Created me! Thou Source of life and good! O thoughts ineffable! O visions blest! Yet shall thy shadowed image fill our breast, God! thus alone my lonely thoughts can soar; INVOCATION MAX EASTMAN Truth, be more precious to me than the eyes THE PRAYER ALFRED TENNYSON From In Memoriam CXXXI O living will that shall endure When all that seems shall suffer shock, Rise in the spiritual rock, Flow through our deeds and make them pure, That we may lift from out the dust A voice as unto him that hears, With faith that comes from self-control, d. PRAYERS FOR COMFORT IN PROSPECT OF DEATH A PRAYER IN THE PROSPECT OF DEATH ROBERT BUrns O Thou unknown, Almighty Cause In whose dread presence, ere an hour, If I have wander'd in those paths Thou know'st that Thou hast formèd me Where human weakness has come short, Do thou, All-Good-for such Thou art- Where with intention I have err'd, No other plea I have, But, Thou art good; and Goodness still Delighteth to forgive. PRAYER BEFORE EXECUTION MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS O Domine Deus! Speravi in te, O care mi Jesu, nunc libera me! In dura catena, in misera poena, Languendo, gemendo, et genuflectendo, (Translation by John Fawcett, 1782.) O merciful Father, my hope is in thee! My bondage bemoaning, with sorrowful groaning, Lamenting, relenting, and humbly repenting, e. PRAYERS FOR GUIDANCE A PRAYER JOHN DRINKWATER Lord, not for light in darkness do we pray, Not for a clearer vision of the things Not for a fuller knowledge of the end Not these, O Lord. We would not break the bars Thy wisdom sets about us; we shall climb Unfetter'd to the secrets of the stars In Thy good time. We do not crave the high perception swift The good from ill. Not these, O Lord. For these Thou hast revealed, The hour to sleep. Not these. We know the hemlock from the rose, On Pity's face. We know the paths wherein our feet should press, With more than these. Grant us the will to fashion as we feel, Grant us the strength to labor as we know, Grant us the purpose, ribb'd and edg'd with steel, Knowledge we ask not,-knowledge Thou hast lent, The deed, the deed. THE CRY OF THE AGE HAMLIN GARLAND What shall I do to be just? What shall I do for the gain Of the world-for its sadness? Teach me, O Seers that I trust! Chart me the difficult main Leading me out of my sorrow and madness; Preach me out of the purging of pain. Shall I wrench from my finger the ring |