Not bound by party, caste or creed,
All narrow realms of self above;
For whoso of our love hath need,
To him we owe the dues of love.
Into the circle lift us up
Of Thy divine beneficence;
And, freely as Thou fill'st our cup,
Freely may we to all dispense.
FATHER, who bid'st Thy sun to shine
Upon the evil and the good,
O, may we share, as sons of Thine,
The kindly heart of brotherhood!
And as to Thee our prayer is given,
'Forgive our trespasses,' so thus
May we forgive, to seven times seven,
Our brother's trespass against us.
O, KNOW ye not that ye
The temple are of God?
Revere the earth-built shrine, where He Should find a meet abode !
Immortal man, keep pure
The soul's mysterious shrine;
No stain upon its robes endure,
That should be all divine.
Let saintly deeds record
The saintly thoughts within;
Let not the temple of the Lord
Defiléd be by sin.
Let life, a holy stream,
Its fountain holy show;
Reflecting, with a softened gleam,
Heaven's purity below.
BLEST are the pure in heart, For they shall see our God; The secret of the Lord is theirs ; Their soul is His abode.
Still to the lowly soul
God doth Himself impart,
And for His temple and His throne Doth choose the pure in heart.
LORD, forever at Thy side
Let my place and portion be;
Strip me of the robe of pride,
Clothe me with humility!
Meekly may my soul receive
All Thy spirit shall reveal;
When Thou speakest, I believe,
And the witness in me feel.
Humbly as a little child,
Weaned from its mother's breast,
By no subtleties beguiled,
On Thy faithful word I rest.
AGAINST A HAUGHTY SPIRIT.
THOU great and sacred Lord of all ;
Of life the only spring;
Of all on earth and all in heaven
The wise and righteous King!
Drive from the confines of my heart
All stubbornness and pride,
Nor let me in my secret soul
A haughty spirit hide.
Let not contempt nor fell revenge
Be to my bosom known;
O, give me tears for others' woe,
And patience for mine own!
My conscience be my crown, Contented thoughts my rest; My heart be happy in itself, My bliss be in my breast.
Not caring much for gold, Well-doing be my wealth; My mind to me an empire be, And God afford me health!
SHALL we grow weary in our watch,
And murmur at the long delay,
Impatient of our Father's time
And His appointed way?
O, oft a deeper test of faith
Than prison-cell, or martyr's stake,
The self-renouncing watchfulness
Of silent prayer may make !
We gird us bravely to rebuke
Our erring brother in the wrong;
And in the ear of pride and power
Our warning voice is strong.
Easier to smite with Peter's sword
Than watch one hour in humbling prayer;
Life's great things, like the Syrian lord,
Our hearts can do and dare ;
But, O, we shrink from Jordan's side,
From waters which alone can save,
And murmur for Abana's banks
And Pharpar's brighter wave!
THE PATIENT WAITING UPON GOD.
WAIT on the Lord, ye heirs of hope,
And let His word support your souls;
Well can He bear your courage up,
And all your
foes and fears control.
He waits His own well-chosen hour
The intended mercy to display;
And His paternal pities move,
While wisdom dictates the delay.
Blest are the humble souls that wait,
With sweet submission to His will;
Harmonious all their passions move,
And in the midst of storms are still
Still, till their Father's well-known voice
Wakens their silence into songs;
Then earth grows vocal with His praise, And heaven the grateful shout prolongs.
YE servants of the Lord,
Each in your office wait,
Observant of His heavenly word,
And watchful at His gate.
Let all your lamps be bright,
And trim the golden flame:
Gird up your loins, as in His sight;
For holy is His name.
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