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
Abides; and when pain seems to have her will,
Or we despair, oh, may that peace rise slowly,
Stronger than agony, and we be still!
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.
"Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man; thou shalt
keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues."
WHEN winds are raging o'er the upper ocean,
And billows wild contend with angry roar,
'Tis said, far down beneath the wild commotion,
That peaceful stillness reigneth evermore.
Far, far beneath, the noise of tempest dieth,
And silver waves chime ever peacefully,
And no rude storm, how fierce soe'er it flieth,
Disturbs the Sabbath of that deeper sea.
So to the heart that knows thy love, O Purest,
There is a temple sacred evermore !
And all the babble of life's angry voices
Dies in hushed stillness at its peaceful door.
Far, far away, the roar of passion dieth,
And loving thoughts rise calm and peacefully;
And no rude storm, how fierce soe'er it flieth,
Disturbs the soul that dwells, O Lord! in thee.
O rest of rests! O peace serene, eternal!
Thou ever livest, and thou changest never;
And in the secret of thy presence dwelleth
Fulness of joy, for ever and for ever.
"He giveth power to the faint."
FATHER, to us thy children, humbly kneeling,
Conscious of weakness, ignorance, sin, and shame,
Give such a force of holy thought and feeling,
That we may live to glorify thy name,
That we may conquer base desire and passion,
That we may rise from selfish thought and will,
O'ercome the world's allurement, threat, and fashion,
Walk humbly, gently, leaning on thee still.
Let all thy goodness by our minds be seen,
Let all thy mercy on our souls be sealed:
Lord, if thou wilt, thy power can make us clean;
Oh, speak the word, thy servants shall be healed!
"Lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us."
FATHER, there is no change to live with thee,
Save that in Christ I grow from day to day;
In each new word I hear, each thing I see,
I but rejoicing hasten on my way.
The morning comes, with blushes overspread,
And I, new-wakened, find a morn within ;
And in its modest dawn around me shed,
Thou hear'st the prayer and the ascending hymn.
Hour follows hour, the lengthening shades descend;
Yet they could never reach as far as me,
Did not thy love its kind protection lend,
That I, thy child, might sleep in peace with thee.
153. "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee."
THOU Life within my life, than self more near!
Thou veiled Presence infinitely clear!
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,
And seek to throne thee far in distant skies!
Take part with me against this self that dares
Assume the burden of these sins and cares!
How shall 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?
"In him we live, and move, and have our being."
FATHER, thy wonders do not singly stand,
Nor far removed where feet have seldom strayed:
Around us ever lies the enchanted land,
In marvels rich to thine own sons displayed.
In finding thee are all things round us found;
In losing thee are all things lost beside;
Ears have we, but in vain sweet voices sound,
And to our eyes the vision is denied.
Open our eyes that we that world may see,
Open our ears that we thy voice may hear,
And in the spirit-land may ever be,
And feel thy presence with us always near.
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