As with thy chosen moved of yore The fire by night, the cloud by day! 2 When from each temple of the free A nation's song ascends to heaven, Most holy Father, unto thee Now let our humble prayer be given. 3 Sweet peace is here ; and hope and love Are round us as a mantle thrown, And unto thee, supreme above, The knee of prayer is bowed alone. 4 And grant, O Father, that the time Of earth's deliverance may be near, When every land and tongue and clime The message of thy love shall hear, 5 When, smitten as with fire from heaven, The captive's chain shall sink in dust, PIERPONT. From our offering turn away, On the memory of this day. Let no deadly darkness stain it, And no clouds be o'er it hung. And its vows to thee addressed, That thou hearest from the blest. Father, then our souls shall bring thee Holier love and firmer trust. 752. L. M. WHITTIER. Are all thy works and words and ways, Thanksgiving and eternal praise ! We veil the eye, — we bend the knee, - Father and God, we come to thee. The sighing of the hapless slave ; Not shortened that it could not save. The shackled soul and hand are free ;- Praise ! — for the blessing is of thee. And when the bondsman's chain is riven, The anthem of the free to heaven, As with thy cloud and fire before, Be praise and glory evermore. 753. C. M. C. SPRAGUE. Where they might kneel to thee, 2 Here found their pilgrim souls repose Where long the heathen roved ; To bless the Power they loved. A feeble, fainting band, And sound it through the land. 154. L. M. W.P. Lunt. Our fathers fled beyond the sea, And next to leave their children free. The altar and the school appeared ; In this their precious hopes were reared. 3 Armed with intelligence and zeal, Their sons shook off the tyrant's chain, And nobly daring to maintain. The sacred pillars of our trust, When we are sleeping in the dust. With grateful song and fervent prayer, Wilt make our offspring still thy care. 1755. L. M. 6 L. H. WARE, JR. The God of our Fathers. Across the flood the pilgrims fed ; Their hands bore up the ark of Heaven, And Heaven their trusting footsteps led, And won the wilderness for God. Another Zion proudly grew; With light that Israel never knew. Her temple Heaven, and Christ her head. 3 Then let the grateful Church to-day Its ancient rite with gladness keep ; His kindness, though the fathers sleep. 756. P. M. H. WARE, JR. The Progress of Freedom. There comes a brighter day, Shall have triumphant way. And hold eternal sway. Of truth's victorious car ? Or quench the solar star ? 3 The hour of triumph comes apace, The fated, promised hour, Her bounteous gifts shall shower. Of Heaven's redeeming power. 1757. L. M. C. SPRAGUE. For the Blessing of Schools. 10 THOU, at whose dread name we bend, To whom our purest vows we pay, And bless the labors of this day. 2 Our fathers here, a pilgrim band, Fixed the proud empire of the free ; And Faith her altars reared to thee. The sacred rights their valor won, And send down truth from sire to son. 4 Here still, through all succeeding time, Their stores may truth and learning bring, To thee from children's children sing. |