Less I love the pure and just.
Thou, O Elder Brother! who
In thy flesh our trial knew,
Thou, who hast been touched by these
Our most sad infirmities,
Thou alone the gulf canst span
In the dual heart of man,
And between the soul and sense
Reconcile all difference;
Change the dream of me and mine
For the truth of thee and thine,
And, through chaos, doubt, and strife,
Interfuse thy calm of life.
Haply, thus by Thee renewed,
In thy borrowed goodness good,
Some sweet morning yet in God's
Dim, æonian periods,
Joyful I shall wake to see
Those I love who rest in thee,
And to them in thee allied
Shall my soul be satisfied.
Scarcely Hope hath shaped for me
What the future life may be.
Other lips may well be bold;
Like the publican of old,
I can only urge the plea,
"Lord, be merciful to me!"
214 Andrew Rykman's Prayer.
Nothing of desert I claim,
Unto me belongeth shame.
Not for me the crowns of gold,
Palms, and harpings manifold;
Not for erring eye and feet
Jasper wall and golden street.
What thou wilt, O Father, give!
All is gain that I receive.
If my voice I may not raise
In the elders' song of praise,
If I may not, sin-defiled,
Claim my birthright as a child,
Suffer it that I to thee
As an hired servant be;
Let the lowliest task be mine,
Grateful, so the work be thine;
Let me find the humblest place
In the shadow of thy grace:
Blest to me were any spot
Where temptation whispers not.
If there be some weaker one,
Give me strength to help him on ;
If a blinder soul there be,
Grant that I his guide may be.
Make my mortal dreams come true
With the work I fain would do ;
Clothe with life the weak intent,
Let me be the thing I meant ;
Andrew Rykman's Prayer.
Let me find in thy employ
Peace that dearer is than joy;
Out of self to love be led,
And to heaven acclimated,
Until all things sweet and good
Seem my natural habitude.
VENI, Sancte Spiritus,
Et emitte cœlitus
Lucis tuæ radium:
Veni, pater pauperum,
Veni, dator munerum,
Veni, lumen cordium!
Consolator optime,
Dulcis hospes animæ,
Dulce refrigerium :
In labore requies,
In æstu temperies,
In fletu solatium!
O lux beatissima,
Reple cordis intima
Tuorum fidelium!
Sine tuo numine,
Nihil est in homine,
Nihil est innoxium.
HOLY Spirit! Fire divine!
Send from heaven a ray of thine,
Lighten our obscurity :
Come, thou Father of the poor;
Come, thou Giver and Renewer,—
Fountain of all purity!
Visit us, Consoler best!
Thou the bosom's sweetest guest,
Sweetest comfort proffering :
Thou dost give the weary rest,
Shade to all with heat opprest,
Solace in all suffering.
O blest Light ineffable!
With thy faithful amply dwell :
Lord of our humanity,
Nothing lives without thy ray;
Reft of thy enlivening day,
All is void and vanity.
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