42 A World without God. O God! 't were more than life to mouldering dust, The hour that kindled men to thoughtful trust; That taught our hearts to seek thy righteous will, And so with love thy wisdom's task fulfil. Redeemed from fear, and washed from lustful blot, FOR FAITH AND REVERENCE. STRONG Son of God, immortal Love, Whom we, that have not seen thy face, By faith, and faith alone, embrace, Believing where we cannot prove! Thou wilt not leave us in the dust; Thou seemest human and divine, The highest, holiest manhood, thou: Our wills are ours, we know not how,Our wills are ours, to make them thine. Our little systems have their day; They have their day and cease to be; They are but broken lights of thee, And thou, O Lord, art more than they. 44 For Faith and Reverence. We have but faith; we cannot know; Let knowledge grow from more to more, But more of reverence in us dwell, That mind and soul, according well, May make one music, as before : But vaster. We are fools and slight; We mock thee when we do not fear; But help thy foolish ones to bear, Help thy vain worlds to bear thy light! Reverence is the bond for man With all of best his eyes discern ; Love teaches more than Doctrine can, And no pure Hope will vainly yearn. But all from depths of mystery grows, To man his Faith's high reason brings. CHRIST IN THE WORLD. AMID the gay and noisy throng Around me fluttering, wheeling, shining, My ears are filled with shout and song, But yet my soul is still repining, Mid bounding joy, and passion's glow, Mid sportive bursts of mutual gladness, Thin shades arise from far below, Where boils a secret gulf of madness. A quivering cheek, a faltering glance, And 't is the worst despair to know, 46 Christ in the World. But while my sad bewildered view Among the false and loveless faces. Like yon blue sky, when first it shows A voice not loud, like wind or wave, A look made low by conscious greatness, Where all is calm, and deep, and grave, With a full soul's mature sedateness. By Him subdued to thought and peace, And hearts high swoln devoutly ponder. By His mild glance and sober power And learns his spirit's pure elation. |