Poems

Look backward; how much has been won; Look round; how much is yet to win; The watches of the night are done; The watches of the day begin. O Thou whose mighty patience holds The night and day alike in view, Thy will our dearest hopes enfolds, Oh, keep us steadfast, patient, true! Samuel Longfellow.

The builders wrought for Solomon, And hewed the cedar trees; They squared great stones in Lebanon, And bare them over-seas. And then on Mount Moriah's height Silent the one thought grows; Great beams and stones are fitted right, Like petals in a rose.

Early in the morning will I praise thee, O God! early in the morning will I seek thy face. As the glory of the day ariseth in the east, and sheddeth its beauties abroad o'er all the earth, and awakeneth the harmonies of love throughout all creation, so shalt the Sun of thy Righteousness arise in my heart and radiate its peace and light to all mankind.

Oh , slumbering heart, that dreams of woe, Long lulled by stupid fancy's dreams, Awake to-day, and see and know That Life with Love and grandeur teems. Hast thou not heard the Master's call, Echoed from the long ages past, To brush aside thy burdens all?— 'Tis fancy's chains which bind thee fast.

The light of which the poet spake, That never shone o'er land or sea, Is growing in the glowing West To set the world from shadows free. Across these dim-lit northern isles, Encircled by the wintry seas, Shall burst a light no summer knew From Thanet to the Hebrides.

From architrave to royal dome, Love framed this beauteous Christian home. Here Truth shines forth with fadeless beam; Here peace and joy are all supreme; Here gentle dews from Love divine, Will heal that broken heart of thine; Will lift the sackcloth from thine eyes, And thou shalt see God's Paradise.

Like strains of music, soft and low, That break upon a troubled sleep, I hear the promise, old and new, "God will his faithful children keep In perfect peace. " It stills the questionings and doubts, The nameless fears that throng the soul; It speaks of love unchanging, sure, And evermore its echoes roll "In perfect peace.

To do Thy will is more than praise, As words are less than deeds; And simple trust can find thy ways We miss with chart of creeds. Our Friend, our Brother, and our Lord, what may thy service be? Nor name, nor form, nor ritual word, But simply following thee.

O heart of mine, keep patience! — Looking forth, As from the Mount of Vision, I behold, Pure, just, and free, the Church of Christ on earth,— The martyr's dream, the golden age foretold! And, found at last, the mystic Grail I see, Brimmed with His blessing, pass from lip to lip In sacred pledge of human fellowship; And over all the songs of angels hear,— Songs of the love that casteth out all fear, — Songs of the Gospel of Humanity. Whittier.

In the third Book of Clement of Alexandria is given the following, said to be the earliest known hymn of the primitive Christian Church. Shepherd of tender youth, Guiding in love and truth, Through devious ways; Christ, our triumphant King, Join we Thy name to sing, And our dear children bring, Shouting Thy praise! Most high and holy Lord, Glorious, revealing Word, Healer of strife! Thou didst Thyself abase, That from sin's deep disgrace Thou mighest save our race, Giving us life.