That murmur, soon replies: "God doth not need Is kingly; thousands at His bidding speed, HAIL, HOLY LIGHT. From "Paradise Lost," Book III. Hail, holy Light, offspring of Heaven first-born! Or of the Eternal coëternal beam, May I express thee unblamed? since God is light, Dwelt from eternity-dwelt then in thee, * * For wonderful indeed are all His works. Their number, or the wisdom infinite That brought them forth, but hid their causes deep? I saw when at His word the formless mass, Robert Leighton. 1611-1684. DUTY. I reach a duty, yet I do it not, And therefore see no higher; but, if done, My view is brighten'd and another spot Seen on my moral sun. For, be the duty high as angels' flight, And thus it is, the purest most deplore Their want of purity. As fold by fold, In duties done, falls from their eyes, the more Of Duty they behold. Were it not wisdom, then, to close our eyes Henry Vaughan. 1621-1695. THE RAINBOW. Still young and fine, but what is still in view new. How bright wert thou, when Shem's admiring eye Thy burnish'd, flaming arch did first descry! Forms turn to music, clouds to smiles and air : Bright pledge of peace and sunshine! the sure Of thy Lord's hand, the object of His eye! Richard Barter. 1615-1691. RESIGNATION. Lord, it belongs not to my care, To love and serve Thee is my share, If short, yet why should I be sad Christ leads me through no darker rooms Than He went through before; He that into God's kingdom comes Must enter by His door. Come, Lord, when grace has made me meet Thy blessed face to see ; For if Thy work on earth be sweet, What will Thy glory be? Then shall I end my sad complaints, And join with the triumphant saints But 't is enough that Christ knows all, Thomas Ellwood. 1639-1713. PRAYER. Unto the glory of Thy Holy Name, Eternal God! whom I both love and fear, Here bear I witness that I never came Before Thy throne and found Thee loath to hear, But, ever ready with an open ear. And though sometimes Thou seem'st Thy face to hide, As one that hath his love withdrawn from me, 'T is that my faith may to the full be tried, And I thereby may only better see How weak I am when not upheld by Thee. 2 |