  Creator of the universal heart In nature's bosom beating! Life of all forms, which are but as a part Of Thee, thy life repeating! Soul of the earth, thy sanctity impart Where human souls are meeting! Bright as the first faint beam in mercy shewn Unto the barren-sighted, Where, on the yet unbroken darkness thrown, A sunny ray hath lighted, The glory of thy presence streameth down On us, the world-benighted. To us the shadow of the earth is given, And ours the lower cloud; But though along its pathways tempest-driven, Our hearts shall not be bowed, While yet our eyes unto the stars of heaven We lift, and pray aloud! Not with the prayers of long ago we pray, With red raised hand beseeching— Not with the war-voice of our elder clay, With the mammoth's bones now bleaching— Not for the mortal victories of a day, But—for the Spirit's teaching! Be Words of Light alone our javelins hurled, While Truth wings every dart: Oh, welcome, then, the legions of a world!— But ours no warrior's part; The ensigns we would bear are passions furled— Love, and a child's young heart! |
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