Church poetry : or, Christian thoughts in old and modern verse . e Thee, Lord ! how should my rhymesGladly engrave Thy love in steel,If, what my soul doth feel sometimes, My soul might ever feel! Although there were some forty heavens, or more,Sometimes I peer above them all;Sometimes I hardly reach a score ;Sometimes to hell I fall. Oh, rack me not, to such a vast extent!Those distances belong to worlds too little for Thy tent,A grave too big for me. Wilt Thou meet arms with man, that Thou dost stretchA crumb of dust, from heaven to hell ?Will great God measure with a wretch ?Shall H
Church poetry : or, Christian thoughts in old and modern verse . e Thee, Lord ! how should my rhymesGladly engrave Thy love in steel,If, what my soul doth feel sometimes, My soul might ever feel! Although there were some forty heavens, or more,Sometimes I peer above them all;Sometimes I hardly reach a score ;Sometimes to hell I fall. Oh, rack me not, to such a vast extent!Those distances belong to worlds too little for Thy tent,A grave too big for me. Wilt Thou meet arms with man, that Thou dost stretchA crumb of dust, from heaven to hell ?Will great God measure with a wretch ?Shall He thy stature spell ? PRAYER AND PRAISE. 197 Oh, let me, when Thy roof my soul hath hid,Oh, let me roost and nestle there :Then of a sinner Thou art rid,And I, of hope and fear. Yet take Thy way; for sure that way is best;Stretch, or contract, me Thy poor debtor ;This is but tuning of my breast,To make the music better. Whether I fly with angels, fall with dust,Thy hands made both, and I am power and love, my love and trust,Make one place s3 198 PRAYER AND PRAISE. THE INVITATION. Anonymous. Lord, what unvalued pleasures crownd The days of old ;When Thou vvert so familiar found, Those days were gold ;— When Abram wishd Thou couldst afford With him to feast;When Lot but said, Turn in, my Lord, Thou wert his guest. But, ah ! this heart of mine doth pant, And beat for Thee ;Yet Thou art strange, and wilt not grant Thyself to me. What, shall Thy people be so dear To Thee no more?Or is not Heaven to earth as near As heretofore ? PRAYER AND PRAISE. 199 The famishd ravens hoarser cry Finds out Thine ear ;My soul is famishd, and I die, Unless Thou hear. Oh ! Thougreat Alpha ! King of kings ! Or bow to me,Or lend my soul seraphic wings To get to Thee. EVENING. Anonymous. The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended, Recorded every thought and deed ;May He, who to Thy throne ascended, Now for our pardon intercede !The day is past, with joy or sorrow Charging lifes uncertai
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840, booksubjectreligio, bookyear1848
