BETA

Hymn III.

1.

O Thou ! whom earth and stars pro-
claim1
The sire of this resplendent Whole,2
But chief on Man hast set thy name3
And shed thy glory round the soul,—4

2.

Beneath thy Heaven, with spheres
alive,5
The heart expands as wide as they ;6
Devotion’s failing wings revive,7
And joyful soar their upward way.8

3.

Soon breaks the dawn in golden glow,9
The rays thou giv’st the breast in-
spire,10
And human thoughts from thee that
flow,11
Are blent amid those beams of fire.12

4.

This world of ours is opening round,13
In lines obscure, reflecting Thee ;14
Where, kindling cloud, and wave, and
ground,15
Thy sovran glance in all we see.16

5.

Thy pillar’d halls, the mountains, rise,17
Of Thee thy living waters tell ;18
And fields, and woods, that drink the
skies,19
With thine abundance teem and swell.20

6.

Impress’d by lines of mystic flame,21
The wond’rous image lives in man,22
And song spontaneous hymns the fame23
Of thy creation’s endless plan.24

7.

Oh ! Source divine, and Life of all,25
The Fount of Being’s fearful sea,26
Thy depth would every heart appal,27
That saw not love supreme in Thee.28

8.

We shrink before thy vast abyss,29
Where worlds on worlds eternal brood !30
We know thee truly but in this,31
That thou bestowest all our good !32

9.

And so ’mid boundless time and space,33
Oh ! grant us still in Thee to dwell.34
And through thy ceaseless web to trace,35
Thy presence working all things well.36

10.

Nor let thou life’s delightful play37
Thy truth’s transcendent vision hide ;38
Nor strength and gladness lead astray,39
From Thee our nature’s only guide.40

11.

Bestow on every joyous thrill41
Thy deeper tone of reverent awe ;42
Make pure thy creature’s erring will,43
And teach his heart to love thy law.44