The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1847-11-16
GOD.


Ths following poem, translated from tie Russian o
rReHAvEN, scarcely eqhalsd in grandeur and snhlim
W y any poem IN any Language; WE pass. 1sss from
TED by Mr.. Bowring. -0id Domi"ion.
% thou Eternal onsi whose presence bright
All sptSb doth occupy all motion guide;
Unchanged through time's all devastating fight
Thou only God! There is no Gsd beside!
Being above all beings! Mighty one!
Whom mono can comprehend and none explore
Who 6lps existence with Tbysslf alone:
Embracing ail-suPportihg hg-ruling ssr-
Being whom we call God--and know no more;
in It's sublime research, philosophy
May measure outthe ocean doep-may count
The sands, OF the SUMS rays but God! for Thee
There 10 no weight or measure; none can mount
Up 10 Thy mysteries; reasons brightest spark,
Though kindlsd by Thy light. in vain would ivy
To trncs Thy counsels infinite and dark,
And thought 10 lost ere thought can soar so high,
Even like past moments in eternity.
Thou from pr,msval nOthingness didst call
First chaos then existence ;--Lord! on Thee
Eternity had its foundation all
Sprung from thee.--of light. JOY, harnf9hyt
Sole origin; all life, all beauty Thins,
Thy word created all, oDd doth create;
Thy splsndor fills all space with rays divine
Thou arr, and vert, and shalt be, Glorious! Great!
Light.givins, lifs-sus,aiHing Potentate!
Thy bhsihs the Tnih eSSatHied universe surround
Upheld by Thee, by Thee inspired with breath
ThU the beginning with the ends has bound,
And beautifully mis gled life and death
As sparks mount upward from the fiery blaze!
Sc suns are born, so worlds spring forth from
Thee. 1i H.'l H.
And, as the spsnglcs in the sunny rays .a -
Shrine round the silver enow, the pageantry
OF Heavens bright army glit,eis in thy paaiss.
A million torches lighted by Thy hand
Wander unwsrried through the blue abyss:
Thoy own thy power, accomplish thy command,
All gay with lifo, all eloquent with Bliss:
What shall we call them! Piles of chrystal light, i,
A glorious company Of golden streams
Lamps Of celestial ether burning bright
Sans lighting systems with their joyous beams;
But thou to these art as the noon to night
Yes! 40 a drsp OF water in the sea,
All this magnfcence in Thee is lost:
What are ten thousand worlds compare to Thee? ?
And what am then! Heavens Numbered host,
Though multiplied by myrads, and arrayed
In all the glory Of sublimes, thought,
10 but an atom in the balance weighed
Agsinst Thy greatest; is cypher brought
Agaiast infnty! Wha, am then? Nought!
Nonght! Blu, the effslgenee Of Thy light divine,
Psrynding worlds hath reached my bosom too;
Yes! in my spirit doth rhy spirit shine
As shines the sun. beam in drop Of dew.
Nought! but live, and on Hopes piHsonsshy
Eager towards Thy presence; Tor in Thee
live, and breathe, and dwell aspiring high,
Even to the Throne Of Thy divinity;
/ am! o God! dp& surely THoU m,.stbe!
T|np.ayt! directing, guiding all, Thou art!
D4seG my understanding, then, to Thee;
Osntrol my spirit, guide my wandering heart;
Though but an atom midst immensity,
Sill am methin1 aehiot,1d hv ti,v hon nd
hold Riddls rank rwixt heaven and earth,
On the last verge Of mortal being stand,
Close 10 the realms whore angels have their birth,
Just en- the boundaries Of the spirit land!
The chain Of being is complete in mo;
In me is matter last gla'daton lost,
And tho next steps spirit: deity!
can command the lightning and am dust!
A monarch and a slave: wsrin, q God
Whence came here, and how SO marveously
Constructed and eoAceiv'd! Unknown This elod,
Lives surely through some wond'rous energy;
Fer from itself alone it could not be.
Creator, YES! Thy wisdom and Thy word
Created me! Thou source Of lite and good
Thou spirit Of my spiri. smd my Lord
Thy light. Thy love, in their bright plenti,ude,
Fffed me with an immortal soul to sprRg
Over the abyss Of death, and bade itwear
The garments OF eternal day, and wing
Its heavenly flight beyond this little sphere,
Even TO its source. TO Thee--its Author there.
@ thought incfFabls o visons blest!
Though worthless our conceptions all of Thee,
Yet still Thy shadowy image fills our breast,
And watts its homage to Thy Deity.
God thus alone my lowly thoughts can soar;
Thus seek Thy presence-Being wise and good
Midst thy vast works admire, obey, adore;
And when the tongue is eloquent no more,
The soul shall speak in tears Of gratitude.