Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-07-11
God.

God.
O Thou Eternal One whose presence bright
All space doth 0ccupy-all motion guide
Unchanged thro' Times all devastating flight,
Thou only God! There is no God beside
Being above all beings! Mighty One
Whom none can comprehend and none explore:
Who fll'st existence with Thyself alone:
Embracing all-supportng ruling e'er-
Being whom we call God-and know no more
In its sublime research Philosophy
May measure out the Ocean deep-mav count
The sands the Suns rays; but God for Thee
There is no weight nor measure none can mount
Up to thy mysteries Reasons brightest spark
Though kindled by Thy light, in vain would try
To trace thy councils, infinite and dark
And thought is lost ere thought can soar so high,
Fen like past moments in eternity.
Thou, from primevaI7 nothingnessi, did'st call
Eternity had its foundation all
Sprung forth from Thee ; of Light, Joy, Harmony,
Sole original life, all beauty, Thine
Thy word created ALL and doth create
Thy splendor fills all SPACE Win rays divine.
Thou art and vert, and shalt be glorious great:
Life-giving, DEMONSTRATING, Potentate.
Thy chains the unmeasured universe surround:
Upheld by Thee, by Thee inspired with breath!
Thou the beginning, with the end hast bound,
And beautifully mingled Life and Death
AS sparks mount upward from the fiery blaze
SO suns are born so worlds sprang forth from Thee
And rs the spanges in the sunny rays
Shine round the silver snow, the pageantry
OF Heavens bright army, gtters in Thy praise.
million torches lighted by Thy hand
anuer unWearled through the blue abyss;
Thy own Thy power accomplish Thy command.
All gay with life, all eloquent with bliss
What shall call them Piles of crystal light,
glorious company of golden streams?
Lamps of celestial ether burning bright?
Suns lighting systems with their joyous beams?
But Thou, to those, art as the noon tonight!
Yes as a drop of water in the Sea,
All this ma gGifcence in Thee is lost
What are a thousand Worlds compared to Thee?
And what am |, when Heavens unnumbered host,
Though multiplied by myriads, and arrayed
In all the glory of sublimest thought.
Is but an atom in the balance, weighed
Against Thy Greatness-n cypher brought
Against lnfnity! What am Nought.
Nought but the efficiency of Thy light divine,
Pervading worlds, hath reached my bosom too
Yes, in my spirit, doth Thy spirit shine,
AS shines the sunbeam in a drop of dew.
Nought but live, and on Hopes pnions fly,
Eager towards Thy presence for in Thee
| live. and breathe. and dwell aspiring high,
Even to throne of Thy divinity
am, o God, and surely Thou must be.
Thou art directing. guiding all. Thou art
Direct my understanding then to Thee;
Control my spirit guide my wandering heart
Though but atom midst immensely,
Still am something, fashioned by Thy hand!
hold middle rank twiXt Heaven and Earth,
On the last verge of mortal being stand,
Close to the realm where Angles have their birth,
just on the boundary of the spirit land!
The chain of being is complete in me
In me is matters last graduation lost,
And the next step is spirit-Dety
can command the lightning, and am dust
Whence came here, and how so marvellously
Constructed and conceived, unknown This clod
Lives surely through some higher energy;
For from itself alone it could not be.
Creator! Yes! Thy Wisdom and Thy Word
Created me Thou source Of Life and Good !
Thou Spirit of my spirit, and my Lord!
Thy Light. Thy Love, in their bright plenitude
Filled me with an immortal Soul, to spring
Over the abyss of Death, and bade it
The garments of Eternal Day, and wing
It's heavenly flight beyond this little sphere,
Even in its source, to Thee, its Author, Thee.
o thought inefable. 0 vision blest
(Thongh worthless our conceptions all of Thee)
Yet shall thy Swallowed image fill our breast
And watt its homage home to the Deity.
God thus alone my lowly thoughts soar
Thus seek Thy presence. Being wise and good!
Midst thy vast works, admire, obey adore!
And when the Tongue is eloquent more,
The Soul shall speak in tears of gratitude.