The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1853-07-12
GOD.

o, THOU Eternal Onel whose presence bright
All space doth occupy-a motion guide
Unchanged thro Times all devasting fight,
The Only Godl There is no God beside,
Being above all beingsl Mighty Onel
Whom none can comprehend and none explore
Who filrst existence with thyself alone;
Embracing ll--supporting-rungo DER
Being whom we call God-and know no more.
In its sublime researched, philosophy
May measure out the ocean deep-may count
The sands, or the suns rays but Godl for thee
There is no weight nor measure none can mount
Up to the mysteries. Reasons brightest spark
Though kindledby 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 primeval nothngness, did'st call
First, chaos, then existence. Lord on thee
Eternity had its foundation: all
Sprung forth from thee of light, Joy, harmony,
Sole orgin-all life, all beauty thine
Thy word created all and doth create;
Thy splendor fills all space with rays divine,
Thou art, and vert, and shall be gloriousl great;
Life giving life sustaining Potentate.
Thy chains the unmeasured universe surround;
Upheld by thee, by thee inspired with breathl
Thou the beginning with the end hast bound,
And beautifully mingled life and deathl
As sparks mount upward from the fiery blaze,
So suns are born, worlds spring forth from thee
And as the spangles in the sunny rays
Shine round the silver snow, the pageantry
million torches lighted by thy hand
Wander unwearied through the blue abyss;
They own thy power, accomplish thy command,
All gay with life, all eloquent with bliss;
What shall we call theml Piles of crystal light,
A glorious company Of golden streamsl
Lamps of celestial ether burning bright
Suns, lighting system with their joyous beams1
But thou TO these, art as noon to night.
Yesl as n drop of water in the sea,
All this magnifcence in thee is lost
What ten thousand worlds compared TO theei
And what am ], when heavens unnumbered host
Though multiplied by myriads, and arrayed
In all the glory of sublmest thought,
Is but an atom in the balance, weighed
Against thy greatness-s n cypher brought
Against infnityl What am II Naught.
Naught! yet the etfluence of thy light divine,
Pervading worlds hath reached my bosom too;
Yes, my spirit doth thy spirit shine,
As shines the sunbeam in a drop of dew.
Naughtl yet live and on hopes pinion fly,
Eager toward 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 artl directing, guiding all, thou artl
Direct my understanding, then, 10 thee;
Control my spirit, guide my wandering heart;
Though but an atom midst immensity,
Still am something, fashioned by thy handl
hold a middle rank twixt heaven and earth,
On the last verge of mortal being stand,
(iOse 10 tHc realms Wnere Angels nave their birth
Just on the boundary of the spirit land!
r'ha @hain af hainq is on,,r1a 80 =. ,.,e.
In nme is matters last gradation lost,
And the next step is spirit--deity!
can command the lightning and am dust!
monarch, and slave; n worm, godl
Whence came here! and how so marveously
Constructed and concievedi unknownl This cod
Lives surely through some higher energy,
For from itself alone it could not be-
Creator Yes! thy wisdom and thy word
Created mel Thou of life and good!
Thou Spirit of my spirit and my I.ordl
Thy light, thy love in their bright plentitude
Filled me with an immortal soul, TO spring
Over the abyss of death, and bade it wear
The garments of eternal day, and wing
Its heavenly flight by this little sphere,
Even in its source, to thee, its Author, thee.
o. thought ineffable! o, vision, blestl-
Though worthless our conceptions all of thee
Yet shall thy shadowed image filled our breast,
And watt its homage to the 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 more,
The soul shall speak i'm tears of gratitude