The Shasta courier., 1867-04-13
NUMBER 6.
GOD.

1.-The following ode to the Supreme Being is
| translation from the Russian. 1t was written by
one of their distinguished poets Lerqhanir.n-
This ode is said to have been translated into the
Chinese and Tartar languages, written on rich
SILK anu suspended in the Imperial Palace at
Pekin. The Emperor of Japan had it translated
into the japanese, embroidered in gold, and hung
IN the Temple of Jeddo. 1t is gratifying to know
that these nations have done themselves the honor
to bestow such praise on this noble eomposition1
o thou Eternal one, whose presence bright
All space doth occupy-all motion guide
Unchanged through Times devasting fight.
Thou only God there is no God beside.
Being above all beings Mighty One
Whom none can comprehend and none explore
Who fill st existence with thyself alone
Embracing all-supporting- ruling DER
Being whom we call God-and no more!
In its sublime research Philosophy
May measure out the ocean deep-may count
Inc sands or the SUMS rays; but God, for thee
There is no weight or 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 thought can soar so high
Een like past moments in eternity
First chaos, then existence. Lord, on thee
Eternity had its foundation all
Sprung forth from thee of light, Joy, harmony,
Sole origin-all life and beauty thine,
Thy word created all and doth create,
Thy splendor fills all space with rays divine,
Thou art, and vert and shall be glorious great
Life giving, life-sustaining Potentate
Thy chains the unmeasured universe surround.
Upheld by thee, by thee inspired with breath
Thou art the beginning, with the end hast bound
And beautifully mingled life and death
AS sparks mount upward from the fiery blaze
Sosuns are born, so worlds spring forth from thee
And as the spangles in the sunny rays
Shine round the silver snow, the pagantry
vi heavens bright army glitters to thy praise.
million torches lighted by thy hand
Wander unwear.ed through the blue abyss:
They own thy power, accomplish thy command;
All gay with life-all eloquent with bliss
What shall we call them piles of crystal light?
glorious company of golden streams?
Lamps of celestial ether burning bright?
suns Tightening systems with their joyous beams?
But thou, to those, art as the moon to night.
Yes, as a drop of water in the sea,
All this magnifcenee in thee is lost;
What are thousand worlds compared to thee
Andwhat am L, when heavens unnumbercd host
Though multiplied by myriads, and arrayed
In all the glory of fsublmest thought
Is but an atom in the balance weighed
Against thy greatness-is a eypher brought
Against Infnity What am then
Naught but the efiuence of thy light divine,
Perya1ing 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 pinions fly
Eager toward thy presence for in thee
1--we and breathe and dwell aspiring high,
Even to the throne of thy divinity,
am, 0 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 an atom midst immensely.
Stlll l am something fashioned to thy hand;
hold middle rank 'twixt heaven and earth,
On the last verge of mortal being stand
close to the realm where angels 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-Deity.
L can command the lightning, and am dust
monarch and slave, a worm, a God.
Whence came l here and how? So maryelously
Constructed and conceived, unknown this clod
Lives surely through some higher energy;
For from itself alone it could not be-.