The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-04-21

can mount
Up to Thy mysteries. Reasons brightest
spark,
Though kindled by Thy light. in vain
would try
To trace Thy counsels, infinite and dark;
And thought is lost ere thought can
soar SO high,
Even like past moments of eternity.
Thou from primeTal nothingness didst
First, chaos, then existence; Lord, on
Thee
Eternity had its foun dation; all
Sprung forth from Thee-of light, joy,
harmony,
Sole origin; 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 shalt be!
Glorious Great!
Light-giving, ife-sustaining Potentate!
surround,
Upheld by Thee, by Thee inspired with
BREATH
IlOu the DGSlHuIuB Will INC Gnu hoSO
bound,
And beautifully mingled life and death!
AS sparks mount upward from the fiery
blaze.
So suns are born, so words spring
forth from Thee,
And as the spangles in the sunny rays
Shine round the silver snow, the
pageantry
OF heavens bright army glitters in Thy
praise.
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 them? Piles of crys-
tai light.
A glorious company of golden streams,
Lamps of celestial ether burning bright.
Suns lighting systems with their joyous
beams?
But Thou to these art as the noon to
night
Yes as drop of water in the sea,
All this magnifcence in Thee is lost;
What are ten thousand worlds compared
to Thee?
And what am I, then? Heavens I'M
numbered host.
Though multiplied by myriads. and ar
rayed
In all the glory of sublimest thought
Is but an atom in the balance, weighed
Against Thy greatness, is a cipher
brought
Against infinity! oh, what am l, then?
Nought
Noughtl yet the effiuence of Thy light
divine,
Pervading worlds, hath, reached my
bosom, too.
Yes! in my spirit doth Thy spirit shine.
As shines the sunbeam in drop of
dew.
Nought! yet live. and on hopes pinions
Eager toward Thy presence, for in
l live, and breathe, and dwell, aspiring
high,
Even to the throne of Thy divinity.
l am, o God, and surely Thou must be.
art
Direct my understanding. then to Thee;
Control my spirit, guide my wandering
heart
Though but an atom midst immensely,
Still l am something fashioned by Thy
hand!
/ hold middle rank twixt heaven and
earth,
- p ~|aI cts
Close to the realms where angels have
their birth.
Just on the boundaries 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!
/ can command the lightning, and am
dust!
A monarch and a slave, worm, god!
whence came / here, and how so mar
velously
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
pIentitude
Filled me with an immortal soul, to
spring
Over the abyss of death and babe it
wear
The garments of eternal day and wing
It's heavenly flight beyond this little
sphere
Even to it's source--to Thee-its Author
there.
thoughts ineffable, o visions blest.
Though worthless, OF conception all OF
Thee,
Yet shall Thy Swallowed image fill my
breast
And watt its homage to Thy Deity.
God! thus alone my lonely 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 graft
NJ