A memorial volume of sacred poetry by the late Sir John Bowring. To which is prefixed, a memoir of the author, by Lady Bowring |
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 | A memorial volume of sacred poetry |  |
Help sought from God.
Let Thy gracious spirit reach us
In this earthly solitude;
What we know not do Thou teach us,
Thou who art all-wise and good.
In this earthly solitude;
What we know not do Thou teach us,
Thou who art all-wise and good.
Left alone, we stray unheeding,
Through a dang'rous, darksome way;
But when Thy kind hand is leading,
We can never, never stray.
Through a dang'rous, darksome way;
But when Thy kind hand is leading,
We can never, never stray.
All we do, or think of doing,
Let Thy providence control;
Still our onward path pursuing
Till we reach th'appointed goal.
Let Thy providence control;
Still our onward path pursuing
Till we reach th'appointed goal.
And since all that sparkles round us
Fragile is, and weak and fleet—
Earth's vain limits shall not bound us;
Man's desires are infinite.
Fragile is, and weak and fleet—
Earth's vain limits shall not bound us;
Man's desires are infinite.
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Far above the heavenly arches
Shall th'enfranchised spirit soar;
Onward to its goal it marches,
Joy and triumph smiling o'er.
Shall th'enfranchised spirit soar;
Onward to its goal it marches,
Joy and triumph smiling o'er.
| A memorial volume of sacred poetry | |