The Complete Works of Adelaide A. Procter With an Introduction by Charles Dickens |
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THE ANGEL OF PRAYERS. |
 | The Complete Works of Adelaide A. Procter |  |
THE ANGEL OF PRAYERS.
“I have been where kneeling at the Altar,
Hushed in reverent awe, a faithful throng
Have this night adored the Holy Presence,
Worshipping with incense, prayer and song.
Hushed in reverent awe, a faithful throng
Have this night adored the Holy Presence,
Worshipping with incense, prayer and song.
“Every head was bowed in loving honour,
Every heart with loving awe was thrilled;
Earth and things of earth seemed all forgotten;
He was there—and meaner thoughts were stilled.
Every heart with loving awe was thrilled;
Earth and things of earth seemed all forgotten;
He was there—and meaner thoughts were stilled.
“There on many souls in strait and peril
Did that gracious Benediction fall,
With the strength or peace or joy or warning,
He could give, who loved and knew them all.
Did that gracious Benediction fall,
With the strength or peace or joy or warning,
He could give, who loved and knew them all.
“There was silence, but all hearts were speaking:
When the deepest hush of silence fell,
On the fragrant air and breathless longing
Came the echo of one silver bell.
When the deepest hush of silence fell,
On the fragrant air and breathless longing
Came the echo of one silver bell.
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Was it quite a dream? oh, God! we love Him;
All our love, though weak, is given to Him—
Why is it our hearts have been so hardened?
Why is it our eyes have been so dim?
All our love, though weak, is given to Him—
Why is it our hearts have been so hardened?
Why is it our eyes have been so dim?
Still as for Himself the Infant Jesus
In His little ones asks food and rest—
Still as for His Mother He is pleading
Just as when He lay upon her breast.
In His little ones asks food and rest—
Still as for His Mother He is pleading
Just as when He lay upon her breast.
Jesus, then, and Mary still are with us—
Night will find the Child and Mother near,
Waiting for the shelter we deny them,
While we tell them that we hold them dear.
Night will find the Child and Mother near,
Waiting for the shelter we deny them,
While we tell them that we hold them dear.
Help us, Lord! not these Thy poor ones only,
They are with us always, and shall be:—
Help the blindness of our hearts, and teach us,
In Thy homeless ones to succour Thee.
They are with us always, and shall be:—
Help the blindness of our hearts, and teach us,
In Thy homeless ones to succour Thee.
| The Complete Works of Adelaide A. Procter | |