 | Poems of Nathaniel Parker Willis . |  |
91
DEDICATION HYMN.
The perfect world by Adam trod,
Was the first temple—built by God—
His fiat laid the corner-stone,
And heaved its pillars, one by one.
Was the first temple—built by God—
His fiat laid the corner-stone,
And heaved its pillars, one by one.
He hung its starry roof on high—
The broad illimitable sky;
He spread its pavement, green and bright,
And curtain'd it with morning light.
The broad illimitable sky;
He spread its pavement, green and bright,
And curtain'd it with morning light.
The mountains in their places stood—
The sea—the sky—and “all was good;”
And, when its first pure praises rang,
The “morning stars together sang.”
The sea—the sky—and “all was good;”
And, when its first pure praises rang,
The “morning stars together sang.”
Lord! 'tis not ours to make the sea
And earth and sky a house for Thee;
But in Thy sight our off'ring stands—
A humbler temple, “made with hands.”
And earth and sky a house for Thee;
But in Thy sight our off'ring stands—
A humbler temple, “made with hands.”
| Poems of Nathaniel Parker Willis . | |