Prayer for all Conditions.
“We humbly beseech Thee for all sorts and conditions of men.”
—Prayer Book.
The heart beats catholic in christian prayer
Whose tones interpret what our wants declare,
When soaring worship, sanctified by love,
Echoes the Litanies
and Lauds
above.
The Root of Manhood is divinely One:
In God we terminate, what God begun,
When back returns the spirit which He gave
And Christ was agonised from hell to save.
Such the pure brotherhood by scripture taught,
With truth and tenderness most deeply fraught;
While Providence by full expression seals
Each unity our blood,
and breath reveals.
But in Thy Temple, Lord, may conscience learn
Profounder facts than reasoning Minds discern,
Who from Creation's homilies would read
Those saving lessons fallen spirits need.
By grace incorp'rate, with celestial span
Thy Church o'erarches universal Man;
For “all conditions” bends her suppliant knee,
And hallows each by sacrifice to Thee.
Thou art the Bond, by Whose cementing ties
Each sep'rate Member to the whole supplies
Secrets of strength, and sympathies which glow
With the deep fervours faith and heaven bestow.
This be Her creed! and then, though crush'd by wrong,
Yet will the Church in holiness be strong;
Arm'd with high gifts, whose quenchless life within
Subdues the universe, by conqu'ring sin!
Mother of Saints! to God and Angels dear,
Now for affliction let thy sacred tear
In soothing concord with the sad arise,
And speak of Sympathy beyond the skies.
On Soul, and Body, and their suffering all
Divine Consoler! let Thy Gilead fall,—
Drops of sweet balm, that make the will resign'd,
And heal the ulcers of a wounded mind.
And grant, O God! adoring Bliss that prays
In the bright Eden of unweeping days,
May be admonish'd; and from sorrow learn
Truths which the godless oft too late discern!
And ye, pale Miniatures
of Christ on earth,
Poor in false wealth, yet priceless in true worth,
Seek from the Church's prayer sublime relief,—
Whose heart is larger than the largest grief.
God of all glories! thus to Thee alone,
Though veiling darkness may invest Thy Throne,
Faith lifts her voice:—oh! grant some blest reply
Which proves Thee “Father,” when Thy Children cry.
