 | Miscellaneous poems |  |
55
HYMN TO THE DEITY.
Alpha omega, first and last,
Creative spirit, power supreme,
Whose hand directs the stormy blast,
Or gilds the mornings orient beam;
Creative spirit, power supreme,
Whose hand directs the stormy blast,
Or gilds the mornings orient beam;
Who spoke, and from chaotic night
Unnumber'd worlds and systems rose;
Whose word is life—whose presence, light—
Whose smiles are health, content, repose;
Unnumber'd worlds and systems rose;
Whose word is life—whose presence, light—
Whose smiles are health, content, repose;
Where dost thou dwell? Thy throne, how high?
Where hast thou fix'd thy dwelling place;
Can finite wishes ever fly
E'en to the footstool of thy grace?
Where hast thou fix'd thy dwelling place;
Can finite wishes ever fly
E'en to the footstool of thy grace?
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Oh! could I now ascend, and stand
Upon the zenith of the globe,
And mark how round on either hand
The heavens enwrap it like a robe!
Upon the zenith of the globe,
And mark how round on either hand
The heavens enwrap it like a robe!
How orbs of pure empyrean light
Around the wondrous system roll;
Revolving seasons, day and night,
Visit each land from pole to pole!
Around the wondrous system roll;
Revolving seasons, day and night,
Visit each land from pole to pole!
View the vast stores of hail and snow,
The region of the air contains;
Trace whence the genial breezes blow,
Or whence descend refreshing rains!
The region of the air contains;
Trace whence the genial breezes blow,
Or whence descend refreshing rains!
Could I ascend the orb of light,
That great, that wondrous type of Thee,
And, at one wide extended sight,
Th' unbounded universe could see;
That great, that wondrous type of Thee,
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Th' unbounded universe could see;
Where should I find Thee? Still above,
Bright clouds thy majesty enshrine,
Emitting rays of joy and love,
Of joys eternal, love divine.
Bright clouds thy majesty enshrine,
Emitting rays of joy and love,
Of joys eternal, love divine.
Where should I find thee? need I ask?
Is there a shrub, a plant, a flower,
But makes its daily, hourly task,
To speak thy presence, and thy power?
Is there a shrub, a plant, a flower,
But makes its daily, hourly task,
To speak thy presence, and thy power?
E'en now, when silence reigns around,
E'en in this solemn hour of night,
Thy voice is heard; and thou art found
In all thy works, reveal'd to sight.
E'en in this solemn hour of night,
Thy voice is heard; and thou art found
In all thy works, reveal'd to sight.
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Ten thousand insects chant thy praise;
Ten thousand worlds thy power declare;
None from thine eye can hide his ways,
For Thou art present every where.
Ten thousand worlds thy power declare;
None from thine eye can hide his ways,
For Thou art present every where.
Then teach the atom thou hast made
To trust and hope thy mercy still;
To fear thy wrath, to seek thy aid,
To love thy laws, and do thy will.
To trust and hope thy mercy still;
To fear thy wrath, to seek thy aid,
To love thy laws, and do thy will.
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