 | Poems |  |
58
PRAYER.
Wherever man on earth is found
Let him his tribute pay,
For he is in all nature bound
To bend to God and pray.
Let him his tribute pay,
For he is in all nature bound
To bend to God and pray.
And every man on earth who dwells
In darkness or in light
Has in his breast a voice that tells
Him that to pray is right.
In darkness or in light
Has in his breast a voice that tells
Him that to pray is right.
Though but all shadowy and dim
Of God the savage reads,
No savagery can take from him
The knowledge of his needs.
Of God the savage reads,
No savagery can take from him
The knowledge of his needs.
So let him pray if but to stone
And senseless stock of wood,
For in his mercy God will own
All motives that are good.
And senseless stock of wood,
For in his mercy God will own
All motives that are good.
But he who knows the heavenly power
And feels the heavenly care,
Is doubly bound in every hour
To breathe some form of prayer.
And feels the heavenly care,
Is doubly bound in every hour
To breathe some form of prayer.
The darkest doubts the soul may fill;
Still pray, though doubts be there,
For he is safest from all ill
Whose lips are moved with prayer.
Still pray, though doubts be there,
For he is safest from all ill
Whose lips are moved with prayer.
'Tis best for every one who can
To pray with faith devout,
But God is gracious in his plan
For him beset with doubt.
To pray with faith devout,
But God is gracious in his plan
For him beset with doubt.
59
Still pray, for long as any heart,
Can feel its deep despair,
Not from it can there once depart
Efficiency of prayer.
Can feel its deep despair,
Not from it can there once depart
Efficiency of prayer.
And all who strive, and strive and fall
In sore besetting sins,
Still pray—God's love is over all
'Tis prayer on prayer that wins.
In sore besetting sins,
Still pray—God's love is over all
'Tis prayer on prayer that wins.
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