 | My Mind and its Thoughts, in Sketches, Fragments, and Essays |  |
HYMN.
PRAISE AND PRAYER TO GOD.
In this Hymn, the Author has in part attempted to imitate
the sublime adoration of the North American Indian, expressed
in the following Prayer.
“Oh Eternal, have mercy upon me—because I am passing
away!—O Infinite—because I am but a speck!—Oh most
Mighty—because I am weak!—Oh Source of Life—because
I draw nigh to the Grave—Oh, Omniscient—because I am in
darkness!—Oh All-Bounteous—because I am poor!—Oh
All-Sufficient—because I am nothing!”
In this Hymn, the Author has in part attempted to imitate the sublime adoration of the North American Indian, expressed in the following Prayer.
“Oh Eternal, have mercy upon me—because I am passing away!—O Infinite—because I am but a speck!—Oh most Mighty—because I am weak!—Oh Source of Life—because I draw nigh to the Grave—Oh, Omniscient—because I am in darkness!—Oh All-Bounteous—because I am poor!—Oh All-Sufficient—because I am nothing!”
Oh thou, who ere the lapse of time,
Wert glorious with unfading prime;
Enduring God! thy pity give,
To me who but a moment live.
Wert glorious with unfading prime;
Enduring God! thy pity give,
To me who but a moment live.
Thy strength the elements controuls,
And rules the axis of the poles;
To me, in sinful suffering weak,
The words of pardoning mercy speak.
And rules the axis of the poles;
To me, in sinful suffering weak,
The words of pardoning mercy speak.
Thou light of worlds! whose quenchless ray
Beams in the brilliant blush of day!
On me, in darkest error blind,
Pervading, pour the all-seeing mind!
Beams in the brilliant blush of day!
On me, in darkest error blind,
Pervading, pour the all-seeing mind!
Parent of life! to whom I owe
The nerves that thrill, the veins that glow,
Me, sinking to the oblivious grave,
May thy absolving goodness save.
The nerves that thrill, the veins that glow,
Me, sinking to the oblivious grave,
May thy absolving goodness save.
Immortal Being! God alone!
All-giving nature is thy own;
To Thee, her wandering race restore,
Till all her breathing world adore.
All-giving nature is thy own;
To Thee, her wandering race restore,
Till all her breathing world adore.
| My Mind and its Thoughts, in Sketches, Fragments, and Essays | |