 | Poems by John Howard Bryant |  |
197
HYMN,
SUNG AT THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, AT PRINCETON, AT THE LAST SERVICE HELD IN THEIR OLD HOUSE OF WORSHIP, 1845.
Almighty God! for many a year
Have we, Thy children, gathered here;
And now, within this humble house,
Have come to pay our parting vows.
Have we, Thy children, gathered here;
And now, within this humble house,
Have come to pay our parting vows.
Ah! Wondrous years! within the range
Of human sight, what mighty change!
And backward as we turn our eyes,
What sacred memories arise!
Of human sight, what mighty change!
And backward as we turn our eyes,
What sacred memories arise!
E'er yet these fields by plow were broke,
Or rose in air the village smoke,
Thy servants trenched the virgin sod
And reared this house to Thee, our God.
Or rose in air the village smoke,
Thy servants trenched the virgin sod
And reared this house to Thee, our God.
Here each succeeding Sabbath morn,
'Mid jeers of hate and taunts of scorn,
Few, weak, yet strong in truth, we came
To nurse and spread its kindling flame.
'Mid jeers of hate and taunts of scorn,
Few, weak, yet strong in truth, we came
To nurse and spread its kindling flame.
198
Here has the thoughtless soul been roused,
The sorrowing heart to peace composed;
Here has the cup of joy o'erflowed,
With blessings by Thy hand bestowed.
The sorrowing heart to peace composed;
Here has the cup of joy o'erflowed,
With blessings by Thy hand bestowed.
Here hath the fleeing bondman found
A shield from Hell's pursuing hound:
And hence have Freedom's truths gone forth
To shake and light and bless the Earth.
A shield from Hell's pursuing hound:
And hence have Freedom's truths gone forth
To shake and light and bless the Earth.
With saddened hearts, as duty calls,
We leave these venerated walls,
Nor deem, whate'er may be our lot,
This hallowed place can be forgot.
We leave these venerated walls,
Nor deem, whate'er may be our lot,
This hallowed place can be forgot.
| Poems by John Howard Bryant | |