 | Jones Very : The Complete Poems |  |
Congregational Singing
With the spirit Christians sung,
In the church's early days;
Every heart, and every tongue
Joined the soul-inspiring praise.
In the church's early days;
Every heart, and every tongue
Joined the soul-inspiring praise.
Gathered in an upper room,
In the desert lone and drear,
In the cavern's midnight gloom,
Rose their voices loud and clear.
In the desert lone and drear,
In the cavern's midnight gloom,
Rose their voices loud and clear.
Giving thanks for every gift,
Asking wisdom, asking grace;
Thus they sought their souls to lift,
When they met in every place.
Asking wisdom, asking grace;
Thus they sought their souls to lift,
When they met in every place.
Now, though mighty temples stand
Rearing their high walls to heaven,
Filling every Christian land,
No such praise to God is given.
Rearing their high walls to heaven,
Filling every Christian land,
No such praise to God is given.
Silent is the people's voice
In the temples of the Lord;
Never do their hearts rejoice,
Singing hymns in sweet accord.
In the temples of the Lord;
Never do their hearts rejoice,
Singing hymns in sweet accord.
Like the sounding ocean's waves,
When they break along our coast;
Should arise, to Him who saves,
Praises from his countless host.
When they break along our coast;
Should arise, to Him who saves,
Praises from his countless host.
273
Vain the labored strains of art,
That but please the nicer ear;
'Tis the music from the heart,
That the common heart doth cheer.
That but please the nicer ear;
'Tis the music from the heart,
That the common heart doth cheer.
Simple tunes, that lingering dwell
In the temple of the mind;
And with secret, holy spell
Soul to soul forever bind.
In the temple of the mind;
And with secret, holy spell
Soul to soul forever bind.
Strains that lift our thoughts above
Earthly toil, and earthly care;
Filling all our souls with love
Every grief and joy to share.
Earthly toil, and earthly care;
Filling all our souls with love
Every grief and joy to share.
Poem No. 849; c. 6 December 1851
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