Sonnets and Other Poems Chiefly Religious by Joseph John Murphy |
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THE KINGDOM, THE POWER,
AND THE GLORY.
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 | Sonnets and Other Poems Chiefly Religious |  |
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THE KINGDOM, THE POWER, AND THE GLORY.
Thine, Father! is the kingdom;
Thine are the day and night;
Thou movest in the moving heavens,
And shinest in the light;
Thine are the day and night;
Thou movest in the moving heavens,
And shinest in the light;
And Thine the voice of wisdom
That speaks within the breast,
And giveth guidance to the strong,
And to the weary rest.
That speaks within the breast,
And giveth guidance to the strong,
And to the weary rest.
And Thine the power, O Father!
The powers we feel and see—
The powers of nature and of mind—
Have all their source in Thee;
The powers we feel and see—
The powers of nature and of mind—
Have all their source in Thee;
Thine are the rain and sunshine,
And Thine the lightning's blaze;
Thine is the power that glows in life,
And Thine the power that slays;
And Thine the lightning's blaze;
Thine is the power that glows in life,
And Thine the power that slays;
And Thine the power, O Saviour!
Which can alone be made
Perfect in weakness;—Thine the strength
Whereon the souls are stayed
Which can alone be made
Perfect in weakness;—Thine the strength
Whereon the souls are stayed
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Of heroes and of martyrs;
The power is Thine to free
From fear and sin, and over death
To give the victory.
The power is Thine to free
From fear and sin, and over death
To give the victory.
But where, O Lord, Thy glory?
Thy kingdom's brightness, where?
In wintry skies and stormy seas,
In hardly answered prayer,
Thy kingdom's brightness, where?
In wintry skies and stormy seas,
In hardly answered prayer,
In stars that burn to ashes,
In life that ends in dust,
Oh, must we seek Thy glory there,
Thou merciful and just?
In life that ends in dust,
Oh, must we seek Thy glory there,
Thou merciful and just?
It is not so. Thy glory,
O Father, must have shined
Where'er Thy power and kingdom are;
It is that we are blind.
O Father, must have shined
Where'er Thy power and kingdom are;
It is that we are blind.
We see but gleams and flashes
From a hidden brightness dart;
Oh, give us eyes to see Thee, Lord,
In glory, as Thou art!
From a hidden brightness dart;
Oh, give us eyes to see Thee, Lord,
In glory, as Thou art!
But are not gleams and flashes
Enough for such as we?
The full unveiling of Thy face
No mortal eye may see;
Enough for such as we?
The full unveiling of Thy face
No mortal eye may see;
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And is it not sufficient
For us, if we behold
Thy brightness where the sunbeams shine,
And where the stars are rolled;
For us, if we behold
Thy brightness where the sunbeams shine,
And where the stars are rolled;
And if we see Thy glory
Reflected in the face
Of those who live in Thee, and die
Victorious in Thy grace?
Reflected in the face
Of those who live in Thee, and die
Victorious in Thy grace?
Were I to hear Thee saying,
Servant of God, well done!
Thy work is proved, thy sins forgiven,
Thy battle fought and won;
Servant of God, well done!
Thy work is proved, thy sins forgiven,
Thy battle fought and won;
The harvest of thy sowing
The time to come shall reap;
Now lay thee down in perfect peace
For everlasting sleep;
The time to come shall reap;
Now lay thee down in perfect peace
For everlasting sleep;
So great would be the blessing,
My lips could ask no more;
No wish nor prayer my thought could frame—
I only could adore.
My lips could ask no more;
No wish nor prayer my thought could frame—
I only could adore.
But more than this we hope for;
And what we long for most
Is not to join the adoring throng
Of all the sainted host,
And what we long for most
Is not to join the adoring throng
Of all the sainted host,
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And not to meet the loved ones
Assembled round Thy throne;—
What most we long for, Lord, is this—
To know as we are known;
Assembled round Thy throne;—
What most we long for, Lord, is this—
To know as we are known;
To gaze upon Thy glory
With face to face, and live;
For this includes all blessings, Lord,
Which even Thou canst give.
With face to face, and live;
For this includes all blessings, Lord,
Which even Thou canst give.
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