The poetical works of John Nicholson ... Carefully edited from the original editions, with additional notes and a sketch of his life and writings. By W. G. Hird |
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A PRAYER. |
 | The poetical works of John Nicholson |  |
345
A PRAYER.
O Thou, whose name, with trembling, angels use—
A name no human language can express!
Be Thou my light, my glory, and my muse,
And stoop the meanest worm on earth to bless.
A name no human language can express!
Be Thou my light, my glory, and my muse,
And stoop the meanest worm on earth to bless.
Thron'd in the heaven of heavens, eternal Sire!
I less than nothing in Thy sight appear;
Thine is this spark of immaterial fire,
That warms my breast, and acts the umpire there.
I less than nothing in Thy sight appear;
Thine is this spark of immaterial fire,
That warms my breast, and acts the umpire there.
To Thee, great Source of being and of light,
May I this heart in adoration raise!
Bow down before Thy majesty and might,
And with deep rev'rence give Thee worthy praise!
May I this heart in adoration raise!
Bow down before Thy majesty and might,
And with deep rev'rence give Thee worthy praise!
Where I have err'd, as I too oft have done,
May deep repentance for my errors flow!
While with sincerity I mourn alone,
Far from the crowd of ostentatious show.
May deep repentance for my errors flow!
While with sincerity I mourn alone,
Far from the crowd of ostentatious show.
In yon vast region of unbounded space,
Thine arm, unseen, sustains each flaming ball;
And shall proud mortals circumscribe Thy grace,
As insufficient for the wants of all?
Thine arm, unseen, sustains each flaming ball;
And shall proud mortals circumscribe Thy grace,
As insufficient for the wants of all?
346
What is this earth, with all it doth contain,
Its lofty mountains and unfathom'd sea?—
The sea a drop, the earth itself a grain,
Weigh'd in the balance with immensity.
Its lofty mountains and unfathom'd sea?—
The sea a drop, the earth itself a grain,
Weigh'd in the balance with immensity.
Such is Thy mercy's sea, without a shore,
That ev'ry soul in ev'ry human breast
Needs but to ask (Thou dost require no more),
To give that mercy, and to make it bless'd.
That ev'ry soul in ev'ry human breast
Needs but to ask (Thou dost require no more),
To give that mercy, and to make it bless'd.
Mine be that boon when life's short day shall end,
And to some unknown world my soul shall soar!
Be Thou my God, my Father, and my Friend,—
Oh grant me this, and I can ask no more!
And to some unknown world my soul shall soar!
Be Thou my God, my Father, and my Friend,—
Oh grant me this, and I can ask no more!
| The poetical works of John Nicholson | |