Revelation

Still, as of old, in Beavor’s Vale,O man of God! our hope and faithThe Elements and Stars assail,And the awed spirit holds its breath,Blown over by a wind of death.

Takes Nature thought for such as we,What place her human atom fills,The weed-drift of her careless sea,The mist on her unheeding hills?What recks she of our helpless wills?

Strange god of Force, with fear, not love,Its trembling worshipper! Can prayerReach the shut ear of Fate, or moveUnpitying Energy to spare?What doth the cosmic Vastness care?

In vain to this dread UnconcernFor the All-Father’s love we look;In vain, in quest of it, we turnThe storied leaves of Nature’s book,The prints her rocky tablets took.

I pray for faith, I long to trust;I listen with my heart, and hearA Voice without a sound: “Be just,Be true, be merciful, revereThe Word within thee: God is near!

“A light to sky and earth unknownPales all their lights: a mightier forceThan theirs the powers of Nature own,And, to its goal as at its source,His Spirit moves the Universe.

“Believe and trust. Through stars and suns,Through life and death, through soul and sense,His wise, paternal purpose runs;The darkness of His providenceIs star-lit with benign intents.”

O joy supreme! I know the Voice,Like none beside on earth or sea;Yea, more, O soul of mine, rejoice,By all that He requires of me,I know what God himself must be.

No picture to my aid I call,I shape no image in my prayer;I only know in Him is allOf life, light, beauty, everywhere,Eternal Goodness here and there!

I know He is, and what He is,Whose one great purpose is the goodOf all. I rest my soul on HisImmortal Love and Fatherhood;And trust Him, as His children should.

I fear no more. The clouded faceOf Nature smiles; through all her thingsOf time and space and sense I traceThe moving of the Spirit’s wings,And hear the song of hope she sings.