Page:Complete Poetical Works of John Greenleaf Whittier (1895).djvu/475

Rh Pray for me that my feet may gain
 * The sure and safer way.

And Thou, O Lord! by whom are seen
 * Thy creatures as they be,

Forgive me if too close I lean
 * My human heart on Thee!

Love, forever full,
 * Forever flowing free,

Forever shared, forever whole,
 * A never-ebbing sea!

Our outward lips confess the name
 * All other names above;

Love only knoweth whence it came
 * And comprehendeth love.

Blow, winds of God, awake and blow
 * The mists of earth away!

Shine out, O Light Divine, and show
 * How wide and far we stray!

Hush every lip, close every book,
 * The strife of tongues forbear;

Why forward reach, or backward look,
 * For love that clasps like air?

We may not climb the heavenly steeps
 * To bring the Lord Christ down:

In vain we search the lowest deeps,
 * For Him no depths can drown.

Nor holy bread, nor blood of grape,
 * The lineaments restore

Of Him we know in outward shape
 * And in the flesh no more.

He cometh not a king to reign;
 * The world’s long hope is dim;

The weary centuries watch in vain
 * The clouds of heaven for Him.

Death comes, life goes; the asking eye
 * And ear are answerless;

The grave is dumb, the hollow sky
 * Is sad with silentness.

The letter fails, and systems fall,
 * And every symbol wanes;

The Spirit over-brooding all
 * Eternal Love remains.

And not for signs in heaven above
 * Or earth below they look,

Who know with John His smile of love,
 * With Peter His rebuke.

In joy of inward peace, or sense
 * Of sorrow over sin,