Page:Poems, Household Edition, Emerson, 1904.djvu/429

 HYMN

is in all the sons of men

A love that in the spirit dwells,

That panteth after things unseen,

And tidings of the future tells.

And God hath built his altar here

To keep this fire of faith alive,

And sent his priests in holy fear

To speak the truth—for truth to strive.

And hither come the pensive train

Of rich and poor, of young and old,

Of ardent youth untouched by pain,

Of thoughtful maids and manhood bold.

They seek a friend to speak the word

Already trembling on their tongue,

To touch with prophet's hand the chord

Which God in human hearts hath strung.

To speak the plain reproof of sin

That sounded in the soul before,

And bid you let the angels in

That knock at meek contrition's door.