A PRAYER.
O Thou Almighty Presence—
O Thou Almighty Power—
No greater in the heavens,
Than in the smallest flower.
We bow to Thee in reverence,
We kneel to Thee in prayer.
We see Thee in the tiny weed,
We see Thee everywhere.
We know that we are ignorant,
And oftimes sinful are,
But we would keep thy every law,
No plan of Thine e’er mar.
For perfect are Thy mandates all,
And perfect every work,
And though we oft misunderstand,
We would no duty shirk.
Thou pitiest us, Thy children,
Wouldst teach us the right way
Wherein to walk, and what to do,
Wouldst teach us to obey
The law which Thou hast made supreme,
But if we disobey,
Thou still dost plead for our return
To straight and narrow way.
O God our Lord we reverence Thee!
And humble aye would be.
We love Thee ever, though we sin
Throughout eternity.
We know Thou art the only Power
Which reigns supreme on earth,
And though we many trials have,
We thank Thee for our birth.
We thank Thee for the blessings rich
That in our pathway lie.
We thank Thee e’en for tears we shed,
Thy love these tears will dry.
O help us Lord to do Thy work,
And bury self so deep,
That we shall every duty do,
And have no cause to weep.
And when we come into the home
That is prepared for us,
We’ll fitted be to dwell within
That home so glorious.
LIFE’S ROAD.
O the road seems long and devious
That our weary feet have trod,
Struggling, struggling, ever struggling,
Till we rest beneath the sod.
Dark and hidden is life’s pathway,
We have sought for it in vain;
But have fallen by the wayside,
Overcome by grief and pain.
And our feet are bruised and bleeding,
And life’s burdens are so great
That we fain would give up trying,
And be governed aye by fate.
All life’s road seems filled with shadows,
In despair we kiss the rod;
Then we see that road leads upward
From the depths, e’en up to God.
WHERE IS HEAVEN?
O where is heaven? cried a child.
Is it above, beyond the sky?
Is it above, beyond the clouds?
How shall I find it when I die?
O where is heaven? cried a youth.
It seems so far, so far away.
This world is such a weary waste
For Heaven’s peace I ever pray.
I long to know where heaven is,
Is it the place where angels dwell?
Is it the place where spirits go?
Can mortal man the place foretell.
I’ve searched in vain the place to find—
I’ve sought, I’ve searched for heaven’s door,
I cannot find one trace of it
In modern book, nor ancient lore.
We’re told that heaven is but for those
Who live a life all free from sin.
If this is true, there is no hope—
No one will ever heaven win.
O where is heaven? an old man cried.
Is it above the world’s fierce din?
“A still small voice” then spake to him
To find your heaven, O look within.
DESTINY.
When Destiny leads us
We have to obey.
No rest by the roadside;
No loitering by way.
She beckons us onward
With promise of peace;
Alluring us ever,
From bonds no release.
We struggle on blindly;
Obeying her call.
A shroud doth us cover,
’Tis Destiny’s pall.
The chains that aye bind us
Too strong are to break;
The fetters, and shackles
Are Destiny’s make.
So strong are these fetters
They bind us to earth.
Grim Destiny welded them
E’en before birth.
We rise from our bondage,
And try to be free;
But Fate is our gaoler,
She holds fast the key.
The prison is guarded,
No opening we see,
’Tis useless to struggle,
For helpless are we.
Yea, Destiny rules us;
A tyrant is she
Who keeps us in bondage,
When we would be free.
The warfare is ended.
Our colors are down.
We bow in submission,
And Destiny crown.
She now is our monarch,
On her we must lean,
Obeying her ever,
For she is our queen.