The Will of God.
With heart as strong as fate,
Brave worker, girt and shod,
Adore! and know that naught is great
Except the will of God.
O sweet, sweet light of day,
Through which such wonders run,
Thou ownest, in thy glorious sway,
Allegiance to the sun.
And thou, O human will,
As wondrous as the light,
Cans't thou thy little trust fulfill
Save through Another's might?
With heart to conquer fate,
Brave worker, girt and shod,
Work on! and know that he is great
Who does the will of God.
To labor is to pray,
As some dear saint has said,
And with this truth for many a day
Have I been comforted.
The Lord has made me bold
When I have labored most,
And with his gifts so manifold,
Has given the Holy Ghost
When I have idle been
Until the sun went down,
Mine eyes, so dim, have never seen
His bright, prophetic crown.
O, praise the Lord for work
Which maketh time so fleet,
In which accusers never lurk,
Whose end is very sweet.
Birds of Grace.
O little birds of grace,
To-day ye sweetly sing,
Yea, make my heart your nesting-place,
And all your gladness bring.
When ye are in my heart,
How swiftly pass the days!
The fears and doubts of life depart,
And leave their room to praise.
My work I find as play,
And all day long rejoice;
But, if I linger on my way,
I hear this warning voice:
With fervor work and pray,
And let not coldness come,
Or birds of grace will fly away
To seek a warmer home.