Classic Poem

Though we long, in sin-wrought blindness,
From thy gracious paths have stray'd,
Cold to thee and to thy kindness,
Wilful, reckless, or afraid;
Through dim clouds that gather round us
Thou hast sought, and thou hast found us.

Oft from thee we veil our faces
Children-like to cheat thine eyes;
Sin, and hope to hide the traces;
From ourselves ourselves disguise:
'Neath the webs we've woven round us
Thy soul-piercing glance has found us.

Sudden, midst our idle chorus,
O'er our sin thy thunders roll;
Death his signal waves before us,
Night and terror take the soul:
Till through double darkness round us
Looks a star,— and Thou hast found us.

O most merciful, most holy,
Light thy wanderers on their way;
Keep us ever thine, thine wholly,
Suffer us no more to stray!
Cloud and storm oft gather round us:
We were lost,— but thou hast found us.