Classic Poem

1.

To God my suppliant voice I rear,
With holy violence his ear
Solicit, and expectant kneel,
Till He my inward anguish heal.

2.

To Him with servent zeal I cried,
In whom alone my hopes reside;
With stretch'd-out hand, and restless thought,
Beset with woes, his aid I sought:

3.

When night's dark shades the earth invest,
And weary Nature sinks to rest,
Still, deaf to comfort, I complain,
And give my struggling griefs the rein.

4.

Now fix'd on God, to Him in pray'r
My fainting spirit pour'd its care,
And words, in artless form compos'd,
The tumult of my soul disclos'd:

5.

Now, dumb with sorrow while I weep,
My eyes their ceaseless vigils keep:
Anon my mind its search began;
And back to distant years I ran, —

6.

The years whose wonders to my tongue
Yield fruitful themes of joyous song,
And deep inquiry to my breast
At midnight's thoughtful hour suggest.

7.

Will God a heart oppress'd as mine
For ever to its griefs resign?
Has Mercy from his bosom fled?
My hope his promise vainly fed?

8.

Forgets th' Almighty to be kind?
And shall his Love, in wrath confin'd,
No more its wonted aid bestow,
Or fix a measure to my woe?

9.

Now Reason's pow'rs collected rise,
And thus each anxious doubt chastise;
Though prest with various ills I stand,
And mourn the changes of his hand, —

10.

His Works, atchiev'd in ages past,
Shall fix'd in my remembrance last;
His Wonders on my thought shall dwell,
My tongue his Acts unwearied tell.

11.

For Sanctity thy counsel guides,
And o'er thy paths, Blest Sire, presides:
Where finds, O where, the searching eye
A God, with Israel 's God to vie?

12.

Maker of All! At thy command
Revers'd the Laws of Nature stand;
Stupendous scenes thy Acts afford,
And bid the Nations know their Lord.

13.

Let Jacob and let Joseph say,
How strong thy Arm to chase away
Each woe that waits thy People near,
Each danger that excites their fear.

14.

The Deeps beheld thee, heav'nly King!
The Deeps beheld thee; and each Spring,
That rose from out their sandy bed,
Tumultuous own'd its sudden dread.

15.

Incessant from the bursting cloud
Down stream'd the bidden rain; aloud
Peal'd the big thunder; through the sky
Thy flaming shafts were seen to fly;

16.

And, as thy voice around the pole
In awful threats was heard to roll,
Earth trembling groan'd, while o'er her head
Its livid sheet the lightning spread.

17.

Wide yawn'd the Flood from shore to shore,
And op'd a path unknown before,
While Israel 's Guardian and his God
With trackless step its channel trod.

18.

As sheep to distant pastures led,
Secure thy people march'd, convey'd
By Moses ' and by Aaron 's hand
To promis'd Canaan 's happy Land.