Classic Poem

Praise to the living God!
All praised be his Name,
Who was, and is, and is to be,
For aye the same!
The One Eternal God
Ere aught that now appears:
The First, the Last, beyond all thought
His timeless years!

Formless, all lovely forms
Declare his loveliness;
Holy, no holiness of earth
Can his express.
Lo, he is Lord of all!
Creation speaks his praise,
And everywhere, above, below,
His will obeys.

His Spirit floweth free,
High surging where it will:
In prophet's word he spake of old, —
He speaketh still.
Established is his law,
And changeless it shall stand,
Deep writ upon the human heart,
On sea, on land.

He knoweth every thought,
Our secrets open lie,
End as beginning clear to his
All-seeing eye.
With perfect poise he binds,
Accordant to the deed,
To wrong the doom, to right the joy,
In measured meed.

Eternal life hath he
Implanted in the soul;
His love shall be our strength and stay,
While ages roll.
Praise to the living God!
All praised be his Name,
Who was, and is, and is to be,
For aye the same!