Alfred H. Miles, ed. The Sacred Poets of the Nineteenth Century. 1907.
By Hymns. II. Thine arm, O LordEdward Hayes Plumptre (18211891)
T
Was strong to heal and save;
It triumphed o’er disease and death,
O’er darkness and the grave:
To Thee they went, the blind, the dumb,
The palsied and the lame,
The leper with his tainted life,
The sick with fevered frame;
Gave speech, and strength, and sight;
And youth renewed and frenzy calmed
Owned Thee, the Lord of Light.
And now, O Lord, be near to bless,
Almighty as of yore,
In crowded street, by restless couch,
As by Gennesareth’s shore.
By touch, or word, or look;
Though they who do Thy work must read
Thy laws in Nature’s book:
Yet come to heal the sick man’s soul,
Come, cleanse the leprous taint;
Give joy and peace where all is strife,
And strength where all is faint.
Thou Lord of life and death,
Restore and quicken, soothe and bless
With Thine Almighty breath:
To hands that work and eyes that see
Give Wisdom’s heavenly lore,
That whole and sick, and weak and strong,
May praise Thee evermore.