A Song of Life

FOR God, the living Lord, my soul’s athirst

My heart and soul in joyous praise outburst.

A living God—He gives

To me creation’s call,

But warneth mortals all;

No man sees God and lives.

Behold His wisdom’s might,

Creating all in light,

All to Him is clear and bright

Howso hid from mortal sight.

Regal in His glory

In all mouths its story,

Blessed! in whose hand

Our souls sustained stand.

Abraham’s sons He set apart,

His laws to them He did impart;

Wise laws which to the World they give,

For mortals to obey and live.

Man cannot do the right:

Dust is he to Godlike sight:

For who in Heaven’s eye

His way can justify?

Base the longing of our heart,

Envenom’d as the scorpion’s dart.

How can our flesh in life abide

When sin has seared and mortified?

Needs must we sinners then

Repeat our evil courses…. When?

Before we reach the end, the goal,

Of all that boasts a living soul.

Enthralled by Thy love,

We hail Thee, God above!

That from Thine open hand

Feedest our living band.

Sleeping children, Lord! awake:

Pity for their fathers’ sake:

The promised days to hasten deign

When Jesse’s son once more will reign.

Regard the mother’s truth when tested.

How shrill the handmaid hath protested:

“The dead religion—it is thine,

The living one is mine, is mine.”

…….

Awestruck I bow the head,

In prayer my hands I spread,

God’s due from man my lips confess,

Each soul of life his God must bless.