"YE ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH."
SALT of the earth! ye virtuous few,
Who season human kind;
Light of the world! whose cheering ray
Illumes the realms of mind.
Where misery spreads her deepest shade
Your strong compassion glows;
From your blest lips the balm proceeds
That softens human woes.
By dying beds, in prison glooms,
Your frequent steps are found;
Angels of love! you hover near,
To bind the stranger's wound.
You wash with tears the bloody page
Which human crimes deform;
When vengeance threats, your prayers ascend,
And break the gathering storm.
As down the summer stream of wo
The thoughtless many glide,
Upward ye steer your steady bark,
And stem the rushing tide.
Where guilt her foul contagion breathes,
And golden spoils allure,
Unspotted still your garments shine,
Your hands are ever pure.
Whene'er you touch the poet's lyre,
A loftier strain is heard;
Each ardent thought is yours alone,
And every burning word.
Yours is the large expansive thought,
The high heroic deed;
Exile and chains to you are dear,
To you 't is sweet to bleed.
You lift on high the warning voice
When public ills prevail;
Yours is the writing on the wall,
That turns the tyrant pale.
The dogs of hell your steps pursue,
With scoff, and shame, and loss;
The hemlock bowl 't is yours to drain,
To taste the bitter cross.
Even yet the steaming scaffolds smoke
By Seine's polluted stream;
With your rich blood the fields are drench'd,
Where Polish sabres gleam.
Even now, through those accursed bars,
In vain we send our sighs
Where, deep in Olmutz's dungeon gleams,
The patriot martyr lies.
Yet yours is all-through history's page
The kindling bosom feels;
And at your tomb, with throbbing heart,
The fond enthusiast kneels.
And pæans loud in every tongue,
And choral hymns resound;
And lengthening honors hand your name
To time's remotest bound.
Proceed! your race of glory run,
Your virtuous toils endure !
You come, commissioned from on high,
And your reward is sure.
O MY Soul, with all thy powers,
Bless the Lord's most holy name;
O my soul, till life's last hours,
Bless the Lord, his praise proclaim;
Thine infirmities he heal'd;
He thy peace and pardon seal'd.
He with loving kindness crown'd thee,
Satisfied thy mouth with good;
From the snares of death unbound thee,
Eagle-like thy youth renew'd:
Rich in tender mercy he,
Slow to wrath, to favor free.
He will not retain displeasure,
Though awhile he hide his face;
Nor his God-like bounty measure
By our merit, but his grace;
As the heaven the earth transcends,
Over us his care extends.
Far as east and west are parted,
He our sins hath sever'd thus ;
As a father loving-hearted
Spares his son, he spareth us ;
For he knows our feeble frame,
He remembers whence we came.
Mark the field flower where it groweth,
Frail and beautiful;—anon,
When the south wind softly bloweth,
Look again, the flower is gone;
Such is man; his honors pass,
Like the glory of the grass.
From eternity, enduring
To eternity, the Lord,
Still his people's bliss insuring,
Keeps his covenanted word;
Yea, with truth and righteousness,
Children's children he will bless.
As in heaven his throne and dwelling,
King on earth he holds his sway;
Angels, ye in strength excelling,
Bless the Lord, his voice obey;
All his works beneath the pole,
Bless the Lord, with thee, my soul.
THOU Power Supreme, whose mighty scheme These woes of mine fulfil,
Here firm I rest; they must be best,
Because they are thy will.
Then-all I want-O, do thou grant
This one request of mine!
Since to enjoy thou dost deny,
Assist me to resign!
GOD is our refuge and defence,
In trouble our unfailing aid;
Secure in his omnipotence,
What foe can make our soul afraid?
Yea, though the earth's foundations rock,
And mountains down the gulf be hurl'd,
His people smile amid the shock,
They look beyond this transient world.
There is a river pure and bright,
Whose streams make glad the heavenly plains; Where, in eternity of light,
The city of our God remains.
Built by the word of his command,
With his unclouded presence bless'd,
Firm as his throne the bulwarks stand;
There is our home, our hope, our rest.
Thither let fervent faith aspire;
Our treasure and our hearts be there;
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