THY temple stands, oh God of grace! Above our thought, beneath our tread, Its ample floor unmeasured space, Its arch with worlds unnumbered spread. Yet, though not all creation's bound Thy power contains, thy glory tells, Within thine earthly courts are found The places where thy Spirit dwells. Thus, on our sires, an honored race, Thy love descended like the rain, While here they met to seek thy face, Nor sent a prayer to Heaven in vain. These sacred walls thy truth have heard From fervent heart and burning tongue, And long the message of thy word Has cheered the old and led the young. This earthly temple of thy praise, How glorious, and how dear its name! Thy blessing crowned its ancient days, Thy promised blessing stands the same. Still, on that Rock in Zion laid, May here thy church triumphant rise, Thy truth its deep foundations made, Its hope eternal in the skies! Nor gorgeous rites, nor shrines of gold Within these sacred precincts be,— But grant the fervent faith of old, To bind us closer, Lord, to Thee! And still, while ages roll away, May each successive race appear, Here learn to love and praise and pray, And find their God, their Saviour here! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO MY SISTER by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH THE LATE STAND-TO by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN SORDELLO: BOOK 5 by ROBERT BROWNING THE INVISIBLE BRIDGE by FRANK GELETT BURGESS A PRAYER USED BY FRANCIS I WHEN HE WAS AT WAR WITH CHARLES V by JOHN BYROM THE CUCKOO by CHARLES STUART CALVERLEY TO HIS LOVED SON, NAT. FIELD, AND HIS WEATHER-COCK WOMAN by GEORGE CHAPMAN (1559-1634) |