the most exquisite pleasure, or of enduring the most excruciating pain, these all unite in one general proclamation of the eternal truth that there is a Being, infinite in wisdom, who reigns over all, undivided and supreme, the fountain of all life, source of all light, from whom all blessings flow, and in whom all happiness centres.

ANONYMOUS

131

THERE IS NO GOD

There is no God! If one should stand at noon Where the glow rests, and the warm sunlight plays;

Where earth is gladdened by the cordial rays And blossoms answering,-where the calm lagoon Gives back the brightness of the heart of June,

66

And he should say: There is no sun"-the

day's

Fair show still round him,-should we lose the

blaze

And warmth, and weep that day has gone so soon? Nay, there would be one word, one only thought,

66 The man is blind! " and throbs of pitying scorn Would rouse the heart, and stir the wondering mind.

We feel, and see, and therefore know,—the morn With blush of youth ne'er left us till it brought Promise of full-grown day. "The man is blind.”

SOPHIE M. ALMON-HENSLEY

287

THERE IS A GOD

132

THERE IS A GOD

The one who says there is no God
Should study nature's laws;

From worlds in space, down to our sod
There's naught without a cause;
The laws which govern earth and sky
To God's existence testify.

Look at the earth-see how plants grow

Out of a little seed;

If one would only wish to know

His God, this he would heed;
For plants all grow by certain laws
Of which our God's the only cause.

Let him who doth his God deny
The stars of heaven trace;
See how each world doth occupy
A certain part of space;

They're made and moved by certain laws
Of which our God's the only cause.

Year after year, from west to east,
Our planet round doth go;
And ev'ry star, to say the least,
Some motion has, we know;
These laws of motion tidings bring
Of God, the everlasting King.

Who made the laws which govern space?
Who maketh grow each seed?

Who gives each starry world its place,
And bids it onward speed?

'Tis God, the King of earth and sky,
Who lives on earth and dwells on high.

MARTIN LEHMAYER

133

THE HYMN OF NATURE

The heavenly spheres to Thee, O God!
Attune their evening hymn;
All-wise, All-holy, Thou art praised
In song of seraphim.

Unnumbered systems, suns, and worlds,

Unite to worship Thee;

While Thy majestic greatness fills

Space, time, eternity.

Nature, a temple worthy Thee,

Beams with Thy light and love,
Whose flowers so sweetly bloom below,
Whose stars rejoice above;
Whose altars are the mountain-cliffs

That rise along the shore;

Whose anthems, the sublime accord

Of storm and ocean roar.

PRAISE TO NATURE'S GOD

Her song of gratitude is sung

By Spring's awakening hours;
Her Summer offers at Thy shrine
Its earliest, loveliest flowers;
Her Autumn brings its golden fruits,
In glorious luxury given;
While Winter's silver heights reflect
Thy brightness back to heaven.

289

SIR JOHN BOWRING

134

PRAISE TO NATURE'S GOD

Lauded be Thy name forever,
Thou of life the Guard and Giver!
Thou who slumberest not nor sleepest!
Blest are they Thou kindly keepest.
God of stillness and of motion,
Of the rainbow and the ocean,
Of the mountain and the river,
Lauded be Thy name forever!

God of evening's peaceful ray,
God of every dawning day
Rising from the distant sea,
Breathing of eternity,-

Thine the flaming sphere of light,
Thine the darkness of the night;
God of life, who dieth never,
Glory to Thy name forever.

JAMES HOGG

135

ABOU BEN ADHEM

Abou Ben Adhem-may his tribe increase!-
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight in his room,
Making it rich and like a lily in bloom,
An angel, writing in a book of gold.

Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,
And to the Presence in the room he said,

“What writest Thou?" The vision raised its head, And with a look all made of sweet accord,

Answered, "The names of those that love the Lord.”
"And is mine one?" said Abou. "Nay, not so,"
Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low
But cheerily still, and said, “I pray Thee, then,
Write me as one that loves his fellow-men ”

The angel wrote and vanished. The next night

It came again with a great wakening light,

And showed the names whom love of God had

blessed,

And lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest.

LEIGH HUNT