First-Day Thoughts

In calm and cool and silence, once again     I find my old accustomed place among     My brethren, where, perchance, no human tongue     Shall utter words; where never hymn is sung,     Nor deep-toned organ blown, nor censer swung,     Nor dim light falling through the pictured pane!     There, syllabled by silence, let me hear     The still small voice which reached the prophet's ear;     Read in my heart a still diviner law     Than Israel's leader on his tables saw!     There let me strive with each besetting sin,     Recall my wandering fancies, and restrain     The sore disquiet of a restless brain;     And, as the path of duty is made plain,     May grace be given that I may walk therein,     Not like the hireling, for his selfish gain,     With backward glances and reluctant tread,     Making a merit of his coward dread,     But, cheerful, in the light around me thrown,     Walking as one to pleasant service led;     Doing God's will as if it were my own,     Yet trusting not in mine, but in His strength alone