My Prayer.

O God! forgive the erring thought,     The erring word and deed,     And in thy mercy hear the Christ     Who comes to intercede.     My sins, like mountain-weights of lead,     Weigh heavy on my soul;     I'm bruised and broken in this strife,     But Thou canst make me whole.     Allay this fever of unrest,     That fights against the Will;     And in Thy still small voice do Thou     But whisper, "Peace, be still!"     Until within this heart of mine     Thy lasting peace come down,     Will all the waves of Passion roll,     Each good resolve to drown.     We walk in blindness and dark night     Through half our earthly way;     Our clouds of weaknesses obscure     The glory of the day.     We cannot lead the lives we would,     But grope in dumb amaze,     Leaving the straight and flowery paths     To tread the crooked ways.     We are as pilgrims toiling on     Through all the weary hours;     And our poor hands are torn with thorns,     Plucking life's tempting flowers.     We worship at a thousand shrines,     And build upon the sands,     Passing the one great Temple, and     The Rock on which it stands.     O, fading dream of human life!     What can this change portend?     I long for higher walks, and true     Progression without end.     Here I know nothing, and my search     Can find no secret out;     I cannot think a single thought     That is not mixed with doubt.     Relying on the higher source,     The influence divine,     I can but hope that light may dawn     Within this soul of mine.     I ask not wisdom, such as that     To which the world is prone,     Nor knowledge ask, unless it come     Direct from God alone.     Send down then, God! in mercy send     Thy Love and Truth to me,     That I may henceforth walk in light     That comes direct from Thee.