FROM THE LIBRARY OF 
 
 REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON, D. D. 
 
 BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO 
 
 THE LIBRARY OF 
 
 PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 
 
 DItUM 
 S«ctioi 
 
 scT 
 
 
 

■ 
 
 
 
 ' 
 
 
HYMNS", 
 
 BY 
 
 
 WILLIAM CULLEN BBYANT 
 
 2^5^ S>1. ) 
 
 </h&* 
 
 A - 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Hymn I, 5 
 
 "the lord giveth wisdom." 
 
 Htmk € II, 6 
 
 "THY WOED IS TRUtEl. 
 
 Hymn III, 8 
 
 "THE EARTH IS FULL OF THY RICHES." 
 
 Hymn IX, 10 
 
 " HIS TENDER MERCIES ARE OYER ALL HIS WORKS." 
 
 Hymn V, 12 
 
 "BLESSED ARE THEY THAT MOURN," 
 
 Hymn VI, . 14 
 
 "NO MAN KNOWETH HIS SEPULCHRE." 
 
 Hymn VII, 16 
 
 "A BROKEN AND A CONTRITE HEART WILL HE NOT DESPISE." 
 
IV 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Hymn VI IT, 18 
 
 "HOW AMIABLE AKE THY TABERNACLES! " 
 
 Hymn IX, 20 
 
 "HE MAKETH THE WINKS HIS MESSENGERS." 
 
 Hymn X, 22 
 
 " EXCEPT THE LORD BUILD THE HOUSE, THEY LABOR IN VATS 
 THAT BUILD IT." 
 
 Hymn XI, 24 
 
 "THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE." . 
 
 Hymn XII. 26 
 
 "OTHER SHEEP I HAVE, WHICH ARE NOT OF THIS FOLD: THEM 
 
 -0 
 
 ALSO MUST I BRING." 
 
 Hymn XIII, 28 
 
 "THOU, GOD, SEEST ME." 
 
 Hymn XIV, 29 
 
 THE MOTHER'S HYMN. 
 
 Hymn XV, . 31 
 
 "HIS MOTHER KEPT ALL THESE SAYINGS IN HER HEART." 
 
 Hymn XVI, 33 
 
 "WHATSOEVER HE SAITH UNTO YOU, DO IT." 
 
 Hymn VII, 35 
 
 "PROCLAIM LIBERTY THROUGH ALL THE LAND." 
 
 Hymn VIII, 37 
 
 "THIS DO IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME." 
 
 Hymn XIX 39 
 
 "THOU HAST PUT ALL THINGS UNDER HIS FEET." 
 
HYMN I. 
 
 "THE LORD GIVETH WISDOM." 
 
 Mighty Oxe, before whose face 
 Wisdom had her glorious seat, 
 
 When the orbs that people space 
 Sprang to birth beneath thy feet! 
 
 Source of Truth, whose beams alone 
 Light the mighty world of mind ! 
 
 God of Love, who, from thy throne, 
 Watchest over all mankind ! 
 
 Shed on those who, in Thy name, 
 Teach the way of Truth and Right, 
 
 Shed that Love's undying flame, 
 Shed that Wisdom's guiding light. 
 
HYMN II. 
 
 THY WORD IS TRUTH. 
 
 Oh, thou, whose Love can ne'er forget 
 
 Its offspring, Great Eternal Mind! 
 We thank thee that thy truth is yet 
 A sojourner among mankind ; 
 
 A light before whose brightness fall 
 The feet arrayed to tread it down, 
 
 A voice whose strong and solemn call 
 The cry of nations cannot drown. 
 
 Thy servants, at this sacred hour, 
 
 With humble prayer thy throne surround, 
 
That here, in glory and in power, 
 
 That light may shine, that voice may sound; 
 
 Till Error's shades shall flee away, 
 And Faith, descending from above, 
 
 Amid the pure and perfect day, 
 Shall bring her fairer sister Love. 
 
HYMN III. 
 
 "THE EARTH IS FULL OF THY RICHES.'' 
 
 Almighty, hear thy children raise 
 The voice of thankfulness and praise, 
 To Him whose wisdom deigned to plan 
 This fair and bright abode for man. 
 
 For when this orb of sea and land 
 Was moulded in thy forming hand, 
 Thy calm, benignant smile impressed 
 A beam of heaven upon its breast. 
 
 Then rose the hills, and broad and green 
 The vale's deep pathway sank between; 
 
Then stretched the plains to where the sky 
 Stoops and shuts in the exploring eye. 
 
 Beneath that smile earth's blossoms glowed, 
 Her fountains gushed, her rivers flowed, 
 And from the shadowy wood was heard 
 The pleasant sounds of breeze and bird. 
 
 Thy hand outspread the billowy plains 
 Of ocean, nurse of genial rains, 
 Hung high the glorious sun and set 
 Night's cressets in her arch of jet. 
 
 Lord, teach us, while the unsated gaze 
 Delighted on thy works delays, 
 To deem the forms of beauty here 
 But shadows of a brighter sphere. 
 
HYMN IV. 
 
 HIS TENDER MERCIES ARE OVER ALL HIS WORKS. 
 
 Our Father! to thy love we owe 
 All that is fair and good below. 
 Where'er in life our steps are led 
 Thy mercies strow the path we tread. 
 
 Oh, Giver of the quickening rain ! 
 
 Oh, Ripener of the golden grain ! 
 
 The day's broad light, the beams that shine 
 
 In all the stars of heaven are thine. 
 
 Thy frosts arrest, thy tempests chase 
 The plagues that waste our helpless race, 
 
11 
 
 Thy softer breath, o'er land and deep, 
 Wakes nature from her winter sleep. 
 
 Yet. deem we not that thus alone 
 Thy bounty and thy love are shown. 
 For we have learned with higher praise 
 And holier names to speak thy ways. 
 
 In woe's dark hour our kindest stay, 
 Sole trust when life shall pass away, 
 Teacher of hopes that light the gloom 
 Of Death, and consecrate the tomb. 
 
 Patient with headstrong guilt to bear, 
 Slow to avenge and kind to spare, 
 Listening to prayer and reconciled 
 Full soon to thy repentant child. 
 
 
HYMN V. 
 
 "BLESSED ARE THEY THAT MOURN." 
 
 Deem not that they are blest alone 
 Whose days a peaceful tenor keep ; 
 
 The, Anointed Son of God makes known 
 A blessing for the eyes that weep. 
 
 The light of smiles shall fill again 
 Tilt- lids that overflow with tears, 
 
 And weary hours of woe and pain 
 Are promises of happier years. 
 
 Oh, there are days of sunny rest 
 For every dark and troubled night, 
 
And Grief may bide, an evening guest. 
 But Joy shall come with early light. 
 
 And thou, who, o'er thy friend's low bier, 
 Dost shed the bitter drops like rain, 
 
 Hope that a brighter, happier sphere 
 Will give him to thy arms again. 
 
 Nor let the good man's trust depart, 
 Though life its common gifts denv ; 
 
 Though, with a pierced and bleeding heart, 
 And spurned of men, he goes to die. 
 
 For God hath marked each sorrowing day. 
 And numbered every secret tear, 
 
 And heaven's long age of bliss shall pay 
 For all his children suffer here. 
 
HYMN VI. 
 
 " NO MAN KNOWETH OF HIS SEPULCHRE.' 
 
 When lie who, from the scourge of wrong, 
 Aroused the Hebrew tribes to fly, 
 
 Saw the fair region promised long, 
 And bowed him on the hills to die ; 
 
 God made his grave, to men unknown, 
 Where Moab's rocks a vale infold, 
 
 And laid the aged seer alone, 
 
 To slumber while the world grows old. 
 
 Thus still, whene'er the good and just 
 Close their dim eyes on life and pain, 
 
15 
 
 Heaven watches o'er their slumbering dust 
 Till the pure spirit comes again. 
 
 Though nameless, trampled and forgot, 
 His servant's humble ashes lie, 
 
 Yet God has marked and sealed the spot, 
 To call its inmate to the sky. 
 
HYMN VII. 
 
 " A BROKEN AND A CONTRITE HEART, OH GOD, 
 THOTI WILT NOT DESriSE." 
 
 On God, whose dread and dazzling brow 
 
 Love never yet forsook ! 
 On those who seek thy presence now 
 
 In deep compassion look. 
 
 Aid our weak steps and eyesight dim 
 
 The paths of peace to find, 
 And lead us all to learn of Him 
 
 Who died to save mankind. 
 
 For many a frail and erring heart 
 
 Is in thy holy sight. 
 
17 
 
 And feet too willing to depart 
 From the plain way of right. 
 
 Yet, pleased the humble prayer to hear, 
 
 And kind to all that live, 
 Thou, when thou seest the contrite tear, 
 
 Art ready to forgive. 
 
HYMN VIII. 
 "how amiable are thy tabernacles!" 
 
 Thou, whose unmeasured temple stands, 
 
 Built over earth and sea, 
 Accept the walls that human hands 
 
 Have raised. Oh God ! to thee. 
 
 And let the Comforter and Friend, 
 
 Thy Holy Spirit, meet 
 "With, those who here in worship bend 
 
 Before thy mercy seat. 
 
 M;iy they who err be guided here 
 To find the better way, 
 
19 
 
 And they who mourn and they who fear 
 Be strengthened as they pray. 
 
 May faitli grow firm, and love grow warm, 
 
 And hallowed wishes rise r 
 While round these peaceful walls the storm 
 
 Of earth-born passion dies. 
 
 ^ / 
 
 
HYMN IX. 
 
 I WILL SEND TIIEM PROPHETS AND APOSTLES*' 3 
 
 All that in tins wide world we see, 
 Almighty Father ! speaks of Thee : 
 And in the darkness, or the day, 
 Thy monitors surround our way. 
 
 The fearful storms that sweep the sky,. 
 The maladies by which we die, 
 The pangs that make the guilty groan r 
 Are angels from thy awful throne. 
 
 Each mercy sent when sorrows lower. 
 Each blessing of the winged hour, 
 
21 
 
 All we enjoy, and all we love, 
 Bring with them lessons from above. 
 
 Xor thus content, thy gracious hand. 
 Prom midst the children of the land. 
 Hath raised, to stand before our race, 
 Thv living messengers of grace. ■ 
 
 We thank thee that so clear a ray 
 Shines on thy straight, thy chosen way. 
 And pray that passion, sloth, or pride, 
 May never lure our steps aside. 
 
HYMN X. 
 
 u EXCEPT THE LORD BUILD THE HOUSE, THEY LABOR- 
 IN VAIN THAT BUILD IT." 
 
 Ancient of Days ! except thou deign 
 Upon the finished task to smile, 
 
 The workman's hand hath toiled in vain. 
 To hew the rock and rear the pile. 
 
 Oh, let thy peace, the peace that tames 
 The wayward heart, inhabit here, 
 
 That quenches passion's fiercest names, 
 And thaws the deadly frost of fear. 
 
 And send thy love, the love that bears 
 Meekly with hate, and scorn, and wrongs 
 
23 
 
 And loads itself with generous cares, 
 And toils, and hopes, and watches long. 
 
 Here may bold tongues thy truth proclaim, 
 Unmingled with the dreams of men, 
 
 As from His holy lips it came 
 "Who died for us and rose again. 
 
HYMN XI. 
 
 " THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE." 
 
 Lord, from whose glorious presence came 
 The truth that made our fathers free, 
 
 And kindled in their hearts the flame 
 Of love to man and love to thee. 
 
 Bow the great heavens, thy throne of light. 
 
 And fill these walls, as once, of yore, 
 Thy spirit rested in its might 
 
 Upon the ark that Israel bore. 
 
 Here, let thy love be strong to draw 
 Our wavering hearts to do thy will, 
 
25 
 
 And hush them with the holy awe 
 That makes the rebel passions still. 
 
 And while thy children, frail and blind. 
 Here bend in humble prayer to thee, 
 
 Oh, shed abroad, on every mind, 
 
 The truth that made our fathers free. 
 
HYMN XII. 
 
 OTHER SHEEP I HAVE, WHICH ARE NOT OF THIS 
 FOLD : THEM ALSO I MUST BRING." 
 
 Look from the sphere of endless day, 
 Oh, God of mercy and of might ! 
 
 In pity look on those who stray, 
 Benighted, in this land of light. 
 
 In peopled yale, in lonely glen, 
 In crowded mart by stream or sea, 
 
 How many of the sons of men 
 
 Hear not the message sent from thee. 
 
27 
 
 Send forth thy heralds, Lord, to call 
 
 The thoughtless young, the hardened old, 
 
 A wandering flock, and bring them all 
 To the Good Shepherd's peaceful fold. 
 
 Send them thy mighty word to speak 
 
 Till faith shall dawn and doubt' depart, — 
 
 To awe the bold, to stay the weak, 
 And bind and heal the broken heart. 
 
 Then all these wastes, a dreary scene, 
 On which, with sorrowing eyes, we gaze, 
 
 Shall grow with living waters green, 
 And lift to heaven the voice of praise. 
 
HYMN XIII. 
 
 THOU, GOD, SEE8T ME." 
 
 When this song of praise shall cease. 
 
 Let thy children, Lord, depart 
 With the blessing of thy peace 
 
 And thy love in every heart. 
 
 Oil, where'er our path may lie, 
 
 Father, let ns not forget 
 That we walk beneath thine eye, 
 
 That thy care upholds us yet. 
 
 Blind are Ave, and weak, and frail ; 
 
 Be thine aid forever near ; 
 May the fear to sin prevail 
 
 ( )ver every other fear. 
 
HYMN XIV. 
 
 THE MOTHER'S HYMN. 
 
 BLESSED ART THOU AMONG WOMEN." 
 
 Loed, who ordain est for mankind 
 Benignant toils and tender cares, 
 
 W e thank thee for the ties that bind 
 The mother to the child she bears. 
 
 We thank thee for the hopes that rise 
 Within her heart, as, day by clay, 
 
 The dawning sonl, from those young eyes, 
 Looks with a clearer, steadier ray. 
 
 And, grateful for the blessing given 
 With that dear infant on her knee, 
 
30 
 
 She trains the eye to look to heaven r 
 The voice to lisp a prayer to thee. 
 
 Such thanks the blessed Mary gave 
 When from her lap the Holy Child, 
 
 Sent from on high to seek and save 
 The lost of earth, looked up and smiled. 
 
 All-Gracious ! grant to those who hear 
 A mother's charge, the strength and light 
 
 To guide the feet that own their care 
 In ways of Love, and Truth, and Eight. 
 
i. 
 
 HYMN XV. 
 
 HIS MOTHER KEPT ALL THESE SAYIXGS IN HER 
 HEART." 
 
 As o'er the cradle of her Son 
 
 The blessed Mary hung, 
 And chanted to the Anointed One 
 
 The psalms that David snng, 
 
 What joy her bosom must have known. 
 
 As, with a sweet surprise, 
 She marked the boundless love that shone 
 
 "Within his infant eves. 
 
 But deeper was her joy to hear, 
 Even in his ripening youth, 
 
32 
 
 And treasure up, from year to year, 
 J I is wprds of grace and truth. 
 
 Oh, may we keep his words like her, 
 In all their Jife and power, 
 
 And to the law of love refer 
 The acts of every hour. 
 
HYMX XVI. 
 
 i; WHATSOEVER HE SAITH UNTO YOU, DO IT.*' 
 
 " Whate'ee lie bids observe and do ; ,? 
 
 Such were tbe words that Mary said, 
 What time the Holy One and True 
 
 Sat where the marriage feast was spread. 
 
 Then, at his word, the servants sought 
 
 The streams from Cana's fountains poured. 
 
 And lo ! the crystal water brought 
 Was ruddy wine upon the board. 
 
 AVhate'er he bids observe and do ; 
 Such be the law that we obey, 
 
34 
 
 And greater wonders men shall view 
 Than that of Cana's bridal clay. 
 
 The flinty heart with love shall beat, 
 
 The chains shall fall from passion's slave. 
 
 The proud shall sit at Jesus' feet 
 
 And learn the truths that bless and save. 
 
HYMN XVII. 
 
 " PROCLAIM LIBERTY THROUGHOLT THE LAXD." 
 
 Go forth, oli Word of Christ ! go forth, 
 Oh Truth of God supremely strong ! 
 
 To banish, from the groaning earth, 
 All forms of tyranny and wrong. 
 
 For where the Word of Christ prevails 
 To touch a nation's mighty heart, 
 
 The oppressor's pride before it quails. 
 The links of bondage fall apart. 
 
 When the pure faith by Jesus taught 
 Its conquering course on earth began, 
 
 Where'er the blessed news was brought 
 The fettered slave stood up a man. 
 
36 
 
 Still may thy heralds, Lord, proclaim 
 The gracious message published then, 
 
 And teach the world, in Jesus' name, 
 How love makes free the sons of men. 
 
HYMN XYIII. 
 
 COMMUNION HYMN. 
 "THIS DO IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME." 
 
 All praise to Him of Nazareth, 
 
 The Holy One who came 
 For love of man to die a death 
 
 Of agony and shame. 
 
 Dark was the grave ; but since he lay 
 
 Within its dreary cell, 
 The beams of heaven's eternal day 
 
 Upon its threshhold dwell. 
 
 He grasped the iron veil, he drew 
 Its gloomy folds aside, 
 
38 
 
 And opened to his followers' view 
 The glorious world they hide. 
 
 In tender memory of his grave 
 The mystic bread we take, 
 
 And muse upon the life he gave 
 For' our unworthy sake. 
 
 A boundless love he bore mankind ; 
 
 Oh, may at least a part 
 Of that strong love descend and find 
 
 A place in every heart. 
 
HYMX XIX. 
 
 "THOU HAST PUT ALL THIXGS UXDER HIS FEET/ r 
 
 Oh, North, with all thy vales of green ! 
 
 South, with all thy palms ! 
 From peopled towns and fields between 
 
 Uplift the voice of psalms. 
 Baise, ancient East! the anthem high, 
 And let the youthful West reply. 
 
 Lo ! in the clouds of Heaven appears 
 
 God's well-beloved Son, 
 He brings a train of brighter years, 
 
 His kingdom is begun. 
 He comes a guilty world to bless, 
 With mercy, truth and righteousness. 
 
40 
 
 Oh, Father! haste the promised hour, 
 
 When at His feet shall lie 
 All rule, authority, and power, 
 
 Beneath the ample sky: 
 When He shall reign from pole to pole. 
 The Lord of every human soul. 
 
 When all shall heed the words He said, 
 
 Amid their daily cares, 
 And, by the loving life He led, 
 
 Shall strive to pattern theirs: 
 And He who conquered Death shall win 
 The mightier conquest over Sin. 
 

 
'-' 
 
 ^/- GoLi*t 1L/Al*t.t/ 
 
 2 Li *./.JL*~~/J •{*£ ^ 
 
 1 
 
 **L l*-*- /^L // 
 
 r 
 
 7lo, ¥3 
 
 i~<