FROM THE LIBRARY OF REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON. D. D. BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO THE LIBRARY OF PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 8,ctIo» ^3^ Engraved fcr the Eclecuc by^ &eo.E.Perine,Ne\\'-Ycrii_ 5^ / rinced by ftRGirMe^Y / Songs of the ooul GATHERED OUT OF MANY LANDS AND AGES. BY ^/ SAMUEL IRENiEUS PRIME, AUTHOR OF "the ALHAMBRA AND THE KREMLIN," " THE POWER OF PRAYER, ETC., ETC- NEW YORK: ROBERT CARTER AND BROTHERS, 530 Broadway 1874. IH 0- Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, by ROBERT CARTER AND BROTHERS, ill the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington CAMBRIDGE : PRESS OF JOHN WILSON AND SON. «»H — 0- &- ^ TO MRS. MARY R STODDARD, THIS VOLUME IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED. w^ — *-% INTRODUCTORY NOTE. The work has been a great delight to me. With it has come a sense that the wants and utterances of the soul have been the same in all climes and all ages, and that God's grace was as rich and full and free eighteen hundred years ago as it is to-day. ^ide by side go up the plaintive utterances of the captive queen, the passionate cry of the earth-stained soul, the triumphant chant of the redeemed, the stirring call of the soldier, the deep and solemn music of the mitred abbot, the noble strains of the cloistered monk, the clear, sweet melody of the martyred girl ; and, swelling as they rise, they blend into a grand chorus of love and of thanksgiving that shall one day shake the skies. The work has been itself its own reward ; but if any soul be touched and drawn to a higher Hfe, any weak heart lifted up and strengthened, it will be to me an unspeakable joy. riH— ^ ACKNOWLEDGMENT. The Compiler desires to make special acknowl- edgment of the kindness of Messrs. J. R. Osgood & Co., in giving him permission to use the copyright poems of Longfellow and Whittier, which adorn this collection. The same courtesy has been cheerfully extended by the authors or publishers, in the case of the poems of Dr. Holland, Dr. Ray Palmer, and Phoebe and Alice Cary. If there are any poems in this volume not properly credited, or used without permission, it has occurred through inadvertence. No alterations have been made in any poems by the Editor. He has in all cases followed the copy before him, which may not, in every instance, be the original text of the author. m—0 ^>—^h CONTENTS. Matin and Vesper Songs : — page Matin Songs 3 Vesper Songs 18 Songs of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost : — Songs to the Trinity 39 Songs to the Father 48 Songs to the Son 54 Songs to the Holy Spirit 66 Songs of Holy-Tides : — Songs of Advent 82 Songs of Christmas S6 Songs of Easter 104 Songs of Sunday 121 Songs of Baptism 126 Songs of the Holy Communion 130 Songs of the Second Advent 143 Songs of the Cross 161 Songs of Sorrow 201 Songs out of the Depths 249 Songs of Aspiration 297 Songs of Faith 335 Vlll CONTENTS. PAGE Songs of Hope . . 373 Songs of Courage : . . . . 409 Songs of Love 441 Songs of Praise and Thanksgiving 481 Songs of Patience 519 Songs of Peace 555 Songs of Triumph 585 -» — HI MATIN SONGS. -c>o5«;o*- GOD. /^ THOU eternal One, whose presence bright ^-^ All space doth occupy, all motion guide ; Unchanged through time's all-devastating flight , Thou only God, there is no God beside. Being above all beings, Mighty One, Whom none can comprehend and none explore ; Who fill'st existence with tJiyself 'AoYi^^ . Embracing all, — supporting, — ruling o'er, — Being whom we call God — and know no more. In its sublime research, philosophy May measure out the ocean deep, may count The sands or the sun's rays ; but, God ! for thee There is no weight nor measure: — none can mount Up to thy mysteries , reason's brightest spark. Though kindled by thy light, in vain would try To trace thy counsels, infinite and dark ; And thought is lost ere thought can soar so high, * Even like past moments in Eternity. 4 SONGS OF THE SOUL. Thou from primeval nothingness did'st call First chaos, then existence ; — Lord, on thee Eternity had its foundation ; — all Sprung forth from thee — of light, joy, harmony, Sole origin ; — all life, — all beauty thine. Thy word created all, and doth create ; Thy splendor fills all space with rays divine. Thou art, and wast, and shalt be, glorious, great, Light-giving, life-sustaining Potentate. Thy chains the unmeasured universe surround. Upheld by thee, by thee inspired with breath, Thou the beginning with the end hast bound. And beautifully mingled life and death. As sparks mount upward from the fiery blaze. So suns are born, so worlds spring forth from thee ; And as the spangles in the sunny rays Shine round the silver snow, the pageantry Of Heaven's bright army glitters in thy praise. A million torches lighted by thy hand Wander unwearied through the blue abyss : They own thy power, accomplish thy command, All gay with life, all eloquent with bliss. What shall we call them ? Piles of crystal light — A glorious company of golden streams — Lamps of celestial ether, burning bright — Suns lighting systems with their joyous beams: But thou to these art as the noon to night. Yes I as a drop of water in the sea. All this magnificence in thee is lost ; — MATIN SONGS. \ What are ten thousand worlds compared to thee ? And what am /, then? Heaven's unnumbered host, Though multiphed by myriads, and arrayed In all the glory of sublimest thought, Is but an atom in the balance weighed Against thy greatness, is a cipher brought Against infinity ! What am I ? — Nought ! Nought ! But the effluence of thy light divine, Pervading worlds, hath reached my bosom too ; Yes ! in my spirit doth thy Spirit shine, As shines the sunbeam in a drop of dew. Nought ! But I live, and on hope's pinions fly Eager towards thy presence : for in thee I live, and breathe, and dwell : aspiring high, Even to the throne of thy divinity. I am, O God I and surely thou must be. Thou art, directing, guiding all. — Thou art ! Direct my understanding then to thee \ Control my spirit, guide my wandering heart ; Though but an atom 'midst immensity. Still I am something, fashioned by thy hand : I hold a middle rank 'twixt heaven and earth ; On the last verge of mortal being stand. Close to the realms where angels have their birth. Just on the boundaries of the spirit-land. Creator, yes I Thy wisdom and thy word Created me., thou source of life and good ; ■o — By 6 SONGS OF THE SOUL. Thou Spirit of my spirit, and my Lord ; Thy light, thy love, in their bright plenitude, Filled me with an immortal soul, to spring O'er the abyss of death, and bade it wear The garments of eternal day, and wing Its heavenly flight beyond this little sphere. Even to its source — to thee — its Author there. O thoughts ineffable I O visions blest ! Though worthless our conceptions all of thee, Yet shall thy shadowed image fill our breast. And waft its homage to thy Deity. God ! thus alone my lowly thoughts can soar ; Thus seek thy presence. Being wise and good ! 'Midst thy vast works, admire, obey, adore ; And, when the tongue is eloquent no more. The soul shall speak in tears of gratitude. Derzhavin. LORD GOD OF MORNING AND OF NIGHT. T ORD God of morning and of night, -*— ^ We thank thee for thy gift of light : As in the dawn the shadows fly. We seem to find thee now more nigh. Fresh hopes have wakened in the heart. Fresh force to do our daily part ; Thy thousand sleeps our strength restore, A thousand-fold to serve thee more. ■O—Bi. MATIN SONGS. 7 Yet whilst thy will we would pursue, Oft what we would we cannot do ; The sun may stand in zenith skies, But on the soul thick midnight lies. O Lord of lights ! 'tis thou alone Canst make our darkened hearts thine own : Though this new day with joy we see, Great Dawn of God we cry for thee ! Praise God, our Maker and our Friend ; Praise him through time, till time shall end ; Till psalm and song his name adore, Through Heaven's great day of Evermore ! 1688. Franos Turner Palgrave. MORNING. /^H, timely happy, timely wise, ^^ Hearts that with rising morn arise ! Eyes that the beam celestial view. Which evermore makes all things new I New every morning is the love Our wakening and uprising prove ; Through sleep and darkness safely brought, Restored to life, and power, and thought I New mercies, each returning day. Hover around us while we pray ; New perils past, new sins forgiven. New thoughts of God, new hopes of heaven. ^e-HO- i.ip;i. 0 0 m 8 SONGS OF THE SOUL. If on our daily course our mind Be set to hallow all we find, New treasures still, of countless price, God will provide for sacrifice. Old friends, old scenes, will lovelier be, As more of Heaven in each we see ; Some softening gleam of love and prayer Shall dawn on every cross and care. As for some dear familiar strain, Untir'd, we ask and ask again. Ever in its melodious store Finding a spell unheard before; Such is the bliss of souls serene, When they have sworn, and steadfast mean, Counting the cost, in all to espy Their God, in all themselves deny. Oh, could we learn that sacrifice, What lights would all around us rise ! How would our hearts with wisdom talk Along life's dullest, dreariest walk ! We need not bid, for cloistered cell, Our neighbor and our work farewell, Nor strive to wind ourselves too high For sinful man beneath the sky. The trivial round, the common task, Would furnish all we ought to ask : Room to deny ourselves ; a road To bring us, daily, nearer God. 4f4— ^ MATIN SONGS. 9 Seek we no more I Content with these, Let present rapture, comfort, ease, As Heaven shall bid them, come and go ; The secret this of rest below. Only, O Lord, in thy dear love, Fit us for perfect rest above ; And help us, this and every day, To live more nearly as we pray ! 1827. John Kkblk. VOX MATUTINA. T^ARTH'S lamps are growing dim, -*--' The Church's early hymn Comes up in slow, soft sound, Like music from the ground ; Her old prophetic psalm Fills the deep twilight calm ! Not yet his blossom wreath Of beams, from climes beneath. The happy sun has bound These mountain peaks around ; Hardly yon cloudlet high Has caught the radiancy. Only the stars look pale. As if some luminous veil Were passing o'er their face, Taking, yet adding grace, iH — ^ 0 — m lO SONGS OF THE SOUL. Hiding, yet giving light, To these fair gems of night. The beacon lights still gleam Along the ocean-stream, Goes up no city-smoke. No city-hum has broke Earth's sleep, or sounded forth Another morning's birth. Shake off from us the night, O God, as sons of light ; Prepare us for the day. That at the first faint ray Of morn in eastern skies We may with joy arise. What though night's silence still Broods over plain and hill ; These shades will soon be past, The Day-star comes at last ! And we shall welcome him With our clear morning-hymn ! 1857. HORATIUS BONAR. A CHRISTMAS MATIN-HYMN. "TnWAS in the morning cold, when earth ■*• Was desolate and wild. That angels welcomed at his birth The everlastino: Child. -0 — \\\ MA TIN SONGS. 1 1 From realms of ever-brightening day And from his throne above He came, with human kind to stay All lowliness and love. Then in the manger the poor beast Was present with his Lord ; Then swains and pilgrims from the east Saw, wondered, and adored. And I this morn would come with them This blessed sight to see. And to the Babe of Bethlehem Bend low the reverent knee. But I have not — it makes me sigh — One offering in my power ; 'Tis winter all with me, and I Have neither fruit nor flower. O God, O Brother, let me give My worthless self to thee ; And that the years which I may live May pure and spotless be ; Grant me thyself, O Saviour kind, Thy Spirit undefiled. That I may be in heart and mind As gentle as a child ; That I may tread life's arduous ways, As thou thyself hast trod. And in the might of prayer and praise Keep ever close to God. 12 SOA'GS OF THE SOUL. Light of the everlasting morn Deep through my spirit shine ; There let thy presence, newly born, Make all my being thine. Then try me as the silver, try. And cleanse my soul with care, Till thou art able to descry Thy faultless Image there. Black MATIN SONG. T CANNOT ope my eyes, -^ But thou art ready there to catch My morning-soul and sacrifice : Then we must needs for that day make a match. My God ! what is a heart ? Silver, or gold, or precious stone, Or star, or rainbow, or a part Of all these things, or all of them in one? My God ! what is a heart. That thou shouldst it so eye, and woo. Pouring upon it all thy art, , As if that thou hadst nothing else to do Indeed, man's whole estate Amounts, and richly, to serve thee ; He did not heaven and earth create. Yet studies them, not Him by whom they be. -0 — HJ MATIN SONGS. 1 3 Teach me thy love to know, That this new light, which now I see. May both the work and workman show : Then by a sunbeam I will climb to thee ! 1632. George Herbert. AS. A BIRD IN MEADOWS FAIR. {Wie ein Vogel lieblich singe t.^ A S a bird in meadows fair •^ ^ Or in lonely forest sings, Till it fills the summer air, And the greenwood sweetly rings, So my heart to thee would raise, O my God, its song of praise. That the gloom of night is o'er. And I see the sun once more ! If thou, Sun of Love, arise. All my heart with joy is stirred. And, to greet thee, upward flies. Gladsome as yon tiny bird. Shine thou in me clear and bright Till I learn to praise thee right ; Guide me in the narrow way. Let me ne'er in darkness stray. Bless to-day whate'er I do ; Bless whate'er I have and love ; From the paths of virtue true, Let me never, never rove : — 0 l.ip. 14 SOjVGS of the SOl/L. ^y thy Spirit strengthen me In the faith that leads to thee, Then an heir of life on high, Fearless I may live and die. NOW THAT THE DAY-STAR GLIMMERS BRIGHT. {jfam lucis orto sidere?) "IVrOW that the day-star glimmers bright, ^ ^ Pray, brothers, bending low. That He, the uncreated light. May guide us as we go. No sinful word, nor deed of wrong, Nor thoughts that idly rove ; But simple truth be on our tongue. And in our hearts be love. And while the hours in order flow, O Christ, securely fence Our gates, beleaguered by the foe, — The gate of every sense. And grant, that to thine honor. Lord, Our daily toil may tend ; That we begin it at thy word, And in thy favor end. And, lest the flesh in its excess Should lord it o'er the soul. Let taming abstinence repress The rebel, and control. K\\ 0- MATIN SONGS, 1 5 To God the Father, glory be, And to his only Son, And to the Spirit One and Three, While endless ages run. [580. Trans, by Newman, from the Parisian Breviary. A MORNING PRAYER. (/;;z Osten jia7iii7it einpor die goldene Soime?) ^ I ^HE golden morn flames up the eastern sky, -^ And what dark night had hid from every eye, All piercing daylight summons clear to view : And all the forest, vale, or plain, or hill. That slept in mist enshrouded, dark and still, In gladsome light are glittering now anew. Shine in my heart, and bring me joy and light; Sun of my darkened soul, dispel its night, And shed in it the truthful day abroad ; And all the many gloomy folds lay bare Within this heart, that fain would learn to wear The pure and glorious likeness of its Lord. Glad with thy light, and glowing with thy love, So let me ever speak and think and move As fits a soul new-touched with light from Heaven, That seeks but so to order all her course. As most to show the glory of that Source By whom alone her strength, her life, are given. I ask not, take away this weight of care ; No, for that love I pray, that all can bear ; l6 SOA'GS OF THE SOUL. And for the faith that whatsoe'er befall Must needs be good, and for my profit prove, Since from my Father's heart, most rich in love, And from his bounteous hands it cometh all. I ask not that my course be calm and still ; No, here too. Lord, be done thy holy will ; I ask but for a quiet child-like heart ; Though thronging cares and restless toil be mine, Yet may my heart remain for ever thine ; Draw it from earth and fix it where thou art. I ask thee not to finish soon the strife, The toil, the trouble of this earthly life ; No, be my peace amid its grief and pain ; I pray not, grant me now thy realm on high ; No, ere I die let me to evil die. And through thy Cross my sins be wholly slain. True morning sun of all my life, I pray That not in vain thou shine on me to-day : Be thou my light when all around is gloom ; Thy brightness, hope, and courage on me shed, That I may joy to see, when life is fled. The setting sun that brings the pilgrim home. 1833. Spitta. THOU BOUNTEOUS GIVER OF THE LIGHT. (JLucis Largitor splendide.) ^ I ^HOU bounteous giver of the light, -*- All-glorious, in whose light serene, Now that the night has passed away. The day pours back her sunny sheen. MATIN SONGS. 1 7 Thou art the world's true morning star ! Not that which on the edge of night, Faint herald of a little orb, Shines with a dim and narrow light ; Far brighter than our earthly sun, Thyself at once the Light and Day ! The inmost chambers of the heart Illumining with heavenly ray. Be every evil lust repelled By guard of inward purity, That the pure body evermore The Spirit's holy shrine may be. These are our votive offerings ; This hope inspires us as we pray, That this, our holy matin light. May guide us through the busy day. St. Hilary of Arlh& WHEN I RISE AGAIN TO LIFE. {Frojn the Germa7i?) TT T'HEN I rise again to life, ^ ' From the tranquil sleep of death, And, released from earthly strife. Breathe that morning's balmy breath, I shall wake to other thought : The race is run, the fight is fought ; All the pilgrim's cares are dreams. When that dawn of morning gleams I rtH— 0- -0 — H^ SOA^GS OF THE SOUL. Help, that no departed day, God of endless life and joy, To the righteous Judge may say, 'Twas profaned by my employ : To another morn I wake, And to thee my offering make ; O may all my days that flee, Joys and sorrows, lead to thee ! Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock. 3>9