HYMNS YOU OUGHT TO KNOW The Way of Peace.

HYMNS YOU OUGHT TO KNOW The Way of Peace.
John Greenleaf Whittier.
463.5

[The famous American poet and re- former has made no small contribu- tion to the songs of worship praise used in the churches. and
This hymn is taken from his longer poem entitled
“The Brewing of Soma.” It first was published for church wor- ship in 1884, and has grown steadily into general use despite much opposi- tion and criticism, once bitter, but now almost forgotten, regarding the poet’s alleged heterodox beliefs.
There is today a marked tendency to give larger prominence to the work of the great poets in the hymnody of the churches.]

Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
Forgive our feverish ways!
Reclothe us in our rightful mind;
In purer lives the service find, In deeper reverence praise.

In simple trust like theirs who heard,
Beside the Syrian sea,
The gracious calling of the Lord,
Let us, like them, without a word.
Rise up and follow thee.
Q. Sabbath rest by Gallilee!
O, Calm of hills above.
Where Jesus knelt to share with thee
The silence of eternity, Interpreted by love!

With that deep hush subduing all,
Our words and works that drown
The tender whisper of thy call.
As noiseless let thy blessings fall
As fell thy manna down.

Drop thy still dews of quietness,
Till all our strivings cease:
Take from our souls the strain and stress
And let our ordered lives confess The beauty of thy peace.

Breathe through the heats of our de- sire
Thy coolness and thy balm:
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
Speak through the earthquake, wind and fire,
O still small voice of calm!