169
HYMN.
O! better far the heavenly ray
Had never beamed on mortal sight,
With tidings of eternal day,
To break the dreary gloom of night;
Had never beamed on mortal sight,
With tidings of eternal day,
To break the dreary gloom of night;
Better the pure inspiring page,
That breathes of virtue and of peace,
Had never blest a sinking age,
Or bade the reign of darkness cease;
That breathes of virtue and of peace,
Had never blest a sinking age,
Or bade the reign of darkness cease;
Than that the world, with hope so bright,
Breathing of immortality,
Should turn away its grovelling sight
To feed on human vanity;
Breathing of immortality,
Should turn away its grovelling sight
To feed on human vanity;
With glories all revealed, should turn
To feed each low, each earth-born sense,
Nor feel one aspiration burn
For goodness—for Omnipotence!
To feed each low, each earth-born sense,
Nor feel one aspiration burn
For goodness—for Omnipotence!
