Poems (Hale)/"Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty"
"WHERE THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS, THERE IS LIBERTY."
Spirit of Beauty! on whose brow such placid light we see,
Where is thy temple unprofaned, immortal Liberty?
Whose columns, towering to the skies, give back their cloudless ray,—
An image beautiful, though faint, of heaven's celestial day.
Where is thy temple unprofaned, immortal Liberty?
Whose columns, towering to the skies, give back their cloudless ray,—
An image beautiful, though faint, of heaven's celestial day.
Where'er the Spirit of the Lord its radiant gifts hath shed,
In stately grandeur, strength, and grace, there do thy footsteps tread.
There dost thou consecrate thy shrine, there rear thy lofty dome,
Whither thy wandering ones may turn, as to a long-sought home.
In stately grandeur, strength, and grace, there do thy footsteps tread.
There dost thou consecrate thy shrine, there rear thy lofty dome,
Whither thy wandering ones may turn, as to a long-sought home.
Where'er in Nature's wide domain one step her soil may press,
A soul unawed for truth to plead, the injured to redress,
Him dost Thou own thy worshiper, he waits before thy shrine;
On him the Spirit of the Lord sheds down its light divine.
A soul unawed for truth to plead, the injured to redress,
Him dost Thou own thy worshiper, he waits before thy shrine;
On him the Spirit of the Lord sheds down its light divine.
Thee we invoke, thou Power Supreme! the God of liberty!
Strength of the weak, in doubt our Guide, Great Father of the free!
On this most hallowed day we bend in worship at Thy throne,—
A nation suppliant at Thy feet, their father's God to own.
Strength of the weak, in doubt our Guide, Great Father of the free!
On this most hallowed day we bend in worship at Thy throne,—
A nation suppliant at Thy feet, their father's God to own.
For the rich sunlight of our lot our gratitude we raise,
And for the shadow and the storm, O! be our tribute praise:
Even as erst through the parted waves that ancient race was led,
So may our trusting feet, unharmed, the billowy waters tread.
And for the shadow and the storm, O! be our tribute praise:
Even as erst through the parted waves that ancient race was led,
So may our trusting feet, unharmed, the billowy waters tread.
Though sad the lesson be which Thou, in Thy deep love hast given,
O! may the might of its dread power peace win for us, and heaven.
And as in brighter days, our souls were wont to stray from Thee,
Now may we seek that priceless pearl, Thy favor full and free.
O! may the might of its dread power peace win for us, and heaven.
And as in brighter days, our souls were wont to stray from Thee,
Now may we seek that priceless pearl, Thy favor full and free.
Thanks to the volume of Thy word, Thy promise does not fail;
Summer and winter, day and night, in glad return we hail;
And when the world is dark below we raise our glance above:
The glorious stars rebuke our fears, in tender tones of love.
Summer and winter, day and night, in glad return we hail;
And when the world is dark below we raise our glance above:
The glorious stars rebuke our fears, in tender tones of love.
If sorrow's hand but lead us back, all penitent to Thee,
Our lips shall meekly kiss the rod, and own the just decree.
Then let Thy Spirit with our souls its purposes fulfil:
We cannot fear;—our Father's love hath whispered "Peace, be still."
Our lips shall meekly kiss the rod, and own the just decree.
Then let Thy Spirit with our souls its purposes fulfil:
We cannot fear;—our Father's love hath whispered "Peace, be still."
July 4, 1837.