Poems (Hornblower)/Hymn (O! better far the heavenly ray)
For works with similar titles, see Hymn.
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!
Shall God in vain unfold the scroll,
All radiant with his own bright will;
And years on years unheeded roll,
While human hearts are recreant still?
All radiant with his own bright will;
And years on years unheeded roll,
While human hearts are recreant still?
O better far the silent grave
Should shrine at once our broken trust,
And the dark weeds should o'er us wave,
To shroud our perished souls in dust.
Should shrine at once our broken trust,
And the dark weeds should o'er us wave,
To shroud our perished souls in dust.
Yes, better darkness, grief, and doubt,
And deep obscurity within,
And life each heavenly hope without,
Than that that light should shine on sin.
And deep obscurity within,
And life each heavenly hope without,
Than that that light should shine on sin.
It shines—it shines, and every heart
Shall stand exposed to that pure test;
Oh! guard that high, that virtuous part,
Which shields with peace the Christian breast.
Shall stand exposed to that pure test;
Oh! guard that high, that virtuous part,
Which shields with peace the Christian breast.
So shall not on thy soul have shone
Each hope of loftier power in vain;
And though the joys of earth be gone,
The gates of heaven shall be thy gain.
Each hope of loftier power in vain;
And though the joys of earth be gone,
The gates of heaven shall be thy gain.