1864

"I WILL SEND THEM PROPHETS AND APOSTLES"

by William Cullen Bryant I WILL SEND THEM PROPHETS AND APOSTLES -

All that in this wide world we see,

Almighty Father! speaks of Thee;

And in the darkness, or the day,

Thy monitors surround our way. -

The fearful storms that sweep the sky,

The maladies by which we die,

The pangs that make the guilty groan,

Are angels from thy awful throne. -

Each mercy sent when sorrows lower,

Each blessing of the winged hour,

All we enjoy, and all we love,

Bring with them lessons from above. -

Nor thus content, thy gracious hand,

From midst the children of the land,

Hath raised, to stand before our race,

Thy living messengers of grace. -

We thank thee that so clear a ray

Shines on thy straight, thy chosen way,

And pray that passion, sloth, or pride,

May never lure our steps aside. - -