Faith, Spirituality and Religion

The awful shadow of some unseen Power Floats though unseen among us—visiting This various world with as inconstant wing As summer winds that creep from flower to flower.

There’s nought, no doubt, so much the spirit calms As rum and true religion.

And the might of the Gentile, unsmote by the sword, Hath melted like snow in the glance of the Lord!

Thou glorious mirror, where the Almighty’s form Glasses itself in tempests.

Earth, with her thousand voices, praises God.

That saints will aid if men will call: For the blue sky bends over all!

He prayeth best who loveth best All things both great and small; For the dear God who loveth us, He made and loveth all.

He prayeth well who loveth well Both man and bird and beast.

Had ripened into faith, and faith become A passionate intuition.

Thou liest in Abraham’s bosom all the year; And worship’st at the Temple’s inner shrine, God being with thee when we know it not.

It is a beauteous evening, calm and free, The holy time is quiet as a nun Breathless with adoration.

Some hae meat and canna eat, And some wad eat that want it; But we hae meat, and we can eat, And sae the Lord be thankit.

The voice of Nature loudly cries, And many a message from the skies, That something in us never dies.

He wales a portion with judicious care; And “Let us worship God” he says, with solemn air.

I am sure this Jesus will not do Either for Englishman or Jew.

Both read the Bible day and night, But thou read’st black where I read white.

The vision of Christ that thou dost see Is my vision’s greatest enemy.

The Angel that presided o’er my birth Said, “Little creature, formed of joy and mirth, Go love without the help of any thing on earth.”

Grown old in love from seven till seven times seven, I oft have wish’d for Hell for ease from Heaven.

God Appears and God is Light To those poor Souls who dwell in Night, But does a Human Form Display To those who Dwell in Realms of day.

What the hammer? what the chain? In what furnace was thy brain? What the anvil? what dread grasp Dare its deadly terrors clasp? When the stars threw down their spears And water’d heaven with their tears, Did he smile his work to see? Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

Hear the voice of the Bard! Who Present, Past, and Future sees, Whose ears have heard The Holy Word That walk’d among the ancient trees.

For every thing that lives is Holy.

The pride of the peacock is the glory of God. The lust of the goat is the bounty of God. The wrath of the lion is the wisdom of God. The nakedness of woman is the work of God.