QU'EST CE QUE DIEU?

LOIN de rein decider de cet être suprème,
Gardons en l'adorant un silence profond;

Le mystère est immense et l'esprit s'y confond
Pour dire ce qu'il est il faut être lui même.

[Translation of the above.]

WHAT IS GOD?

FAR from deciding what God is,

Rather let us adore Him in profound silence.

'Tis an immense mystery, in which the spirit is bewildered and lost.

No one but God himself, can know what He is.

GOD's a great, mysterious Being,

High enthron'd above the skies,

Arm of strength, and Eye all-seeing, Bounteous, merciful, and wise.

On his greatness while we ponder,
His immensity to scan,

Quite absorb'd, we gaze and wonder. 'Tis a task too great for man.

We can not, by vainly prying,
All his attributes explore.

Let us then, by self denying,
Learn in silence to adore!

If we of God could judge aright,
Keeping him always in our sight,
And every step, his rules pursue,
We should not murmur as we do.

But when we quit our heav'nly friend,

And to this grov'ling world descend, 'Tis then we measure him by halves, And form a God to suit ourselves.

R

We want no miracles to prove

His power, wisdom, truth, and love;

When all these attributes, divine,

In his eternal person shine.

Nor want we mystery to share,
To make us blinder than we are:
But more divine, more heav'nly light,
To bring his sacred truths in sight.

WHATEVER graceless atheists say,
Almighty God! I own thy sway.
When thro' Creation's page I look,
For proof, I want no other book.

GREAT God! when I, with wond'ring eyes,

Thy sacred pages read;

Supremely great, divinely good,

These lessons fix my creed.

The Heav'ns around, the earth, the seas

Sprung up at thy command:

All things that live and move and breathe

Were finish'd by thy hand.

When I, on contemplation's wing,
Heav'n's vast expanse survey,

Lost in the immensity of space;
I, wand'ring, lose my way.

Yet here, awhile, I fix my thoughts
On these thy works divine;

These rolling orbs, how swift they run!
How clear, how bright they shine!

The sun, vast lamp! immensely great,
His rays how dazzling bright!

The source of life and strength and heat:

A world of fire and light.

Nor does he stint his radiant beams,

But at the close of day,

Lights up the moon to cheer the night,

And shew the trav❜ler's way.