Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE HOUSE OF GOD, by RALPH WALDO EMERSON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE HOUSE OF GOD, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: We love the venerable house
Last Line: Thou heart that lovest all.
Variant Title(s): Hymn Sung At The Second Church, Boston ... Ordination Of Rev. Chandler Robbins
Subject(s): Clergy; Religion; Priests; Rabbis; Ministers; Bishops; Theology


Sung at the Second Church, Boston, at the Ordination of Rev. Chandler
Robbins.

We love the venerable house
Our fathers built to God; --
In heaven are kept their grateful vows,
Their dust endears the sod.

Here holy thoughts a light have shed
From many a radiant face,
And prayers of humble virtue made
The perfume of the place.

And anxious hearts have pondered here
The mystery of life,
And prayed the eternal Light to clear
Their doubts, and aid their strife.

From humble tenements around
Came up the pensive train,
And in the church a blessing found
That filled their homes again;

For faith and peace and mighty love
That from the Godhead flow,
Showed them the life of Heaven above
Springs from the life below.

They live with God; their homes are dust;
Yet here their children pray,
And in this fleeting lifetime trust
To find the narrow way.

On him who by the altar stands,
On him thy blessing fall,
Speak through his lips thy pure commands,
Thou heart that lovest all.





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