THE UNIVERSAL PRAYER. DEO OPT. MAX. FATHER of all! in ev'ry age, By saint, by savage, and by sage, Thou Great First Cause, least understood, Who all my sense confin'd To know but this, that Thou art good, Yet gave me, in this dark estate, To see the good from ill; And binding nature fast in fate, Left free the human will. What conscience dictates to be done, Or warns me not to do, This, teach me more than hell to shun, I 2 5 ΙΟ 15 What What blessings thy free bounty gives, Let me not cast away; For God is paid when man receives, Yet not to earth's contracted span When thousand worlds are round: Let not this weak, unknowing hand And deal damnation round the land, 20 25 30 35 40 Mean Mean though I am, not wholly so, Since quicken'd by thy breath; Oh lead me wheresoe'er I go, Through this day's life or death! This day, be bread and peace my lot: 45 Thou know'st if best bestow'd or not, And let thy will be done. To thee, whose temple is all space, Whose altar, earth, sea, skies! One chorus let all being raise! All nature's incense rise! 50 |