by John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892)

Dear Lord and Father of mankind,

Forgive our foolish ways!

Reclothe us in our rightful mind;

In purer lives Thy service find;

In deeper reverence praise.

In simple trust like theirs who heard,

Beside the Syrian sea,

The gracious calling of the Lord,

Let us, like them without a word,

Rise up and follow thee.

Drop Thy still dews of quietness,

Till all our striving cease;

Take from our souls the strain and stress,

And let our ordered lives confess

The beauty of Thy peace.

Breathe thro’ the heats of our desire

Thy coolness and Thy balm.

Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;

Speak thro’ the earthquake, wind and fire,

O still small voice of calm!