Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume IV. The Higher Life. 1904. | | | | IV. Sabbath: Worship: Creed | | “Amazing, beauteous change” | | Philip Doddridge (1702–1751) |
| | | AMAZING, beauteous change! | |
| A world created new! | |
| My thoughts with transport range, | |
| The lovely scene to view; | |
| In all I trace, | 5 |
| Saviour divine, | |
| The word is thine,— | |
| Be thine the praise! | |
| |
| See crystal fountains play | |
| Amidst the burning sands; | 10 |
| The river’s winding way | |
| Shines through the thirsty lands; | |
| New grass is seen, | |
| And o’er the meads | |
| Its carpet spreads | 15 |
| Of living green. | |
| |
| Where pointed brambles grew, | |
| Intwined with horrid thorn, | |
| Gay flowers, forever new, | |
| The painted fields adorn,— | 20 |
| The blushing rose | |
| And lily there, | |
| In union fair, | |
| Their sweets disclose. | |
| |
| Where the bleak mountain stood | 25 |
| All bare and disarrayed, | |
| See the wide-branching wood | |
| Diffuse its grateful shade; | |
| Tall cedars nod, | |
| And oaks and pines, | 30 |
| And elms and vines | |
| Confess thee God. | |
| |
| The tyrants of the plain | |
| Their savage chase give o’er,— | |
| No more they rend the slain, | 35 |
| And thirst for blood no more; | |
| But infant hands | |
| Fierce tigers stroke, | |
| And lions yoke | |
| In flowery bands. | 40 |
| |
| O, when, Almighty Lord! | |
| Shall these glad things arise, | |
| To verify thy word, | |
| And bless our wandering eyes? | |
| That earth may raise, | 45 |
| With all its tongues, | |
| United songs | |
| Of ardent praise. | | | | |
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