Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.

IV. Sabbath: Worship: Creed

“Give me thy heart”

Adelaide Anne Procter (1825–1864)

WITH echoing steps the worshippers

Departed one by one;

The organ’s pealing voice was stilled,

The vesper hymn was done;

The shadow fell from roof and arch,

Dim was the incensed air,

One lamp alone, with trembling ray,

Told of the Presence there!

In the dark church she knelt alone;

Her tears were falling fast;

“Help, Lord,” she cried, “the shades of death

Upon my soul are cast!

Have I not shunned the path of sin,

And chose the better part?”—

What voice came through the sacred air?—

“My child, give me thy heart!”

“Have not I laid before thy shrine

My wealth, O Lord?” she cried;

“Have I kept aught of gems or gold,

To minister to pride?

Have I not bade youth’s joys retire,

And vain delights depart?”—

But sad and tender was the voice,—

“My child, give me thy heart!”

“Have I not, Lord, gone day by day

Where thy poor children dwell;

And carried help, and gold, and food?

O Lord, thou know’st it well!

From many a house, from many a soul,

My hand bids care depart”:—

More sad, more tender was the voice,—

“My child, give me thy heart!”

“Have I not worn my strength away

With fast and penance sore?

Have I not watched and wept?” she cried;

“Did thy dear saints do more?

Have I not gained thy grace, O Lord,

And won in heaven my part?”—

It echoed louder in her soul,—

“My child, give me thy heart!

“For I have loved thee with a love

No mortal heart can show;

A love so deep my saints in heaven

Its depths can never know:

When pierced and wounded on the cross,

Man’s sin and doom were mine,

I loved thee with undying love,

Immortal and divine!

“I loved thee ere the skies were spread;

My soul bears all thy pains;

To gain thy love my sacred heart

In earthly shrines remains:

Vain are thy offerings, vain thy sighs,

Without one gift divine;

Give it, my child, thy heart to me,

And it shall rest in mine!”

In awe she listened, as the shade

Passed from her soul away;

In low and trembling voice she cried,—

“Lord, help me to obey!

Break thou the chains of earth, O Lord,

That bind and hold my heart;

Let it be thine and thine alone,

Let none with thee have part.

“Send down, O Lord, thy sacred fire!

Consume and cleanse the sin

That lingers still within its depths:

Let heavenly love begin.

That sacred flame thy saints have known,

Kindle, O Lord, in me,

Thou above all the rest forever,

And all the rest in thee.”

The blessing fell upon her soul;

Her angel by her side

Knew that the hour of peace was come;

Her soul was purified;

The shadows fell from roof and arch,

Dim was the incensed air,—

But peace went with her as she left

The sacred Presence there!