Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

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

I. The Divine Element—(God, Christ, the Holy Spirit)

The Love of God

Eliza Scudder (1821–1896)

THOU Grace Divine, encircling all,

A soundless, shoreless sea!

Wherein at last our souls must fall,

O Love of God most free!

When over dizzy heights we go,

One soft hand blinds our eyes,

The other leads us, safe and slow,

O Love of God most wise!

And though we turn us from thy face,

And wander wide and long,

Thou hold’st us still in thine embrace,

O Love of God most strong!

The saddened heart, the restless soul,

The toil-worn frame and mind,

Alike confess thy sweet control,

O Love of God most kind!

But not alone thy care we claim,

Our wayward steps to win;

We know thee by a dearer name,

O Love of God within!

And, filled and quickened by thy breath,

Our souls are strong and free

To rise o’er sin and fear and death,

O Love of God, to thee!