Yesterday today and for ever - 1871 Author:Edward Henry Bickersteth Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: THE PRISON OF THE LOST. C me, Thou Eternal Spirit, who on the face Of the abysmal waters, when the earth Was without form and void, brooding didst ... more »move, Silent Omnipotence, unseen but felt, The while beneath Thy penetrating power Light at the voice of God brake forth, a faint Far tremor in the sunless starless gloom, Creation's twilight, nor didst cease Thy work, Till looking forth upon the vast expanse, By mountains, rivers, lakes, and placid seas 10 Diversified, on that first sabbath's eve, Infinite Goodness said that all was good : Come Thou, and brood over the deep unknown Which bounds the known in me, nor suffer clouds, Born of unfathomable mysteries, To cast their shade athwart heaven's blessed light, While, led by Thee, I speak of other worlds Than those fair fields I lately walk'd, and tell What from the' utmost precincts of Paradise I and my angel guardian saw and heard 30 .Of outer darkness and Tartarean night. Come; for Thou dvvellest in the highest heavens, Thyself inhabiting eternity, Alone, Supreme, beyond all time and space, Yet deignest in the contrite heart to' abide As in Thy chosen temple; Spirit of Truth, Who, in Thy Pentecostal might, from heaven Descending as a mighty rushing wind, Didst rest upon Thy suppliant saints of old In likeness as of cloven tongues of fire, 80 A crown of lambent and innocuous flame; Purge Thou mine eyes from film, my heart from fear; Inspire, illumine, fortify my soul; Breathe, O Thou Breath Divine, on my emprise; Touch my fain lips, strengthen my feeble hands; Nor let my footstep unawares intrude On counsels Thou art pleased to veil from man, Nor where Thy lamp shines dimly press too far Adventurous, nor in coward disbelief Shrink back appall'd where Thou dost lead the ...« less