V. GOD IN NATURE

a.

IMMANENCE IN NATURE IN GENERAL

b. THE COUNTRY FAITH

V. GOD IN NATURE

a.

IMMANENCE IN NATURE IN GENERAL

HORA CHRISTI

ALICE BROWN

Sweet is the time for joyous folk
Of gifts and minstrelsy;
Yet, I, O lowly-hearted One
Crave but Thy company,

O lonesome road, beset with dread,
My questing lies afar,

I have no light save in the east,
The gleaming of Thy Star.

In cloistered aisles they keep today
Thy feast, O living Lord!

With pomp of banner, pride of song,

And stately sounding word.

United stand the kings of power and place,
While priests of holy mind
Dispense Thy blessed heritage
Of peace to all mankind.

I know a place where budless twigs
Are bare above the snow,

And where sweet winter-loving birds
Flit softly to and fro;

There, with the sun for altar-fire,

The earth for kneeling-place,

The gentle air for chorister,

Will I adore Thy face.

Lord, underneath the great blue sky,

My heart shall pean sing,

The gold and myrrh of meekest love
Mine only offering.

Bliss of Thy birth shall quicken me,
And for Thy pain and dole
Tears are but vain, so I will keep
The silence of the soul.

REVELATION

ALICE BROWN

From The Road to Castaly

Down in the meadow, sprent with dew
I saw the Very God
Look from a flower's limpid blue,
Child of a starveling sod.

DISGUISES

THOMAS EDWARD BROWN

High stretched upon the swinging yard,
I gather in the sheet;

But it is hard

And stiff, and one cries haste.

Then He that is most dear in my regard

Of all the crew gives aidance meet;

But from His hands, and from His feet,
A glory spreads wherewith the night is starred:

Moreover of a cup most bitter-sweet

With fragrance as of nard,

And myrrh, and cassia spiced,

He proffers me to taste.

Then I to Him:-'Art Thou the Christ?'

He saith-Thou say'st.'

Like to an ox

That staggers 'neath the mortal blow,

She grinds upon the rocks:

Then straight and low

Leaps forth the levelled line, and in our quarter locks. The cradle's rigged; with swerving of the blast

We go,

Our Captain last

Demands

'Who fired that shot?' Each silent stands

Ah, sweet perplexity!

This too was He.

I have an arbour wherein came a toad

Most hideous to see

Immediate, seizing staff or goad,

I smote it cruelly.

Then all the place with subtle radiance glowed-
I looked, and it was He!

Song from PIPPA PASSES

ROBERT BROWNING

The year's at the spring
The day's at the morn;
Morning's at seven;

The hillside's dew-pearled;
The lark's on the wing;
The snail's on the thorn;
God's in his heaven-
All's right with the world.