Dear Lord and Father of Mankind

 

1

Dear Lord and Father of mankind

Forgive our foolish ways!

Re-clothe us in our rightful mind,

In purer lives Thy service find,

In deeper reverence, praise.

2 

In simple trust like theirs who heard,

Beside the Syrian sea,

The gracious calling of the Lord,

Let us, like them, without a word

Rise up and follow Thee.

3 

O Sabbath rest by Galilee!

O calm of hills above,

Where Jesus knelt to share with Thee

The silence of eternity,

Interpreted by love.

4 

With that deep hush subduing all

Our words and works that drown

The tender whisper of Thy call,

As noiseless let Thy blessing fall

As fell Thy manna down.

5 

Drop Thy still dews of quietness,

Till all our strivings cease;

Take from our souls the strain and stress,

And let our ordered lives confess

The beauty of Thy peace.

6 

Breathe through the heats of our desire

Thy coolness and Thy balm;

Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;

Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,

O still, small voice of calm!

 

Author: John Greenleaf Whittier

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7brCJdqEcVM&list=RD7brCJdqEcVM&start_radio=1

This is one of my favorite hymn texts of all time. When I was in college I actually embroidered these words onto a muslin banner and had it hanging in my dorm room.