Lamp of Our Feet

Lamp of our feet! where­by we trace

Our path

when wont to stray;

Stream from the fount of heav’n­ly grace!

Brook by the tra­vel­er’s way!

Bread of our souls! where­on we feed;

True ma­nna from on high!

Our guide

and chart where­in we read

Of realms be­yond the sky.

Pillar of fire—through watch­es dark!

Or ra­di­ant cloud by day!

When waves would break our toss­ing bark—

Our an­chor and our stay!

Pole-star on life’s tem­pes­tu­ous deep!

Beacon! when doubts sur­round;

Compass! by which our course we keep;

Our deep sea-lead

to sound!

Riches in po­ver­ty! our aid

In ev­ery need­ful hour!

Unshaken rock! the pil­grim’s shade;

The sol­dier’s fort­ress tow­er.

Our shield and buck­ler in the fight!

Victory’s tri­umph­ant palm!

Comfort in grief! in weak­ness

might!

In sick­ness

Gi­le­ad’s balm.

Childhood’s pre­cep­tor! man­hood’s trust!

Old age’s firm al­ly!

Our hope—when we go down to dust

Of im­mor­tal­ity.

Pure ora­cles of truth di­vine!

Unlike each fa­bled dream

Given forth from Del­phos’ mys­tic shrine

Or groves of Aca­deme!

Word of the ev­er-liv­ing God!

Will of His glo­ri­ous Son!

Without Thee

how could earth be trod?

Or Heav­en it­self be won?

Yet to un­fold thy hid­den worth

Thy mys­te­ries to re­veal

That Spir­it which first gave thee forth

Thy vol­ume must un­seal!

And we

if we aright would learn

The wis­dom it im­parts

Must to its heav­en­ly teach­ing turn

With sim­ple

child-like hearts!