Dear Lord and Father of Mankind – John G. Whittier

I love this Prayer from John G. Whittier, that became a hymn when set to music by Frederick C. Maker in the mid 1800’s.

Dear Lord and Father of mankind, 

Forgive our feverish ways!

Re-clothe us in our rightful mind;

In purer lives Thy service find,

In deeper reverence, praise.

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.

O Sabbath rest by Galilee!

O calm of hills above,

Where Jesus knelt to share with thee

The silence of eternity,

Interpreted by love.

Drop thy still dews of quietness

Till all our striving’s cease;

Take from our souls the strain and stress,

And let our ordered lives confess

The beauty of Thy Peace.

Breathe thru the heats of our desire

Thy coolness and thy balm;

Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;

Speak thru the earthquake, wind, and fire,

O still small voice of calm!

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