1 Of all the thoughts of God that are
Borne inward into souls afar,
Along the psalmist's music deep,
Now tell me if there any is,
For gift or grace surpassing this:
"He giveth His beloved sleep"?
2 What would we give to our beloved,–
The hero's heart to be unmoved,
The poet's star-tuned harp, to sweep,
The patriot's voice, to teach and rouse,
The monarch's crown, to light the brows?
He giveth His beloved sleep.
3 "Sleep soft, beloved!" we sometimes say,
Who have no tune to charm away
Sad dreams that through the eyelids creep,
But never doleful dream again
Shall break the happy slumber when
He giveth His beloved sleep.
4 His dews drop mutely on the hill,
His cloud above it saileth still,
Though on its slope men sow and reap;
More softly than the dew is shed,
Or cloud is floated overhead.
He giveth His beloved sleep.
AMEN.
Source: The A.M.E. Zion Hymnal: official hymnal of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church #62
Browning, Elizabeth, née Barrett, daughter of Mr. Barrett, an English country gentleman, and wife of Robert Browning, the poet, was born in London 1809, and died at Florence in 1861. As a poetess she stands at the head of English female writers, and her secular works are well known. Sacred pieces from her works are in common use in America. They include:
1. God, named Love, whose fount Thou art. Love.
2. How high Thou art! Our songs can own. Divine Perfection.
3. Of all the thought of God, that are. Death.
4. What would we give to our beloved? Pt. ii. of No. 3.
5. When Jesus' friend had ceased to be. Friendship. Based on the death of Lazarus.
These hymns are in Beecher's Plymouth Collection 1855; Hedge and Huntington's… Go to person page >
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