And Shall I Pray...

“And shall I pray Thee change Thy will, my Father, 
Until it be according unto mine? 
But no, Lord, no; that never shall be, rather 
I pray Thee, blend my human will with Thine. 

“I pray Thee hush the hurrying, eager longing, 
I pray Thee, soothe the pangs of keen desire, 
See in my quiet places wishes thronging– 
Forbid them, Lord, purge, though it be with fire. 

 “And work in me to will and do Thy pleasure, 
Let all within me, peaceful, reconciled, 
Tarry content my Well beloved’s leisure 
At last, at last, even as a weaned child.” 

 Nathan Brown of Burma, from Elisabeth Elliot’s “Shadow of the Almighty”

Maker of the Universe

Maker of the Universe As Man, for man was made a curse. The claims of Law which He had made, Unto the uttermost He paid. His holy fingers made the bough, Which grew the thorns that crowned His brow; The nails that pierced His hand were mined, In secret places He designed. He made the forest whence there sprung The tree on which His body hung; He died upon a cross of wood, Yet made the hill on which it stood. The sky that darkened o'er His head, By Him above the earth was spread. The sun that hid from Him its face, By His decree was poised in space. The spear which spilled His precious blood Was tempered in the fires of God. The grave in which His form was laid Was hewn in rocks His hands had made. The throne on which He now appears Was His from everlasting years; But a new glory crowns His brow, And every knee to Him shall bow: The Maker of the universe. ---- F.W. Pitt