Poem March 14, 1901 Issue

Permanence and Praise

BY EVA COLE.

Infinite Spirit! unceasingly breathing
Blessings unmeasured on all, as on me,
Thy peace like a river,
In tenderness ever,
Meets fully the need of the earnest heart's plea,
My thought now adoring,
Its praise is outpouring
In anthems of love, that I'm ever with Thee.

Times when I questioned, Is God there, or Father,
Who knoweth and careth for all, and for me,
Whose bounty supplieth,
Whose Love satisfieth,
Whose Presence doth strengthen, and make the bond free?
There came such assuring,
With hopes most alluring,
I believed, yea, I knew, my Creator to be.

Yet knowing, I find Thee so near and so loving,
To know I am Thine is a glory to me.
I lose sense of sorrow,
I lose sense of sinning,
I know no false self as I cleave unto Thee.
I see Thy perfection,
Unchanging affection;
It heals every discord Thy wholeness to see.

All joy that Thou knowest no suffering, nor sorrow,
Thine atmosphere ever is holy and free.
No change in Thy purpose,
No change in Thy Being,
Thou Light before which every shadow doth flee!
I live in beholding
Thy glories unfolding,
Satisfied, if I but image forth Thee.