SONG OF THE SABBATH.
The Sabbath day—the gracious day ! Bringing the gift of peace, Chasing life's rudest cares away, Letting tired labour cease; Breaking like sunshine on the earth, Bidding vain shadows flee ; Calling for praise and sinless mirth ; Making the bondman free.
The Sabbath day—the priceless boon! Let not the sordid deem It yields no gain, it comes too soon ; It is of light esteem. Let not the bigot sternly say His temple claims it all : Who shall imprison Mercy's ray Within that narrow wall ?
The Sabbath day—the separate ! For which with yearning sighs The wearied workers patient wait, And joy to see it rise : The aching hand, the o'er-tasked brain, Alike may find repose, And gather strength to toil again, And strength to conquer woes.
The Sabbath day—the gift divine !
That, whatsoe'er our creed, Supplies with bounteousness benign Leisure for every need ; For prayer, for praise, for soothing rest, For thought of boundless scope, For heed of Charity's behest, For love, for joy, for hope.
'The Sabbath day—the glorious day ! Beyond the city-gate Let tens of thousands wend their way Where breeze and sunshine wait ; And let them see the streamlets flow, And tread the daisied sod, And look upon the buds that blow, And search and find out God.
The Sabbath day—the buckler strong That guards the poor and meek, Shielding the desolate from wrong, Leaving the tyrant weak. The Sabbath day-0 prize it well, Its wisdom learn to scan; Alike in temple, field, or cell,
"The Sabbath made for man."
jULTA DAT.
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