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8

Far as aided eye can measure
 Vistas vast of glowing light,
Suns and suns in sparkling splendour
 Are revealed to human sight.

And what untold interests cluster
 Round each distant, mote-like star!
Systems mighty, minute matters
 Crowd the universe afar!

Oh!in vain all penetration
 To explore those heights profound!
Ye but catch a feeble glimmer
 Of the outer circle's bound.

But the Lord, Who bids you trust Him,
 Counts the stars, gives each a name;
All their manifold surroundings
 His continual bounty claim.

He upholds them, not one faileth,
 He sustains them hour by hour.
What a parable of gladness!
 Must not He be strong in power?

This is He Who in compassion
 Comes the broken heart to heal;
Ye cannot escape His notice,
 All your burdens He can feel.

Sins and sorrows, wounds and weakness,
 All the woe in sad hearts pent,
All their need, and all their longing
 To the Lord is evident.

Let the stars then whisper to you
 Precious words of tenderest cheer,
Waiting on the Lord Almighty
 Ye can have no cause for fear.