Poems (Gifford)/"Given"
"GIVEN."
Write it o'er all that we now enjoy,
Write it distinctly—"Given";
For each glad possession is sent from above,
From the glorious God 'tis a token of love,
A gift from the Lord of heaven.
Write it distinctly—"Given";
For each glad possession is sent from above,
From the glorious God 'tis a token of love,
A gift from the Lord of heaven.
Write it o'er every beautiful thing,
Write it o'er every power,
Common, or special, or great, or small,
An omnipotent God hath appointed it all,
Each boon is a Father's dower.
Write it o'er every power,
Common, or special, or great, or small,
An omnipotent God hath appointed it all,
Each boon is a Father's dower.
Given the earth to the children of men,
Given its varied store,
Given the sun for our daily light,
Given the moon to illume the night,
And the stars to brighten us more.
Given its varied store,
Given the sun for our daily light,
Given the moon to illume the night,
And the stars to brighten us more.
Given the free, circumambient air,
Given the soft, cool showers,
Plentiful sustenance day by day,
Water, and bread, and delights alway,
And exuberant growth of flowers.
Given the soft, cool showers,
Plentiful sustenance day by day,
Water, and bread, and delights alway,
And exuberant growth of flowers.
Given all strength, or of life, or limb,
Given each heritage fair,
All that is lovely in form or face,
All that in movement is marked by grace,
Given each talent rare.
Given each heritage fair,
All that is lovely in form or face,
All that in movement is marked by grace,
Given each talent rare.
Given each faculty, subtle, keen,
Given thoughts noble and deep,
Given instruction, discretion and health,
Given the power to accumulate wealth,
Given calm rest and sleep.
Given thoughts noble and deep,
Given instruction, discretion and health,
Given the power to accumulate wealth,
Given calm rest and sleep.
Given the solace of human love,
Given all sympathy sweet,
Pity, compassion, and tender cheer,
Home and companions and kindred dear,
And Gospel for sinners meet.
Given all sympathy sweet,
Pity, compassion, and tender cheer,
Home and companions and kindred dear,
And Gospel for sinners meet.
Given a Saviour, God's own loved Son,
And gifts He received for men,
Given His Spirit to comfort and guide,
With us, and in us, for aye to abide,
With blessings beyond our ken.
And gifts He received for men,
Given His Spirit to comfort and guide,
With us, and in us, for aye to abide,
With blessings beyond our ken.
Given His wonderful Word of truth,
Given His sabbaths of rest,
Given His laws for our surest gain,
Given the wisdom that can make plain
The secrets of His behest.
Given His sabbaths of rest,
Given His laws for our surest gain,
Given the wisdom that can make plain
The secrets of His behest.
Given repentance, and pardon, and peace,
Given remission of sin,
Given the faith to appropriate all,
Given the right upon God to call,
And gracious replies to win.
Given remission of sin,
Given the faith to appropriate all,
Given the right upon God to call,
And gracious replies to win.
Given a blessed and lively hope,
Given unspeakable joy,
Given repose amid all earth's strife,
Crowned with the gift of eternal life
That never shall know alloy.
Given unspeakable joy,
Given repose amid all earth's strife,
Crowned with the gift of eternal life
That never shall know alloy.
Given rich earnests of larger bliss
Than any we yet have guessed,
Bliss that can never in words be told,
That never, ah! never, in mortal mould
Can possibly be compressed.
Than any we yet have guessed,
Bliss that can never in words be told,
That never, ah! never, in mortal mould
Can possibly be compressed.
Passing and perishing some good gifts,
Yet are the gifts renewed,
E'en though they may perish the Giver still lives,
And in His beneficence lovingly gives
To all things with life endued.
Yet are the gifts renewed,
E'en though they may perish the Giver still lives,
And in His beneficence lovingly gives
To all things with life endued.
To the rebellious, the evil and good,
He giveth in wondrous grace;
He showereth His favours on just and unjust,
His choicest He pours upon all who trust,
On all who will seek His face.
He giveth in wondrous grace;
He showereth His favours on just and unjust,
His choicest He pours upon all who trust,
On all who will seek His face.
Covet we earnestly God's best gifts,
Come we behind in nought;
Richly He giveth, upbraiding us not,
Incessantly giveth, maintaining our lot,
He giveth all blessing sought.
Come we behind in nought;
Richly He giveth, upbraiding us not,
Incessantly giveth, maintaining our lot,
He giveth all blessing sought.
Praise we the Giver, our Lord, our Love,
For bounties so free, so great;
All things are more precious as His good gifts,
Most blessed are we as His love uplifts
E'en us to His high estate.
For bounties so free, so great;
All things are more precious as His good gifts,
Most blessed are we as His love uplifts
E'en us to His high estate.