Poems (Sherwin)/But the wisdom that is from above is first pure

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Poems
by Elizabeth Sherwin
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure
4524309Poems — But the wisdom that is from above is first pureElizabeth Sherwin
"But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy."—James, iii. chap., 17 verse.
  Oh, give me wisdom from above,
   Whence freely and unceasing flows
  The stream of universal love,
   Whence every grace and virtue grows:
That wisdom which can power impart,
To clear the head and calm the heart.

  Oh, give me that pure knowledge, Lord,
   Which makes me know myself aright;
  And when I search thy sacred word,
   Imbue my mind with heavenly light:
Give me that spirit undefined,
Which makes me love all human kind.

  Oh, give me wisdom true, divine,
   Which scorns hypocrisy and art:
  Which does to smiling peace incline,
   And purest principles impart;
Which calmly views earth's ties all riven,
And fixes every hope on heaven.