Rise, crowned with light, imperial Salem, rise! Exalt thy towering head and lift thine eyes; See heaven its sparkling portals wide display And break upon thee in a flood of day. 2. See a long race thy spacious court adorn; See future sons and daughters, yet unborn, In crowding ranks on every side arise, Demanding life, impatient for the skies. 3. See barbarous nations at thy gates attend, Walk in the light and in thy temple bend; See thy bright altars thronged with prostrate kings, While every land its joyful tribute brings. 4. The seas shall waste, the skies to smoke decay, Rocks fall to dust, and mountains melt away; But fixed this Word, this saving power, remains; Thy realms shall last, thy own Messiah reigns. Alexander Pope, 1720. 479 L. M. Look from Thy sphere of endless day, O God of mercy and of might! In pity look on those who stray Benighted in this land of light. 2. In peopled vale, in lonely glen, In crowded mart, by stream or sea, How many of the sons of men Hear not the message sent from Thee! 3. Send forth Thy heralds, Lord, to call The thoughtless young, the hardened old, A scattered, homeless flock, till all Be gathered to Thy peaceful fold. 4. Send them Thy mighty Word to speak, Till faith shall dawn and doubt depart, To awe the bold, to stay the weak, And bind and heal the broken heart. 5. Then all these wastes, a dreary scene, That makes us sadden as we gaze, Shall grow with living waters green And lift to heaven the voice of praise. William Cullen Bryant, 1840, a. 480 8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 7 May God bestow on us His grace, With blessings rich provide us, And may the brightness of His face, To life eternal guide us, That we His gracious work may know And what is His good pleasure, And also to the heathen show Christ’s riches without measure And unto God convert them. 2. Thine over all shall be the praise And thanks of every nation, And all the world with joy shall raise The voice of exultation; For Thou shalt judge the earth, O Lord, Nor suffer sin to flourish; Thy people’s pasture is Thy Word Their souls to feed and nourish, In righteous paths to keep them. 3. O let the people praise Thy worth, In all good works increasing; The land shall plenteous fruit bring forth, Thy Word is rich in blessing. May God the Father, God the Son, And God the Spirit bless us! Let all the world praise Him alone, Let solemn awe possess us. Now let our hearts say, Amen.