Asked God: "Who now is at the door?" "It is thyself, beloved Lord," Answered the saint, in doubt no more, But clasped and rapt in his reward. --From the Persian, tr. by William Rounseville Alger. OPEN THOU OUR EYES (Luke 24. 15) And he drew near and talked with them, But they perceived him not, And mourned, unconscious of that light, The gloom, the darkness, and the night That wrapt his burial spot. Wearied with doubt, perplexed and sad, They knew nor help nor guide; While he who bore the secret key To open every mystery, Unknown was by their side. Thus often when we feel alone, Nor help nor comfort near, 'Tis only that our eyes are dim, Doubting and sad we see not him Who waiteth still to hear. "The darkness gathers overhead, The morn will never come." Did we but raise our downcast eyes, In the white-flushing eastern skies Appears the glowing sun. In all our daily joys and griefs In daily work and rest, To those who seek him Christ is near, Our bliss to calm, to soothe our care, In leaning on his breast. Open our eyes, O Lord, we pray, To see our way, our Guide; That by the path that here we tread, We, following on, may still be led In thy light to abide. MAN My God, I heard this day That none doth build a stately habitation But he that means to dwell therein. What house more stately hath there been, Or can be, than is man? to whose creation All things are in decay. More servants wait on man Than he'll take notice of: in every path He treads down that which doth befriend him, When sickness makes him pale and wan. O mighty love! man is one world, and hath Another to attend him. For us the winds do blow, The earth doth rest, heaven move, and fountains flow; Nothing we see but means our good, As our delight or as our treasure; The whole is either cupboard of our food, Or cabinet of pleasure. The stars have us to bed; Night draws the curtain, which the sun withdraws; Music and light attend our head; All things unto our flesh are kind In their descent and being; to our mind, In their ascent and cause. Since then, my God, thou hast So brave a palace built, O dwell in it That it may dwell with thee at last. Till then, afford us so much wit That, as the world serves us, we may serve thee, And both thy servants be. --George Herbert. EVER WITH THEE I am with thee, my God-- Where I desire to be: By day, by night, at home, abroad, I always am with thee. With thee when dawn comes on And calls me back to care, Each day returning to begin With thee, my God, in prayer.