August 17

WHO fathoms the Eternal Thought? Who talks of scheme and plan?

The Lord is God! He needeth not The poor device of man.

I walk with bare, hushed feet the ground, Ye tread with boldness shod;

I dare not fix with mete and bound The love and power of God.

Ye praise His justice; even such His pitying love I deem:

Ye seek a king; I fain would touch The robe that hath no seam.

I see the wrong that round me lies, I feel the guilt within;

I hear, with groans and travail-cries, The world confess its sin:

Yet in the maddening maze of things, And tossed by storm and flood,

To one fixed trust my spirit clings,— I know that God is good!

Not mine to look where cherubim And seraphs may not see,

But nothing can be good in Him Which evil is to me.

The wrong that pains my soul below I dare not throne above;

I know not of His hate,—I know His goodness and His love.

I. G. WHITTIER

PEACE AT EVENING