Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Literary
May 5, 1849
New England Religious Herald
Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut
What is this article about?
A Puritan hymn celebrating the pilgrims' safe arrival in the New World after crossing the sea. It expresses gratitude to God for protection, faith without formal trappings, and hope for planting truth in the new land's virgin soil, seeking divine blessing on their freedom and future.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
POETRY.
THE PILGRIMS HYMN.
The desert sea is passed, and we
Have found a desert shore;
The track is lost by which we crossed,
And leads us back no more.
The wife is come, and here is home;
The native scene exiled!
The past is fled, the parent dead,
The future here, the child.
How still the rock, how frail the flock,
That tripped its surface o'er!
How black the hill, how fixed and still
The anchor of the shore!
How dark the wave, our path doth lave
With foam-wreaths on the beach!
How dark the wood, where fails the flood
Its branches white to reach!
'Tis heaven we know, where'er we go,
All tender is its care!
To Heaven we raise united praise
And undistracted prayer.
We thank thee, Lord! we bear thy word
In safety o'er the sea,
That here its store, though wild the shore,
A living seed may be.
No host we bring: we left the King
Well guarded on his throne;
Nor mitred priest, the light east
On real shepherds shone.
No sacred line, nor mystic sign
Can make the spirit free;
By faith subdued, by grace renewed,
We trace its birth to Thee.
In elder land, where temples stand,
Truth had not light or room;
The darkened past, compelled to last,
Forbade its stalks to bloom.
The forest here its hope shall cheer,
Beneath no tares arise:
Creation's spoil, a virgin soil,
Prepared it for the skies.
And they that plant shall never want,
In faith that scatters still,
Its seed shall sow where rivers flow,
And gather by the hill.
The mighty sun his race half done,
Pours down a clearer ray;
The Sun of peace and righteousness
Illumes the latter day.
Our God! our prayer, with righteous care,
Hear while we seek to love!
Let all be thine, our trust, our line,
As in thy seats above.
And while 'tis so, thy servants know
Thy people will be free;
Great God! if Heaven to us be given,
Still keep this land to Thee.
Puritan.
THE PILGRIMS HYMN.
The desert sea is passed, and we
Have found a desert shore;
The track is lost by which we crossed,
And leads us back no more.
The wife is come, and here is home;
The native scene exiled!
The past is fled, the parent dead,
The future here, the child.
How still the rock, how frail the flock,
That tripped its surface o'er!
How black the hill, how fixed and still
The anchor of the shore!
How dark the wave, our path doth lave
With foam-wreaths on the beach!
How dark the wood, where fails the flood
Its branches white to reach!
'Tis heaven we know, where'er we go,
All tender is its care!
To Heaven we raise united praise
And undistracted prayer.
We thank thee, Lord! we bear thy word
In safety o'er the sea,
That here its store, though wild the shore,
A living seed may be.
No host we bring: we left the King
Well guarded on his throne;
Nor mitred priest, the light east
On real shepherds shone.
No sacred line, nor mystic sign
Can make the spirit free;
By faith subdued, by grace renewed,
We trace its birth to Thee.
In elder land, where temples stand,
Truth had not light or room;
The darkened past, compelled to last,
Forbade its stalks to bloom.
The forest here its hope shall cheer,
Beneath no tares arise:
Creation's spoil, a virgin soil,
Prepared it for the skies.
And they that plant shall never want,
In faith that scatters still,
Its seed shall sow where rivers flow,
And gather by the hill.
The mighty sun his race half done,
Pours down a clearer ray;
The Sun of peace and righteousness
Illumes the latter day.
Our God! our prayer, with righteous care,
Hear while we seek to love!
Let all be thine, our trust, our line,
As in thy seats above.
And while 'tis so, thy servants know
Thy people will be free;
Great God! if Heaven to us be given,
Still keep this land to Thee.
Puritan.
What sub-type of article is it?
Poem
Hymn Or Psalm
What themes does it cover?
Religious
Liberty Freedom
Patriotism
What keywords are associated?
Pilgrims Hymn
Puritan Faith
New World
Thanksgiving
Divine Providence
Virgin Soil
Spiritual Freedom
What entities or persons were involved?
Puritan.
Literary Details
Title
The Pilgrims Hymn.
Author
Puritan.
Subject
Pilgrims' Arrival And Thanksgiving In The New World
Key Lines
The Desert Sea Is Passed, And We
Have Found A Desert Shore;
The Track Is Lost By Which We Crossed,
And Leads Us Back No More.
We Thank Thee, Lord! We Bear Thy Word
In Safety O'er The Sea,
That Here Its Store, Though Wild The Shore,
A Living Seed May Be.
Great God! If Heaven To Us Be Given,
Still Keep This Land To Thee.