Songs by the Way, by George Washington Doane (1860)

Project Canterbury

"Songs by the Way"
The Poetical Writings of the Right Rev. George Washington Doane, D.D., LL.D.

Arranged and Edited by His Son, William Croswell Doane

New York: D. Appleton, 1860.

TO ONE OF RAPHAEL'S ANGELS.*

"Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my FATHER which is in heaven."

SWEET angel, while I gaze on thee,
     So mute, so meek, so mild,
I deem that thou must surely be
     The angel of some child;
To whom the SAVIOUR said, such grace,
     For our sakes, has been given,
That they behold the FATHER'S face,
     Continually in Heaven.

Sweet angel, I would be like thee,
     In faith, in hope, in love;
My heart's affections, constantly,
     Engaged with things above;
My thoughts, turned off from earth, like thine,
     "Commercing with the skies,"
Till all the Majesty Divine
     Grow radiant, to mine eyes.

Sweet angel, I will ever pray,
     To JESUS meek and mild,
That I may be, from day to day,
     Still more, His "little child."
So, through the Cross, such grace to me,
     May graciously be given,
That thou for me, may'st always see
     My FATHER'S face, in Heaven.

THE BREAKERS, June, 1853.

* That one of the two at the foot of the Madonna di S. Sisto, which is leaning on both arms.

Project Canterbury