Dear Lord and Father of Mankind

A famous Quaker poet, who disliked too much emotion in worship, wrote a poem about it. Before long it became a classic! Here’s the story behind John Greenleaf Whittier’s hymn.

LYRICS

1 Dear Lord and Father of mankind,

forgive our foolish ways;

re-clothe us in our rightful mind,

in purer lives thy service find,

in deeper reverence praise.

2 In simple trust like theirs who heard,

beside the Syrian sea,

the gracious calling of the Lord,

rise up and follow thee.

3 O Sabbath rest by Galilee!

O calm of hills above,

where Jesus knelt to share with thee

the silence of eternity,

interpreted by love!

4 Drop thy still dews of quietness,

till all our strivings cease;

take from our souls the strain and stress,

and let our ordered lives confess

the beauty of thy peace.

5 Breathe through the heats of our desire

thy coolness and thy balm;

let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;

speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,

O still small voice of calm.