10 December 2010

Per Pacem Ad Lucem

by Adelaide A. Procter

I DO not ask, O Lord, that life may be
A pleasant road;
I do not ask that Thou wouldst take from me
Aught of its load;

I do not ask that flowers should always spring
Beneath my feet;
I know too well the poison and the sting
Of things too sweet.

For one thing only, Lord, dear Lord, I plead,
Lead me aright—
Though strength should falter, and though heart should bleed—
Through Peace to Light.

I do not ask, O Lord, that thou shouldst shed
Full radiance here;
Give but a ray of peace, that I may tread
Without a fear.

I do not ask my cross to understand,
My way to see;
Better in darkness just to feel Thy hand
And follow Thee.

Joy is like restless day; but peace divine
Like quiet night:
Lead me, O Lord,—till perfect Day shall shine,
Through Peace to Light.

HT: Starck's Prayer Book

3 comments:

Elizabeth said...

VERY good poem! Much needed over here!

Amberg said...

That's good poetry.

The problem with pietism is that it's awesome at describing our sinful condition and the false promises of the world, but awful at describing the Gospel.

Francis Pieper had to "cleanse" Starck's prayer book. I didn't know that it's in the English. Where can I find a copy?

Rebekah said...

Amberg, CPH recently released an edition edited by Pastor William Weedon. There is also a reprint available from Emmanuel Press.

Dau's preface deals knowledgeably and charitably with the matter of Starck's pietism as it is relevant to the Prayer Book.