'On earth be peace!'-O God, that word <br />To our ears comes not, as it came, <br />When by Judea's shepherds heard <br />From opening skies and lips of flame. <br /> <br /> <br />Yet 't is thy word, when mortal tongue <br />Makes it the burden of a hymn, <br />Not less than when, of old, it rung <br />From golden harps of cherubim. <br /> <br /> <br />What though heaven's gates no more expand, <br />And heavenly hosts their hymning cease! <br />On earth thine humbler servants stand, <br />In humbler temples, 'preaching peace.' <br /> <br /> <br />Peace to the passions, when they show <br />Resistance to thy wise control; <br />Peace to all fears, but those which go <br />In arms against a sinful soul. <br /> <br /> <br />Peace may thy servant preach, who now <br />Comes, as a herald of thy grace, <br />To lead thy people when they bow <br />In worship, in this holy place. <br /> <br /> <br />Beneath his care and labors, Lord, <br />O, grant thy vineyard large increase; <br />And may a crown, as his reward, <br />Be given him by the Prince of Peace.<br /><br />John Pierpont<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/hymns-for-ordination-and-installation-vii/
