111. From ‘The Eternal Word’ by Frederick William Faber. Nicholson & Lee, eds. 1917. The Oxford Book of English Mystical Verse

Nicholson & Lee, eds. The Oxford Book of English Mystical Verse. 1917.

111. From ‘The Eternal Word’

By Frederick William Faber (1814–1863)

I AMID the eternal silences
God’s endless Word was spoken;
None heard but He who always spake,
And the silence was unbroken.
Oh marvellous! Oh worshipful!	5
No song or sound is heard,
But everywhere and every hour,
In love, in wisdom, and in power,
The Father speaks His dear Eternal Word!

II For ever in the eternal land	10
The glorious Day is dawning;
For ever is the Father’s Light
Like an endless outspread morning.
Oh marvellous! Oh worshipful!
No song or sound is heard,	15
But everywhere and every hour,
In love, in wisdom, and in power,
The Father speaks His dear Eternal Word!

III From the Father’s vast tranquillity,
In light co-equal glowing	20
The kingly consubstantial Word
Is unutterably flowing.
Oh marvellous! Oh worshipful!
No song or sound is heard,
But everywhere and every hour,	25
In love, in wisdom, and in power,
The Father speaks His dear Eternal Word!

IV For ever climbs that Morning Star
Without ascent or motion;
For ever is its daybreak shed	30
On the Spirit’s boundless ocean.
Oh marvellous! Oh worshipful!
No song or sound is heard,
But everywhere and every hour,
In love, in wisdom, and in power,	35
The Father speaks His dear Eternal Word!