Love's Philosophy

The fountains mingle with the river

And the rivers with the ocean

The winds of heaven mix for ever

With a sweet emotion;

Nothing in the world is single,

All things by a law divine

In one another's being mingle­

Why not I with thine?

See the mountains kiss high heaven

And the waves clasp one another

No sister-flower would be forgiven

If it disdain'd its brother;

And the sunlight clasps the earth,

And the moonbeams kiss the sea­

What are all these kisses worth

If thou kiss not me?

Happy Chinese and Vietnamese New Year 2011

For mercy great, unending still,

Which gave up to the grave

Thine only Son, the Sinless One,

Our sinful souls to save.

While entering on another year

Our cares on Thee we cast,

Beseeching aid in days to come

Which cheered us through the past.

That still the freedom may be ours

To kneel down in Thy sight,

And worship Thee at shut of day,

And in the morning light.

That from temptation's fatal paths

Thou turn our steps away;

And keep us from unholy thoughts

That lead the mind astray.

No more may lust of worldly wealth

Command thoughts that are thine;

Nor may we envy other's lot,

Or at our own repine.

Than all the riches earth can boast

Or gems beneath the sea,

We know the pious, humble heart,

More precious is to Thee.

How needful, then, to train our thoughts,

And fan the heavenly flame

Of faith, in the believing heart,

Triumphing o'er sin and shame

And holding by the Word, thou hast

For grace and guidance given,

Pass trough this world in holy fear,

True candidates for heaven.