Gifts

                                   I.
Not as the world gives, God to us doth give; 
No doubtful good, with half-reluctant hand 
That chides the taking; but an amplitude 
Of blessing, vast beyond the reach of thought, 
Rich beyond count, and constant as the heavens, 
With all their solemn march of sun and stars, 
Whose motions know no pause nor weariness, 
Chiming forever to the rhythmic songs 
Of angel-choirs, He presses on our souls, 
And most rejoices when we most receive.

                                   II.
Then let as take as greatly as He gives; 
Not with a hand that challenges the gift, 
Or seems the Giver's goodness to impeach, 
Or to fix bounds to His beneficence; 
But with a soul all open to receive, 
And growing ampler to receive the more, 
The more His love bestows; with thankfulness 
That links us in divinest fellowship
To Him who gives all good and perfect gifts 
From His great goodness and full perfectness.

                                   III.
So, to their overflowing, shall our hearts 
Be filled with love and gracious charities; 
So shall we learn, no more to be unlearned, 
The lesson, most divine, of doing good, 
Whence goodness, its divine necessity; 
So, growing in its likeness, we shall grow 
To the full stature of the Lord's redeemed, 
And know how sweet the freedom from all sin, 
How beautiful the ministry of love, 
How blest and all-sufficing, holiness.