To Cowper and other poems : autograph manuscript of 9 poems, signed, 1842–1845
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan, 1900
A Hymn
Eternal power of earth and air!
Unseen, yet seen in all around;
Remote, but dwelling everywhere
Though silent, heard in every sound
If o’er e’er thine ear in mercy bent,
When wretched mortals cried to thee,
And if indeed thy sun Son was sent,
To save lost sinners such as me –
Then hear me now, while, kneeling here;
I lift to thee my streaming heart and eye,
And all my soul ascends in prayer
Oh give me – give me Faith! I cried cry.
Without some glimmering in my heart,
I could not raise this fervent prayer;
But, Oh! A stronger light impart;
And in thy mercy fix it there!
Text as published in Poems (1846)
THE DOUBTER’S PRAYER
Eternal Power, of earth and air!
Unseen, yet seen in all around,
Remote, but dwelling everywhere,
Though silent, heard in every sound.
If e’er thine ear in mercy bent,
When wretched mortals cried to Thee,
And if, indeed, Thy Son was sent,
To save lost sinners such as me:
Then hear me now, while, kneeling here,
I lift to thee my heart and eye,
And all my soul ascends in prayer,
Oh, give me—give me Faith! I cry.
Without some glimmering in my heart,
I could not raise this fervent prayer;
But, oh! A stronger light impart,
And in Thy mercy fix it there.
“A Hymn” (pp. 8–11)
Dated 10 September 1843, when Brontë was twenty-three. First published in Poems (1846) with title “The Doubter’s Prayer.” Poem 23 in Chitham (1979).