BY BERNARD BARTON.

O Father of the human race!

The white, the black, the bond, the free,

Thanks for thy gift of heavenly grace,

Vouchsafed through Jesus Christ to me.

This, 'mid oppression's every wrong,

Has borne my sinking spirits up;

Made sorrow joyful, weakness strong,

And sweetened Slavery's bitter cup.

Hath not a Saviour's dying hour

Made e'en the yoke of thraldom light?

Hath not thy Holy Spirit's power

Made bondage freedom? darkness bright?

Thanks then, O Father! for the gift

Which through thy Gospel thou hast given,

Which thus from bonds and earth can lift

The soul to liberty and heaven.

But not the less I mourn their shame,

Who, mindless of thy gracious will,

Call on the holy Father's name,

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