Thou Long Disowned, Reviled, Oppressed Poem by Eliza Scudder

Thou long disowned, reviled, oppressed,
Strange friend of human kind,
Seeking through weary years a rest
Within our hearts to find; -

How late thy bright and awful brow
Breaks through these clouds of sin!
Hail, Truth divine! we know Thee now;
Angel of God, come in!

Come, though with purifying fire
And desolating sword,
Thou of all nations the desire!
Earth waits thy cleansing word.

Struck by the lightning of thy glance,
Let old oppressions die:
Before thy cloudless countenance
Let fear and falsehood fly.

Anoint our eyes with healing grace,
To see, as ne'er before,
Our Father in our brother's face,
Our Maker in his poor.

Flood our dark life with golden day:
Convince, subdue, enthrall:
Then to a mightier yield thy sway,
And Love to be all in all.