Benedictus

FOR what we have received, O God,
We give thee grace!
Our tide of fortune was at flood;
We were content to live for gains ;
Our flesh was flaccid, and our blood
But tamely tinctured in our veins.
Thou sawest, and didst lift thy rod :
Stern was thy face.
For what we have received, O God,
We give thee grace !

For what we have received, O Lord,
We offer thanks !
Such soul of pity for thine own,
Suffering worse than only death,
As made the heart in us to groan
As groaneth one who travaileth.
Not peace thou gavest, but a sword
To us, thy ranks.
For what we have received, O Lord,
We offer thanks!

For what we have received, O God,
We give thee grace !
Our bullets buttoning the bond
'Twixt us and ours across the sea ;
Our armor all unhalting donned
By South and North, from ranch to quay ;
Our common love of flag and sod,
Leveling race.
For what we have received, O God,
We give thee grace !

For what we have received, O Lord,
We offer thanks!
Thy meat of mercy and thy cup
Of bitter weeping for our slain,
Whereby we may be lifted up,
And not cast down nor broke in twain ;
The holy hope wherefor we warred,
In one phalanx.
For what we have received, O Lord,
We offer thanks !

We offer thanks, we give thee grace,
O Lord our God,
For all thy measure of success,
Thy light, thy strength, thy guiding hand !
And now we call on thee to bless
Our tested and triumphant land.
Meek make our hearts, lest thou shouldst trace
There “ Ichabod.”
We offer thanks, we gave thee grace,
0 Lord our God !

Julie M. Lippmann.