THOU GOD OF BETHEL, LEAVE US NOT.
By J. E. Rankin, D. D.
THOU God of Bethel, leave us not,
Though we so soon forget thee,
The sacred day, and hour, and spot,
Where in our need we met thee;
The angel ministries of youth,
Stern voices uttered later
To hold us steadfast to the truth,
To thee, our great Creator. The vows we made thee in distress,
Vows of our need begotten,
Since lost in our unthankfulness,
Or in our joys forgotten;
The altar, in our straits we made,
And in our zeal anointed;
Thy house, where our warm vows we paid,
In sacred ways appointed. Thou God of Bethel, here we kneel,
These broken vows renewing;
Us to a true repentance seal,
Our upward path pursuing.
Go thou before us, in the road,
All our sad past forgiven;
Make life itself the house of God,
The very gate of Heaven.
—J. E. Rankin, D. D.