Bernard Barton, known, like John Greenleaf Whittier, as "the Quaker poet," was born in England on this date in 1784. Here is Barton's hymn on the text of Psalm 119:105: Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.



Lamp of our feet whereby we trace

Our path when wont to stray;

Stream from the fount of heav’nly grace,

Brook by the traveler’s way.



Bread of our souls whereon we feed,

True manna from on high;

Our guide and chart wherein we read

Of realms beyond the sky.



Pillar of fire, through watches dark,

Or radiant cloud by day;

When waves would break our tossing bark,

Our anchor and our stay.



Word of the ever living God,

Will of His glorious Son;

Without Thee, how could earth be trod

Or heav’n itself be won?



Yet to unfold thy hidden worth,

Thy mysteries to reveal,

That Spirit which first gave thee forth,

Thy volume must unseal.



Lord, grant us all aright to learn

The wisdom it imparts

And to its heavenly teaching turn

With simple, childlike hearts.