Oh, timely happy, timely wise,
Hearts that with rising morn arise!
Eyes that the beam celestial view,
Which evermore makes all things new!
New every morning is the love Our wakening and uprising prove, Through sleep and darkness safely brought, Restored to life, and power, and thought.
New mercies, each returning day,
Hover around us while we pray;
New perils past, new sins forgiven,
New thoughts of God, new hopes of heaven.
If, on our dailv course, our mind Be set to hallow all we find,
New treasures still, of countless price,
God will provide for sacrifice.
Old friends, old scenes, will lovelier be,
As more of heaven in each we see;
Some softening gleam of love and prayer Shall dawn on every cross and care.
As for some dear familiar strain Untied we ask, and ask again,
Ever, in its melodious store,
Finding a spell unheard before;
Such is the bliss of souls serene,
When they have sworn, and steadfast mean, Counting the cost, in all t’ espy Their God, in all themselves deny.
Oh, could we learn that sacrifice,
What lights would all around us rise! How would our hearts with wisdom talk Along life’s dullest, dreariest walk!
We need not bid, for cloister’d cell,
Our neighbor and our work farewell,
Nor strive to wind ourselves too high For sinful man beneath the sky;
The trivial round, the common task,
Will furnish all we ought to ask;
Room to deny ourselves,—a road To bring us, daily, nearer God.
Seek we no more: content with these,
Let present rapture, comfort, ease,
As heaven shall bid them, come and go; The secret this of rest below.
Only, O Lord, in Thy dear love Fit us for perfect rest above,
And help us, this and every day,
To live more nearly as we pray!
John Keble.
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