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Home  »  Lyra Sacra: A Book of Religious Verse  »  Holy Baptism

Henry Charles Beeching, ed. (1859–1919). Lyra Sacra: A Book of Religious Verse. 1903.

By John Keble (1792–1866)

Holy Baptism

 
O HAPPY arms where cradled lies,
  And ready for the Lord’s embrace,
    That precious sacrifice,
        The darling of His grace!
 
Blest eyes, that see the smiling gleam        5
  Upon the slumbering features glow,
    When the life-giving stream
        Touches the tender brow.
 
Or, when the holy cross is sign’d
  And the young soldier duly sworn,        10
    With true and fearless mind,
        To serve the Virgin-born.
 
But happiest ye, who, sealed and blest,
  Back to your arms your treasure take,
    With Jesus’ mark impressed,        15
        To nurse for Jesus’ sake.
 
By whom Love’s daily touch is seen,
  In strengthening form and freshening hue,
    In the fix’d brow serene,
        The deep yet eager view.        20
 
O tender gem, and full of heaven!
  Not in the twilight stars on high,
    Not in moist flowers at even,
        See we our God so nigh.