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

By Richard Chenevix Trench (1807–1886)

Couplets

 
TO halls of heavenly truth admission wouldst thou win,
Oft Knowledge stands without, while Love may enter in.
 
Who praises God the most, what says he more than he
Who silent is? Yet who would therefore silent be?
 
From our ill-ordered hearts we oft are fain to roam;        5
As men go forth who find unquietness at home.
 
Before the eyes of men let duly shine thy light,
But ever let thy life’s best part be out of sight.
 
My proud foe at my hands to take no boon will choose—
Thy prayers are that one gift which he cannot refuse.        10
 
Wouldst thou go forth to bless, be sure of thine own ground;
Fix well thy centre first, then draw thy circles round.
 
The man is happy, Lord, who love like this doth owe,
Loves Thee, his friend in Thee, and for Thy sake his foe.
 
Why win we not at once what we in prayer require?        15
That we may learn great things as greatly to desire.
 
The tasks, the joys of earth, the same in heaven will be;
Only the little brook has widened to a sea.