Henry Charles Beeching, ed. (1859–1919). Lyra Sacra: A Book of Religious Verse. 1903.
By John Keble (17921866)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. | |