W. Garrett Horder, comp. The Poets’ Bible: New Testament. 1895.
St. John
John Keble (1792–1866)“L
Ask’st thou, Christian, for thy friend?
If his love for Christ be true,
Christ hath told thee of his end:
This is he whom God approves,
This is he whom Jesus loves.
Leave it in His Saviour’s breast,
Whether, early call’d to bliss,
He in youth shall find his rest,
Or armed in his station wait
Till his Lord be at the gate:
(Lonely, not forlorn) he stay,
Or with Love’s supporting force
Cheat the toil and cheer the way:
Leave it all in His high hand
Who doth hearts as streams command.
Sweeter melodies can wake
On the lonely mountain rill
Than the meeting waters make.
Who hath the Father and the Son,
May be left, but not alone.
Wealthy, or despis’d and poor—
What is that to him or thee,
So his love to Christ endure?
When the shore is won at last,
Who will count the billows past?
At the touch of natural grief,
When our earthly lov’d one sink,
Lend us, Lord, Thy sure relief;
Patient hearts, their pain to see,
And Thy grace, to follow Thee.