The Christian year thoughts in verse for the Sundays and holidays throughout the year ... hundredth edition [by John Keble] |
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Confirmation.
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 | The Christian year |  |
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Confirmation.
The shadow of th' Almighty's cloud
Calm on the tents of Israel lay,
While drooping paus'd twelve banners proud,
Till He arise and lead the way.
Calm on the tents of Israel lay,
While drooping paus'd twelve banners proud,
Till He arise and lead the way.
Then to the desert breeze unroll'd
Cheerly the waving pennons fly,
Lion or eagle—each bright fold
A lodestar to a warrior's eye.
Cheerly the waving pennons fly,
Lion or eagle—each bright fold
A lodestar to a warrior's eye.
So should Thy champions, ere the strife,
By holy hands o'ershadow'd kneel,
So, fearless for their charmèd life,
Bear to the end, Thy Spirit's seal.
By holy hands o'ershadow'd kneel,
So, fearless for their charmèd life,
Bear to the end, Thy Spirit's seal.
Steady and pure as stars that beam
In middle heaven, all mist above,
Seen deepest in the frozen stream:—
Such is their high courageous love.
In middle heaven, all mist above,
Seen deepest in the frozen stream:—
Such is their high courageous love.
And soft as pure, and warm as bright,
They brood upon life's peaceful hour,
As if the Dove that guides their flight
Shook from her plumes a downy shower.
They brood upon life's peaceful hour,
As if the Dove that guides their flight
Shook from her plumes a downy shower.
Spirit of might and sweetness too!
Now leading on the wars of God,
Now to green isles of shade and dew
Turning the waste Thy people trod;
Now leading on the wars of God,
Now to green isles of shade and dew
Turning the waste Thy people trod;
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Draw, Holy Ghost, Thy seven-fold veil
Between us and the fires of youth;
Breathe, Holy Ghost, Thy freshening gale,
Our fever'd brow in age to soothe.
Between us and the fires of youth;
Breathe, Holy Ghost, Thy freshening gale,
Our fever'd brow in age to soothe.
And oft as sin and sorrow tire,
The hallow'd hour do Thou renew,
When beckon'd up the awful choir
By pastoral hands, toward Thee we drew;
The hallow'd hour do Thou renew,
When beckon'd up the awful choir
By pastoral hands, toward Thee we drew;
When trembling at the sacred rail
We hid our eyes and held our breath,
Felt Thee how strong, our hearts how frail,
And long'd to own Thee to the death.
We hid our eyes and held our breath,
Felt Thee how strong, our hearts how frail,
And long'd to own Thee to the death.
For ever on our souls be trac'd
That blessing dear, that dove-like hand,
A sheltering rock in Memory's waste,
O'ershadowing all the weary land.
That blessing dear, that dove-like hand,
A sheltering rock in Memory's waste,
O'ershadowing all the weary land.
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