Christian Classics
‹ The Christian Year
Contents
AdvertisementMorningEveningAdvent SundaySecond Sunday in Advent — The Signs of the TimesThird Sunday in Advent — The TravellersFourth Sunday in Advent — DimnessChristmas DaySt. Stephen’s DaySt. John’s DayThe Holy InnocentsFirst Sunday after Christmas — The Sun-dial of AhazThe CircumcisionSecond Sunday after Christmas — The Pilgrim's SongThe EpiphanyFirst Sunday after Epiphany — The NightingaleSecond Sunday after Epiphany — The Secret of PerpetualYouthThird Sunday after Epiphany — The Good CenturionFourth Sunday after Epiphany — The World is for Excitement, the Gospel for SoothingFifth Sunday after Epiphany — Cure Sin and you cure SorrowSixth Sunday after Epiphany — The Benefits of UncertaintySeptuagesima SundaySexagesima SundayQuinquagesima SundayAsh WednesdayFirst Sunday in Lent — The City of RefugeSecond Sunday in Lent — Esau's ForfeitThird Sunday in Lent — The Spoils of SatanFourth Sunday in Lent — The Rose-budFifth Sunday in Lent — The Burning BushSunday next before Easter — The Children in the TempleMonday before Easter — Christ waiting for the CrossTuesday before Easter — Christ refusing the wine and myrhhWednesday before Easter – Christ in the GardenThursday before Easter — The Vision of the Latter DaysGood FridayEaster EveEaster DayMonday in Easter Week — St. Peter and CorneliusTuesday in Easter Week — The Snow-dropFirst Sunday after Easter — The restless Pastor reprovedSecond Sunday after Easter — BalaamThird Sunday after Easter — Langour and TravailFourth Sunday after Easter — The Dove on the CrossFifth Sunday after Easter — The Priest’s IntercessorAscension DaySunday after Ascension Day — Seed timeWhitsundayMonday in Whitsun-week — The City of ConfusionTuesday in Whitsun-week — Holy OrdersTrinity SundayFirst Sunday after Trinity — Israel among the ruins of CanaanSecond Sunday after Trinity — Charity the Life of FaithThird Sunday after Trinity — Comfort for Sinners in the Presence of the GoodFourth Sunday after Trinity — The Groans of NatureFifth Sunday after Trinity — The Fishermen of BethsaidaSixth Sunday after Trinity — The Psalmist repentingSeventh Sunday after Trinity — The Feast in the WildernessEighth Sunday after Trinity — The Disobedient ProphetNinth Sunday after Trinity — Elijah in HorebTenth Sunday after Trinity — Christ weeping over JerusalemEleventh Sunday after Trinity — Gehazi reprovedTwelfth Sunday after Trinity — The Deaf and DumbThirteenth Sunday after Trinity — Moses on the MountFourteenth Sunday after Trinity — The Ten LepersFifteenth Sunday after Trinity — The Flowers of the FieldSixteenth Sunday after Trinity — Hope is better than EaseSeventeenth Sunday after Trinity — Ezekiel’s Vision in the TempleEighteenth Sunday after Trinity — The Church in the WildernessNineteenth Sunday after Trinity — Shadrach, Meshach, and AbednegoTwentieth Sunday after Trinity — Mountain SceneryTwenty-first Sunday after Trinity — The Red-breast in SeptemberTwenty-second Sunday after Trinity — The Rule of Christian forgivenessTwenty-third Sunday after Trinity — Forest Leaves in AutumnTwenty-fourth Sunday after Trinity — Imperfection of Human SympathyTwenty-fifth Sunday after Trinity — The two RainbowsSunday next before Advent — Self-examination before AdventSt. Andrew’s DaySt. Thomas the ApostleConversion of St. PaulPurification of St. Mary the VirginSt. Matthias’ DayAnnunciation of the Blessed Virgin MarySt. Mark’s DaySt. Philip and St. James’ DaySt. Barnabas the ApostleSt. John Baptist’s DaySt. Peter’s DaySt. James the ApostleSt. Bartholomew the ApostleSt. Matthew the ApostleSt. Michael and all AngelsSt. Luke the EvangelistSt. Simon and St. Jude, ApostlesAll Saints’ DayHoly CommunionHoly BaptismCatechismConfirmationMatrimonyVisitation and Communion of the SickBurial of the DeadChurching of WomenComminationForms of Prayer to Be Used at SeaGunpowder TreasonKing Charles the MartyrThe Restoration of the Royal FamilyThe AccessionOrdination

John Keble · 97 of 110

Holy Baptism

Where is it mothers learn their love? — In every Church a fountain springs O’er which th’ Eternal Dove Hovers out softest wings.

What sparkles in that lucid flood Is water, by gross mortals ey’d: But seen by Faith, ’tis blood Out of a dear Friend’s side.

A few calm words of faith and prayer, A few bright drops of holy dew, Shall work a wonder there Earth’s charmers never knew.

O happy arms, where cradled lies, And ready for the Lord’s embrace, That precious sacrifice, The darling of His !

Blest eyes, that see the smiling gleam 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, With true and fearless mind To serve the Virgin-born.

But happiest ye, who seal’d and blest Back to your arms your treasure take, With Jesus’ mark impress’d To nurse for Jesus’ sake:

To whom — as if in hallow’d air Ye knelt before some awful shrine — His innocent gestures wear A meaning half divine:

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. —

Who taught thy pure and even breath To come and go with such sweet ? thy reposing Faith, Though in our frail embrace?

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 .

Sweet one, make haste and know Him too, Thine own adopting Father love, That like thine earliest dew Thy dying sweets may prove.