| Henry Charles Beeching, ed. (1859–1919). Lyra Sacra: A Book of Religious Verse. 1903. | | | | Couplets | | By Richard Chenevix Trench (1807–1886) |
| | | TO halls of heavenly truth admission wouldst thou win, | |
| Oft Knowledge stands without, while Love may enter in. | |
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| Who praises God the most, what says he more than he | |
| Who silent is? Yet who would therefore silent be? | |
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| From our ill-ordered hearts we oft are fain to roam; | 5 |
| As men go forth who find unquietness at home. | |
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| Before the eyes of men let duly shine thy light, | |
| But ever let thy life’s best part be out of sight. | |
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| My proud foe at my hands to take no boon will choose— | |
| Thy prayers are that one gift which he cannot refuse. | 10 |
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| Wouldst thou go forth to bless, be sure of thine own ground; | |
| Fix well thy centre first, then draw thy circles round. | |
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| The man is happy, Lord, who love like this doth owe, | |
| Loves Thee, his friend in Thee, and for Thy sake his foe. | |
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| Why win we not at once what we in prayer require? | 15 |
| That we may learn great things as greatly to desire. | |
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| The tasks, the joys of earth, the same in heaven will be; | |
| Only the little brook has widened to a sea. | | | | |
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