The Works of God

The Works of God

There is a book, who runs may read,

Which heavenly truth imparts,

And all the lore its scholars need,

Pure eyes and Christian hearts.

The works of God above, below,

Within us and around,

Are pages in that book, to show

How God himself is found.

The glorious sky embracing all

Is lie the Maker's Love,

Wherewith encompassed great and small

In peace and order move.

The moon above, the Church below,

A wond'rous race they run,

But all their radiance, all their glow,

Each borrows of its Sun.

The Saviour lends the light and heat

That crowns His holy hill;

The saints, like stars, around his seat,

Perform their courses still.

The saints above are stars in heaven -

What are the saints on earth?

Like trees they stand whom God has given

Our Eden's happy birth.

Faith is their fixed unswerving root,

Hope their unfading flower,

Fair deeds of charity their fruit,

The glory of their bower.

The dew of heaven is like Thy grace,

It steals in silence down;

But where it lights, the favor'd place

By richest fruits is known.

Thou, who hast given me eyes to see

And love this sight so fair,

Give me a heart to find out Thee,

And read Thee every where.

Bishop Keble

New Series 1:28, p. 4

1840.09.12