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The Christian Year
by Blessed John Keble 

 SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY.

The invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are 
clearly seen, being understood by the things which are made. 
                                       Romans i. 20. 

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 shew 
How God himself is found. 

The glorious sky embracing all 
Is like the Maker's love, 
Wherewith encompass'd, great and small 
In peace and order move. 

The Moon above, the Church below, 
A wondrous 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 fix¹d 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 favour'd place 
By richest fruits is known. 

One Name above all glorious names 
With its ten thousand tongues 
The everlasting sea proclaims, 
Echoing angelic songs. 

The raging Fire, the roaring Wind, 
Thy boundless power display: 
But in the gentler breeze we find 
Thy Spirit¹s viewless way. 

Two worlds are ours: 'tis only Sin 
Forbids us to descry 
The mystic heaven and earth within, 
Plain as the sea and sky. 

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 everywhere.