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The First Edition of Keble's Christian Year (1897)
The First Edition of Keble's Christian Year - 1897 Author:John Keble Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: III. ADVENT SUNDAY. Now it is high time to awake out of sleep, for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. Romans xiii. 11. AWAKE—again the G... more »ospel-trump is blown— From year to year it swells with louder tone, Prom year to year the signs of wrath Are gathering round the Judge's path, Strange words fulfill'd, and mighty works achiev'd, And truth in all the world both hated and believ'd. Awake! why linger in the gorgeous town, Sworn liegemen of the Cross and thorny crown ? Up from your beds of sloth for shame, Speed to the eastern mount like flame, Nor wonder, should ye find your King in tears, Even with the loud Hosanna ringing in his ears. Alas! no need to rouse them : long ago They are gone forth, to swell Messiah's show: With glittering robes and garlands sweet They strew the ground beneath his feet: All but your hearts are there—O set to prove True confessors in faith, worst hypocrites in love! Meanwhile he paces through th' adoring crowd, Calm as the march of some majestic cloud, That o'er wild scenes of ocean-war Holds its still course in heaven afar: Even so, heart-searching Lord, as years roll on, Thou keepest silent watch from thy triumphal throne. Even so, the world is thronging round to gaze On the dread vision of the latter days, Constrain'd to own Thee, but in heart Prepared to take Barabbas' part: " Hosanna" now, to-morrow " Crucify," The changeful burden still of their rude lawless cry. Yet in that throng of selfish hearts untrue Thy sad eye rests upon thy faithful few, Children and childlike souls are there, Blind Bartimeus" humble prayer, And Lazarus waken'd from his four days' sleep, Enduring life again, that Passover to keep. And fast beside the olive-border'd way Stands the bless'd home,...« less