Henry Charles Beeching, ed. (1859–1919). Lyra Sacra: A Book of Religious Verse. 1903. Stars By Thomas Toke Lynch (1818–1871)
SEE! 1 through the heavenly arch With silent stately march The starry ranks for ever sweep; In graduate scale of might They all are sons of light, 5 And all their times and orders keep. O glorious, countless host, Which shall I praise the most, Your lustrous groups, or course exact? Ye on your way sublime 10 Defy confusing time Your light to dim, your path distract. Earth’s early fathers saw The gospel and the law In the firm beauty of the skies: 15 O Thou unswerving Will, The unveiled heavens still Show Thee as glorious, good, and wise. Lord of the starry night, With awe and with delight 20 Under Thy temple dome we pray: Still as we gaze above, Temper our fear with love, That we may filial homage pay. Not as the primal force 25 Impelling Nature’s course We know Thee, but as Father dear: Oh, if with foolish mind We judge Thee weakly kind, Correct false love with filial fear. 30
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