Even so, the course of prayer who knows? It springs in silence where it will,
Springs out of sight, and flows
At first a lonely rill:
But streams shall meet it by and by
From thousand sympathetic hearts,
Together swelling high
Their chant of many parts.
From thousand sympathetic hearts,
Together swelling high
Their chant of many parts.
Unheard by all but angel ears
The good Cornelius knelt alone,
Nor dream’d his prayers and tears
Would help a world undone.
The good Cornelius knelt alone,
Nor dream’d his prayers and tears
Would help a world undone.
The while upon his terrac’d roof
The lov’d Apostle to his Lord
In silent thought aloof
For Heavenly vision soar’d.
The lov’d Apostle to his Lord
In silent thought aloof
For Heavenly vision soar’d.
Far o’er the glowing western main
His wistful brow was upward rais’d,
Where, like an angel’s train,
The burnish’d water blaz’d.
His wistful brow was upward rais’d,
Where, like an angel’s train,
The burnish’d water blaz’d.
The saint beside the ocean pray’d,
The soldier in his chosen bower,
Where all his eye survey’d
Seem’d sacred in that hour.
The soldier in his chosen bower,
Where all his eye survey’d
Seem’d sacred in that hour.
To each unknown his brother’s prayer,
Yet brethren true in dearest love
Were they—and now they share
Fraternal joys above. —John Keble
Yet brethren true in dearest love
Were they—and now they share
Fraternal joys above. —John Keble
Craig T. Owens 