New mercies

John Keble wrote “Morning” (based on Lamentations 3:22-23) circa 1827, and printed The Christian Year, Thoughts in Verse for the Sundays and Holydays throughout the Year. Keble was born April 25, 1792, Fairford, Gloucestershire, England. He was educated at the University of Oxford. A priest in the Church of England, as well as theologian and poet, Keble was ordained in 1816. He was a leader in the Oxford Movement (a “High Church” movement in the Church of England). Keble died March 29, 1866 at Bournemouth, Hampshire, and is buried at All Saints Churchyard at Hursley, City of Winchester, Hampshire, England.

Other poetic collections by Keble include The Psalter, Or, Psalms of David in English Verse (1839) and Lyra Innocentium (1846). The five stanzas below are stanzas 6-8, 14, and 16 of sixteen that appear in The Christian Year, pages 1-4. “Morning” often appears with the tune Melcombe by Samuel Webbe (1740-1816). For a tune in The Sacred Harp or Southern Harmony, I suggest Hebron.

1.(6) New every morning is the love
Our wakening and uprising prove;
Through sleep and darkness safely brought,
Restored to life, and power, and thought.

2.(7) New mercies, each returning day,
Hover around us while we pray;
New perils past, new sins forgiven,
New thoughts of God, new hopes of heaven.

3.(8) If on our daily course our mind
Be set to hallow all we find,
New treasures still, of countless price,
God will provide for sacrifice.

4.(14) The trivial round, the common task,
Would furnish all we ought to ask,
Room to deny ourselves; a road
To bring us, daily, nearer God.

5.(16) Only, O Lord, in thy dear love
Fit us for perfect Rest above;
And help us, this and every day,
To live more nearly as we pray.