Therefore, when thou wouldst pray, or dost thine alms, Blow not a trump before thee: Hypocrites Do thus, vaingloriously; the common streets Boast of their largess, echoing their psalms. On such the laud of men, like unctuous balms, Falls with sweet savor. Impious Counterfeits! Prating of heaven, for earth their bosom beats! Grasping at weeds, they lose immortal palms! God needs not iteration nor vain cries: That man communion with his God might share Below, Christ gave the ordinance of prayer: Vague ambages, and witless ecstasies, Avail not: ere a voice to prayer be given The heart should rise on wings of love to heaven. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE FOR YOU O DEMOCRACY by WALT WHITMAN AH, BIND MY HANDS by JOHANNA AMBROSIUS PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 29. AL-HAKIM by EDWIN ARNOLD MONCH AND JUNGFRAU by ANTON ALEXANDER VON AUERSPERG EMBLEMS OF LOVE: 22. 'TIS HONOURABLE TO BE LOVE'S MARTYR by PHILIP AYRES STANZAS ON FINDING THE KEY OF AN OLD PIANO by E. JUSTINE BAYARD |