Ant. The Word was God; in him was life, and the life was the light of men, and the light shineth in darkness.-John, i. Ant. By one Spirit are we all baptized into one body.-1 Cor. xii. Ant. Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father, and Jesus Christ our Lord.1 Tim. i. Ant. When ye glorify the Lord, exalt him as much as ye can, for even yet will ye far exceed.-Eccl. xliii. Capitulum. Rev. vii. Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. The Hymn. O luce que tuâ lates O thou who hidden art in thine own light, We thy great name confess, O Father, holiest of most holy, thou! The Father doth himself behold entire, In God the Son the Father is entire, The Spirit is entire. Such as the Son e'en such the Spirit is, v. Who can express the noble acts of the Lord ?- -r. Or shew forth all his praise?— Ps. cvi. Enough, perhaps, has here been given to shew the character of the service the first set of Antiphones seems to refer to the Godhead as One; the second to God the Father more particularly; the third set to the Son; the fourth to the Holy Spirit; the last, at the Lauds, to each of the three Persons. The responsories to the Holy Trinity collectively. SACRED POETRY. THE TIME OF TRIBULATION. "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee." Ah, wherefore dost thou faint, desponding heart? An atmosphere of care and trouble still Is round thee; thou hast drunk some little part Jan. 17, 1837. Ꮎ . CONTENTEDNESS. He was there in the prison: but the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy. . . . And whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. . . And that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper." Art thou contented, say, Where God hath bid thee stay? Is not thine heritage a goodly land? Lest in our Sion's breach thou see her foemen stand? O lay thy cares aside : If God with thee abide, No place is irksome, and no labour vain : Strive thou to gain his love, He shall thy way approve, And make the crooked straight, and the rough places plain. Cleanse thou thy heart from sin; Seek purity within ; Guard well thy steps, as in thy Master's sight; Blame not these evil days, But chant thy hymn of praise, And yield thy will to His who orders all aright. So, though thy lot be cast Even with the worst and last, Mysterious blessings shall surround thy way; Peace shall thy paths attend, And in their prosperous end Thine eye shall see the promise of a brighter day. Jan. 22, 1837. THE DESERTED SANCTUARY. Ꮎ. "There is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few." "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Feb. 8, 1837. Shall worldlings turn them, and be gone, With haughty mind and scornful eye? And hope our altar-flame may die, Yea, let them turn and go their way, And choose new gods, as seems them best; Nor cease our voices, though we raise Our altar's flame shall purest glow, Our heavenward suit shall swiftest rise, When none, save they the Lord who know, Where two or three unite in prayer, 0. THE MYSTERY OF THE CROSS. "I am crucified with Christ." "That I may know Him, . . . and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death." "Fac ut portem Christi mortem, Passionis fac consortem, Et plagas recolere." O Lamb of God! before thy wounds I bow; Not where thine image hangs, but where thy throne To me, unworthy, may such grace be shewn A sacrifice to thee; and let thy smart, Thy "unknown agony," thy tears, thy pain, Thy stripes, thy shame, thy wounds, thy death, transfuse Till all my sins with thee be crucified and slain. April 26, 1837. Ꮎ, ANTIENT FATHERS. "These were merciful men, whose righteousness hath not been forgotten.” IGNATIUS. As, one by one, stars on the Eastern space And greet each other to their heavenly place, Darken'd around thy steps through foreign lands, The awakening memories of thy own John Giv'n through his hands; then on the self-same road Thy soul is fann'd to burning hardihood; CLEMENT OF ROME. As heavenly blue breaks on a troubled deep, A voice of gentle blame, From the calm grave where Paul and Peter sleep, Unto their children came, From Rome to Corinth-On the rising din, Like gleams from their pure regions far above, And like a solemn undersound therein, Paul's moving tone. It was thy watchful love, Clement, whose name is in the book of life, While now the Church around thee, in heav'n's mould, ATHANASIUS. A sea of troubles tried thee, till at length, Beat back by thy strong sinew, they upreared Truth's loyal champion, to all time revered. Thou wert familiar grown with frowning Death, Till thou and he were friends, and thou wert strong. The Eye of Alexandria-raised on high, Unto all Christendom a beacon-light Thou from the blasts of Error's stormy sky Art in thine haven hid from sight; But still thy name hath leave to guide us through the night. GREGORY NAZIANZEN. Meek Nazianzen, whom a mother's love Vow'd from the womb a Christian Nazarite! Seeking in solitudes the gentler light Of woods and wilds-peace-loving eremite! Shrinking from pastoral cares. Nor may heav'n's King Each for his sphere He mouldeth-each doth earn CHYSOSTOM. Preacher and Saint, whose name is Eloquence, And strong in charity, the imperial town Throng'd round thee, and drunk in thy stern reproof. Touch'd by thy saintly spirit, Vice hung down Her flower-wreathed head-Court-Favour stood aloof. Nor less thy zeal on Nazianzen's chair That the King's Daughter with her priestly choir AUGUSTINE. As when the sun hath climbed a cloudy mass, Bishop of Hippo, in the letter'd store Which still enfolds thy spirit fled from sight, Comment, prayer, homily, or learned lore, Christ bathes each part with his transforming light Late ris'n in thee. Thence all is eloquent With flowing sweetness-o'er each rising pause Unwearied strength is built; through all is sent The Word, pleading for his most righteous laws. Rest, fervid soul, in sacramental sign ; Thy robe is washed in blood, thy strength is love divine! THE TARDY RETURN OF SUMMER. "These Easter snows, of evil do they bode? Of faith's fair blossoms withering ere their prime?" Is it in awful token, Lord, of wrath, Winter so long hath knit his icy chain Suns have shewn feebly-on the young year's path Was it in anger the command, O Lord, That the warm breezes and soft showers withheld- O Lord, our sins are countless as the sand, Else had we been consumed. Oh, make us learn Thou that hast bade the ice-bound waters flow, Unfold the flowers of Faith, and Hope, and Love, And earth and heaven break forth in hymns of praise. X. |