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FROM THE LIBRARY OF 
 REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON, D. D. 
 
 BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO 
 
 THE LIBRARY OF 
 
 PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 
 
 S3l4 
 
FROM YEAR TO YEAR. 
 
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/ 
 
 Of WHof 
 
 Ftb y m 
 
 il 
 
 A 
 
 
 
 FROM YEAR TO YEAR 
 
 poems ano Upmns; 
 
 ALL THE SUNDAYS AND HOLY DAYS 
 OF THE CHURCH 
 
 The Rev. E. H. BICKERSTETH, M.A. 
 
 VICAR OF CHRIST CHURCH, HAMPSTEAD, AND RURAL DEAN 
 
 jgeto ^ork 
 
 ROBERT CARTER & BROTHERS 
 
 530, BROADWAY 
 
LONDON : 
 PRINTED BY GILBERT AM) RIVINGTON, LIMITED 
 
 ST. JOHN'S SQUARE. 
 
 "t 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 It will not, I hope, seem presumptuous to string 
 inferior pebbles on the same golden thread, upon 
 which Heber and Keble and Monsell and Bishop 
 Wordsworth have strung so many pearls of thought. 
 But England's Church is awaking more and more 
 to a sense of the priceless legacy bequeathed her 
 from the earliest ages in her Christian Year as 
 mapped out in her Prayer-book. The facts of our 
 most holy faith stand out in bolder relief, as her 
 children review them day by day or week by week 
 in orderly succession. The field is the world of 
 Revelation. And if it maybe granted the preacher 
 or singer to present in clearer outline, by sermon 
 or song, any one of the manifold truths, selected by 
 the Church for our meditation on any Sunday or 
 Holy Day, his labour will not be in vain. 
 
 Many of the following hymns or short poems 
 have been written from time to time during the 
 
vi PREFACE. 
 
 last thirty years, and have appeared in " The Two 
 Brothers,'' " The Hymnal Companion to the Book 
 of Common Prayer," and various serials ; but many 
 of them have been written during the present year, 
 and are now submitted for the first time to the kind 
 perusal of the reader. They are all of them con- 
 nected with the proper Scriptures or Collect of the 
 day. 
 
 If only He, who sometimes waters with the dew 
 of His blessing the apparently chance-sown seed, 
 shall make any thoughts here scattered bring forth 
 fruit that shall remain, to Him be all the glory. 
 
 E. H. B. 
 
 Christ Church Vicarage, Hampstead, 
 October i6, 1883. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 to the 
 
 Morning Prayer . 
 
 Evening Prayer ..... 
 
 This hymn, and the preceding one, may be sung 
 tune, Pax tectcm, No. 32, " Hymnal Companion. 
 
 Advent Sunday 
 
 The Second Sunday in Advent 
 
 The Third Sunday in Advent . 
 
 The Fourth Sunday in Advent 
 
 Christmas Day 
 
 Saint Stephen's Day 
 
 Saint John the Evangelist's Day 
 
 The Innocents' Day 
 
 The First Sunday after Christmas 
 
 The Circumcision of Christ 
 
 The Second Sunday after Christmas 
 
 The Epiphany .... 
 
 The First Sunday after the Epiphany 
 
 The Second Sunday after the Epiphany 
 
 The Third Sunday after the Epiphany 
 
 The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany 
 
 This hymn was written for the tu ne, St. Aelred t 
 No. 535, Hymnal Companion. " 
 
 The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany 
 
 3 
 4 
 7 
 
 10 
 12 
 
 14 
 16 
 
 17 
 
 22 
 
 24 
 25 
 
 26 
 28 
 
 30 
 32 
 34 
 
 36 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 The Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany 
 
 This Litany may be sung to the tunes (i) by Monk, 
 or (2) by Cuff, No. 546, " Hymnal Companion." 
 
 Septuagesima Sunday 
 
 Sexagesima Sunday 
 
 Quinquagesima Sunday . 
 
 Ash Wednesday 
 
 The First Sunday in Tent 
 
 The Second Sunday in Lent 
 
 The Third Sunday in Lent 
 
 The Fourth Sunday in Lent 
 
 The Fifth Sunday in Lent 
 
 The Sunday next before Easter 
 
 The Monday before Easter 
 
 The Tuesday before Easter 
 
 The Wednesday before Easter 
 
 The Thursday before Easter 
 
 Good Friday . 
 
 The words of this hymn, "The Passion of Jesus, 
 written after "The Story of the Cross" by th 
 E. Munro, and are published by S. Low and Co. 
 rately, or set to music (1) by A. Redhead, (2) by 
 Lewis. They may also be sung to the music of 
 Story of the Cross " (Musters). 
 
 Easter Even . 
 
 Easter Day (Morning Prayer) 
 Easter Day (Evening Prayer) 
 Monday in Easter Week 
 Tuesday in Easter Week 
 The First Sunday after Easter 
 The Second Sunday after Easter 
 The Third Sunday after Easter 
 The Fourth Sunday after Easter 
 
 PAGE 
 
 33 
 
 41 
 
 43 
 44 
 47 
 49 
 5i 
 53 
 56 
 5* 
 60 
 62 
 ^3 
 65 
 66 
 67 
 
 were 
 ! late 
 
 sepa- 
 T. C. 
 "The 
 
 V- 
 
 74 
 75 
 77 
 80 
 82 
 84 
 86 
 
CONTEXTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 The Fifth Sunday after Easter . . . . 91 
 
 The Ascension Day 93 
 
 The Sunday after Ascension Day . . . • 95 
 
 Whit Sunday 97 
 
 Monday in Whitsun Week . . . . .100 
 
 Tuesday in Whitsun Week . . . . .102 
 
 Trinity Sunday . . . . . . .104 
 
 The First Sunday after Trinity . . . .106 
 
 The Second Sunday after Trinity . . . .108 
 
 The Third Sunday after Trinity . . . .110 
 
 The Fourth Sunday after Trinity . . . .112 
 
 The Fifth Sunday after Trinity . . . .118 
 
 The Sixth Sunday after Trinity . . . .121 
 
 The Seventh Sunday after Trinity . . . .124 
 
 The Eighth Sunday after Trinity . . . .126 
 
 A special tune has been composed for this hymn by 
 C. Vincent, Mus. Bac. Oxon. (S. Low and Co.)« 
 
 The Ninth Sunday after Trinity 
 The Tenth Sunday after Trinity 
 The Eleventh Sunday after Trinity . 
 The Twelfth Sunday after Trinity . 
 The Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity 
 The Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity 
 The Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity 
 The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity 
 The Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity 
 
 This hymn was written for the tune, St. Albaris t 
 by S. Bach, No. 330, " Hymnal Noted." 
 
 The Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity . . . 146 
 
 The Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity . . . 148 
 The Twentieth Sunday after Trinity . , .150 
 
 128 
 129 
 131 
 133 
 135 
 138 
 141 
 
 143 
 145 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 The Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity 
 
 The Twenty-second Sunday after Trinity 
 
 The Twenty-third Sunday after Trinity 
 
 The Twenty-fourth Sunday after Trinity 
 
 The Sunday next before Advent 
 
 Saint Andrew's Day 
 
 Saint Thomas the Apostle 
 
 The Conversion of Saint Paul 
 
 The Presentation of Christ in the Temple 
 
 Saint Matthias's Day 
 
 The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary 
 
 Saint Mark's Day .... 
 
 Saint Philip and Saint James's Day 
 
 Saint Barnabas the Apostle 
 
 Saint John Baptist's Day 
 
 Saint Peter's Day .... 
 
 Saint James the Apostle . 
 
 This hymn may be sung to the tune, Ora labora 
 No. 315, " Hymnal Companion." 
 
 Saint Bartholomew the Apostle 
 Saint Matthew the Apostle 
 Saint Michael and All Angels . 
 Saint Luke the Evangelist 
 Saint Simon and Saint Jude, Apostles 
 All Saints' Day .... 
 Holy Communion .... 
 Public Baptism of Infants 
 
 This hymn may be Bung to the tunc, QomiiMs ttgit >>u\ 
 No. 395, "Hymnal Companion." 
 
 Private Baptism <>f Infants .... 
 
 Baptism of such as arc of riper years 
 
 152 
 
 154 
 156 
 158 
 160 
 162 
 164 
 167 
 169 
 172 
 174 
 177 
 178 
 180 
 182 
 186 
 
 191 
 193 
 
 195 
 197 
 199 
 201 
 203 
 205 
 
 207 
 208 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Catechism 
 
 Confirmation ........ 
 
 Holy Matrimony ....... 
 
 The tune Irene, No. 455, '* Hymnal Companion," was 
 composed for this hymn by the late Dr. Dykes. 
 
 Visitation of the Sick 
 
 The Communion of the Sick 
 
 The Burial of the Dead . 
 
 This hymn was written for the tune, Dolo7tiite chanty 
 No. 480, " Hymnal Companion." 
 
 The Churching of Women 
 
 Commination . 
 
 Forms of Prayer to be used at 
 
 Ordination 
 
 The Royal Accession 
 
 PAGE 
 2IO 
 
 212 
 214 
 
 2l6 
 218 
 220 
 
 Sea 
 
 222 
 225 
 227 
 229 
 231 
 
INDEX OF FIRST LINES. 
 
 Abide with us ; for our dear Lord is gone 
 
 A cry of anguish from the banks of Nile . 
 
 Almighty Father, hear our cry 
 
 Alone, — it must be so . 
 
 And do Thy angels always worship Thee 
 
 And is there then no psalm in tune 
 
 u And now is My soul troubled." Can it be 
 
 And was it Jesus Christ Himself they laid 
 
 A rude unthankful plot, that ill repays 
 
 A sinner, wrestling in his guilt 
 
 A strange awe lay upon the silent tents 
 
 Be blessings on the little child 
 Before the everlasting Throne. 
 Behind us Sinai's awful form . 
 Behold the handmaid of the Lord . 
 Be strong, be strong, ( ) struggling saint 
 Be the pathway smooth or thorny . 
 Bring hither costliest sacrifice . 
 
 Clothed with the Holy Ghost . 
 Come, infant, to His heart of love . 
 Come ye yourselves apart and rest awhile 
 Creator Spirit, make Thy throne . 
 
 PAGE 
 
 . 102 
 
 • 58 
 
 . 227 
 
 • 49 
 . 195 
 . 138 
 
 • 63 
 
 - 72 
 
 . 156 
 
 . 167 
 
 . 84 
 
 . SS 
 
 . 222 
 
 . 191 
 
 . 174 
 
 . 172 
 
 . 106 
 
 • 131 
 . 108 
 . 207 
 
 • 56 
 
 • 7 
 
INDEX OF FIRST LINES. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Ere the words of peace and love • . . • 3° 
 
 Father of heaven above ..... 
 
 For ever ours ...... 
 
 From the guiding star that led 
 
 From the heaven of heavens descending, stooping 
 from the throne of God .... 
 
 Glory to God in the highest .... 
 
 Glory to the King of glory ! Thou hast raised Thine 
 only Son ....... 
 
 God of our fatherland ..... 
 
 Hallelujah ! He cometh with clouds and with light . 
 
 Hark, brothers, hark, " Go forward" 
 
 Hark, creation's Alleluia, rising from a thousand 
 
 shores ....... 
 
 Hark, hark ! the advent cry again . 
 Hark, hark ! the voice of numbers . 
 Heaven's glory in his heart and eye 
 He liveth, who was dead .... 
 
 Holy Father, hear me 
 
 Home, sweet home, the many mansions of my Father's 
 
 house above ...... 
 
 How lovely, how beloved is Thine abode 
 Hush ! blessed are the dead .... 
 
 I go : the poor, My poor are with you still 
 
 In earliest bloom of wedded life 
 
 Is thy journey, aged pilgrim .... 
 
 Jesu, Jesu, miserere ..... 
 Joy for the everlasting chime .... 
 
INDEX OF FIRST LINES. 
 
 Life, life, eternal life .... 
 Long years I wander'd far astray 
 
 My Father and my God, behold 
 
 My God, my Father, dost Thou call 
 
 My God, my Father, let me rest 
 
 My work is done, I lay me down to die . 
 
 Not far from Jordan's ford 
 
 Not worthy, Lord, to gather up the crumbs 
 
 Now, in this our pilgrim day . 
 
 O brothers, lift your voices 
 O Christ, Thou hast ascended 
 O'er the waters void and formless . 
 () fathomless profound of rest 
 O God our strength, our hope, our rock . 
 O God, the Rock of ages 
 O Heart of God in which all pulses beat . 
 O Jesu, consecrate to God always . 
 O Light of Light, whose glory is to dwell 
 O lonely mother, reft of thy sweet child . 
 O Master of the fount of symphonies 
 O Master of the human heart , 
 One sate beside the fretting sea 
 Our God, our Father, who hadst given . 
 Ours is the grief who still are left in th 
 wilderness ..... 
 
 Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin 
 Pray, always pray; the Holy Spirit pleads 
 
 Rest in the Lord, from harps above 
 
 . 154 
 
 . 146 
 
 . 128 
 
 • 225 
 . 180 
 . 158 
 
 . 162 
 
 • 199 
 
 . 201 
 
 • 32 
 
 • 95 
 . 100 
 
 • 43 
 . 205 
 . 22 
 . 118 
 . 24 
 . 16 
 . no 
 . 150 
 . 65 
 
 • 135 
 . 129 
 
 is far 
 
 143 
 
 214 
 
INDEX OF FIRST LINES. 
 
 Rest in the Lord ; rest, weary heart 
 
 Rise, captive Zion, shine ; thy light is come 
 
 Slowly along the nigged pathway walk'd 
 
 Stand, soldier of the cross 
 
 Sweet in a mother's ears .... 
 
 The air of heaven the changeful breeze . 
 
 The hour is come ; the feast is spread 
 
 The ivy clasps the pine .... 
 
 The meadow grass is green and blithe 
 
 The Paschal feast was ended : multitudes 
 
 The publican at custom's throng'd receipt 
 
 There is a land of promise 
 
 There shall be no more death 
 
 The sun is set, the twilight's o'er . 
 
 The sun was set, the night was wild 
 
 Thine, Lord, are the blossoms of forest and 
 
 Thine, Thine for ever — blessed bond 
 
 Through the crowded streets of Salem, see : 
 
 whisper man to man 
 Till He come — Oh, let the words . 
 5 Twas spoken long ago and far away 
 
 Uncreated Fount of light 
 Upon the virgin mother's breast 
 
 Was ever infant's joy, embraced, caress'd 
 Weary, worn, and lonely 
 Welcome, earliest Eastern ray 
 What are these with palm and song 
 
 field 
 
 they 
 
 PAGE 
 
 152 
 26 
 
 77 
 
 2CS 
 
 17 
 
 44 
 203 
 
 177 
 178 
 
 164 
 
 193 
 
 4 
 
 41 
 
 218 
 
 34 
 126 
 212 
 
 182 
 66 
 62 
 
 38 
 169 
 
 53 
 5i 
 74 
 60 
 
INDEX OF FIRS! LINES. 
 
 What is that voice whose far-off echoes stir 
 
 What were those marks, apostle blest 
 
 When the morning paints the skies 
 
 When the weary at heart and the laden with s 
 
 When Thy smile serene and bright . 
 
 Where is our fathers' God 
 
 Who feels not thoughts within him rise 
 
 W T hy will ye die ? the question breaks 
 
 Wrestling in agony 
 
 Yes, billow after billow : see they come 
 
 PAGE 
 
 • 7 
 
 141 
 
 210 
 
 86 
 
 2 5 
 
 *33 
 
 197 
 
 148 
 
 68 
 
 216 
 
MORNING PRA YER. 
 
 Although we ought at all times humbly to 
 acknowledge our sins before God ; yet ought we 
 most chiefly so to do, when we assemble and meet 
 together to render thanks for the great benefits that 
 we have received at His hands, to set forth His most 
 worthy praise, to hear His most holy Word, and to 
 ask those things which are requisite and necessary, 
 as well for the body as the soul. — From the Ex- 
 hortation. 
 
 " Afen ought always to pray, and not to faint.''' 
 St. Luke xviii. I. 
 
 Pray, always pray ; the Holy Spirit pleads 
 Within thee all thy daily hourly needs. 
 
 Pray, always pray ; beneath sin's heaviest load 
 Prayer sees the blood from Jesus' side that flow'd. 
 
 Pray, always pray ; though weary, faint, and lone, 
 Prayer nestles by the Father's sheltering throne. 
 
 Pray, always pray ; amid the world's turmoil 
 Prayer keeps the heart at rest, and nerves for toil. 
 
 Pray, always pray ; if joys thy pathway throng, 
 Prayer strikes the harp, and sings the angels' song. 
 
 Pray, always pray ; if loved ones pass the veil, 
 Prayer drinks with them of springs that cannot fail. 
 
 All earthly things with earth shall fade away ; 
 Prayer grasps eternity : pray, always pray. 
 
 ' B 
 
EVENING PR A YER. 
 
 EVENING PRAYER. 
 
 THE SECOND COLLECT. 
 
 O GOD, from whom all holy desires, all good coun- 
 sels, and all just works do proceed ; Give unto Thy 
 servants that peace which the world cannot give ; 
 that both our hearts may be set to obey Thy com- 
 mandments, and also that by Thee we being de- 
 fended from the fear of our enemies, may pass our 
 time in rest and quietness ; through the merits of 
 Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. 
 
 " 'Phou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is 
 stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee." — Isa. xxvi. 3. 
 
 Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin ? 
 The blood of Jesus whispers peace within. 
 
 Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties 
 
 press'd ? 
 To do the will of Jesus, this is rest. 
 
 Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging 
 
 round ? 
 On Jesus' bosom nought but calm is found. 
 
 Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away ? 
 In Jesus' keeping we are safe and they. 
 
 Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown ? 
 Jesus we know, and Me is on the throne. 
 
 Peace, perfect peace, death shadowing us and 
 
 ours ? 
 Jesus has vanquish'd death and all its powers. 
 
 It is enough : earth's struggles soon shall cease, 
 And Jesus call us to heaven's perfect peace. 
 
AD VENT SUN DA Y. 
 
 A D VENT S UN DA Y. 
 
 Lessons : Isaiah i., ii-, iv. 2. 
 Epistle: Rom. xiii. 8. Gospel : St. Matt, xxi.i — 14. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast 
 away the works of darkness, and put upon us the 
 armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, 
 in which Thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in 
 great humility ; that in the last day, when He shall 
 come again in His glorious Majesty to judge both 
 the quick and dead, we may rise to the life im- 
 mortal, through Him who liveth and reigneth with 
 Thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen. 
 
 " The night is far spent : the day is at hand" 
 Rom. xiii. 12. 
 
 Hallelujah ! He cometh with clouds and with light 
 And the trumpet of God, in the silence of night : 
 Heaven's armies before Him adoringly bend, 
 And thousands of thousands His bidding attend. 
 
 Hallelujah ! He cometh : and every eye 
 Beholds Him with anguish or rapturous joy : 
 A wailing is heard from the kindreds of earth, 
 It is drown'd in Hosannas of heavenly mirth. 
 
 Hallelujah ! He cometh ; the judgment is set, 
 And the nations are gatherd in crowds to His feet; 
 The earth and the ocean have yielded their dead, 
 And the records of time are unfolded and read. 
 Hallelujah ! earth crumbles in ashes and dust, 
 While calmly He severs the wicked and just ; 
 The shadows of darkness are driven away, 
 And the morning has dawn'd of celestial day. 
 B 2 
 
THE SECOXD 
 
 THE SECOND SUNDA Y IN ADVENT. 
 
 Lessons : Isaiah v., xi. I — n., xxiv. 
 
 Epistle : Rom. xv. 4—14. Gospel : St. Luke xxi. 
 
 25-34. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures 
 to be written for our learning ; Grant that we may 
 in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and in- 
 wardly digest them, that by patience, and comfort 
 of Thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold 
 fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which Thou 
 hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
 '* Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written 
 for our learning ; that we through patienee and comfort of 
 
 the Scriptures might have hope. }} — Rom. xv. 4. 
 
 There is a land of promise, 
 
 Which drinks the rain of heaven, 
 By everlasting charter 
 
 To Zion's pilgrims given ; 
 Where Lebanon aud Hcrmon 
 
 Their blessings shower below, 
 And hills and rocks and valleys 
 
 With milk and honey flow. 
 
 Joy for its purple vintage ! 
 
 Joy for its -olden sheaves ! 
 No alien heart or stranger 
 
 Its wealth of love conceives ; 
 But travellers to glory 
 
 May walk therein at will, 
 And will) its flowers and fruitage 
 
 Their longing souls fulfil. 
 
SUNDA Y IN ADVENT. 
 
 There is a feast of gladness 
 
 By Royal bounty spread, 
 The new wine of the kingdom, 
 
 The true and living Bread. 
 And whoso thirsts and hungers 
 
 Is there a bidden guest ; 
 There grief forgets her weeping, 
 
 The weary are at rest. 
 
 There is a harp of music, 
 
 By God's own fingers strung, 
 With sweeter songs enwoven 
 
 Than flow from angel's tongue ; 
 And all who mourn may listen 
 
 To those soft healing strains, 
 Until the heavenly harpings 
 
 Have chased their bosom's pains. 
 
 There is a blessed vision, 
 
 God's own apocalypse, 
 Whose far-off joys and splendours 
 
 All dreams of man eclipse : 
 Jerusalem the holy 
 
 Lit from the sapphire Throne, 
 Its pearls and gold and crystal, 
 
 Faith claims them for her own. 
 
 That fatherland of promise, 
 
 That banquet of delight, 
 That more than mortal music, 
 
 That vision infinite, — 
 What are they but the dowry 
 
 God to His Church has given 
 In giving her as heir-loom 
 
 The oracles of heaven ? 
 
THE SECOND SUNDA Y IN ADVENT. 
 
 Man, like the grass of morning, 
 
 Droops ere the evening hour ; 
 His goodliness and beauty 
 
 Fade as a fading flower : 
 But who may shake the pillars 
 
 Of God's unchanging word ? 
 Amen : Himself hath spoken ; 
 
 Amen : thus saith the Lord. 
 
 Death's shadows fall around us, 
 
 Our path with storms is rife : 
 O God, vouchsafe Thy servants 
 
 To grasp the word of life ; 
 Until the Life Eternal, 
 
 The Life and Light of men, 
 With clouds of glory mantled 
 
 Returns to earth a<rain. 
 
THE THIRD SUN DA Y IN ADVENT 
 
 THE THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT. 
 
 Lessons : Isaiah xxv., xxvi., xxviii. 5 — 19. 
 Epistle: I Cor. iv. 1 — 6. Gospel: St. Matt. xi. 2— n. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 LORD Jesu Christ, who at Thy first coming didst 
 send Thy messenger to prepare Thy way before 
 Thee ; Grant that the ministers and stewards of 
 Thy mysteries may likewise so prepare and make 
 ready Thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobe- 
 dient to the wisdom of the just, that at Thy second 
 coming to judge the world we may be found an 
 acceptable people in Thy sight, who livest and 
 reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever 
 one God, world without end. Amen. 
 
 " I send My messenger before Thy face, which shall pre- 
 pare Thy way before Thee." — St. Matt. xi. 10. 
 
 What is that voice whose far-off echoes stir 
 
 The city of the King, Jerusalem ? 
 Why flock they to that unknown messenger 
 
 Whose solitary presence troubles them ; 
 And, leaving home and mart and temple, press 
 Around that prophet in the wilderness ? 
 
 Hark ! there was in his burning words a fire, 
 
 Which lit the smouldering embers of their 
 breast ; 
 
 A lightning flash, which spite of shame and ire, 
 Laid bare the secret of their heart's unrest. 
 
 The axe was lying by the fruitless tree : 
 
 Time paled before a near eternity. 
 
8 
 
 THE THIRD SUNDA Y IN ADVENT. 
 
 The prophet smote them ; bitter was the pain : 
 Full on their soul they felt the eye of heaven ; 
 
 But lo ! the Lamb of God for sinners slain 
 
 Breathed in the Baptist's words of sin forgiven : 
 
 There was new life in his stern cry, Repent,— 
 
 Life everlasting for the penitent. 
 
 Lord, need we not a voice, like John's, to-day, 
 Startling the slumbers of this age of ours, 
 
 This age of iron and of miry clay, 
 
 When men, equipp'd in Nature's wrested powers, 
 
 Now soar to God's throne on presumptuous wing, 
 
 Now deify the earth to which they cling ? 
 
 Seems it the world is sinking low and lower 
 
 In greed of gain and luxury of lust ? 
 Seems it the Church's pulse is feebler, slower, 
 
 And faith's clear vision dimm'd with Reason's 
 dust, 
 Reason which is unreason, — clouds which mar 
 The sharp-cut outline of the things that are? 
 
 Is it once more that, while the Bridegroom waits, 
 The virgins slumber and their lamps grow dim ? 
 
 Will no man cry, " He stands before the gates : 
 Awake, arise. Go forth to welcome Him''? 
 
 Are there not watchers for the morning yet, 
 
 Who hail the kindling glow on Olivet ? 
 
 Night is far spent, the day spring is at hand ; 
 
 And sin abounds, and love is waxing cold : 
 Why do Thy servants, Lord, thus trembling stand ? 
 
 Is not Thine Arm almighty as of old ? 
 Thy early herald grasp'd the hearts of men : 
 Is not Thy Spirit's might the same as then ? 
 
THE THIRD SUNDA Y IN ADVENT. 9 
 
 Oh, grant the stewards of Thy mysteries 
 
 May hear the Bridegroom's steps, the Bride- 
 groom' voice, 
 And still amid the vain world's myriad cries 
 
 Make answer, watch to watch, " He comes — 
 rejoice " — 
 Until the day breaks and the shadows flee, 
 And earth, as heaven, adores and worships Thee. 
 
THE FOURTH 
 
 THE FOURTH SUNDA Y IN ADVENT. 
 Lessons : Isaiah xxx. I — 27., xxxii., xxxiii. 2 — 23. 
 
 Epistle : Phil. iv. 4 — 8. Gospel : St. John i. 19—29. 
 THE COLLECT. 
 Lord, raise up (we pray Thee) Thy power, and 
 come among us, and with great might succour us ; 
 that whereas, through our sins and wickedness, we 
 are sore let and hindered in running the race that 
 is set before us, Thy bountiful grace and mercy may 
 speedily help and deliver us ; through the satisfac- 
 tion of Thy Son our Lord, to whom with Thee and 
 the Holy Ghost be honour and glory, world without 
 end. Amen. 
 
 " He it is, who coming after me is preferred before 
 me, whose shoe's latchet 1 am not worthy to unloose." — 
 St. John i. 27. 
 
 Hark, hark ! the advent cry again : 
 
 The angels sing His birth, 
 11 Glory to God, goodwill to men, 
 And peace on earth. " 
 
 He comes ; and eager listeners throng 
 
 The lowly path He trod ; 
 For peace is ever on His tongue, — 
 
 The peace of God. 
 See, His frail bark the waters fill : 
 
 Yet why that faithless dread ? 
 Before His mighty " Peace, be still," 
 
 The storm is fled. 
 A weeping sinner dares to touch 
 And bathe His feet with tears : 
 And " Go in peace : thou lovest much,'' 
 Is all she hears. 
 
SUNDA Y IN AD VENT. 
 
 His hour is come : sad bosoms heave 
 
 With bodings unexpress'd. 
 Peace — grief itself forgets to grieve 
 At His bequest. 
 
 O never, never, gentle Dove, 
 
 Let Thy soft pleadings cease, 
 Until we bask in light and love 
 And perfect peace. 
 
12 
 
 CHRISTMAS DA Y. 
 
 CHRISTMAS DAY. 
 
 Lessons : Isaiah ix. I — 8, vii. io — 17; St. Luke ii. I — 15 ; 
 
 Titus iii. 4 — 9. 
 
 Epistle: Heb. i. 1 — 13. Gospel: St. John i. 1 — 15. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty God, who hast given us Thy only-begot- 
 ten Son to take our nature upon Him, and as at this 
 time to be born of a pure Virgin ; Grant that we 
 being regenerate, and made Thy children by adoption 
 and grace, may daily be renewed by Thy Holy 
 Spirit ; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the same 
 Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen, 
 
 " And suddenly there urns with the angel a multitude of 
 the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God 
 in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. " 
 — St. Luke ii. 13, 14. 
 
 Glory to God in the highest, 
 
 And on earth peace, 
 
 Good will toward men. 
 Glory, O Heaven, from world to world thou criest ; 
 Peace thou, O Earth, from shore to shore repliest. 
 
 Earth lifts her face 
 
 To Heaven's embrace, 
 And Paradise, with countless tongues, 
 Renews the rapture of angelic songs, 
 
 Again, again, again. 
 
 Hark, how the tide of glory, 
 Fuller and higher, 
 
 Swells round the Throne ! 
 
CHRIS TMA S DA Y. 1 3 
 
 No rippling wave of triumph transitory, 
 But pealing on and on the blessed story, 
 Sung by heaven's choir, — 
 Hearts, lips afire, — 
 Rises an everlasting hymn 
 From hosts of light and winged cherubim, 
 Glory to God alone ! 
 
 Who sleeps ? Wake, men and brothers ! 
 
 Awake, my soul ! 
 
 Awake and sing ! 
 Let freemen tell heaven's charter forth to others, 
 And smiling infants learn it from their mothers ; 
 
 Till tidings roll 
 
 From pole to pole, 
 And Jesus, born in Bethlehem, 
 Assumes the throne in great Jerusalem, 
 
 Emmanuel our King. 
 
 Glory to God in the highest, 
 And on earth peace, 
 Good will toward men. 
 O listen, weary, lonely heart, that sighest, 
 Till, ravish'd with the song, thyself repliest, — 
 I lift my face 
 To Christ's embrace. 
 Our Father,— now no voice is dumb, — 
 Now hallow'd be Thy name, Thy kingdom 
 come, 
 Amen, amen, ameu. 
 
M 
 
 SAINT STEPHEN'S DAY. 
 
 SAINT STEPHEN'S DA Y. 
 
 Lessons : Genesis iv. I — n ; 2 Chron. xxiv. 15 — 23; 
 
 Acts vi., viii. 1 — 9. 
 
 For the Epistle : Acts vii. 55. Gospel : St. Matt, xxiii. 34. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Grant, O Lord, that, in all our sufferings here upon 
 earth for the testimony of Thy truth, we may sted- 
 fastly look up to heaven, and by faith behold the 
 glory that shall be revealed ; and, being filled with 
 the Holy Ghost, may learn to love and bless our 
 persecutors by the example of Thy first Martyr 
 Saint Stephen, who prayed for his murderers to 
 Thee, O blessed Jesus, who standest at the right 
 hand of God to succour all those that suffer for 
 Thee, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen. 
 
 " And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and say- 
 ing, Lord Jesus receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, 
 and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their 
 charge. And when he had said this, he Jell asleep.' 1 — 
 Acts vii. 59, 60. 
 
 Heaven's glory in his heart and eye, 
 Mid crushing stones and taunting foes, 
 
 The martyr knelt in prayer to die ; 
 And as he sank to God's repose, 
 
 Breathed, " Jesu Lord, receive my spirit." 
 
 And on from age to age, since then, 
 Have saints their torches lit from his, 
 
 And children, maidens, matrons, men, 
 Pass'd with this watchword into bliss, 
 " Jesu Lord, receive our spirit." 
 
SAINT STEPHEN'S DAY. 15 
 
 Dear Master, kneeling at Thy cross ; 
 
 They learn'd that they were not their own ; 
 For Thee they held the world but loss, 
 
 Rich in this daily prayer alone, 
 
 Be Thine our body, soul, and spirit. 
 
 They died in peace, they sleep in Thee, 
 
 They wait the resurrection morn, 
 When clothed with immortality 
 
 Thy mystic Bride, the Church first born, 
 
 Shall wear Thy likeness, flesh and spirit. 
 
 In life and death, Lord, may I trust 
 My spirit where they trusted theirs ? 
 
 O foolish heart, thy may is must, 
 And love in holy venture dares 
 
 Pray, When Thou wilt, receive my spirit. 
 
16 SAINT JOHN THE EVANGELISTS DAY. 
 
 SAINT JOHN THE EVANGELISTS DAY. 
 
 Lessons : Exod. xxxiii. 9; Isaiah vi.; St John xiii. 23 — 3 
 Rev. i. 
 Epistle : 1 John i. 1. Gospel : St. John xxi. 19. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Merciful Lord, we beseech Thee to cast Thy 
 bright beams of light upon Thy Church, that it being 
 enlightened by the doctrine of Thy blessed Apostle 
 and Evangelist Saint John, may so walk in the 
 light of Thy truth, that it may at length attain to the 
 light of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our 
 Lord. Amen. 
 
 " N'oiu there tvas leaning on Jesus' bosom one of His 
 disciples, whom Jesus loved.' 1 ' 1 — St. John xiii. 23. 
 
 O Light of Light, whose glory is to dwell, 
 Effulgent God, with God Invisible : 
 
 O Life of Life, whose fountain unexplored 
 Flows where archangel's wing hath never soar'd : 
 
 O Love of Love, whose uncreated rest 
 
 Is the fruition of Thy Father's breast : 
 
 O Light, whose Day spring, dawning from on high, 
 
 Shone in Thy loved apostle's heart and eye : 
 
 O Life, whose quickening Spirit breathed the wor 
 
 Of heavenly wisdom in his accents heard : 
 
 O Love, whose bosom, in its woes serene, 
 Suffer'd his love and sorrow there to lean : 
 
 O Life, Light, Love, unchanging evermore, 
 Upon Thy Church Thy grace and glory pour; 
 
 Until, beyond all storms of earthly strife. 
 She gains the light of everlasting life. 
 
THE INNOCENTS' DAY. i 7 
 
 THE EX NO CENTS' DA Y. 
 
 Lessons : Jer. xxxi. I — 18; Baruch iv. 21 -31. 
 
 For the Epistle : Rev. xiv. 1 — 6. Gospel : St. Matt. 
 
 ii. 13—19- 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty God, who out of the mouths of babes 
 and sucklings hast ordained strength, and madest 
 infants to glorify Thee by their deaths ; Mortify and 
 kill all vices in us, and so strengthen us byThy grace, 
 that by the innocency of our lives, and constancy of 
 our faith even unto death, we may glorify Thy holy 
 Name ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 " I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many 
 waters, and as the voice of a great thunder : and I heard the 
 voice of harpers harping with their harps." — Rev. xiv. 2. 
 
 " Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast Thou 
 perfected praise.' 1 '' — St. Matt. xxi. 16. 
 
 Sweet in a mother's ears 
 Is the first ripple of her baby's laughter ; 
 And, when her sunny smile has kiss'd its tears, 
 
 Sweet is the cooing that comes after. 
 And as her group of rosy innocents 
 
 Around the cradle, girl and boy, 
 Clap hands for very joy. 
 And find innumerable merriments 
 
 In every ray of light that floods the room 
 
 And every wild flowers many-glancing bloom 
 Surely that mother's heart may be forgiven, 
 
 If in her children's voices soft and strong 
 
 She hears an echo of the angels' song 
 And deems it not unheard in heaven. 
 
18 THE INNOCENTS" DAY. 
 
 How holy infancy 
 With its mysterious glee, 
 And childhood with its mirth 
 Which only One can fully read, 
 Shall in the leather's kingdom reap the seed 
 
 Sown here on earth, 
 When He who bought them with His blood 
 Has gather'd lilies in the bud, 
 
 Are of those solemn mysteries 
 Which wait us in the skies. 
 But this is granted to our longing eyes 
 Heaven's mansions (so Eternal Love hath will'd) 
 With children and with child-like saints are fill'd. 
 And when we dimly faintly realize 
 The numbers without number, 
 The multitudinous throng 
 From every kindred, tribe, and tongue, 
 Of babes and sucklings gathered home 
 Before they learn'd in paths of sin to roam, 
 Which in our waking hours and hours of 
 
 slumber 
 Pass the pearl gates of Paradise, 
 What eye can count the wavelets of that sea 
 Which circles with an ever-deepening flood 
 Of crystal-clear felicity 
 
 The sapphire throne of God ? 
 
 What though each little voice 
 Which sings, " Rejoice, rejoice," 
 Be in itself a humble thing; 
 A tiny slender string 
 Upon the harp of all creation's praise, 
 A thread ot gossamer then only seen 
 When glancing in the sheen 
 Of the sun's golden rays ? 
 
THE INNOCENTS' DAY. 19 
 
 What if one infant's treble in that chant 
 
 Melodiously jubilant 
 Be but the smallest flute-voiced reed, 
 Which none would care alone to heed, 
 Of that vast organ, into which is pour'd 
 The Spirit of the Omnipresent Lord ? 
 
 Yet let that trill of song 
 A thousand times ten thousand multiplied, 
 Like ocean's bosom gathering the rills 
 That trickle down the everlasting hills, 
 Through heaven's eternal arches peal along : 
 
 And that majestic tide 
 Shall be as many waters, or the roll 
 Of mighty thunderings from pole to pole. 
 
 True, there are grand and noble chords 
 
 On that great harp of eucharist, 
 Deep toned and vibrating to loftiest words : 
 Prophet and patriarch 
 Who loved to mark 
 The shadows of the coming Christ ; 
 
 And, when He came, 
 Apostle, Martyr, and Evangelist 
 Who joy'd to suffer shame 
 And die for His dear name : 
 And lordly kingly souls of every age 
 Whose record is on high 
 In chronicles above the sky, 
 Unwritten in fame's partial page, 
 
 But known by secret signs 
 God's heroes and God's heroines : 
 
 Massive and vast 
 These pipes of heaven's great organ, cast 
 True metal in celestial mould, 
 c 2 
 
20 
 
 THE INNOCENTS' DA Y. 
 
 Responsive to the Spirit's gentlest breath 
 
 Or loudest blast, 
 Still echoing Jehovah saith, 
 And uttering things new and old 
 In tones alike submissive and sublime, 
 That whoso listens learns the mind of God 
 And glories that the heirs of flesh and blood 
 The walls of heaven can climb. 
 
 Not in dispraise of them 
 The leaders of our militant array 
 
 Remember we the babes of Bethlehem, 
 Unconscious martyrs for their Lord to-day 
 But lost in adoration of His love, 
 Who fashions all 
 Things great and small 
 For an eternity of bliss above. 
 The hills must have their heathery bloom 
 
 Of purple and perfume : 
 The sun must glisten in the dews, 
 Or morn her diamond brightness lose ; 
 Night could not spare the feeblest gem, 
 That sparkles in her diadem : 
 And heaven, with all its choirs 
 
 Of saints and angels link'd in tune 
 And harpers harping on their golden lyres 
 
 The name of the Triune, 
 Needs mid her throug of worshippers 
 These babes, these innocent choristers 
 
 Who ever on the wing 
 And singing, for they cannot choose but sing 
 For foy of heart alwaj s, 
 Arc in their weakness strong 
 And perfect heaven's harmonious song 
 ( )f everlasting praise. 
 
THE INNOCENTS' DA K 
 
 So, happy mother, quaff 
 The cup of joy that overflows the brim, 
 And in the music of thy infant's laugh, 
 And in the smile upon its cheek 
 Which whispers more than words can speak, 
 Catch echoes of the songs of cherubim. 
 These lights so faint and fugitive 
 
 By which we live, 
 Are no mere idle dreams, 
 But prophecies, foreshadowings, 
 Heralds and gleams 
 Of better things to come, 
 Where seraphs veil their faces with their wings 
 In the calm glory of the Father's home. 
 
22 
 
 THE FIRST SUNDA Y 
 
 THE FIRST SUNDA Y AFTER 
 CHRISTMAS. 
 
 Lessons : Isaiah xxxv., xxxviii., xl. 
 Epistle : Gal. iv. I— S, Gospel : St. Matt. i. 18. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty God, who hast given us Thy only begot- 
 ten Son to take our nature upon Him, and as at 
 this time to be born of a pure Virgin ; Grant that 
 we being regenerate, and made Thy children by 
 adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by Thy 
 Holy Spirit ; through the same our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the 
 same Spirit, ever one God, world without end. 
 Amen, 
 
 " The grass zvitkereth, the flower fadeth ; but the word 
 of our God shall stand for ever." — Isaiah xl. 8. 
 
 O God, the Rock of Ages, 
 
 Who evermore hast been, 
 What time the tempest rages, 
 
 Our dwelling-place serene : 
 Before Thy first creations, 
 
 O Lord, the same as now, 
 To endless generations 
 
 The Everlasting Thou ! 
 
 Our years are like the shadows 
 
 On sunny hills that lie, 
 Or grasses in the meadows 
 
 That blossom but to die : 
 A sleep, a dream, a story 
 
 By strangers quickly told, 
 An unremaining glory 
 
 Of things that soon are old. 
 
AFTER CHRISTMAS. 23 
 
 O Thou, who canst not slumber, 
 
 Whose light grows never pale, 
 Teach us aright to number 
 
 Our years before they fail. 
 On us Thy mercy lighten, 
 
 On us Thy goodness rest, 
 And let Thy Spirit brighten 
 
 The hearts Thyself hast bless'd. 
 
 Lord, crown our faith's endeavour 
 
 With beauty and with grace, 
 Till, clothed in light for ever, 
 
 W T e see Thee face to face : 
 A joy no language measures ; 
 
 A fountain brimming o'er ; 
 An endless flow of pleasures \ 
 
 An ocean without shore. 
 
24 
 
 THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST. 
 
 THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST. 
 
 Lessons: Gen. xvii. 9; Deut. x. 12; Rom. ii. 17; 
 
 Col. ii. 8—18. 
 Epistle: Rom. iv. 8 — 15. Gospel : St Luke ii. 15 — 22. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty God, who madest Thy blessed Son to 
 be circumcised, and obedient to the law for man ; 
 Grant us the true circumcision of the Spirit ; that, 
 our hearts and all our members, being mortified 
 from all worldly and carnal lusts, we may in all 
 things obey Thy blessed will ; through the same Thy 
 Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen, 
 
 " And 1107V, Israel^ what doth the lord thy God require of 
 thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all His ways, 
 and to love Him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all 
 thy heart and with all thy soul ? "— Deut. x. 12. 
 
 O Jesu, consecrate to God always, 
 Baptized in blood for us from infant days, 
 Be Thine, O Lord, by holy prayer and vow 
 The year we enter by Thy mercy now. 
 
 We know not, Master, and we would not know, 
 What shall befall us day by day below ; 
 Or if the angel of Thy will and love 
 This year shall bear us to Thy rest above. 
 
 But well we know Thy tenderness and power 
 Will never faint nor fail us hour by hour, 
 And all our supplications blend in one, — 
 'I by will in us, Thy will by us be done. 
 
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS. 25 
 
 THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER 
 CHRISTMAS. 
 
 Lessons : Tsaiah xlii., xliii., xliv. 
 Epistle and Gospel same as the Circumcision. 
 
 u Israel, fear not : for I have redeemed thee, I have 
 called thee by thy name ; thou art Mine: when thou passest 
 through the waters I 'will be with thee; a?id through the 
 rivers, they shall not overflow thee." — Isaiah xliii. 1,2. 
 
 li Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is none 
 upo?i earth that I desire i7i comparison of Thee.''' — Psalm 
 lxxiii. 24 {Prayer-Book Version). 
 
 When Thy smile, serene and bright, 
 Floods my homeward path with light, 
 Open, Lord, mine eyes to see ; 
 "Whom have I on earth but Thee ? " 
 
 In affliction's darkest cloud, 
 To the dust with anguish bow'd, 
 Let me plead confidingly ; 
 " Jesu, whom have I but Thee ? '' 
 
 In the shadowy vale of death, 
 Be my last and labouring breath, 
 " Flesh and heart are failing me : 
 Whom, Lord, have I now but Thee ? n 
 
 Jordan past, how sweet the song ! 
 Canaan won, how bright the throng ! 
 Lord, through all eternity, 
 Whom have I in heaven but Thee ? 
 
26 
 
 THE EPIPHANY. 
 
 THE EPIPHANY. 
 
 Lessons : Isaiah lx., xlix. 13 — 24; St. Luke iii. 15 — 23 ; 
 
 St. John ii. 1 — 12. 
 Epistle : Ephes. iii. I — 13. Gospel: St. Matt. ii. 1 — 13. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 O God, who by the leading of a star didst manifest 
 Thy only-begotten Son to the Gentiles ; Mercifully 
 grant that we which know Thee now by faith, may 
 after this life have the fruition of Thy glorious God- 
 head ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. A nun. 
 
 u Arise, shine ; for thy light is come, and the glory of 
 the Lord is risen upon thee." — Isaiah lx. 1. 
 
 Rise, captive Zion, shine ; thy light is come ; 
 
 The glory of the Lord on thee hath risen. 
 Arise and sing ; and in thy palace home 
 
 Forget the dust and darkness of thy prison. 
 Lost and astray, thy Shepherd now hath found 
 
 thee : 
 Childless so long, thy children cluster round thee : 
 A widow for these weary centuries, 
 Thy Husband hath return'd and bids thee, rise. 
 
 Yet faint and feeble to the eyes of man 
 
 Dawns the far dayspring for the dead and dying. 
 Earth cannot read heaven S mighty mystic plan, 
 
 Where sleeps yon Infant in a manger lying ; 
 Hut God's own courier leads His Eastern sages 
 There to adore the great Desire of ages, 
 Who shower before Him costliest offerings, 
 And worship in that Babe the King of kings. 
 
THE EPIPHANY. 27 
 
 O Thou, who badest light from darkness shine, 
 
 Write in our hearts Redemption's earliest story, 
 The Human only veiling the Divine, 
 
 Love's coronation in that hidden glory. 
 Faith knows Thee now. Oh, grant us the fruition 
 Hereafter of Thy Godhead's glorious vision : 
 Now God with us, all hail Emmanuel ! 
 Then and for ever we with God to dwell. 
 
28 
 
 THE FIRST SUNDA V 
 
 THE FIRST SUNDA Y AFTER THE 
 EPIPHANY. 
 
 Lessons : Isaiah li., Hi. 13. and liii., liv. 
 Epistle : Rom. xii. 1 — 6. Gospel : St. Luke ii. 41. 
 THE COLLECT. 
 O Lord, we beseech Thee mercifully to receive the 
 prayers of Thy people which call upon Thee ; and 
 grant that they may both perceive and know what 
 things they ought to do, and also may have grace 
 and power faithfully to fulfil the same ; through 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amc?i. 
 
 " Therefore the redee??ied of the Lord shall return, and 
 come with singing unto Zion" — Isaiah li. 11. 
 
 " lie shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be 
 satisfied." — Isaiah liii. 11. 
 
 11 I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and 
 as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty 
 thunderingSy saying, Alleluia." — Rev. xix. 6. 
 
 Hark, creation's Alleluia, rising from a thousand 
 
 shores, 
 Vibrates sweet as angel voices, loud as many waters 
 
 roars, — 
 " Blessing, glory, power, salvation to our God upon 
 
 the Throne, 
 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, infinite, supreme, 
 
 alone." 
 On and on, from dawn to sunset, borne on every 
 
 changeful wind, 
 From the myriad-minded peoples of the hoary 
 
 climes of Ind, 
 From the ransom'd sons of Afric, from old Sinim's 
 
 crowded lands, 
 From the freeborn wanderers roaming Araby : s 
 
 unconquer'd sands. 
 
AFTER THE EPIPHANY. 29 
 
 From the coasts of ice to regions where perpetual 
 
 summer smiles, 
 From the sunny-hearted children of the far Pacific 
 
 isles, 
 From the numbers without number of rejoicing 
 
 Christendom, 
 From the watchers for His advent who will soon to 
 
 Zion come. 
 
 Gathering strength from every nation, every kindred, 
 
 tribe, and tongue, 
 Hark, that everlasting anthem, hark that glorious 
 
 tide of song, 
 Floods the valleys with its music, echoes from the 
 
 lasting hills, 
 Onward, upward, till the temple of the living God 
 
 it fills. 
 
 Hark, it mingles with the raptures of the armies of 
 
 the sky, 
 Who have pass'd through tribulation into perfect 
 
 rest on high, 
 Clothed in robes of spotless beauty, palms of 
 
 triumph in their hand, 
 Harping on their harps Hosannas, as before His 
 
 face they stand : 
 
 " Glory unto Him who loved us, Him who wash'd 
 
 us with His blood, 
 Kings and priests henceforth for ever to our Father 
 
 and our God. 
 Alleluia ! saints and angels, raise your loudest 
 
 loftiest strains : 
 Alleluia! hell is vanquished: God the Lord 
 
 Almighty reigns.' 5 
 
30 THE SECOND SUNDA V 
 
 THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE 
 
 EPIPHANY. 
 
 Lessons : Isaiah lv. , lvii. , Ixi. 
 
 Epistle : Rom. xii. 6 — 17. Gospel : St. John ii. 1 — 12. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty and everlasting God, who dost govern 
 all things in heaven and earth ; Mercifully hear 
 the supplications of Thy people, and grant us Thy 
 peace all the days of our life ; through Jesus Christ 
 our Lord. A?nen. 
 
 " This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of 
 Galilee and manifested forth His glory" — St. John ii. II. 
 
 A MARRIAGE HYMN. 
 Ere the words of peace and love, 
 Breathed on earth, are borne above, 
 While their echo, soft and clear, 
 Lingers on the tranced ear, 
 Catch upon your lips the strain, 
 Swell the notes of prayer again, 
 Prayer with benedictions fraught, 
 Passing words and passing thought : 
 
 Co-eternal Three in One, 
 
 Seal the nuptial benison. 
 Blessings from the earth beneath, 
 Fruits and flowers in woven wreath ; 
 Balmy dews that heaven distils 
 On the everlasting hills ; 
 Angel wings, a guard of light 
 O'er the peaceful home by night ; 
 Angel steps to tend the way 
 Onward, heavenward, day by day : 
 
 Co-eternal Three in One 
 
 Seal the nuptial benison. 
 
AFTER THE EPIPHANY. 31 
 
 Hear our prayer : this union be 
 Ratified, O God, by Thee : 
 This another link entwined 
 Hearts and homes and heaven to bind 
 In that mystic chain of love, 
 Holding us, but held above ; 
 Knitting all that world to this, 
 Eden's bloom to glory's bliss : 
 
 Co-eternal Three in One, 
 
 Seal the nuptial benison. 
 
 Three in One, and One in Three, 
 
 Blessedness is blessing Thee ; 
 
 While we pour in chant and hymn, 
 
 Full hearts, flowing o'er the brim. — ■ 
 
 Water by Thy power benign 
 
 Blushing as celestial wine, — 
 
 Till within the golden gates, 
 
 Where the Lamb His bridal waits, 
 
 We with all the white-robed throngs 
 Sing the heavenly Song of songs. 
 
32 
 
 THE THIRD SUNDA Y 
 
 THE THIRD SUN DA V AFTER THE 
 EPIPHANY. 
 
 Lessons : Isaiah lxii., lxv. , l.wi. 
 Epistle : Rom. xii. 16. Gospel : St. Matt. viii. I — 14. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully look 
 upon our infirmities, and in all our dangers and 
 necessities stretch forth Thy right hand to help and 
 defend us ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen, 
 
 "I have set watchmen upon thy walls, Jerusalem, 
 which shall never hold their peace day nor nigJit : ye that 
 make mention of the Lord, keep not silence, and give Him 
 no rest till He establish and till lie make Jerusalem a praise 
 in the earth** — Isaiah lxii. 6, 7. 
 
 O brothers, lift your voices, 
 
 Triumphant songs to raise ; 
 Till heaven on high rejoices, 
 
 And earth is til I'd with praise. 
 Ten thousand hearts are bounding 
 
 With holy hopes and free ; 
 The Gospel trump is sounding, 
 
 The trump of Jubilee. 
 
 O Christian brothers, glorious 
 
 Shall be the conflict's close : 
 The cross hath been victorious, 
 
 And shall be o'er its iocs. 
 Faith is our battle-token ; 
 
 Our leader all controls ; 
 Our trophies, fetters broken ; 
 
 Our captives, ransom'd souls. 
 
AFTER THE EPIPHANY, 33 
 
 Not unto us — Lord Jesus, 
 
 To Thee all praise be due ; 
 Whose blood-bought mercy frees us, 
 
 Has freed our brethren too. 
 Not unto us — in glory 
 
 The angels catch the strain, 
 And cast their crowns before Thee 
 
 Exultingly again. 
 
 Captain of our salvation, 
 
 Thy presence we adore : 
 Pnise, glory, adoration 
 
 Be Thine for evermore. 
 Still on in conflict pressing 
 
 On Thee Thy people call, 
 Thee King of kings confessing, 
 
 Thee crowning Lord of all. 
 
34 
 
 THE FOURTH SUN DA Y 
 
 THE FOURTH SUN DA V AFTER THE 
 EPIPHANY. 
 
 Lessons : Job xxvii., xxviii., xxix. 
 Epistle : Rom. xiii. I — 8. Gospel : St. Matt. viii. 23. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 GOD, who knowcst us to be set in the midst of 
 so many and great dangers, that by reason of the 
 frailty of our nature we cannot always stand 
 upright ; Grant to us such strength and protection 
 as may support us in all dangers, and carry us 
 through all temptations ; through Jesus Christ our 
 Lord. Amen. 
 
 " He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, 
 Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great 
 calm.'''' " They jound the man, out of whom the dtvils 
 were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus ." — St. Matt. viii. 
 23 — 34; St. Mark iv. 35— v. 20; St. Luke viii. 22—40. 
 
 The sun was set, the night was wild, 
 
 Rough winds o'er sullen waters swept ; 
 But calmly as a tired child 
 Jesus slept. 
 
 " Save us, we perish ; save us, Lord." 
 
 He rose, and only breathed His will : 
 The winds and waters knew His word, 
 " Peace, be still." 
 
 Ah ! wilder than the wildest waves, 
 
 Dark passions, surging up from hell, 
 Within the breast of Satan's slaves 
 Rage and swell. 
 
AFTER THE EFIFHANY. 35 
 
 He spoke, and at His accents sweet, 
 
 Demoniacs trembled, sore afraid, 
 And soon, as learners at His feet, 
 Knelt and pray'd. 
 
 O Master of creation's realm, 
 
 O Lord of human hearts divine, 
 When rugged tempests overwhelm 
 Me and mine ; 
 
 Come then to me, my Saviour, come ; 
 Bid Thou the stormy tumult cease, 
 And whisper through the troubled gloom 
 Peace, Thy peace. 
 
 D 2 
 
36 THE FIFTH SUN DA Y 
 
 THE FIFTH SUNDA V AFTER THE 
 EPIPHANY. 
 
 Lessons: Prov. i., iii., viii. 
 Epistle : Col. iii. 12 — 18. Gospel : St. Matt. xiii. 24 — 31. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Lord, we beseech Thee to keep Thy Church 
 and household continually in Thy true religion ; 
 that they who do lean only upon the hope of Thy 
 heavenly grace may evermore be defended by Thy 
 mighty power; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Amen. 
 
 " Whoso findeth Me findeth life, and shall obtain favour 
 of the Lord 1 but lie that sinneth against Me wrongeth his 
 own soul: all they that hate Me love death." — Prov. viii. 
 35, 36. 
 
 Hark ! hark ! the voice of numbers, 
 
 Whose number no man knows, 
 Awakes the Church's slumbers 
 
 And stirs her long repose: 
 The wail of men and mothers, 
 
 The children's piteous cry, 
 " Come, help us, we are brothers ; 
 Come, help us, ere we die." 
 
 Ah, woe for human nature, 
 
 Woe for its deeds of shame, 
 When man, the ruin'd creature, 
 
 Knows not the Maker's Name ; 
 When no true balm assuages 
 
 Time's daily load of care, 
 And o'er the coming ages 
 
 Broods infinite despair ! 
 
AFTER THE EPIPHANY. 37 
 
 There no baptismal blessing 
 
 Rests on the infant brow ; 
 No lips, our God confessing, 
 
 Pledge there the holy vow ; 
 No ear enraptured listens 
 
 To Jesus' words of grace ; 
 No eye with longing glistens, 
 
 To see Him face to face. 
 
 Still onward to the river, 
 
 Which all must cross, they move, 
 And meet the dread For-ever 
 
 Unweeting " God is love." 
 And yet the Sun has risen 
 
 Of everlasting day ; 
 The bars of death's dark prison 
 
 Our Life has borne away. 
 
 Oh, tell them of the story 
 
 Which leads to perfect bliss, 
 Until that world of glory 
 
 Spans all the gloom of this ; 
 And in the dawning splendour 
 
 The one Name only given 
 Claims every heart's surrender, 
 
 And knits our earth to heaven. 
 
 Written at Delhi, 1880. 
 
38 
 
 THE SIXTH SUNDA Y 
 
 THE SIXTH SUNDA Y AFTER THE 
 EPIPHANY. 
 
 Lessons : Prov. ix., xi. , xv. 
 
 Epistle : I John iii. I — 9. Gospel : St. Matt. xxiv. 
 
 23—32. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 God, whose blessed Son was manifested that He 
 might destroy the works of the devil, and make us 
 the sons of God, and heirs of eternal life ; Grant 
 us, we beseech Thee, that, having this hope, we 
 may purify ourselves, even as He is pure ; that, 
 when He shall appear again with power and great 
 glory, we may be made like unto Him in His eternal 
 and glorious kingdom ; where with Thee, O Father, 
 and Thee, O Holy Ghost, He liveth and reigneth, 
 ever one God, world without end. Amen. 
 
 " Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed 
 upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." — 
 
 1 John iii. 1. 
 
 LITANY TO THE ETERNAL FATHER. 
 
 Uncreated Fount of light, 
 Glory without shade of night, 
 Everlasting, infinite, 
 
 Holy Father, hear us. 
 
 Well of life that ever flows, 
 Life more pure than stainless snows, 
 Life in calm serene repose, 
 Holy Father, hear us. 
 
 Blessed One, whose name is love, 
 Pleads with Thee Thy Son above ; 
 
AFTER THE EPIPHANY. 39 
 
 Broods o'er us Thy hovering Dove ; 
 Holy Father, hear us. 
 
 Round about Thy sapphire throne, 
 Shines the rainbow's emerald zone, 
 Breathing heavenly peace alone : 
 Holy Father, hear us. 
 
 There before Thy mercy-seat 
 Saints in light and angels meet ; 
 Yet behold us at Thy feet : 
 Holy Father, hear us. 
 
 Thou, whose deep compassions yearn 
 For the prodigal's return, 
 And his far-off steps discern, 
 Holy Father, hear us. 
 
 Aching hearts that long for rest, 
 Wilder'd souls by doubt oppress'd, 
 Babes that crave a parent's breast, — 
 Holy Father, hear us. 
 
 All have some great gift to seek, 
 Hungred, thirsty, weary, weak ; 
 All have wants no words can speak, 
 Holy Father, hear us. 
 
 Is not Thy paternal board 
 With all royal bounties stored, 
 Priceless, countless, unexplored ? 
 Holy Father, hear us. 
 
 Thou, who sparedst not Thy Son 
 Him Thine own, Thine only One, 
 Till Thy work by Him was done, 
 Holy Father, hear us. 
 
40 SIXTH SUNDA Y AFTER EPIPHANY. 
 
 Thou in all His sorrows nigh, 
 Thou, who heardest His last cry, 
 Thou, who sufferedst Him to die, 
 Holy Father, hear us. 
 
 Thou, omnipotent to save 
 From destruction's whelming wave, 
 Death and hell and vanquished grave, 
 Holy Father, hear us. 
 
 Thou, at whose right hand once more, 
 He is now, His conflict o'er, 
 Throned where He was throned before, 
 Holy Father, hear us. 
 
 Thou, who crownest Him with grace, 
 Foldest Him to Thine embrace, 
 Him the brightness of Thy face, 
 Holy Father, hear us. 
 
 All the richest gifts of heaven, 
 Sevenfold from the Spirits Seven, 
 Measureless to Him are given : 
 Holy Father, hear us. 
 
 At His word Thy Spirit came 
 Crowns of light and tongues of flame : 
 Oh for our Redeemer's name, 
 Holy Father, hear us. 
 
 Grant us in this holy hour 
 From His Bride's exhaustless dower 
 Light and life and peace and power : 
 Holy Father, hear us. 
 
 Hear our cry, our voiceless needs : 
 Hear, in us Thy Spirit pleads : 
 W^ay, for Jesus intercedes : 
 
 Holy Father, hear us. Amen. 
 
SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY. 
 
 4* 
 
 SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY. 
 
 Lessons : Gen. i. and ii. ; Job xxxviii. ; Rev. xxi. 
 xxii. 1 — 6. 
 Epistle : I Cor. ix. 24. Gospel : St. Matt. xx. I — 17. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 O Lord, we beseech Thee favourably to hear the 
 prayers of Thy people; that we, who are justly 
 punished for our offences, may be mercifully 
 delivered by Thy goodness, for the glory of Thy 
 Name ; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who 
 liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, 
 ever one God, world without end. Amen. 
 
 1 ' God shall wipe azuay all tears from their eyes; and there 
 shall be no 7nore death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither 
 shall there be any more pain : for the former things are 
 passed away." — Rev. xxi. 4. 
 
 There shall be no more death, 
 
 In that bright world of day 
 Driven by the Spirit's mighty breath 
 
 Eternally away : 
 
 Within those city walls 
 
 The ransom'd walk in white, 
 And death's cold shadow never falls 
 
 On their glad home of light. 
 
 There shall be no more grief 
 
 Nor cry of sore distress ; 
 The last sad fading of the leaf 
 
 Was in the wilderness : 
 
 The springs of grief are dried ; 
 
 All fountains run with joy, 
 And swell the calm transparent tide 
 
 Of heaven's serene employ. 
 
42 SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY. 
 
 There shall be no more pain, 
 
 No weary feet or hands, 
 No careworn brow, no wilder'd brain, 
 
 No counting the last sands. 
 
 A body like the Lord's, 
 
 A crystal mind like His, 
 A spirit tuned to sweep the chords 
 
 Of undeclining bliss. 
 
 O blessed home of love, 
 
 Secure from storm and strife ; 
 The haunt of the Eternal Dove, 
 
 The fatherland of life ! 
 
 My spirit thither flies ; 
 
 And surely it is well 
 With Jesus thus in Paradise 
 
 A little while to dwell. 
 
SEXAGESIMA SUNDAY. 43 
 
 SEXAGESIMA SUNDAY. 
 
 Lessons : Gen. iii., vi., viii. 
 Epistle : 2 Cor. xi. 19—32. Gospel : St. Luke viii. 4 — 16. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 O Lord God, who seest that we put not our trust 
 in any thing that we do ; Mercifully grant that 
 by Thy power we may be defended against all 
 adversity ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 " Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the king- 
 dom of God."— St, Luke viii. 10. 
 
 O fathomless profound of rest, 
 In God to read a Father's name ; 
 
 And childlike clinging to His breast 
 My birthright in His love to claim ! 
 
 O miracle of grace to kneel 
 
 With boldness at the Throne of thrones ; 
 Blood-wash/d, with nothing to conceal ; 
 
 White-robed amid God's ransonvd ones ! 
 
 O mystery of love divine ! 
 
 Eternal Spirit, dost Thou choose 
 To make my lowly heart Thy shrine 
 
 And there Thy light of life diffuse ? 
 
 And am I of the chosen Bride 
 Given by the Father to the Son, 
 
 In all His glory glorified. 
 
 And in His perfect union one ? 
 
 O love which only love can know ! 
 
 O joy which only faith can share ! — 
 A child of God at school below ; 
 
 A child at home for ever there. 
 
44 QUINQUAGESIMA SUNDAY. 
 
 QUINQUAGESIMA SUNDAY. 
 
 Lessons : Gen. ix. I — 20, xii., xiii. 
 Fpistle : I Cor. xiii. 1. Gospel : St. Luke xviii. 31. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 O LORD, who hast taught us that all our doings 
 without charity are nothing worth ; Send Thy Holy 
 Ghost, and pour into our hearts that most excellent 
 gift of charity, the very bond of peace and of all 
 virtues, without which whosoever liveth is counted 
 dead before Thee : Grant this for Thine only Son 
 Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. 
 
 " Though I speak with the tongues of 'men and of angels, 
 and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a 
 tinkling cymbal."" — I Cor. xiii. I. 
 
 The air of heaven, the changeful breeze 
 That stirs the life of land and seas, 
 The crystal of the sunlit sky, 
 The world of cloudland scenery, 
 The stars that tell us more by night 
 Than all the blazonry of light, 
 The snows and rills, the dews and showers, 
 That ripen countless fruits and flowers — 
 Of all things nature deems her best, 
 
 Of all things earth receives from heaven, 
 The largest and the loveliest 
 
 Are freest and most freely given. 
 
 The choicest links of human life, 
 The unison of man and wife, 
 A father's tender thoughtfulness, 
 A mother's matchless power to bless. 
 The love of parent and of child 
 Which makes an Eden of a wild, 
 
QUINQUAGESIMA SUNDAY. 45 
 
 Brothers and sisters trusted in, 
 
 Hearts reaching forth to kith and kin ; — 
 
 These are no narrow gifts that come 
 
 To very few, or great or small : 
 Nay, man himself was made for home, 
 
 And home was made for one and all. 
 
 And shall not He, whose open Hand 
 Pours wealth on ocean and on land ; 
 He, whose compassion intertwined 
 The thousand bonds that knit mankind ; 
 He who Himself is Father, Son, 
 And Holy Spirit, Three in One ; 
 And fornvd us with His grace endued 
 To image His similitude ; — 
 Shall He not give us, freely give 
 
 The gift that cometh from above, 
 The love that makes it life to live ? 
 
 He will, He will ; for God is Love. 
 
 Not only love to loving men 
 And gifts to those who give again : 
 There are who speak with angel tongues, 
 There are who sing seraphic songs, 
 Who with illuminated eyes 
 Interpret heavenly mysteries, 
 Who pluck up mountains by their faith, 
 And dare to die a martyr's death, — 
 And yet to His all-searching gaze, 
 
 That sees as man can never see, 
 Whose glory is but empty praise, 
 
 Because they have not charity. 
 
 O Thou, Eternal Love Divine, 
 Pour love into this heart of mine, 
 

 46 QUINQUAGESIMA SUNDAY. 
 
 That Christlike love which suffers long 
 The injuries of wrath and wrong, 
 Which envies not this vain world's pride, 
 But turns to lowliest tasks aside, 
 Content to bear her daily load 
 Beneath the secret eye of God. 
 Enough, dear Lord : love cannot fail, 
 
 Though darkly all things here are known, 
 But this we know, within the veil 
 
 Who truly love shall share Thy throne. 
 
ASH WEDNESDA Y. 47 
 
 ASH WEDNESDAY. 
 
 Lessons : Isaiah lviii. 1 — 13 ; Jonah iii. ; St. Mark ii. 
 
 13 — 23; Heb. xii. 3 — 18. 
 
 For the Epistle : Joel ii. 12—18. Gospel : St. Matt. 
 
 Vi. 16—22. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing 
 that Thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins 
 of all them that are penitent ; Create and make in 
 us new and contrite hearts, that we worthily lament- 
 ing our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, 
 may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect 
 remission and forgiveness ; through Jesus Christ 
 our Lord. Amen. 
 
 " Have mercy upon me, God, after Thy great good- 
 ness ; according to the multitude of Thy mercies do away 
 mine offences. u — Psalm li. I. Co?n?nination Service. 
 
 " Jesu, Jesu, miserere ; 
 
 Hear my cry to Thee." 
 Come, thou fainting one and weary, 
 
 Come to Me. 
 " Sin and shame my heart benumbing, 
 
 Shall I gain Thy feet ? " 
 Shrinking, trembling, hardly coming, 
 
 Thee I meet. 
 u Jesu, Jesu, miserere ; 
 
 Save me, or I die." 
 Hearken, in the darkness dreary, 
 
 It is I. 
 " Clothed in rags and miry raiment 
 
 Dare I see Thy face ? 5 ' 
 Blood-bought, free, and without payment 
 Is My grace. 
 
48 ASH WEDNESDA Y. 
 
 " Jesu, Jesu, miserere ; 
 
 Hush my soul's unrest." 
 Lay thee, travel- worn and weary, 
 On My breast. 
 
 " Jesu, come, come quickly to me, 
 
 Only make me Thine. 5 ' 
 I am here : thy anguish drew Me, 
 Thou art Mine. 
 
THE FIRST SUNDA Y IN LENT. 49 
 
 THE FIRST SUNDA Y IN LENT. 
 
 Lessons : Gen. xix. 12 — 30, xxii. 1 — 20, xxiii. 
 
 Epistle : 2 Cor. vi. 1 — 11. Gospel : St. Matt. iv. 1 — 12. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 Lord, who for our sake didst fast forty days and 
 forty nights ; Give us grace to use such abstinence, 
 that, our flesh being subdued to the Spirit, we may 
 ever obey Thy godly motions in righteousness, and 
 true holiness, to Thy honour and glory, who livest 
 and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, 
 one God, world without end. Amen. 
 
 "Sarah died, . . . and Abraham came to mourn and 
 weep for her, . . saying, I am a stranger and a sojourner." 
 — Gen. xxiii. 2 — 4. 
 
 " Ye shall leave Ale alone, and yet I am not alone, for 
 the Father is with Me" — St. John xvi. 32. 
 
 Alone, — it must be so : 
 Break heart, or disentwine. 
 
 The Master calls me and I go ;— 
 Rest mine and labour thine. 
 
 Alone at break of day ; 
 I am not by thy side : 
 The sunny sky is leaden grey. 
 The wide world waste as wide. 
 
 Alone in life's long toil ; 
 I cannot share thy prayers, 
 Xor lighten by the faintest smile 
 Thy daily load of cares, 
 
 Alone when night steals soft 
 Over the weary soul, 
 And thoughts of heart communion oft 
 Crowd in beyond control. 
 
50 
 
 THE FIRST SUNDA Y IN LENT. 
 
 Say is the child alone 
 Whose hand the Father holds ; 
 Or whom unseen but not unknown 
 The Friend of friends enfolds ? 
 
 And still in calm or storm, 
 In throngs or desert rude, 
 Beside thee moves His radiant Form 
 Is this thy solitude ? 
 
 At daybreak He is there 
 With healing in His wings, 
 And in the quiet midnight air 
 The balm of Gilead brings. 
 
 He calls me to His throne ; 
 I go with Him to be : 
 And lonely thou art not alone, 
 While He abides with thee. 
 
THE SECOND SUNDA Y IN LENT. 5 1 
 
 THE SECOND SUNDA V IN LENT. 
 
 Lessons : Gen. xxvii. I— 41, xxviii., xxxii. 
 Epistle : I Thess. iv. 1 — 9. Gospel : St. Matt. xv. 21 — 29. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty God, who seest that we have no power 
 of ourselves to help ourselves ; Keep us both out- 
 wardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls ; 
 that we may be defended from all adversities which 
 may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts 
 which may assault and hurt the soul ; through Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 " And he dreamed, and, behold, a ladder set tip on the 
 earth, and the top of it reached to heaven ; and, behold, the 
 angels of God ascending and descending on it." — Gen. 
 xxviii. 12. 
 
 Weary, worn, and lonely, 
 With my rude staff only, 
 Through the desert thorny 
 Went I on my journey. 
 
 But night fell, and danger 
 Compass'd me a stranger : 
 So to sleep I laid me, 
 Kept by Him who made me. 
 
 Then Heaven's gate unfolding, 
 I with awe beholding, 
 Open'd scenes of glory 
 Passing human story. 
 Lo, in tiers unending 
 Steps of light ascending, 
 Trodden by the angels 
 On their glad evangels ; 
 E 2 
 
52 
 
 THE SECOND SUNDA Y IN LENT. 
 
 And above, in vision 
 Of supreme fruition, 
 Saw, or heard I rather, 
 God, my God and Father, 
 
 Saying, u Child, I love thee ; 
 Loving, I will prove thee ; 
 But will leave thee never : 
 Thou art Mine for ever." 
 
 So I woke ; and morning 
 Was the east adorning, 
 And that spot most lowly 
 Seem'd a temple holy. 
 
 Henceforth true and tender 
 Be my heart's surrender; 
 With His Presence o'er me, 
 Be what may before me. 
 
 Be the pathway dreary, 
 Be my footsteps weary, 
 Be no friend assistant, 
 Be my bourn far distant; 
 
 Raiment, bread provided, 
 Home to glory guided, 
 With my Father only, 
 I no more am lonely. 
 
THE THIRD SUNDA Y IN LENT. 53 
 
 THE THIRD SUNDA Y IN LENT. 
 
 Lessons : Gen. xxxvii., xxxix., xl. 
 Epistle : Eph. v. 1— 15. Gospel : St. Luke xi. 14—29. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 We beseech Thee, Almighty God, look upon the 
 hearty desires of Thy humble servants, and stretch 
 forth the right hand of Thy Majesty, to be our 
 defence against all our enemies ; through Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. A?7ie?t. 
 
 "Christ hath given Himself for us an offering and a 
 sacrifice to God for a sweet- smelling savour"— Ephes. v. 2. 
 " I delight to do Thy will, my God:'— Psalm xl. 8. 
 
 Was ever infant's joy, embraced, caress'd, 
 So pure, so holy, so in blessing bless'd, 
 As Mine, when hanging on My Mother's breast? 
 Was ever joy like Aline ? l 
 
 Ah, childhood has its dreams of sweet delight, 
 Smiles all its own, and fountains crystal bright ; 
 But in My Father's pleasure day and night 
 Was ever joy like Mine? 
 
 The men of grace wring comfort from the curse 
 Of labour, knowing " idleness were worse ; ;; 2 
 But none save Me its sentence could reverse : 
 Was ever joy like Mine ? 
 
 1 The thought of tracing in our Lord's ministry the obverse of 
 George Herbert's pcem entitled, " Was ever grief like mine ? " was 
 first suggested to me by the lines of another writer. 
 2 " With labour I must earn 
 My bread. What harm? Idleness had been worse." 
 
 "Paradise Lost," x. 1055. 
 
54 THE THIRD SUNDA Y IN LENT. 
 
 By Jordan's ford I knelt, and lo above 
 A pathway cloven to the throne of love : 
 
 voice of rapture ! O most Holy Dove! 
 
 Was ever joy like Mine ? 
 
 Prayer fills the empty craving heart with praise ; 
 Prayer opens heaven's gate to the martyr's gaze ; 
 But Me the Father hears and hears always : 
 Was ever joy like Mine ? 
 
 Blest souls who make the word their meditation : 
 But who can fathom all My consolation 
 When drinking from the well-springs of salvation ? 
 Was ever joy like Mine ? 
 
 How beautiful upon the mountains are 
 
 Their feet who tidings of God's peace declare ! 
 
 1 bought with blood the amnesty I bear: 
 
 Was ever joy like Mine ? 
 
 The wayward lamb is torn by many a wound, 
 Who tracks it o'er the rocky thorny ground ? 
 Mankind were lost, I sought them and I found : 
 Was ever joy like Mine ? 
 
 The tempest sank before Me into calm; 
 The broken heart was heal'd with Gilead's balm; 
 The mourner's wailing pass'd into a psalm: 
 Was ever joy like Mine ? 
 
 The weary and the heavy-laden throng'd 
 Around Me, and the wretched and the wrong'd; 
 Earth claim'd the gay ; to Me the sad belong'd: 
 
 Was ever joy like Mine ? 
 
 Eyes was I to the blind, feet to the lame : 
 Hope blossom'd from despair where'er 1 came ; 
 Love wept, and weeping conquer'd sin and shame: 
 Was ever joy like Mine ? 
 
THE THIRD SUNDA Y IN LENT 5 
 
 The dying robber lifts to Me his eyes, 
 And u Lord, remember me " in anguish cries, 
 And I, that day, I promised Paradise : 
 Was ever joy like Mine? 
 
 Is sacrifice love's measure ? I alone 
 Forsook My Father's glory and My own, 
 Sharp thorns My diadem, the cross My throne 
 Was ever joy like Mine ? 
 
 O ransom'd saints within your home of light, 
 O angels stooping from your glory's height, 
 Bear witness, for ye read the mystery right, 
 Never was joy like Mine. 
 
56 THE FOURTH SUNDA Y IN LEXT. 
 
 THE FOURTH SUNDA Y IN LENT 
 
 Lessons : Gen. xlii. , xliii., xlv. 
 Epistle : Gal. iv. 21. Gospel : St. John vi. i — 15. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we, 
 who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be 
 punished, by the comfort of Thy grace may merci- 
 fully be relieved ; through our Lord and Saviour 
 Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
 " Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of 
 Tiberias, and a great multitude followed Him ." — St. John 
 vi. 1, 2. 
 
 Compare with this the following verses in St Mark : — ■ 
 
 " He ordained twelve, that they should be with Him, 
 and that He might send them forth to preach. 
 
 " When they were alone, He expounded all tilings to His 
 disciples. 
 
 * And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, 
 and told Him all things, both what they had done, and 
 what they had taught. And He said unto then/, Come ye 
 yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest awhile : for 
 there were many coming and going; and they had no 
 leisure so much as to cat."- — St. Mark iii. 14, iv. 34, 
 vi. 30,31. 
 
 Come ye yourselves apart and rest awhile, 
 Weary, I know it, of the press and throng, 
 
 Wipe from your brow the sweat and dust of toil, 
 And in My quiet strength again be strong. 
 
 Come ye aside from all the world holds dear 
 
 For converse which the world has never known, 
 Alone with Me and with My Father here, 
 
 With Me and with My Father not alone. 
 
THE FO UR TH SC T A DA Y IN LENT. 5 7 
 
 Come, tell Me all that ye have said and done, - 
 Your victories and failures, hopes and fears. 
 
 I know how hardly souls are wooed and won : 
 My choicest wreaths are always wet with tears. 
 
 Come ye and rest : the journey is too great, 
 And ye will faint beside the way, and sink : 
 
 The bread of life is here for you to eat, 
 
 And here for you the wine of love to drink. 
 
 Then, fresh from converse with your Lord, return 
 And work till daylight softens into even : 
 
 The brief hours are not lost in which ye learn 
 More of your Master and His rest in heaven. 
 
58 
 
 THE FIFTH SUN DA Y IN LENT 
 
 THE FIFTH SUN DA V IN LENT. 
 
 Lessons : Exod. iii., v., vi. I — 14. 
 Epistle: Heb. ix. 11 — 16. Gospel: St. John viii. 46. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 We beseech Thee, Almighty God, mercifully to look 
 upon Thy people ; that by Thy great goodness they 
 may be governed and preserved evermore, both in 
 bodyandsoul; throughjesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 "And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: 
 and He said, Thus shall thou say unto the children of 
 Israel, I AM hath sent vie unto you.'" — Exod. iii. 14. 
 
 44 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say u7ito you, 
 Before Abraham was, I AM." — St. John viii. 58. 
 
 A cry of anguish from the banks of Nile 
 Of mothers weeping for their little ones, 
 
 Of fathers groaning in their cruel toil, 
 
 Of daughters scourged, of wrathful trampled 
 sons, — 
 
 One bitter cry of bosoms torn and riven 
 
 Arises day and night to patient heaven. 
 
 What power shall mantle God's ambassador, 
 And trouble Pharaoh in his idol feasts, 
 
 Lead Israel forth to Canaan's promised shore, 
 And make of slaves a royalty of priests ? 
 
 One only Name, the God of Abraham, 
 
 I AM hath sent thee : I AM that I AM. 
 
 Long ages pass'd. A darker cloud o'erhangs 
 From pole to pole the universal earth ; 
 
 And Zion, wrestling in her weary pangs, 
 
 Bewails with tears and groans the hour of birth; 
 
 And yet a bitterer cry ascends to God, 
 
 il Woe for the chosen people : Ichabod." 
 
THE FIFTH SUNDA Y IN LEX J. 59 
 
 Say, who is this in man's extremest hour, 
 
 Who comes to ransom man from sin and grave ? 
 
 This veiled Glory, travelling in power 
 And mighty in humility to save ? 
 
 The Light of Light, foreseen by Abraham, 
 
 Or ever Abraham was born, I AM. 
 
 Ages once more have pass'd away like dreams, 
 And now Creation waits the end of things ; 
 
 But far and near o'er all the world what seems 
 Darkens what is with vain imaginings ; 
 
 And men are chasing shadows from their youth 
 
 And grasping unsubstantial mists for truth. 
 
 What is that only Name of power to drive 
 The phantoms of deceitful night away, 
 
 That dying man may save his soul alive, 
 
 And stand God's freeman in the light of day ? 
 
 Hark, on the throne of God and of the Lamb ' 
 
 The name from everlasting is I AM. 
 
60 THE SUNDA Y NEXT 
 
 THE SUNDAY NEXT BEFORE EASTER. 
 
 Lessons : Exod. ix., x., xi. ; St. Matt. xxvi. ; St. Luke xix. 
 
 28—48, xx. 9—21. 
 Epistle : Phil. ii. 5—12. Gospel : St. Matt, xxvii. 1—55. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty and everlasting God, who, of Thy tender 
 love towards mankind, hast sent Thy Son. our 
 Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon Him our flesh, 
 and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind 
 should follow the example of His great humility ; 
 Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the ex- 
 ample of His patience, and also be made partakers 
 of His resurrection ; through the same Jesus Christ 
 our Lord. Amen. 
 
 " And when lie was come nigh y even now at the descent 
 of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples 
 began to rejoice a nd / raise God with a loud voice for all 
 the mighty works that they had seen ; saying. Blessed be 
 the King that com eth in the name of t lie Lord : peace in 
 heaven, and glory in the highest." — St. Luke xix. 37, 38. 
 
 What are these with palm and song 
 Round the Saviour's feet who throng? 
 Wherefore is that mountain road 
 With their festal garments strow'd ? 
 Parents, children, welcoming 
 Zion's Son and Zion's King, 
 Shouts of glad Hosannas raise 
 With their love to crown His praise. 
 
 Lo, upon a holier mount, 
 Multitudes no tongue can count, 
 With celestial harpings chant 
 Hallelujahs jubilant. 
 
BEFORE EASTER. 
 
 61 
 
 Hark, their everlasting song 
 Through the ages rolls along ; 
 Glory won and sin forgiven, 
 Theirs the perfect bliss of heaven. 
 
 Blessed Jesu, grant that we 
 Here may serve and worship Thee 
 Loveliness and love Thou art, 
 Write Thy name upon our heart ; 
 Help us gladly, Lord, to bring 
 Costliest gift and offering 
 To the footstool of Thy throne, 
 Thine ourselves and Thine alone. 
 
 Jesu, Thou wilt come again 
 Not to suffer, but to reign : 
 May we Thee with rapture meet ; 
 Fall adoring at Thy feet ; 
 With Thy saints and angels rise 
 To our mansions in the skies, 
 Hallelujahs there to Thee 
 Singing through eternitv. 
 
 "t 
 
62 
 
 THE MONDAY BEFORE EASTER, 
 
 THE MONDAY BEFORE EASTER. 
 
 Lessons : Lam. i. I — 15, ii. 13 ; St. John xiv. 
 For the Epistle : Isa. lxiii. Gospel : St. Mark xiv. 
 
 t( And He sendeth forth two of His disciples, and saith 
 unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet yon a 
 man bearing a pitcher of water : follcnv him ; and where- 
 soever he shall go in, say ye to the good man of the house, 
 The Master saith, Where is the guest-chamber, where I shall 
 eat the passoverwith My disciples!"" — St. Mark xiv. 13, 14. 
 
 'Twas spoken long ago and far away; 
 
 But, hark ! it vibrates in our hearts to-day, 
 
 That word of Jesus Christ of Nazareth : 
 
 That strange persuasive word, " The Master saith.' 3 
 
 As once beside the lake of Galilee 
 
 He passes by and whispers, " Follow Me;" 
 
 Seems it to many but an idle breath ? 
 
 There are who answer, " 'Tis the Master saith." 
 
 What is it that He asks ? Thy soul, thy heart, 
 Yea, brother, all thou hast and all thou art : 
 He claims it for His own, in life and death, 
 And after death for ever so He saith. 
 
 Thou wilt not say Him nay ; but can it be 
 He asks some dearer than thyself of thee ? 
 One word the costly offering halloweth. 
 One only — 'tis enough — the Master saith. 
 
 Wait but a little while, of thee and them 
 The Lord hath need in His Jerusalem. 
 Press on : who in His footsteps followeth 
 Shall know in glory all the Master saith. 
 
THE TUESDA Y BEFORE EASTER. 
 
 63 
 
 THE TUESDA Y BEFORE EASTER. 
 
 Lessons : Lam. iii.; St. John xv. 
 For the Epistle: Isa. i. 5. Gospel : St. Mark xv. 1 — 40. 
 
 * * For the Lord God will help me, therefore shall I not be 
 confounded. 
 
 1 * Who is a?nong you that feareth the Lord, and oheyeth 
 the voice of His servant, that walketh in darkness, and 
 hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and 
 stay upon his God." — Isaiah 1. 7, 10. 
 
 " And now is My soul troubled.' 5 Can it be ? 
 
 O speak the word again, and yet again. 
 
 Thy soul, O holy Saviour, troubled ? Peace, 
 
 Be comforted, my weak and weary heart : 
 
 There is a deep unfathomable rest 
 
 In that low moan of anguish. Was Thy soul, 
 
 O Jesu, troubled, tempest-tost, like mine ? — 
 
 Troubled ? — Thy faith held fast her anchor-hold 
 
 Upon the Rock of everlasting strength : 
 
 For Thee the light of coming glory shone 
 
 Beyond all clouds, that wrapp'd the vale of death : 
 
 It was Thy daily meat and drink to do 
 
 Thy Father's will, which in Thy secret breast 
 
 Was ever springing up a well of life, 
 
 The world new nothing of. And yet Thy soul 
 
 Was troubled. 
 
 Trouble then was uppermost, 
 Not joy, not peace, but trouble and unrest, 
 What time these holy words dropp'dfrom Thy lips; 
 There was no stain of sin in them, no film 
 Of evil ; only grief, deep sinless grief, 
 As when a tempest scourges into waves 
 A calm and crystal lake. 
 
64 THE TUESDA Y BEFORE EASTER. 
 
 Oh, peace, my heart : 
 It is not sin to feel the bitterness 
 Of sorrow, nor to tremble, as the storm 
 Rocks the foundations of our little all ; 
 It is not sin to weep, and make our moan. 
 Nay, for this human suffering Jesus felt, 
 And wept, and shudder'd and confess'd His woe ; 
 Though almost in the self-same breath of prayer 
 He pleaded, " Father, glorify Thy name," 
 And meekly bow'd His head to bear the cross. 
 I thank Thee, Lord, for these Thy words of grief ; 
 I thank Thee more for Thy victorious love ; 
 So teach me at Thy feet to kneel and learn, 
 Until my feeble prayer re-echoes Thine, 
 " Father, Thy will, not mine, Thy will be done." 
 
THE WEDNESDA Y BEFORE EASTER. 65 
 
 THE WEDNESDA Y BEFORE EASTER. 
 
 Lessons : Lam. iv. I — 21 ; Dan. ix. 20; St. John xvi. 
 Epistle : Heb. ix. 16. Gospel : St. Luke xxii. 
 
 " TTiis do in remembrance of Me" — St. Luke xxii. 19. 
 
 Master of the human heart, 
 Emmanuel, one with us Thou art ; 
 But never closer to our breast 
 Than in Thy tender last behest, 
 "Child of My love, hear thou My plea, 
 Do this in memory of Me." 
 
 Dark is the veil that hangs between 
 Our mortal eye and things unseen ; 
 But in these pledges of Thy grace 
 By faith we see Thee face to face, 
 And hear Thy accents in the plea, 
 " Do this in memory of Me." 
 
 The golden links which brethren bind 
 Are strain'd too soon, too oft untwined, 
 But in this feast Thy children meet 
 Around One Fathers mercy-seat, 
 All hearts responsive to one plea, 
 " Do this in memory of Me.'' 
 
 O blessed banquet of delight ! 
 
 O daybreak of the pilgrim's night ! 
 
 The banner over us is love, 
 
 While steals in music from above, 
 
 The Bridegroom's strong persistent plea, 
 
 "Do this in memory of Me." 
 
66 THE THURSDA Y BEFORE EASTER. 
 
 THE THURSDAY BEFORE EASTER. 
 
 Lessons : Hosea xiii. i — 15, xiv. ; St. John xvii., xiii. 
 
 1-36. 
 
 Epistle : I Cor. xi. 17. Gospel : St. Luke xxiii. 1 — 50. 
 
 " As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do 
 show forth the Lord's death till He cofJieT — 1 Cor. xi. 26. 
 
 Till He come — Oh, let the words 
 Linger on the trembling chords ; 
 Let the little while between 
 In their golden light be seen ; 
 Let us think how heaven and home 
 Lie beyond that " Till He come." 
 
 When the weary ones we love 
 Enter on their rest above, 
 Seems the earth so poor and vast, 
 All our life-joy overcast ? 
 Hush, be every murmur dumb : 
 It is only till He come. 
 
 Clouds and conflicts round us press : 
 Would we have one sorrow less ? 
 All the sharpness of the cross, 
 All that tells the world is loss, 
 Death, and darkness, and the tomb 
 Only whisper, " Till He come." 
 
 See the feast of love is spread, 
 Drink the wine, and break the bread: 
 Sweet memorials, — till the Lord 
 Call us round His heavenly board ; 
 Some from earth, from glory some, 
 Scver'd only till Hecotne. 
 
GOOD FRIDA Y. 
 
 67 
 
 GOOD FRIDA Y. 
 
 Lessons : Gen. xxii. I — 20 ; Isaiah lii. v. 13 and liii. ; 
 
 St. John xviii. ; I Peter ii. 
 
 Epistle : Heb. x. 1—26. Gospel : St. John xix. 1 — 38. 
 
 THE COLLECTS. 
 
 Almighty God, we beseech Thee graciously 
 to behold this Thy family, for which our Lord 
 Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and 
 given up into the hands of wicked men, and to 
 suffer death upon the cross, who now liveth and 
 reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one 
 God, world without end. Amen. 
 
 Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit 
 the whole body of the Church is governed and 
 sanctified ; Receive our supplications and prayers, 
 which we offer before Thee for all estates of men in 
 Thy holy Church, that every member of the same, 
 in his vocation and ministry, may truly and godly 
 serve Thee ; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
 Christ. Amen. 
 
 O MERCIFUL God, who hast made all men, and 
 hatest nothing that Thou hast made, nor wouldest 
 the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be 
 converted and live ; Have mercy upon all Jews, 
 Turks, Infidels, and Heretics, and take from them 
 all ignorance, hardness of heart, and contempt of 
 Thy Word ; and so fetch them home, blessed Lord, 
 to Thy flock, that they may be saved among the 
 remnant of the true Israelites, and be made one 
 fold under one shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord, 
 who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy 
 Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen. 
 F 2 
 
68 GOOD FRIDA Y. 
 
 THE PASSION OF JESUS. 
 
 " They shall look on Him whom they pierced. ' 
 St. John xix. 37. 
 
 The Garden. 
 
 Wrestling in agony, 
 
 Wrestling alone ; 
 Weary for human love, 
 
 Finding none. 
 
 While over Olivet 
 
 Sleeps the moon-light, 
 Whose is that broken prayer 
 
 Troubling night ? 
 
 What are those drops of blood 
 
 Falling like rain, 
 Wrung from that heart of Thine 
 
 Man of pain ? 
 
 Anguish unspeakable 
 
 Writ on Thy brow, — 
 Suppliant Sufferer, 
 
 Who art Thou ? 
 
 The Way of Sorrows. 
 
 Hark, in thy bosom's depths 
 
 Speaks He to thee, 
 " Child of My dying love, 
 
 Follow Me. 
 
 " Shall I not drink the cup 
 
 My Father gave ? — 
 Drink it, when drinking it 
 
 Thee will save ? 
 
 
GOOD FRIDAY. 
 
 69 
 
 " Buffeted, spitted on, 
 
 Loaded with scorns, 
 Smitten, scourged, purple-robed, 
 
 Crown'd with thorns : 
 
 " Onward to Golgotha ; 
 
 There I must die ; 
 All for the love of thee : 
 
 It is I." 
 
 The Seven Words upon the Cross. 
 
 NaiPd to the bitter wood ; 
 
 Never a groan : 
 Bearing our guilt and sin, 
 
 Not His ow r n. 
 
 Sun of my soul, canst Thou 
 
 Suffer eclipse ? 
 What words are those from Thy 
 
 Quivering lips ? 
 
 u Father, forgive them " the 
 
 Crucified prays : 
 And Him the Father hears, 
 
 Hears always. 
 
 Listen, the dying thief 
 
 For mercy sighs : — 
 Calmly He promises 
 
 Paradise. 
 
 Two from His pierced feet 
 
 Cannot depart — 
 Listen, He speaks and knits 
 
 Heart to heart. 
 
70 GOOD FRIDA V. 
 
 Darkness wraps earth and sky : 
 
 Night at midday : 
 Moments like centuries 
 
 Pass away. 
 
 Hark, through the gloom is heard 
 
 One dreadful cry, 
 " Thou hast forsaken Me, 
 
 Father, why ? ' } 
 
 Oh that abandonment ! 
 
 Oh death accursed ! 
 What means that plaint of woe, 
 
 That " I thirst " ? 
 
 Hark, " It is finish'd." Thy 
 
 Warfare is done ; 
 Death and hell grappled with ; 
 
 Victory won. 
 
 " Father, I breathe to Thee 
 That Thou hast given." 
 
 Now is there peace betwixt 
 Earth and heaven. 
 
 The Appeal. 
 
 " Child of My agonies, 
 Bought with My blood, 
 
 Ransom'd from Satan's thrall, 
 Saved for God ; 
 
 " Come to Me, weary one, 
 Come to My breast : 
 
 Here in My bleeding wounds 
 J lulc and rest. 
 
GOOD FRIDA Y. 
 
 7i 
 
 " Come to My Father's feet, 
 Come without fear: — 
 
 I am thy Advocate, 
 Always near. 
 
 " Drink of the Spirit's grace, 
 All things are thine : 
 
 I am thy heritage, 
 Thou art Mine." 
 
 The Response. 
 
 a Yea, Lord, I give myself 
 
 Wholly to Thee : 
 Only Thy priceless love 
 
 Give Thou me. 
 
 All I have, all I am, 
 
 Body and soul, 
 Nothing refuse I Thee ; 
 
 Take the whole. 
 
 Only abide with me, 
 
 Lord, to the end ; 
 Jesus, Emmanuel, 
 
 Saviour, Friend. 
 
 And when Thy time is come, 
 
 Let me adore 
 Thee in Thy home of light 
 
 Evermore. 
 
72 EASTER EVEN. 
 
 EASTER EVEN. 
 
 Lessons : Zech. ix.; Hosea v. 8 to vi. 4 ; Luke xxiii. 50 ; 
 
 Rom vi. 1 — 14. 
 
 Epistle : 1 Peter iii. Gospel : St. Matt, xxvii. 57. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Grant, O Lord, that as we are baptized into the 
 death of Thy blessed Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, 
 so by continual mortifying our corrupt affections 
 we may be buried with Him ; and that through 
 the grave and gate of death, we may pass to our 
 joyful resurrection ; for His merits, who died, and 
 was buried, and rose again for us, Thy Son Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 u And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it 
 in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb 
 which he had hewn out in the rocky — St. Matt, xxvii. 
 59, 60. 
 
 " There laid they Jesus. ." — St. John xix. 42. 
 
 And was it Jesus Christ Himself they laid 
 Upon the rocky floor of Joseph's tomb ? 
 
 O speak the words again ; for, softly said, 
 
 Methinks they lighten many a mourner's gloom. 
 
 There laid they Jesus. Yet before He died, 
 In answer to the prayer, Remember me, 
 
 Assured He not the felon by His side 
 That day in Paradise with Him to be ? 
 
 There laid they Jesus. Yet His parting breath 
 Into His Fathers hands His spirit gave. 
 
 Was He not with His Father after death, 
 His tabernacle only in the grave? 
 
EASTER EVEN. 73 
 
 And are there not mysterious words, which tell 
 That dying He the lord of death destroyed ; 
 
 And stripp'd the spoils from vanquished powers of 
 hell, 
 Before He pass'd to Hades' awful void ? 
 
 And how, when foughten was and won that strife, 
 He, quicken'd in His human spirit, trod 
 
 The prison of that under- world of life, 
 And there proclaim'd the victory of God ? 
 
 Was not that Jesus ? Wherefore read we then 
 That they laid Jesus in the sepulchre ? 
 
 O speak the words again and yet again 
 
 To one who loves like Mary, weeps like her. 
 
 This body in the tomb is Jesus too ; 
 
 Those eyes now closed in death are Jesus' eyes ; 
 Those hands were wont His gracious works to do ; 
 
 Those lips now seal'd have bidden dead men rise. 
 
 Are not those blessed feet, dear Master, Thine, 
 So often wearied in the rough world's ways ? 
 
 Throbb'd not that human heart with love Divine 
 For wanderers lost in sin's entangling maze ? 
 
 And is that holy body now the spoil 
 
 Of Satan and the prey of death and hell ? 
 
 Let not the wrongful thought our faith assoil : 
 It is the body of Emmanuel. 
 
 So we may cherish all the thoughts that cling 
 Around the sacred dust of those we love : 
 
 The ruin'd temple is a holy thing 
 
 And shall be built anew in heaven above. 
 
74 EASTER DA Y. 
 
 EASTER DAY. 
 
 Lessons : Exod. xii. I — 29, xii. 29 and xiv. ; Rev. i. 
 
 10 — 19 ; St. John xx. 11 — 19 ; Rev. v. 
 Epistle : Col. iii. 1 — 8. Gospel : St. John xx. I — 10. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty God, who through Thine only-begotten 
 Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened 
 unto us the gate of everlasting life ; We humbly 
 beseech Thee, that, as by Thy special grace pre- 
 venting us Thou dost put into our minds good 
 desires, so by Thy continual help we may bring the 
 same to good effect ; through Jesus Christ our Lord, 
 who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy 
 Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. 
 
 MORNING PRAYER. 
 
 u Jesus Christ, . . . the first-begotten of the dead." 
 Rev. i. 5. 
 
 Welcome, earliest Eastern ray ; 
 W 7 elcome, golden dawn of day ; 
 Welcome, cloudless sun, to say, 
 Alleluia, Christ is risen. 
 
 Welcome, warblers of the spring ; 
 Welcome, every glancing wing, 
 Welcome, as ye soar and sing, 
 Alleluia, Christ is risen. 
 
 Welcome, wreaths of leaves and flowers 
 Gathered from earth's choicest bowers ; 
 Bloom that breathes a few brief hours, 
 Alleluia, Christ is risen. 
 
EASTER DA Y. 75 
 
 Earthly suns must sink to rest ; 
 Birds must seek their evening nest ; 
 Flowers must droop when most caress'd : 
 Alleluia, Christ is risen. 
 
 He is risen, no more to die : 
 Songs shall fill eternity : 
 Sharon's Rose shall bloom for aye : 
 Alleluia, Christ is risen. 
 
 EVENING PRAYER. 
 
 : Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward" 
 Exod. xiv. 15. 
 
 Hark, brothers, hark, " Go forward,' 5 
 
 The silver trumpets sound ! 
 The camp of Israel hears it, 
 
 Tents are struck around. 
 What laggard heart refuses 
 
 By doubt or fear oppress'd ? 
 " My Presence shall go with thee : 
 I will give thee rest." 
 
 Forward into the desert ! 
 
 Let no man's heart despond. 
 That desert waste and howling, 
 
 Canaan lies beyond. 
 Forward, and lean when weary 
 
 Upon His sheltering breast. 
 " My Presence shall go with thee : 
 I will give thee rest." 
 
 Forward, although the pathway 
 
 Be hitherto untrod ! 
 That rugged journey leads thee 
 
 To the home of God. 
 
76 EASTER DA Y. 
 
 Forward, within His palace 
 
 To be a welcome guest ! 
 " My Presence shall go with thee: 
 I will give thee rest." 
 
 Forward, although the waters 
 
 Of Jordan roll between, 
 And mists hang round the confines 
 
 Of the things unseen ! 
 Himself hath won by dying 
 
 That kingdom of the blest. 
 14 My Presence shall go with thee : 
 I will give thee rest." 
 
 
MONDAY IN EASTER WEEK. 77 
 
 MCNDA Y IN EASTER WEEK. 
 
 Lessons : Exod. xv. 1—22 ; Cant. ii. 10 ; St. Luke 
 
 xxiv. I — 13 ; St. Matt, xxviii. 1 — 10. 
 
 Epistle: Acts x. 34 — 44. Gospel: St. Luke xxiv. 13 — 36. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty God, who through Thy only-begotten 
 Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened 
 unto us the gate of everlasting life ; We humbly 
 beseech Thee, that, as by Thy special grace prevent- 
 ing us Thou dost put into our minds good desires, 
 so by Thy continual help we may bring the same to 
 good effect ; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who 
 liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, 
 ever one God, world without end. Amen. 
 
 '* And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village 
 called Emmaus." — St. Luke xxiv. 13. 
 
 Slowly along the rugged pathway walk'd 
 Two sadden'd wayfarers, bent on one quest ; 
 With them Another who had ask'd to share 
 Their travel, since they left the city walls ; 
 Their converse too intent for speed ; and oft, 
 Where lingered on the rocks the sunset tints, 
 They check'd their footsteps, careless of the hour 
 And waning light and heavy falling dews. 
 For from the Stranger's lips came words, that 
 
 burn'd 
 And lit the altar fuel on their hearts, 
 Consuming fear, and quickening faith at once. 
 God's oracles grew luminous as He spake ; 
 And all along the ages Good from 111 
 And light from darkness sprang, as day from night. 
 
78 MONDAY IN EASTER WEEK. 
 
 The first faint dawn from ruin'd Eden rose, 
 
 And glimmer'd round the solitary ark, 
 
 And lighted up Moriah's sacrifice, 
 
 And shed its warmth on Jacob's dying couch, 
 
 And bathed the blood-stain'd mercy-seat with 
 
 love ; 
 The eastern heavens were flush'd with rosier 
 
 gleams ; 
 It woke the minstrel shepherd, and his hand, 
 Obedient to the gladness, struck his harp, 
 " Joy cometh in the morning ;'' and the words 
 Thereafter lived in song. Isaiah's soul 
 Glow'd with the coming glory, and his page 
 Caught the far splendours of the orient clouds ; 
 And plaintive Jeremy look'd up and smiled ; 
 And rapt Ezekiel breathed his hopes in fire. 
 A deeper shade is glooming on the hills ; 
 A livelier amber brightens in the sky 
 And broadens, till the Sun of Righteousness 
 Rises at last with healing in His wings. 
 
 Thus on their path they communed, till they 
 
 reach'd 
 The lowly wicket, and their urgent plea, 
 " Day is far spent, abide with us," prevail'd. 
 The lamp is lighted o'er the simple board ; 
 And there is silence for a space : but lo, 
 The Stranger takes the bread and blesses it 
 And breaks : and like a dream the veil is rent, 
 Which hid their Lord and Master from their gaze. 
 It is His eye, His hand, His voice, Himself. 
 Fain had they fallen at His feet, and fain 
 Clung to Him as of old : it may not be ; 
 His place is empty, but 1 1 is love is there, 
 A calm abiding Presence in their hearts. 
 
MONDAY IN EASTER WEEK. 79 
 
 O Jesu, Saviour, hear our cry. We too 
 Are weary travellers on life's rough path. 
 And Thou art still unchangeably the same. 
 Come, Lord, to us and let us walk with Thee : 
 Come and unfold the words of heavenly life, 
 Till our souls burn within us, and the day 
 Breaks, and the Day-star rises in our hearts. 
 Yea, Lord, abide with us, rending the veil 
 Which hides Thee from the loving eye of faith, 
 Dwell with us to the world's end evermore, 
 Until Thou callest us to dwell with Thee. 
 
8o 
 
 TUESDA Y IN EASTER WEEK. 
 
 TUESDA Y IN EASTER WEEK. 
 
 Lessons : 2 Kings xiii. 14 — 22 ; St. John xxi. 1 — 15; 
 
 Ezek. xxxvii. I — 15.; St. John xxi. 15 — 25. 
 
 Epistle: Acts xiii. 26 — 42. Gospel: St. Luke xxiv. 3: — 49. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty God, who through Thy only-begotten 
 Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened 
 unto us the gate of everlasting life ; We humbly 
 beseech Thee, that, as by Thy special grace prevent- 
 ing us Thou dost put into our minds good desires, 
 so by Thy continual help we may bring the same to 
 good effect ; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who 
 liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, 
 ever one God, world without end. A?ncn. 
 
 " Lovest thou Me ?" " Lord, Thou knowest all tilings ; 
 Thou knowest that J love Thee." — St. John xxi. 15, 17. 
 
 From the guiding star that led 
 Sages to the manger bed ; 
 From the God incarnate press'd 
 To the mother-maiden's breast ; 
 From the labours humbly plied 
 Day by day at Joseph's side ; 
 From the sacred lessons learn'd 
 When the lamp of evening burn'd, — 
 Steals the voice persuasively 
 " Lovest thou, yea lovest Me?" 
 
 From the Holy Dove who came 
 Through the azure heavens like flame ; 
 From the fast, the foughten strife ; 
 From the victory of life ; 
 From the happy homes that smiled, 
 Parent heal'd and rescued child ; 
 
TUESDA Y IN EASTER WEEK. 
 
 From the health that play'd again 
 
 On the cheek long worn with pain, — 
 
 Still there sounds unweariedly 
 
 " Lovest thou, yea lovest Me ? " 
 
 From the mingled glow and gloom 
 
 Of the Paschal upper room ; 
 
 From the deepening shades that fell 
 
 Over Kedron's awful dell ; 
 
 From the blood-stain'd pathway trod 
 
 By the fainting Son of God ; 
 
 From the woes to us unknown, 
 
 Bitter cross, and sealed stone, — 
 
 Ever comes persistently 
 
 " Lovest thou, yea lovest Me ? " 
 
 From the dawn of Easter light 
 
 Breaking on the world's long night ; 
 
 From the glories lingering yet 
 
 On the brow of Olivet ; 
 
 From the rapturous angel-songs ; 
 
 From the Pentecostal tongues ; 
 
 From the voice divinely sweet 
 
 At the golden mercy-seat, — 
 
 Pleads, and pleads victoriously, 
 
 " Lovest thou, yea lovest Me ? n 
 
 " Lord, Thou knowest through and through 
 
 All I am and say and do, 
 
 All the daily wants that press, 
 
 All my hourly waywardness, 
 
 All my conflicts, crosses, cares, 
 
 Feeble praises, struggling prayers ; — 
 
 Yet Thou knowest, Lord, that I 
 
 Fain for Thee would live, would die ; 
 
 Surely Thou, who knowest me, 
 
 Knowest, Master, I love Thee.' 5 
 
 G 
 
82 THE FIRST SUNDA Y AFTER EASTER. 
 
 THE FIRST SUNDA Y AFTER EASTER. 
 
 Lessons : Num. xvi., xvii. I — 12 ; 1 Cor. xv. 1 — 29; 
 
 St. John xx. 24 — 30. 
 
 Epistle : I John v. 4 — 13. Gospel : St. John xx. 19—24. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty Father, who hast given Thine only Son 
 to die for our sins, and to rise again for our justifica- 
 tion ; Grant us so to put away the leaven of malice 
 and wickedness, that we may alway serve Thee in 
 pureness of living and truth ; through the merits of 
 the same Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 " Then the same day at evening . . . came Jesus and 
 stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 
 And when He had so said, He showed them His hands and 
 His side. Then were the disciples glad, -when they saw the 
 Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you : 
 as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you'* — St. John 
 
 XX. 19 21. 
 
 He liveth, who was dead : 
 
 The bars of hell are riven : 
 
 The gloom of centuries is fled, 
 
 The light hath dawn'd from heaven. 
 
 Among His own He stands, 
 Oh why those faithless fears ? 
 He shows His side and feet and hands, 
 And dries the fount of tears. 
 
 Peace, blessed peace, first sung 
 By angels at 1 lis birth, 
 Now drops melodious from His tongue, 
 Like balm for all the earth. 
 
THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 83 
 
 He clothes them with the power 
 Of His forgiving love, 
 As clothed at His baptismal hour 
 With unction of the Dove. 
 
 The Light hath burst its prison 
 And shines Creation o'er : 
 The Everlasting Life hath risen, 
 And risen to die no more. 
 
 G 2 
 
8 4 THE SECOND SUNDA Y AFTER EASTER. 
 
 THE SECOXD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 
 
 Lessons : Num. xx. I — 14, xx. 14 — xxi. 10, xxi. 10. 
 Epistle : I Peter ii. 19. Gospel : St. John x. 11 — 17. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty God, who hast given Thine only Son to 
 be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an 
 ensample of godly life ; Give us grace that we may 
 always most thankfully receive that His inestimable 
 benefit, and also daily endeavour ourselves to 
 follow the blessed steps of His most holy life ; 
 through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 "And Moses did as the Lord commanded : and they 
 went up into Mount I/or in the sight of all the congrega- 
 tion. And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments^ and put 
 them upon Eleazar his son ; and Aaron died there in the 
 top of the mount : and Moses and Eleazar came down from 
 the moicfit." — Num. xx. 27, 28. 
 
 A strange awe lay upon the silent tents 
 Of Israel, when the three, — their aged chief, 
 Aaron his brother and his brother's son, — 
 Pass'd through the camp. Men, women, little ones 
 Stood in the tent-doors gazing. Never a word 
 Was spoken, as the priest so pale and calm, 
 In all his robes pontifical array'd, 
 Walk'd through /the trembling multitudes. They 
 
 knew 
 They should not see his reverend form again : 
 He knew he was about to meet his God. 
 But when the camp was left, then Aaron gave, 
 In measured words and slow, his latest charge 
 To Eleazar ; — words of noble faith, 
 
THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 85 
 
 As one who long had proved Jehovah's power ; 
 Words of stern warning, being he himself 
 Had proved the weakness of the heart of man ; — 
 Few words but graven on the soul henceforth. 
 Still onward, upward led the path ; and ere 
 They gain'd with patient steps the ridge of Hor 
 The sun was sloping towards the western sea. 
 And then, — in sooth he knew it was not long 
 Before himself upon another mount 
 Should yield his spirit to the hands of God, — 
 Moses with firm unfaltering hand stripp'd off 
 His brother's priestly garments, and therewith 
 Clothed one who shudder'd to receive them. 
 
 Then 
 A heavenly radiance shone in Aaron's eye 
 And, lifting up his hands to bless them both, 
 Even as the words of blessing pass'd his lips, 
 He knelt, he sank, he fell upon the earth : 
 The fire was dimm'd, the lamp of life was quench'd, 
 The eyelids closed in death. And Aaron slept. 
 
 And where he sank they scoop'd his narrow grave ; 
 And piled che massive stones for sepulchre : 
 And all the weight of Israel's ministry 
 On Eleazar rested. So it was 
 The priest was dead, the priesthood never died. 
 O Thou, who through the grave and gate of 
 
 death 
 Hast pass'd to glory in the highest heavens, 
 Who livest still for us to intercede, 
 Vouchsafe us evermore to rest in Thee, 
 Our One Eternal Priest unchangeable, 
 As from the everlasting yesterday, 
 So through to-day's innumerable needs, 
 For ever and for ever still the same. 
 
86 THE THIRD SUN DA V AFTER EASTER. 
 
 THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 
 
 Lessons : Num. xxii., xxiii., xxiv. 
 Epistle : I Peter ii. n — 18. Gospel : St. John xvi. 16 — 23. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty God, who showest to them that be in 
 error the light of Thy truth, to the intent that they 
 may return into the way of righteousness ; Grant 
 unto all them that are admitted into the fellowship 
 of Christ's Religion, that they may eschew those 
 things that are contrary to their profession, and 
 follow all such things as are agreeable to the same ; 
 through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
 " And ye ncnv therefore have sorrow : but I will see you 
 again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man 
 takethfrom you." 1 ' — St. John xvi. 22. 
 
 When the weary at heart and the laden with sin 
 Have open'd to Jesus the things that have been, 
 When all is forgiven, for all is confess'd, 
 In the blood of His cross there is rest, blessed rest. 
 
 When in struggling for right and in wrestling with 
 
 wrong 
 The rough doubtful path seems most lonesome and 
 
 long, 
 Ah, then like a babe by its mother caress'd 
 In the bosom of Jesus is rest, blessed rest. 
 
 When the home of our childhood is shadow'd and 
 
 dim 
 And the loved ones we clung to are gather'd to 
 
 Him, 
 
THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 87 
 
 While we nestle and weep on His sheltering 
 
 breast, 
 Still, still Jesus only is rest, blessed rest. 
 
 But the shadows shall pass and the tears shall be 
 
 dried 
 And the light and the love shall for ever abide : 
 Without cloud, without end, inexpressibly blest 
 For the people of God there remaineth a rest. 
 
THE FOURTH SUNDA Y AFTER EASTER. 
 
 THE FOURTH SUNDA Y AFTER 
 FASTER. 
 
 Lessons : Deut. iv. I — 41, v. 
 Epistle : James i. 17 — 22. Gospel : St. John xvi. 5 — 16. 
 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty God, who alone canst order the 
 unruly wills and affections of sinful men ; Grant 
 unto Thy people, that they may love the thing 
 which Thou commandest, and desire that which 
 Thou dost promise ; that so, among the sundry and 
 manifold changes of the world, our hearts may 
 surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be 
 found ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 "Of His oivn will begat He us with the word of truths that 
 we should be a kind of fir stf raits of His creatures." — 
 James i. 18. 
 
 Be blessings on the little child, 
 
 Which trusts because it loves alone 
 
 The Saviour, who on it has smiled 
 And by that smile its heart has won. 
 
 Be blessings on the generous youth, 
 
 Who has not learn'd the blush of shame, 
 
 But craves to climb from truth to truth, 
 And thinks that all men crave the same. 
 
 Be blessings upon those who bear 
 The heat and burden of the day, 
 
 And through this world of sin and care 
 Unfaltering track a heavenward way. 
 
THE FOURTH SUN DA Y AFTER EASTER. 
 
 Be blessings on the cloudless brow 
 Of age unstain'd by storm and strife, 
 
 Which calmly waits the summons now 
 To pass into the light of life. 
 
 And are these gleams of heaven on earth, 
 
 We love through mists of tears to trace, 
 But symbols of the Spirit's birth ? 
 But firstfruits of the Spirit's grace ? 
 
 What will it be when those, who weep 
 But weeping seek the things above, 
 
 In God's eternal kingdom reap 
 The harvest of these seeds of love ? 
 
 A saint in light, no cloud to mar 
 The perfect image of his Lord, 
 
 Resplendent as the morning star ; 
 Is this the sum of faith's reward ? 
 
 One saint albeit a saint in light, 
 
 One star in heaven's great firmament, 
 
 Ah, this were little in His sight 
 
 Who will His Bride in bliss present ; 
 
 His Bride, His diadem of saints, 
 
 Never a jewel wanting there, 
 Whose spotless beauty language faints 
 
 With earthly glories to compare ; 
 
 His Bride, of every age and clime ; 
 
 His Bride, of numbers numberless ; 
 The blossom and the flower of time, 
 
 The crown of love and loveliness. 
 
 And is there aught reveal'd beyond 
 This vision of supreme delight ? 
 
 Can faith with shaded eyes respond 
 To words which touch the infinite? 
 
90 THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EASIER. 
 
 And will the Bride herself appear 
 The firstfruits of Eternal Love ? 
 
 Is there no bound, no limit here 
 To growth of bliss below, above ? 
 
 So runs the living Oracle, 
 
 " His will begat the Church to be 
 Creation's firstfruits." Who can tell 
 The harvests of eternity ? 
 
 O God, it is enough, if we 
 
 Will rest upon Thy word alone ; 
 
 And, taking what is known of Thee, 
 Will trust Thee for the vast unknown. 
 
THE FIFTH SUNDA Y AFTER EASTER. 91 
 
 THE FIFTH SUNDA Y AFTER EASTER. 
 
 Lessons : Deut. vi., ix., x. 
 Epistle : James i. 22. Gospel : St. John xvi. 23. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 O Lord, from whom all good things do come ; 
 Grant to us Thy humble servants, that by Thy holy 
 inspiration we may think those things that be good, 
 and by Thy merciful guiding may perform the 
 same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen, 
 
 <( Pure religion and undefiled before God and the leather 
 is this, To visit the fatherless and the widows in their 
 affliction, and to keep himself unspotted fro?n the world." — 
 James i. 27. 
 
 " Ye have the poor with you ahuays, and whensoever ye 
 will ye may do them good ; but Me ye have not always.'''' — - 
 St. Mark xiv. 7. 
 
 " I go : the poor, My poor are with you still, 
 And ye may help them when and as ye will." 
 
 Such was the legacy Incarnate Love 
 Bequeath'd His own before He soar'd above. 
 
 Not gold or jewels, but His poor to claim 
 Our succour for the sake of His dear name. 
 
 No weary burden, but a rich bequest, 
 Whereby who blesses is himself twice bless'd. 
 
 Is it not ours to-day? Are not the poor, 
 The hungry and the naked, at our door ? 
 
 And do not still the moans of anguish rise, 
 By day and night from sufferers to the skies ? 
 
92 THE FIFTH SUNDA Y AFTER EASTER. 
 
 And does not many a sorer, deeper need 
 Than poverty or pain for mercy plead ? 
 
 The wounded soul, the broken heart's distress ; 
 Tears of the widow and the fatherless ? 
 
 And He, who gave Himself for all, has given 
 To us His servants of the balm of heaven. 
 
 Kind thoughts and tender words and generous 
 
 tasks, 
 These for His sorrowing ones the Master asks. 
 
 None are so poor but have some love to shower 
 On poorer than themselves, and this is power. 
 
 This is the worship pure and undefiled 
 
 The Father claims of every heaven-born child. 
 
THE ASCENSION DA Y. 93 
 
 THE ASCENSION DA Y. 
 
 Lessons : Dan. vii. 9 — 15 ; 2 Kings ii. 1 — 16 ; St. Luke 
 
 xxiv. 44 ; Heb. iv. 
 For the Epistle : Acts i. 1 — 12. Gospel : St. Mark xvi. 14. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that like as 
 we do believe Thy only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus 
 Christ to have ascended into the heavens ; so we 
 may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and 
 with Him continually dwell, who liveth and reigneth 
 with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world 
 without end. Amen, 
 
 " So then after the lord had spoken unto them, He was 
 received tip into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God." 
 — St. Mark xvi. 19. 
 
 Glory to the King of glory ! Thou hast raised 
 
 Thine only Son 
 With Creation's Hallelujahs to Thy bosom and 
 
 Thy throne ; 
 And the echo of that triumph through the centuries 
 
 of years, 
 Gathering strength with lapse of ages, falls to-day 
 
 upon our ears. 
 
 Lo, the Lamb of God, for sinners on the altar 
 
 sacrificed, 
 In the rapture of Thy presence lives for ever Lord 
 
 and Christ. 
 Lo, our great High Priest is pleading at the blood- 
 
 stain'd mercy-seat 
 All the love of His atonement, fragrance infinitely 
 
 sweet. 
 
94 THE ASCENSION DA Y. 
 
 Jesus, Heir of all things, enters on His heritage of 
 
 bliss ; 
 His the glory and the blessing, His the power, the 
 
 wisdom His : 
 Jesus reigns, and warrior angels strike their harps 
 
 and sheath their swords, 
 Crowning Him the mighty Victor, King of kings 
 
 and Lord of lords. 
 
 Who shall fix decline or limit to His government's 
 
 increase, 
 Father of the age of ages, Prince omnipotent of 
 
 peace ? 
 Who the infinite horizon of His royalty shall span, 
 On the throne of all dominion, Son of God and Son 
 
 of man ? 
 
 Yea, amen. Thy Church triumphant and Thy pil- 
 grim Church on earth 
 
 Hail this day of Thine espousals and the new Crea- 
 tion's birth : 
 
 Through the firmament of glory ring their ever- 
 lasting songs ; 
 
 Ours are from the desert rising, feeble voices, fal- 
 tering tongues. 
 
 God, our God, Thou wilt not leave us in this far-off 
 
 wilderness, 
 Widow'd mourners for the Bridegroom, orphan 
 
 children, comfortless : 
 Send Thy Comforter, the Spirit, till our frail hearts 
 
 heavenward rise, 
 And we dwell, where Christ ascended dwells with 
 
 Thee beyond the skies. 
 
THE SUN DA V AFTER ASCENSION DAY, 05 
 
 THESUNDA Y AFTER ASCENSION DA Y. 
 
 Lessons : Deut. xxx., xxxiv. ; Joshua i. 
 
 Epistle : 1 Peter iv. 7 — 12. Gospel : St. John xv. 26 
 
 and xvi. 1 — 5. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 God the King of glory, who hast exalted Thine 
 only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph unto Thy 
 kingdom in heaven ; We beseech Thee, leave us not 
 comfortless ; but send to us Thine Holy Ghost to 
 comfort us, and exalt us unto the same place whither 
 our Saviour Christ is gone before, who liveth and 
 reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, 
 world without end. Amen. 
 
 t * When the Comforter is come, whom I will send nnto 
 you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which pro- 
 ceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me " — St. John 
 xv. 26. 
 
 O Christ, Thou hast ascended 
 
 Triumphantly on high, 
 By cherub guards attended 
 
 And armies of the sky : 
 Let earth tell forth the story, — 
 
 Our very flesh and bone, 
 Emmanuel, in glory, 
 
 Ascends His Father's throne. 
 
 Heaven's gates unfold above Thee : 
 
 But canst Thou, Lord, forget 
 The little band who love Thee 
 
 And gaze from Olivet ? 
 
96 THE SUN DA Y AFTER ASCENSION DA Y. 
 
 Nay, on Thy breast engraven 
 
 Thou bearest every name, 
 Our Priest in earth and heaven 
 
 Eternally the same. 
 
 There, there Thou standest pleading 
 
 The virtue of Thy blood, 
 For sinners interceding, 
 
 Our Advocate with God ; 
 And every changeful fashion 
 
 Of our brief joys and cares 
 Finds thought in Thy compassion 
 
 And echo in Thy prayers. 
 
 Oh, for the priceless merit 
 
 Of Thy redeeming cross 
 Vouchsafe Thy sevenfold Spirit 
 
 And turn to gain our loss ; 
 Till we by strong endeavour 
 
 In heart and mind ascend 
 And dwell with Thee for ever 
 
 In raptures without end. 
 
WHITSUXDA Y. 97 
 
 WHITSUNDA Y. 
 
 Lessons : Deut. xvi. 1 — 18 ; Isaiah xi. ; Ezek. xxxvi. 25 ; 
 
 Rom. viii. I — 18 ; Gal. v. 16 ; Acts xviii. 24 to xix. 21. 
 For the Epistle : Actsii. 1 — 12. Gospel: St. Johnxiv. 15. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 GOD, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of 
 Thy faithful people, by the sending to them the light 
 of Thy Holy Spirit ; Grant us by the same Spirit to 
 have a right judgment in all things, and evermore 
 to rejoice in His holy comfort ; through the merits 
 of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who liveth andreigneth 
 with Thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, 
 world without end. Amen. 
 
 u I 'will pray the Father, and He shall give yon another 
 Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever." — St. John 
 xiv. 16. 
 
 Creator Spirit, make Thy throne 
 
 The hearts which Thou hast seal'd Thine own ; 
 
 With grace celestial fill and warm 
 
 The bosoms Thou hast deign'd to form. 
 
 To Thee, Great Comforter, we cvy, 
 O highest gift of God most High. 
 O fount of life, O fire, O love, 
 Baptize, anoint us from above. 
 
 Us with Thy sevenfold gifts endow, 
 Of God's right Hand the Finger Thou ; 
 And from His pledged munificence 
 Enrich our lips with utterance. 
 
 Enflame, enlighten all our powers ; 
 Breathe love into these hearts of ours ; 
 Our body, strengthless for the fight, 
 Strengthen with Thy perpetual might. 
 
 H 
 
9 8 
 
 WHITSUNDAY. 
 
 Keep far aloof our ghostly foe, 
 
 And ever-during peace bestow : 
 
 With Thee our Guardian, Thee our Guide, 
 
 No evil can our steps betide. 
 
 With heavenly joys our service crown ; 
 On earth pour heavenly graces down ; 
 From chains of strife Thy saints release, 
 And knit them in the bonds of peace. 
 
 Vouchsafe us in Thy light to see 
 The Father and the Son and Thee, 
 Our God from all the ages past, 
 Our God while endless ages last. 
 
 Be glory to the Father, Son, 
 
 And blessed Comforter, in One. 
 
 Grant we may through the Christ inherit 
 
 Thy grace and glory, Holy Spirit. Amen, 
 
 The reader may like to have the Latin hymn, of which the above 
 is a newly attempted version, before him. It was probably intro- 
 duced into the service late in the nth century, when it occurs in 
 the Pontifical of Soisson. Dean Comber says that the composition 
 of this hymn was ascribed to St. Ambrose : it is not, how ever, 
 claimed by his Benedictine editors. (See Annotated Prayer book.) 
 It is mainly known to the English Church through the very 
 beautiful but much abbreviated translation of Bishop Cosin, which 
 is found in his private devotions (1627), beginning " Come, Holy 
 Ghost, our souls inspire." Nothing could ever displace this version 
 from the place it holds in our hearts. It has transfused itself into the 
 deepest life of our Church. But it only consists of eighteen lines, 
 whereas the original has thirty-two ; and many of those omitted 
 contain germs of thought which no one would willingly let die. 
 
 " Vos unctioncm habetis a Sancto, 
 
 *' Veni, Creator Spiritus, 
 Mentes Tuorum visita : 
 Imple superna gr.itia 
 Qua: 'I'li creastl pectora. 
 
 " Qui diceris Paraclitus, 
 
 Altissiini donuin Dei : 
 
 Pons vivus, i^ni-". caritas, 
 Et ipiritalis uuctio. 
 
 " l'u septiformis oiunere, 
 
 1 ><\ti;e I )ei Tu digitus, 
 
 'l'n rite promissum l'.uii^, 
 Sermone ditans guttura. 
 
 "Acccndc lumen sensibus, 
 [nfunde amorem cordibus ; 
 
 lnlirma nostri corporis 
 
 Virtute firmans perpeti, 
 
WHITSUNDA Y. 
 
 99 
 
 ' Hostem repellas longius, 
 Pacemque clones protinus . 
 Ductore sic Te praevio, 
 Vitemus omne noxium. 
 
 1 Da gaudiorum praemia ; 
 Da gratiarum munera ; 
 Dissolve litis vincula, 
 AcLtringe pacis fcedera. 
 
 " Per Te sciamus da Patrem, 
 Noscamus atque Filium, 
 Te utriusque Spiritum 
 Credamus omni tempore. 
 
 ' Sit laus Patri cum Filio, 
 Sancto simul Paraclito ; 
 Nobisque mittat Filius 
 Charisma Sancti Spiritus. 1 
 
 " Amen.' 
 
 1 This verse in the Pontificate Romanum is very different : — 
 
 " Deo Patri sit gloria I Surrexit, ac Paraclito 
 
 Et Filio, qui a mortuis In saeculorum saecula ;" 
 
 but may probably have been in Bishop Cosin's mind when he wrote 
 the fine line — 
 
 " That through the ages all along." 
 
 H 2 
 
MONDA Y IN WHITSUN WEEK. 
 
 MONDA Y IN WHITSUN WEEK. 
 
 Lessons: Gen. xi. I — 10 ; Num. xi. 16—31 ; 1 Cor. xii. 
 
 I — 14, xii. 27, and xiii. 
 For the Epistle : Acts x. 34. Gospel : St. John iii. 16 — 22. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 God, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of 
 Thy faithful people, by the sending to them the light 
 of Thy Holy Spirit ; Grant us by the same Spirit to 
 have a right judgment in all things, and evermore 
 to rejoice in His holy comfort ; through the merits 
 of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth 
 with Thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, 
 world without end. Amen. 
 
 u All these wtrketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, 
 dividing to every man severally as He will" — 1 Cor. 
 xii. 11. 
 
 O'er the waters void and formless 
 
 Thou didst brood alone, 
 Breathing peace serene and stormless, 
 Holy One. 
 
 In Thy strength the patriarchs hoary, 
 
 Seers and men of might, 
 Won their fadeless crowns of glory, 
 Robed in Light. 
 
 When the mystic valley shaken 
 
 Hears the prophets prayer, 
 When from death the Living waken, 
 
 Thou wast there. 
 
MONDA V IN WHITS UN WEEK, ic 
 
 When Messiah humbly kneeling, 
 
 Rose from Jordan's flood, 
 Heaven unroll' d Thy form revealing, 
 Dove of God. 
 
 It is finished ; death defeated ; 
 
 Life and victory won : 
 And our Priest and Prince is seated 
 On the Throne. 
 
 Lo, He pleads His passion's merit, 
 
 Pleads His mystic name, 
 And the Eternal sevenfold Spirit 
 
 Falls like flame. 
 
 Fount of life, who failest never, 
 
 Hear our wrestling cry ; 
 Yesterday, to-day, for ever, 
 
 Thou art nigh. 
 
 Suppliant we fall down before Thee ; 
 
 Or, with anguish dumb, 
 Aching weary hearts implore Thee, 
 
 Come, Lord, come. 
 
 Over souls with sorrow riven, 
 
 Strewn with wrecks of death, 
 Come from the four winds of heaven ; 
 Come, O Breath. 
 
 Ours the grief, the meek confession ; 
 
 Thine the love and power ; 
 Come for Jesus' intercession, 
 
 Come this hour. 
 
TUESDAY IN WHITSUN WEEK. 
 
 TUESDA Y IN WHITSUN WEEK. 
 
 Lessons : Joel ii. 21 ; Micah iv. I — 8 ; I Thess. v. 
 12 — 24 ; I John iv. I — 14. 
 For the Epistle : Acts viii. 14—18. Gospel : St. John 
 x. I — II. 
 
 THE COLLFXT. 
 
 GOD, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of 
 Thy faithful people, by the sending to them the 
 light of Thy Holy Spirit ; Grant us by the same 
 Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and 
 evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort ; through 
 the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who liveth 
 and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the same 
 Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen. 
 
 " I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh." — Joel ii. 28. 
 
 Abide with us ; for our dear Lord is gone 
 And we are left in this bleak world alone. 
 But who shall dare to murmur, Ichabod, 
 While Thou art with us, Spirit of our God? 
 
 O Holy Comforter, with us abide : 
 Are we not of His suffering sorrowing Bride? 
 He pleads in heaven : in answer to His prayer 
 Vouchsafe Thy presence here as He is there. 
 
 We need Thee, or the morning dews too soon 
 Are dried and lost before the sultry noon ; 
 But spring Thou up within our heart always 
 A fount of penitence and prayer and praise. 
 
TUBS DA Y IN WHITSUN WEEK. 103 
 
 We need Thee for the world is lapp'd in. sleep ; 
 Thy voice must wake them : we can only weep. 
 Come, Light of life, and breathe Thy quickening 
 
 breath 
 In hearts o'ershadow'd with the gloom of death. 
 
 Come, Lord, to us in this Thy mercy's hour, 
 Come in Thy plenitude of grace and power ; 
 No wayfarer be Thou, no transient guest, 
 But ever here vouchsafe to reign and rest. 
 
 O Spirit of the Father and the Son, 
 Thou in the everlasting glory One, 
 We worship Thee, we love Thee and adore, 
 The Lord of life, our life for evermore. 
 
104 TRINITY SUNDA Y. 
 
 TRINITY SUNDA Y. 
 
 Lessons: Isaiah vi. I — n ; Gen. xviii., i. and ii. I — 4; 
 
 Rev. i. 1—9 ; Eph. iv. I — 17 ; St. Matt iii. 
 For the Epistle : Rev. iv. 1. Gospel : St. John iii. 1 — 16. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty and everlasting God, who hast given 
 unto us Thy servants grace by the confession of a 
 true faith to acknowledge the glory of the eternal 
 Trinity, and in the power of the Divine Majesty to 
 worship the Unity; We beseech Thee, that Thou 
 wouldest keep us steadfast in this faith, and ever- 
 more defend us from all adversities, who livest and 
 reignest, one God, world without end. Amen, 
 
 " And one cried unto another and sail, Holy, holy, holy 
 is the lord of hosts : the whole eartJi is full of His glory." 
 — Isaiah vi. 3. 
 
 Father of heaven above, 
 Dwelling in light and love, 
 
 Ancient of days. 
 Light unapproachable, 
 Love inexpressible, 
 Thee, the Invisible, 
 
 Laud we and praise. 
 
 Christ, the eternal Word, 
 Christ, the incarnate Lord, 
 
 Saviour of all, 
 High throned above all height, 
 ( rod of ( rod, Light of Light, 
 Increate, infinite, 
 
 ( )n Thee we call. 
 
 V 
 
TRINITY SUN DA Y. 105 
 
 O God, the Holy Ghost, 
 Whose fires of Pentecost 
 
 Burn evermore, 
 In this far wilderness 
 Leave us not comfortless : 
 Thee we love, Thee we bless, 
 
 Thee we adore. 
 
 Strike your harps, heavenly powers ; 
 With your glad chants shall ours 
 
 Trembling ascend : 
 All praise, O God, to Thee, 
 Three in One, One in Three, 
 Praise everlastingly, 
 
 World without end. 
 
io5 THE FIRST SUNDA Y 
 
 THE FIRST SUNDA Y AFTER 
 TRINITY. 
 
 Lessons : Josh. iii. 7 to iv. 15, v. 13 to vi. 21, xxiv. 
 Epistle : I John iv. 7. Gospel : St. Luke xvi. 19. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 GOD, the strength of all them that put their trust 
 in Thee, mercifully accept our prayers ; and because 
 through the weakness of our mortal nature we can 
 do no good thing without Thee, grant us the help 
 of Thy grace, that in keeping of Thy command- 
 ments we may please Thee, both in will and deed ; 
 through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen, 
 
 il And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the 
 Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of ' Jordan , 
 and all the Israelites passed over on diy ground, until all 
 the people were passed clean over Jordan." — Josh. iii. 17. 
 
 '"''For this God is our God for ever and ever : He will 
 be our guide even x unto death." — Ps. xlviii. 14. 
 
 Be the pathway smooth or thorny, 
 
 Dark with storms or bright, 
 All along life's changeful journey 
 Day and night ; 
 
 Through the desert, wending lonely, 
 
 Or with loved ones nigh ; 
 Bread to spare, or given only 
 As we cry ; 
 
 1 Or rather, " over death." The learned Dr. Kay translates the 
 last clause, " He lhms<;lt will guide us over death:" and says, 
 
 " Hebrew, A lmuth % across the gulf of death, as He led Israel of 
 old a-jrosithe Red Sea and Jordan to the land of everlasting peace.' 
 
AFTER TRINITY. 107 
 
 Wayworn in its weary stages, 
 
 Or by crystal springs ; 
 Where the smitten Rock of Ages 
 Comfort brings ; 
 
 Onward still ; come joy or sorrow, 
 
 Blossom or decay ; 
 Knowing nothing of to-morrow, 
 Calm to-day ; 
 
 God will be our guide for ever, 
 
 To our latest breath, 
 Through the depths of Jordan's river, 
 Over death : 
 
 Over death, among the meadows 
 
 Where His own are led, 
 And in perfect day the shadows 
 All have fled : 
 
 Over death, all told the story 
 
 Of our earthly strife, 
 
 Heirs of everlasting glory, 
 
 Endless life. 
 
io8 THE SECOND SUNDA Y 
 
 THE SECOND SUNDA Y AFTER 
 TRINITY. 
 
 Lessons : Judges iv., v., vi. II. 
 Epistle : I John iii. 13. Gospel: St. Luke xiv. 16 — 25. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 O Lord, who never failest to help and govern them 
 whom Thou dost bring up in Thy steadfast fear and 
 love ; Keep us, we beseech Thee, under the protec- 
 tion of Thy good providence, and make us to have 
 a perpetual fear and love of Thy holy Name; through 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 " The Spirit of the lord came upon " [Heb., " clothed"] 
 " Gideon." — Judges vi. 34. 
 
 Clothed with the Holy Ghost, 
 
 Go, brother, on thy way 
 To Afric's night-bound coast, 
 
 A herald of God's day. 
 
 Clothed with the Holy Ghost, 
 A robe and crown of flame, 
 
 As once on Pentecost 
 
 The first great baptism came. 
 
 Clothed with the Holy Ghost, 
 Stand, soldier of the Lord ; 
 
 His cross thy only boast, 
 His Gospel truth thy sword. 
 
AFTER TRIXITY. 
 
 109 
 
 Clothed with the Holy Ghost, 
 Thy panoply of proof : 
 
 The devil and his host 
 Shudder, and flee aloof. 
 
 Clothed with the Holy Ghost, 
 If suffering be thy lot, 
 
 When worn and wearied most, 
 Thus mantled, murmur not. 
 
 Clothed with the Holy Ghost, 
 Till Christ shall call or come, 
 
 And from the watchman's post 
 Shall take thee to His home. 
 
 These lines were written on the consecration of Dr. Ingham, 
 Bishop of Sierra Leone, Feb. 24th, 1883. 
 
THE THIRD SUN DA Y 
 
 THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 
 
 Lessons : I Sam. ii. I — 27, iii., iv. 1 — 19. 
 Epistle : 1 Peter v. 5 — 12. Gospel : St. Luke xv. I — II. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Lord, we beseech Thee mercifully to hear us ; 
 and grant that we, to whom Thou hast given an 
 hearty desire to pray, may by Thy mighty aid be 
 defended and comforted in all dangers and adver- 
 sities ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 u J will bring him that he may appear before the lord, 
 and the? e abide for ever. . . . A nd Hannah prayed and 
 said, My heart rejoictth in the lord." — 1 Sam. i. 22 and 
 ii. 1. 
 
 " O lonely mother, reft of thy sweet child, 
 What means that song of lofty eucharist 
 Within thy desolate home ? Surely thy arms 
 Crave the loved burden they have borne so long : 
 No little feet are pattering by thy side : 
 The crib is empty by thy couch at night. 
 Hast thou not left thy treasure far away 
 In the dread house of Shiloh ? Other hands 
 Will feed thy nursling ; other lips than thine 
 Pour into his fond ear the things of God. 
 Why floats upon the evening wind thy voice, 
 * My heart rejoiceth in the Lord : my horn 
 Is lifted in my God : no rock is like 
 The Rock of our salvation ' ? Surely sighs, 
 Not songs, befit thy lot. Why singest thou ?" 
 
 The mother probed her heart and inwardly 
 As in a muse made answer to herself, 
 
AFTER TRIXITY. in 
 
 '* Had I not given my firstborn ere his birth 
 
 And pledged him as a lifelong loan to God ? 
 
 And if He now has ta'en me at my word 
 
 Why should I mourn because my child is His 
 
 For ever ? Ramah is not Shiloh : yet 
 
 The love of Ramah passes Shiloh's gates, 
 
 Yea, passes and repasses to and fro, 
 
 And wraps my darling round by day and night. 
 
 He ministers to God an infant priest : 
 
 I serve Him in the costliest offering 
 
 A mother's heart can render, and perforce 
 
 Must sing His praise. He has done all things 
 
 well. 
 From His rich stores of immortality 
 He gave me this great gift, a deathless soul ; 
 And now He deigns accept it from my hand ; 
 Until the house of God above the heavens 
 Draw all, my husband and my child and me, 
 Within its mansions of eternal rest. 55 
 
1 1 2 THE FO UR TH SUA 7 DA Y 
 
 THE FOURTH SUN DA Y AFTER 
 TRINITY. 
 
 Lessons : I Sam. xii., xiii. ; Ruth i. 
 
 Epistle : Rom. viii. 18 — 24. Gospel : St. Luke vi. 
 
 36—43- 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 O GOD, the protector of all that trust in Thee, 
 without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy ; 
 Increase and multiply upon us Thy mercy : that 
 Thou being our ruler and guide, we may so pass 
 through things temporal, that we finally lose not 
 the things eternal : Grant this, O heavenly Father, 
 for Jesus Christ's sake our Lord. A))icn. 
 
 " The earnest expectation of the creature ivaiteth for the 
 manifestation of the sons of God " — Rom. viii. 19. 
 
 Joy for the everlasting chime, 
 Swept from creation's great majestic chords, 
 The echoes of eternity in time 
 
 That all things are the Lord's ! 
 The breath of morn, the hush of noon, 
 
 The evening's amber light, 
 Until the unsuspected silvery moon 
 With all the stars that cluster round her soon 
 
 First tell us it is night ; 
 The mirth and music of a thousand rills 
 
 Amid the slumber of the hills ; 
 
 And borne upon the bosom of the breeze 
 
 The diapason of the far-off mighty seas ! 
 
 Joy for the glancing of the insect's wing, 
 
 And every living thing 
 
 In water, air or earth, 
 
AFTER TRINITY. 113 
 
 The multitudinous voices heard 
 From beast and bird, 
 Rejoicing in their birth, 
 And emulous by gladness thanks to give 
 To Him who made it happiness to live ! 
 And joy, a deeper holier joy 
 For the rich dower of human love 
 That stirs the heart of man and boy, 
 The maiden and the mother, 
 The sister, friend, and brother, 
 And bids the kindreds of the world rejoice 
 Responsive to the still small voice 
 Of the Celestial Dove, 
 And makes, where'er the pilgrim roams, 
 The earth a mirror in her countless homes 
 Of heaven above ! 
 
 What mean then all those undertones 
 Of sighs and groans, 
 That day and night incessantly arise 
 From earth and ocean to the listening skies, 
 And reach the Throne of thrones ? 
 From lands of drought and thirsty plains, 
 From floods and desolating rains, 
 From earthquakes and from hurricanes ; 
 From mists that veil the face of heaven, 
 From clouds by angry lightnings riven ; 
 From every leaflet's blighted form 
 
 That shrivels in the east wind's wrath, 
 O r, shatter'd by the untimely storm, 
 
 Lies in our daily path ; 
 From rapine of the beasts of prey, 
 
 From malice of the serpent brood, 
 That lurk beside the traveller's way 
 Or haunt the dreary solitude; 
 
 T 
 
I 14 THE FOUR Til SUXDA Y 
 
 From anguish not unfelt 
 By Him who notes the sparrows as they fall; 
 From needless reckless sufferings dealt 
 On creatures made by Him who made us all ; 
 Ay ; and from sorer bitterer woe 
 Than nature in her wounds can show, 
 Or aught insensible can know, 
 From many a ruin'd hearth, 
 Once gay with Eden's bloom ; 
 From many a home, once echoing songs of mirth, 
 Now silent as the tomb ; 
 From hearts that bleed, from scorching tears 
 That weep the joys of bygone years, 
 From sin and self's remorseless agony, 
 Arises to the common Father's ears 
 His children's cry. 
 
 And shall this tide of mingled joy and sorrow, 
 
 Of bliss and bale, 
 These gladsome carols broken by the wail 
 
 Of misery's sickening tale, 
 Dreams of to-day, still baffled by to-morrow, 
 Shall this alternate shade and sheen 
 For ever pass o'er ages yet unseen ? 
 Is this the horoscope of things to be, 
 The forecast of eternity ? 
 Nay, Harp of prophecy, forbid 
 The wrongful thought ! 
 The counsels of Eternal Love are wrought 
 In secret, and the ways of God are hid 
 In clouds of mystery that veil His throne, 
 A dark impenetrable zone 
 Except to faith alone. 
 Faith listens with an car unseal'd ; 
 Faith grasps the things to others unrcveal'd. 
 
AFTER TRINITY. 115 
 
 The Lord hath spoken : — how or when 
 Lies not within her ken : — 
 Enough for her 
 The future will be God's interpreter. 
 She listens ; and what time the hearts of men 
 Are failing them for fear, 
 She deems the hour is near, 
 And sings to her own heart the strain 
 Again and yet again, 
 The Great Redeemer comes, He comes to reign. 
 
 Sing, O ye heavens ! O earth, rejoice ! 
 The Lord is on His way : 
 With sound of trumpet and archangel voice 
 He comes to call the people of His choice 
 To mansions of eternal day. 
 
 The Bridegroom claims the Bride, 
 He claims her for His own, 
 Emancipated, glorified ; 
 And bids her take her destined place beside 
 
 Himself upon the throne. 
 Things only in the school of suffering learn'd, 
 Compassions elsewhere undiscern'd, 
 
 The clinging clasp on truth, 
 The trustfulness, the pitying ruth, 
 The high endurance that can dare 
 The worst of hate for love to bear,- — 
 These things forsooth, 
 The fruit of centuries of discipline, 
 
 Beneficent, benign, 
 Are written in the every glance 
 Of her transparent countenance. 
 But on her cloudless brow, 
 Her fearless freeborn mien, 
 Calm and serene 
 1 2 
 
1 1 6 7 HE FO UR Til SUN DA Y 
 
 No record of past anguish now, 
 
 No dread of change is seen. 
 
 Her sufferings all are o'er, 
 
 Nor are remember'd more 
 In that pure smile of childlike innocence, 
 
 That heaven of perfect confidence : 
 She seeks no other rapture or reward, 
 She is for ever with the Lord. 
 
 And in that morning of the revelation 
 Of the sons of God 
 The infinite creation, 
 Wherever wing has soar'd or footstep trod, 
 In earth beneath or firmament above, 
 Things small and great, 
 Inanimate and animate, 
 Shall know the omnipotence of Love. 
 Joy for His ransom'd universe ! 
 Behold the end of sin and sorrow's reign ! 
 
 There shall be no more curse, 
 There shall be no more crying, no more pain, 
 Nor death shall cast its dreadful pall again, 
 For ever conqucr'd in that final strife, 
 Over the home of everlasting life. 
 O glorious city of the King of kings ! 
 () blessed people underneath His wings ! 
 
 No fear of evil more shall shadow them ; 
 No foes shall threaten more their bliss untold ; 
 No film shall cloud the pure crystalline gold 
 Of heaven's Jerusalem. 
 For there the throne 
 
 Of God and of the Land), 
 Unchanging as His Name I AM, 
 Is glory and defence in one ; 
 
 And here we trust we worship and adore 
 
AFTER TRINITY. 117 
 
 The God of our salvation ; unto Whom 
 Now in this world of glow and gloom, 
 Hereafter in that world of light, 
 Unclouded, endless, infinite, 
 Be glory evermore. 
 
1 1 8 THE FIFTH SI \\l >AY 
 
 THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 
 
 Lessons : I Sam. xv. 1 — 24, xvi.. xvii. 
 Epistle : 1 Peter iii. 8—16. Gospel : St. Luke v. 1 — 12. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Grant, Lord, we beseech Thee, that the course of 
 this world may be so peaceably ordered by Thy 
 governance, that Thy Church may joyfully serve 
 Thee in all godly quietness; through Jesus Christ 
 our Lord. Amen. 
 
 " I ivill send tJiee to Jesse the Beth'lehemite, for 1 have 
 provided Me a king among his sons." — 1 Sam. xvi. 1. Cf. 
 I Sam. xiii. 14 : " The Lord hath sought IFim a man 
 after His own heart" 
 
 Heart of God in which all pulses beat, 
 Where all things highest, purest, holiest, meet ; 
 That ocean of unfathomable love 
 
 O'er which for ever moves the mystic Dove ; 
 What was there in the heart of Jesse's son 
 
 Which, tuned and temper'd by the touch Divine, 
 W r as found in such mysterious unison, 
 O Heart of hearts, with Thine? 
 
 Was it that courage, which had dared to brave 
 The lion and the bear, a lamb to save ; 
 And in the simple panoply of faith 
 
 1 lad slain ( rOliath in his pride and wrath ? 
 Which scorning scorn, and proud of generous scars, 
 
 Was ever first where danger threaten'd most. 
 The trusted leader in a hundred wars, 
 The captain of ( lod's host ? 
 
AFTER TRINITY. 119 
 
 Was it that royalty, innate, inbred, 
 
 Which crowned with grace a shepherd stripling's 
 
 head, 
 And clothed him with a strange imperial power 
 Before which weaker spirits learned to cower ? 
 That kingly presence, that majestic form, 
 
 That generous hand, that keen far-reaching eye 
 Which guided Israel through those years of storm 
 To peace and victory ? 
 
 Or was it that inimitable skill 
 Of minstrelsy and music which at will 
 Laid bare the passions of the human breast, 
 Unresting till they find in God their rest, 
 So true, so tender, that his simplest chords 
 Have lived through all the ages vibrating 
 And moving countless listeners in his words 
 With him to weep or sing ? 
 
 O Heart of God, all courage is of Thee ; 
 Thou art the fountain-head of royalty ; 
 And all of song or music here below 
 Must from the Harmony of Godhead flow. 
 But was there not a deeper closer bond 
 
 Which knit the heart of David to Thine own, 
 A something which made heart to heart respond 
 To Thee and Thine alone ? 
 
 Oh, read we not the answer in Thy Name, 
 To-day, for ever, yesterday the same, 
 That name transparent in Thy courts above, 
 Here traced in many fragments, " God is love.' 5 
 For surely of the countless bosoms form'd 
 
 By Thee Thyself to image and adore, 
 
 None with a purer fire of love was warm'd 
 
 Than David's heart of yore. 
 
i2> 77//- FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 
 
 I hou •.'. i I the ! Ihepherd ol bi i bo) i h da 
 When Bethlehem he ird in > earlie n 
 
 The ( rU H'liin ->f hi » youth; hi , minli | mIi ; 
 
 The .'in ihine ( >i in I a \t \ and when at len \\ b 
 lii' 'I after many ;i weary fight 
 
 I In i wa i the bui den <>i the conquei 
 M Lord, my Rock, my fortn . and my might, 
 I willlove Thee, Lord,' 1 
 
 And from this spring the Son of fe >e drew 
 All other friendship i fre ;h a i morning dew : 
 Hi. soul i" Jonathan bi i brothei i : 
 As only brave men lo >od and bra 
 
 And all that noble pi incely brot berhooi l 
 
 Of w.ii i ioi >, trained in bai dship ;, p i il ., tna 
 \V< re knit more i lo idy I ban by birth or blood 
 To one w bo le \v-.u \ wa . I heirs. 
 
 A hero's life \ alas, we weep abash'd 
 I' oi one foul page by Lu ■' and mui dei d i ih*d ; 
 Yh, hin d once foi 1 1 mil , take, lei the veil 
 ( >i thame and anguish bide the hideous tale j 
 And in I bat bi oken beai ted monan b's p ialm, 
 
 Breathed in the pit ying pardoning eai ol heaven, 
 I .< ,u ii i onti ite *.' iei is keen< it w hen mo ;t < aim, 
 Most deep when mo it f< u gh on. 
 
 Lo e, love, — the love oi t ! 1 1, the love of man, — 
 
 i , i 'H , i be mea iui e in life \ little ip 
 
 t )i ..mil lie .i aint i, I bo ■<■ neare I likest H im 
 
 in' ircled with the bui ning ! iei iphim ■ 
 
 ( )h, take I bi i nai row ih tttei 'd h irt ol mine, 
 
 Do with it what Thou wilt, but emit it n< 
 i ni ii n beat in i» (, i i<- i tune wil h fhine, 
 o I [eai i «'i h( 
 
THE SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 121 
 
 THE SIXTH SUNDA Y AFTER TRINITY. 
 
 Lessons : 2 Sam. L, xii. I — 24, 
 pistle : Rom. vi. 3 — 12. Gospel : St. Malt. v. 20 -27 . 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 GOD, who hast prepared for them that love Thee 
 such good things as pass man's understanding ; 
 Pour into our hearts such love toward Thee, that 
 we, loving Thee above all things, may obtain Thy 
 promises, which exceed all that we can desire ; 
 through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 11 Ifwt have been plant 1 1 • ' \ *r in the likeness of His 
 
 deaths we shall be al>o in ike likenei 1 of His resurrection* 9 * 
 
 — Rom. vi. 5. 
 
 Home, sweet home. — the many mansions of my 
 Father's house above, — 
 
 Builded by Almighty wisdom, stored with every gift 
 of love, 
 
 Where the children all are gatherd, not a wand 
 left to roam, 
 
 All dear names m one enwoven, home, my everlast- 
 ing home. 
 
 Eden bloom'd with flowers and fruitage ; but no 
 
 mortal feet have trod 
 Paths of such transcendent beauty as the Paradise 
 
 of God, 
 Where the crystal waters flowing from the Throne, 
 
 a ceaseless tide, 
 Gladden with perennial freshness trees of life on 
 
 either side. 
 
122 THE SIXTH SUNDA Y 
 
 Earth has known her cities crowded with the 
 noblest sons of men, 
 
 Rich with all that marks communion, citizen with 
 citizen ; 
 
 But Jerusalem the holy, dwellingplace of God's 
 elect, 
 
 Hath no peer, for of that city God alone is Archi- 
 tect. 
 
 There the wrestler and the racer wear the amaran- 
 thine crown ; 
 
 There the warrior for the palm-branch lays the 
 sword of battle down ; 
 
 There the fellow-heirs with Jesus share their Lord's 
 inheritance, 
 
 Riches true and ever-during, wealth surpassing 
 utterance. 
 
 There the weary cease from labour, there the life- 
 long task is o'er ; 
 
 Godlike pleasures without number there well forth 
 for evermore ; 
 
 Harpers harping Hallelujah, singers singing songs 
 of joy, 
 
 Banquets of Divine refreshment, ministries of loved 
 employ. 
 
 There the saints and angels mingle in serene 
 society ; 
 
 Work and worship there are blended ; service soars 
 to royalty ; 
 
 There the Bride partakes the fulness o( her Hus- 
 band's perfect bliss, 
 
 Stamped for ever with His likeness, always seeing 
 linn who is. 
 
AFTER TRINITY. 
 
 And are these things ours, dear Master ? Is it but 
 
 a little while, 
 Ere the day shall break for ever in the sunlight of 
 
 Thy smile ? 
 Only may we love Thee truly, not for harp, or feast, 
 
 or throne, 
 Love Thee for Thou first hast loved us, love Thee 
 
 for Thyself alone. 
 
124 THE SE VENTH SUN DA Y 
 
 THE SEVENTH SUNDA Y AFTER 
 TRINITY. 
 
 Lessons : I Chron. xxi., xxii., xxviii. I — 21. 
 Epistle : Rom. vi. 19. Gospel : St. Mark viii. 1 — 10. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Lord of all power and might, who art the Author 
 and Giver of all good things ; Graft in our hearts 
 the love of Thy Name, increase in us true religion, 
 nourish us with all goodness, and of Thy great 
 mercy keep us in the same ; through Jesus Christ 
 our Lord. Amen. 
 
 (i And David said. This is the house of the Lord God" 
 — 1 Chron. xxii. 1. 
 
 " How amiable are Thy tabernacles, Lord of hosts? 
 — Ps. lxxxiv. 1. 
 
 How lovely, how beloved is Thine abode, 
 
 Lord of the hosts of heaven, Thou King of saints ! 
 
 My heart cries out for Thee the living God, 
 And for Thy courts my spirit longs and faints. 
 
 Beneath Thine altars on the far hill-side 
 
 The sparrow and the swallow build their nest : 
 
 My Father, bid me come to Thee and hide 
 A child's deep yearnings in a Parent's breast. 
 
 Blessed arc they who in Thy temple dwell 
 And Utter forth Thy praises day and night ; 
 
 There! drinking from Thy love's exhaustless well 
 Pure crystal draughts of comfort and delight. 
 
AFTER TRINITY. 125 
 
 Enough : let earth its richest feast prepare, 
 Thy presence and Thy smile are more than all, 
 
 And more one day within Thy house of prayer 
 Than years of mirth in pleasure's festive hall. 
 
 In dark and danger sun and shield art Thou, 
 And grace and glory spring from Thee alone, 
 
 The Refuge of Thy pilgrim people now, 
 
 Their Home for ever gatherd round Thy throne. 
 
126 THE EIGHTH SUNDAY 
 
 THE EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER 
 TRINITY. 
 
 Lessons: I Chron. xxix. 9 — 29; 2 Chron. i. ; I Kings iii. 
 Epistle: Rom. viii. 12 — 18. Gospel: St. Matt. vii. 15—22. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 O God, whose never-failing providence ordereth all 
 things both in heaven and earth ; We humbly 
 beseech Thee to put away from us all hurtful things, 
 and to give us those things which be profitable for 
 us ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen, 
 
 " All things conic of Thee, and of Thine own have zve 
 given 7iice."—\ Chron. xxix. 14. 
 
 HYMN FOR A FLOWER SERVICE. 
 
 Thine, Lord, are the blossoms of forest and field, 
 And the loveliest gems which the gardens yield, 
 The heath of the uplands, the ferns of the glen, 
 And the flowers that gladden the dwellings of men. 
 
 Thy wisdom and love hid the seed in the earth, 
 And watch'd o'er its growth from its secret birth, 
 Once mantled with snows from the wintry blast, 
 Till the call of the springtide was heard at last. 
 
 Thine, Lord, were the dews and the showers of 
 
 heaven, 
 So eagerly long'd for, so lovingly given : 
 The breath of the morning, the sunshine of noon, 
 The sweetness of May, and the glory of June. 
 
 Thou dwellesl in beauty no tongue can express, 
 The beauty and glory of I [oliness ; 
 
 But the flowers are glimpses of Thee and Thine, 
 And in tin m bright gleams of Thy goodness shine. 
 
I. 
 
 AFTER TRINITY. 127 
 
 We meet in Thy temple to worship and pray ; 
 But we think of Thy suffering children to-day : 
 Grant, Lord, that these gifts of Thy bounty may 
 
 shed 
 The glow of Thy smiles on their weary bed. 
 
 We offer Thee, Lord, in these fruits and flowers 
 No fabric of man's, no fashion of ours ; 
 But Thy need iu Thy needy ones here we see, 
 And now of Thine own have we given Thee. 
 
I2S THE NINTH SUNDAY AITEK TRINITY, 
 
 THE NINTH SUNDA Y AFTER TRINITY. 
 
 Lessons: I Kings x. I- — 25, xi. 1 — 15, xi. 26. 
 Epistle : 1 Cor. x. 1 — 14. Gospel : St. Luke xvi. I — 10. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Grant to us, Lord, we beseech Thee, the spirit to 
 think and do always such things as be rightful ; 
 that we, who cannot do any thing that is good with- 
 out Thee, may by Thee be enabled to live according 
 to Thy will ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 u God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted 
 
 above that ye are able.''' — I Cor. x. 13. 
 
 My Father and my God, behold 
 Thy wayward child before Thee ; 
 
 And to Thy will my spirit mould 
 I now with tears implore Thee. 
 
 Without Thee I in plenty pine, 
 
 In throngs of men am lonely ; 
 With Thee all earth and heaven are mine, 
 
 With Thee, my Father, only. 
 
 O search my bosom through and through 
 
 And strengthen my endeavour, 
 And make me always think and do 
 
 What pleases Thee for ever. 
 
 My love, my life, my all control 
 
 Henceforth by Calvary's story ; 
 Stamp here Thy image on my soul, 
 
 And lit me for Thy glory. 
 
I HE TENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 129 
 
 THE TENTH SUNDA Y AFTER TRINITY, 
 
 Lessons : I Kings xii., xiii., xvii. 
 Epistle : I Cor. xii. 1 — 14. Gospel: St. Luke xix. 41 — 47. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Let Thy merciful ears, Lord, be open to the 
 prayers of Thy humble servants ; and that they may 
 obtain their petitions make them to ask such things 
 as shall please Thee ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Amen. 
 
 " The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the 
 erase of oil fail." — I Kings xvii. 14. 
 
 Our God, our Father, who hadst given 
 Thine own and only Son for man, 
 
 Ere shone the faintest star in heaven 
 Or earth was framed or time began, 
 
 And chosen us in Him to be 
 
 His Bride for all eternity ; — 
 
 Thou, who hast deign'd for us to build 
 
 The mansions of Jerusalem, 
 With all Thy gifts of goodness fill'd 
 
 And rich with crystal gold and gem, 
 Whose gates and walls and streets declare 
 One glorious name, " The Lord is there ; n — 
 
 Now in this little space between 
 
 Two vast eternities of love, 
 This narrow isthmus of things seen 
 
 Thy children cross to rest above, 
 Wilt Thou refuse to be our Guide 
 And all our daily needs provide ? 
 
 K 
 
i 3 o THE TENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 
 
 O shame upon the faithless heart 
 
 Which harbours such a thought of Thee ! 
 
 My God, that Thou art what Thou art 
 Is promise, aye and proof to me 
 
 While passing through this shadowy vale 
 
 The cruse of oil shall never fail. 
 
 From everlasting I am Thine 
 
 In Thy free covenant of grace ; 
 To everlasting Thou art mine 
 
 In faith's unchangeable embrace: 
 The bond Eternal Wisdom plann'd 
 Is held in Love's Almighty Hand. 
 
ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY, 131 
 
 THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
 TRINITY. 
 
 Lessons : 1 Kings xviii., xix., xxi. 
 Epistle : I Cor. xv. I — 12. Gospel : St. Luke xviii. 9 — 15. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 GOD, who declarest Thy almighty power most 
 chiefly in showing mercy and pity ; Mercifully grant 
 unto us such a measure of Thy grace, that we, 
 running the way of Thy commandments, may 
 obtain Thy gracious promises, and be made par- 
 takers of Thy heavenly treasure ; through Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. A7nen. 
 
 " The God that answer eth by fire , let Him be God." 
 I Kings xviii. 24. 
 
 Bring hither costliest sacrifice ; 
 
 Slack not for labour or for price ; 
 
 Let dance and revelry combine 
 
 To kindle this dark soul of mine ; 
 
 Be garlands pluck'd of choicest flowers ; 
 
 Let love and music lend their powers : — 
 
 world, O self, O lordly pride, 
 
 If only your mysterious fires 
 Enflame and feed this heart's desires, 
 
 1 ask no other god beside. 
 
 Days pass'd and years. No answer came ; 
 The altar knew no quickening flame : 
 No. light was there, no warmth, no fire, 
 But sparks which, as they flash, expire : 
 Nothing but work and tortured will : 
 My soul was bare and dark and chill. 
 
 K 2 
 
132 ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 
 
 The wood was laid, the altar built, 
 
 The victim chosen, bound, and slain : 
 All, all was bitterly in vain 
 
 To chase my spirit's gloom and guilt. 
 
 In that my hour of self-despair 
 One stood beside me unaware. 
 With pierced hands and pierced feet, 
 And form and face divinely sweet 
 He drew me to His wounded side, 
 And bade me there my anguish hide. 
 Lo, silently anew He rears 
 
 The ruin'd altar of my God : 
 He sprinkles it with precious blood ; 
 I weep upon it floods of tears. 
 
 Then fell the sacred fire from heaven ; 
 Then heard I first the voice " Forgiven." 
 And ever from that hour of love, 
 Sustain'd and foster'd from above, 
 Though only by His eye discern'd, 
 The fire within my heart has burn'd. 
 I love Him, for He first loved me : 
 
 The God who answer'd me by fire, 
 My one delight, my one desire, 
 Shall be my God eternally. 
 
TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 133 
 
 THE TWELFTH SUNDA Y AFTER 
 TRINITY. 
 
 Lessons: I Kings xxii. 1 — 41 ; 2 Kings ii. I — 16, iv. 8 — 38. 
 Epistle : 2 Cor. iii. 4 — 10. Gospel : St. Mark vii. 31, 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty and everlasting God, who art always 
 more ready to hear than we to pray, and art wont to 
 give more than either we desire or deserve ; Pour 
 down upon us the abundance of Thy mercy ; for- 
 giving us those things whereof our conscience is 
 afraid, and giving us those good things which we 
 are not worthy to ask, but through the merits and 
 mediation of Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord. 
 A?nen. 
 
 " And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from hitn, 
 and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of 
 Elijah ? And when he also had smitten the waters \ they 
 parted hither and thither; and E lis ha went over." — 
 2 Kings ii. 14. 
 
 Where is our fathers' God, 
 Our fathers' God and ours ? 
 For o'er the desert and the flood 
 The brooding tempest lowers. 
 
 Still nearer and more near 
 The shadow of that gloom ; 
 Men's hearts are failing them for fear 
 Of the dread day of doom. 
 
 Still widow'd Zion mourns, 
 Her heart and garments rent ; 
 And Babylon insensate scorns 
 Her captive's long lament. 
 
134 TWELFTH SUNDA Y AFTER TRIX1TY. 
 
 Still o'er the heathen world 
 Reign darkness, lust, and pride : 
 The banner of the Cross is furl'd, 
 Where martyrs lived and died. 
 
 What is that cry that peals 
 The battle-field along ? 
 Why tarry yet Thy chariot-wheels, 
 How long, O Lord, how long ? 
 
 O God, our ears have heard 
 Thy wonders wrought of old : 
 Be it according to Thy word, 
 Thy suffering saints behold. 
 
 Our fathers in Thy might 
 Endured till set of sun ; 
 Then pass'd into the calmer light, 
 Their work and warfare done. 
 
 Why should we longer stand 
 
 In doubt beside their graves ? 
 
 Bid us, their mantle in our hand 
 
 Smite Jordan's sullen waves. 
 
 Where is our fathers' God ? 
 His name has cleft the river : 
 Dark be the storm o'er field and flood, 
 Their God is ours for ever. 
 
THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 135 
 
 THE THIRTEENTH SUNDA Y AFTER 
 TRINITY. 
 
 Lessons : 2 Kings v., vi. I — 24, vii. 
 Epistle : Gal. iii. 16 — 23. Gospel : St. Luke x. 23 — 38. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty and merciful God, of whose only gift it 
 cometh that Thy faithful people do unto Thee true 
 and laudable service ; Grant, we beseech Thee, that 
 we may so faithfully serve Thee in this life, that we 
 fail not finally to attain Thy heavenly promises 
 through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Amen. 
 
 " Then went he down, and dipped himself 'seven times in 
 jfordan, according to the saying of the man of God : and 
 his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and 
 he was clean." — 2 Kings v. 14. 
 
 One sate beside the fretting sea 
 
 Which chafed the rock beneath his feet ; 
 
 A weary world-worn wanderer he, 
 Who sought the calm of this retreat : 
 
 And now, from God and man estranged, 
 
 His eye the waste of waters ranged, 
 
 The while in drearier solitude 
 
 Life's wildering pathway he review'd. 
 
 Far off in sooth a golden light 
 
 Yet linger'd o'er his childhood's years, 
 
 Whereon he gazed with aching sight, 
 
 Half dreaming, through the mist of tears : 
 
136 
 
 THE THIRTEENTH SUNDAY 
 
 A father's voice, its echoes still 
 
 His broken heart-strings seem'd to thrill ; 
 
 A mother's searching tenderness, 
 
 A sister's proud and fond caress. 
 
 The vision faded. Soon, too soon 
 Wild passion lit his soul with flame, 
 
 And dragg'd him ere his manhood's noon 
 Adown the slopes of sin and shame. 
 
 Nor was the ruin all his own ; 
 
 He was not perishing alone ; 
 
 Wishing and saying as he fell, 
 
 u There is no God nor heaven nor hell.'' 
 
 But pleasure's sparkling cup was drain'd ; 
 
 The prodigal had run his course ; 
 And nothing but the dregs remain'd 
 
 Of self-contempt and soul-remorse. 
 Alas, the ravages of sin, 
 The wreck of that which once had been, 
 As hopeless, reckless, desolate, 
 Thus musing on his past he sate ! 
 
 But thither, as it chanced, a child, 
 
 That hung upon an old man's hand 
 And often caught his eye and smiled, 
 
 Came prattling o'er the sca-ribb'd sand. 
 The outcast watch'd them ; till at last, 
 As near him unawares they pass'd, 
 " Would heaven 1 were a child again,'' 
 Broke from his lips in bitter pain. 
 
 The old man heard the low-breathed moan 
 
 And saw tears brush'd aside ere shed; 
 Aral seated on the rugged stone 
 
 B€$ide him took his hand and said, 
 
AFTER TRINITY. 137 
 
 " My brother, there is One, whose breast 
 Yearns o'er thee. Come to Him and rest; 
 And thy torn heart once more shall be 
 Like this sweet prattler's on my knee." 
 
 Enough : it needs not here to tell 
 
 The charm that word in season wrought : 
 God's hand is used to miracle ; 
 
 God's love unbounded by our thought. 
 Enough : the water and the blood, 
 That on the cross for sinners flow'd, 
 Wash'd from that heart each crimson stain : 
 He was a little child again. 
 
138 THE FOURTEENTH 
 
 THE FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
 TRINITY. 
 
 Lessons : 2 Kings ix., x. I — 32, xiii. 
 Epistle: Gal. v. 16 — 25. Gospel: St. Luke xvii. 11 — 20. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty and everlasting God, give unto us the 
 increase of faith, hope, and charity ; and that we 
 may obtain that which Thou dost promise, make us 
 to love that which Thou dost command ; through 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 " Now Elisha was fallen sick of the sickness whereof he 
 died." — 2 Kings xiii. 14. 
 
 " Thou makest the outgoings of the morning and even- 
 ing to praise Thee" [Ilcb., "to sing"]. — Ps. lxv. 8. 
 
 And is there then no psalm in tune 
 
 With all the majesty of noon, 
 
 When earth receives its richest dower 
 
 Of living and life-giving power ? 
 
 Let not the thought a moment wrong 
 
 That everlasting tide of song, 
 
 Which day and night from field and flood 
 
 Arises to the ear of God ; 
 
 JUit morning has its skies and dews 
 
 Of pearl and opal all its own, 
 And evening's Under roseate hues 
 
 Are in meridian light unknown. 
 
 Sweet arc the laughter and the love, 
 Echoes on earth of joys above, 
 Which lighten on the passor-by 
 In childhood's free and fearless eve. 
 
SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 139 
 
 Warm is the throbbing heart of youth, 
 And strong the wrestling grasp on truth 
 Which stamps the years of manhood's prime 
 And makes the lowliest things sublime : 
 But haply not less dear to heaven 
 
 The calm victorious faith of age, 
 When weary travellers at even 
 
 Lay down the staff of pilgrimage. 
 
 And it was now at set of sun, 
 His long day's labour almost done, 
 With wan worn cheek but kindling eye 
 The old man laid him down to die. 
 Some threescore years and ten had pass'd 
 Since first the seer his mantle cast 
 Upon him by his father's plough 
 And pour'd the oil upon his brow, 
 Long years of mingled weal and woe ; 
 
 And yet in retrospect they seem 
 A vapour lit by summer's glow, 
 
 A fugitive and fading dream. 
 
 As there he lay in tranquil faith 
 Before the shadowing gates of death, 
 What are those royal tears that shed 
 Their tribute on his reverend head ? 
 What is that voice that mourns to-day 
 For Israel's chariot rapt away ? 
 It may not be : his latest hour 
 Shall speak his God's unchanging power : 
 Lo, thrice the monarch strikes the ground, 
 
 And straightway thrice is victory given. 
 Thrice ? unbelief alone can bound 
 
 The proved omnipotence of Heaven. 
 
140 FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 
 
 And has with us the dewy dawn 
 
 Long since been with the past withdrawn ; 
 
 And after all the toil of noon 
 
 Will evening fade in twilight soon ? 
 
 O Thou, who makest morn and even 
 
 Rich with the choicest hues of heaven, 
 
 Cast upon us Thy beams of light 
 
 And clothe us with Thy Spirit's might ; 
 
 And it may be ere set of sun, 
 
 Before we enter into rest, 
 Our latest service humbly done 
 
 May be our faithfullest and best. 
 
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 141 
 
 THE FIFTEENTH SUNDA Y AFTER 
 TRINITY. 
 
 Lessons : 2 Kings xviii., xix. , xxiii. 1 — 31. 
 Epistle : Gal. vi. 11. Gospel: St. Matt. vi. 24. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Keep, we beseech Thee, Lord, Thy Church 
 with Thy perpetual mercy : and because the frailty 
 of man without Thee cannot but fall, keep us ever 
 by Thy help from all things hurtful, and lead us to 
 all things profitable to our salvation ; through Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 M From henceforth let no man trouble me, for I bear in my 
 body the marks of the Lord Jesus." — Gal. vi. 17. 
 
 What were those marks, apostle blest, 
 Of thy dear Lord on thee impress'd, 
 Marks speaking more than words can tell 
 Of sufferings ineffaceable ; 
 Badges of honour meekly borne 
 
 And gladly for the Master's name, 
 Which baffled all the proud world's scorn 
 
 And made thee glory in its shame ? 
 
 Were they the records of distress, 
 Of hunger, cold and nakedness, 
 Of travel, toil and misery, 
 Of desert wilds and wrecks by sea ? 
 Were they the deeply graven scars 
 
 Of scourges and the lictor's rod, 
 Of gyves and chains and prison bars 
 
 And deaths unnumber'd dared for God ? 
 
i 4 2 FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 
 
 Or were they, servant of the Lord, 
 His tokens whom thy soul adored ? 
 The signet on thy mortal brow 
 Of visions none had seen but thou? 
 The dazzled sight, the faltering tongue, 
 
 A thorn that pierced the quivering flesh, 
 And, though thy heart to Jesus clung, 
 
 Daily drew tears of blood afresh ? 
 
 We know not and we would not know 
 The secret of thy human woe ; 
 Still let the tender veil be drawn 
 Till break of heaven's unclouded dawn : 
 Enough for us, those graven dints 
 
 Were marks of Jesus on thy frame ; 
 Enough, if only love's imprints 
 
 Stamp'd on our bosom are the same. 
 
SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 143 
 
 THE SIXTEENTH SUNDA Y AFTER 
 TRINITY. 
 
 Lessons : 2 Chron. xxxvi. ; Neh. L, ii. I — 9, viii. 
 Epistle: Ephes. iii. 13. Gospel: St. Luke vii. 11 — 18. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 O LORD, we beseech Thee, let Thy continual pity 
 cleanse and defend Thy Church ; and because it 
 cannot continue in safety without Thy succour, 
 preserve it evermore by Thy help and goodness ; 
 through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 " The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the 
 whole family hi heaven and ea*-th is named." — Ephes. 
 iii. 14, 15. 
 
 Ours is the grief who still are left in this far wilder- 
 ness, 
 
 Which will at times, now they are gone, seem blank 
 and comfortless. 
 
 For moments spent with loving hearts are breezes 
 from the hills 
 
 And the balm of Christian brotherhood like Eden : s 
 dew distils ; 
 
 And we, whose footsteps and whose hearts so often 
 fail and faint, 
 
 Seem ill to spare the cheering voice of one departed 
 saint. 
 
 But oh, we sorrow not like those whom no bright 
 
 hopes sustain, 
 For them who sleep in Jesus, God will with Him 
 
 bring again. 
 
141 SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 
 
 Love craves the presence and the sight of all its 
 
 well beloved, 
 And therefore weep we in the homes whence they 
 
 are far removed ; 
 Love craves the presence and the sight of each 
 
 beloved one, 
 And therefore Jesus spake the word which caught 
 
 them to His throne ; 
 " Father, I will that all Mine own, whom Thou hast 
 
 granted Me, 
 Be with Me where I am to share My glory's bliss 
 
 with Thee." 
 
 Thus heaven is gathering, one by one, in its capa- 
 cious breast, 
 
 All that is pure aud permanent, and beautiful and 
 blest ; 
 
 The family is scatter'd yet, though of one home and 
 heart, 
 
 Part militant in earthly gloom, in heavenly glory 
 part. 
 
 But who can speak the rapture, when the circle is 
 complete, 
 
 And all the children sundcr'd now around one 
 Father meet ? 
 
 One fold, one Shepherd, one employ, one everlast- 
 ing home : 
 
 " Lo, I come quickly ! ' 5 " Even so, Amen. Lord 
 Jesu, come ! " 
 
SEVENTEENTH SUN. AFTER TRINITY. 145 
 
 THE SEVENTEENTH SUNDA Y AFTER 
 TRINITY. 
 
 Lessons : Jer. . , xxii. , v xxxv. 
 Epistle: Ephes. iv. 1 — 7. Gospel: St. Luke xiv. I — 12. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Lord, we pray Thee that Thy grace may always 
 prevent and follow us, and make us continually to 
 be given to all good works ; through Jesus Christ 
 our Lord. Amen. 
 
 " There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called 
 in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one 
 baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, 
 and through all, and in you all." — Ephes. iv. 4 — 6. 
 
 Holy Father, hear me ; 
 
 Thou art my Defender ; 
 Be Thou ever near me, 
 
 Loving, true, and tender. 
 
 Jesu, blessed Master, 
 
 Lord of life and glory, 
 Bid the hours fly faster, 
 
 Till I kneel before Thee. 
 
 Comforter benignest, 
 
 Tabernacling in me, 
 Thou my need divinest : 
 
 Move me, draw me, win me. 
 
 Holy, Holy, Holy, 
 
 Come and leave me never, 
 
 Thine abode most lowly, 
 Only Thine for ever. 
 
1 46 THE EIGHTEENTH SUNDA Y 
 
 THE EIGHTEENTH SUNDA Y AFTER 
 TRINITY. 
 
 Lessons: Jer. xxxvi. ; Ezek. ii., xiii. I — 17. 
 Epistle : I Cor. i. 4—9. Gospel: St. Matt. xxii. 34. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Lord, we beseech Thee, grant Thy people grace 
 to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, 
 and the devil, and with pure hearts and minds to 
 follow Thee the only God ; through Jesus Christ 
 our Lord. Amen. 
 
 "So that ye come behind in no gift ,• waiting for the 
 coming of our Lord Jesus Christ : who shall also confirm 
 you unto the end y that ye may be blameless in the day of 
 our Lord Jesus Christ" — I Cor. i. 7, 8. 
 
 Long years I wander'd far astray, 
 Long years the paths of sorrow trod, 
 
 Still overshadow'd day by day 
 By love, the patient love of God. 
 
 The time of mercy came at last, 
 
 His sheep the Shepherd sought and found ; 
 And, as He smiled and homeward pass'd, 
 
 By love omnipotence was crown'd. 
 
 He brought me to His shelter'd fold, 
 He wash'd in blood my miry fleece, 
 
 And guided me with love untold 
 In ways of pleasantness and peace. 
 
AFTER TRINITY, 147 
 
 Alas, this wayward heart of mine 
 
 Too often wounds its tenderest Friend ; 
 
 But that unchanging heart of Thine 
 Loves its beloved ones to the end. 
 
 And love must realize its best : 
 Love cannot fail of love's design : 
 
 The child must find the Father's breast : 
 The human must become divine : 
 
 And then no wrinkle on her brow, 
 No blush of shame, of tears no trace, 
 
 Thy Bride who sees Thee dimly now 
 Unveil'd shall see Thee face to face. 
 
 O rapturous gaze surpassing thought, 
 
 Which writes Thy likeness on Thine own; 
 
 A likeness near and nearer wrought, 
 And perfected before the Throne. 
 
 L 2 
 
THE NINETEENTH SUNDAY 
 
 7 HE NINETEENTH SUN DA Y AFTER 
 TRINITY. 
 
 Lessons: Ezek. xiv., xviii., xxiv. 15. 
 Epistle: Ephes. iv. 17 — 32. Gospel: St. Matt. ix. I— 9. 
 
 THE COLLFXT. 
 
 God, forasmuch as without Thee we are not able 
 to please Thee ; Mercifully grant, that Thy Holy 
 Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts ; 
 through Jesus Christ our Lord. Am 01. 
 
 " Cast away from you all your transgressions whereby 
 
 ye have transgressed ; and make you a new heart and a 
 neiu spirit : for why will ye die, house of Israel?" — 
 Ezek. xviii. 31. 
 
 Why will ye die ? the question breaks 
 On the world's slumbers as of old ; 
 
 And many a weary bosom aches 
 
 With strange deep yearnings uncontroll'd, 
 
 But cannot, dare not answer, why 
 
 It chooses, not to live, but die. 
 
 Can pleasure with its witching powers, 
 
 Its fleeting lights, its idle mirth, 
 Fulfil these craving hearts of ours 
 
 That know and feel their heavenly birth ; 
 Or stand the scrutiny besought 
 In one still hour of steadfast thought ? 
 
 Can rank and riches, pomp and pride, 
 With all the homage they command, 
 
 And all the treasure trove beside 
 Which 1< arning gleans from every land, 
 
 Build up a lordly citadel 
 
 In which the soul of man may dwell ? 
 
AFTER TRINITY. 149 
 
 Can sin with its wild maddening sense 
 
 Of freedom fetterless by law, 
 Which smiles on trampled innocence 
 
 And scorns the rule of holy awe, 
 Be always in the sinners breast 
 A well-spring of delight and rest ? 
 
 What mean then all those bitter cries 
 
 Re-echoing creation's moan, 
 The wail of many centuries, 
 
 And haply loudest in our own, 
 So loud and' bitter one might dream 
 They marr'd the songs of seraphim ? 
 
 What mean they ? but that man is great, 
 Too great, too nobly plann'd, too high, 
 
 In God s similitude create, 
 For aught but God to satisfy ? 
 
 What mean they ? guilt if unforgiven 
 
 Would make a very hell of heaven. 
 
 Why will ye die ? the Spirit pleads 
 
 With you who long have grieved His love ; 
 
 And Christ in glory intercedes 
 As Priest upon the throne above. 
 
 O men, your Father asks you, Why 
 
 You wound H is heart and will to die ? 
 
150 THE TWENTIETH SUNDAY 
 
 THE TWENTIETH SUNDA Y AFTER 
 TRINITY. 
 
 Lessons : Ezek. xxxiv., xxxvii. ; Daniel i. 
 
 Epistle : Ephes. v. 15—22. Gospel : St. Matt. xxii. 
 
 1-15. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty and most merciful God, of Thy boun- 
 tiful goodness keep us, we beseech Thee, from all 
 things that may hurt us ; that we, being ready both 
 in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those 
 things that Thou wouldest have done ; through 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 1 * Singing and making melody in your heart to the 
 Lord." — Ephes. v. 19. 
 
 Master of the fount of symphonies, 
 Who drinkest in the music of the skies, 
 
 Enshrined in song alway, 
 My spirit's harp is tuneless and unstrung, 
 And broken words cling to my faltering tongue : 
 
 Hear me and help, I pray. 
 
 Lay Thou Thy hand of gentlest love Divine 
 Upon these jarr'd and loosen'd chords of mine, 
 
 And tune them to Thy will. 
 As likes Thee, deal with this poor instrument ; 
 Thine is the counsel, mine but the consent ; 
 
 1 would be only still. 
 
 Thou wilt not pain this frail heart overmuch ; 
 
 1 know Thy thoughtful tenderness of touch, 
 
 Thy power to read me through : 
 
AFTER TRINITY. 151 
 
 J only ask Thee, dearest Lord, when once 
 The quivering strings are true in their response, 
 To keep them ever true. 
 
 Then let my life from morn to evensong 
 On earth the melodies of heaven prolong, 
 
 In trouble or in calm : 
 J ask no more, if Thy most gracious Ear 
 jDiscern in accents tremulous or clear 
 
 One low melodious psalm, 
 
[52 THE TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY 
 
 THE TWENTY-FIRST SUNDA Y AFTER 
 TRINITY. 
 
 Lessons : Daniel hi., iv., v. 
 Epistle: Ephes. vi. 10 — 21. Gospel: St. John iv. 46. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Grant, we beseech Thee, merciful Lord, to Thy 
 faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be 
 cleansed from all their sins, and serve Thee with a 
 quiet mind ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 1 * Your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of 
 PeaceP — Ephes. vi. 15. 
 
 ''''Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him* 1 — 
 Ps. xxxvii. 7. 
 
 Rest in the Lord ; rest weary heart, 
 
 With sin and sorrow worn, 
 And conscience rankling with the smart 
 
 Of pitiless self-scorn ; 
 Oh, counting all beside but loss, 
 
 Climb Calvary's lowly hill, 
 And there beneath the bleeding cross 
 Rest, and be still. 
 
 Rest in the Lord ; what time the storm 
 
 Around thy pathway raves, 
 Behold His calm majestic form 
 
 Serenely walks the waves ; 
 
 And hark ! that tranquil voice is heard 
 
 Which winds and waxes fulfil ; 
 Oh, rest upon His changeless word; 
 Rest, and be still. 
 
AFTER TRINITY. 153 
 
 Rest in the Lord ; although the sands 
 
 Of life are running low, 
 Though clinging hearts and clasping hands 
 
 May not detain thee now: 
 His hand is on thee ; death's alarms 
 
 Can never work thee ill : 
 Rest on His everlasting arms ; 
 Rest, and be still. 
 
 Rest in the Lord : no conflicts more, — 
 
 The latest labour done ; 
 The weary strife for ever o'er, 
 
 The crown for ever won. 
 Beside the crystal stream, that flows 
 
 From Zion's heavenly hill, 
 
 Rest in eternal Love's repose ; 
 
 Rest, and be still. 
 
154 THE TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY 
 
 THE TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY 
 AFTER TRINITY, 
 
 Lessons : Daniel vi., vii. 9, xii. 
 Epistle : Phil. i. 3 — 12. Gospel : St. Matt, xviii. 21. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Lord, we beseech Thee to keep Thy household the 
 Church in continual godliness ; that through Thy 
 protection it may be free from all adversities, and 
 devoutly given to serve Thee in good works, to the 
 glory of Thy Name ; through Jesus Christ our 
 Lord. A?nen. 
 
 u And many of 'them which sleep in the dust of the earth 
 shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame 
 and everlasting contempt : and they that be 7oise shall shine 
 as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn 
 many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." — 
 Daniel xii. 2, 3. 
 
 Life, life, eternal life : 
 My spirit craves to know 
 Its calm amid the feverish strife 
 Of shadows here below. 
 
 The world with all its bloom, 
 Its laughter and its song, 
 Throws garlands only on the tomb : 
 It cannot last for long. 
 
 Life, life : it is not found 
 In depths of human lore, 
 
 And science with fresh laurels crown'd 
 Is faint with thirst for more. 
 
AFTER TRINITY, 155 
 
 " For ever " — who shall climb 
 The height that scans that sea ? 
 Or gaze unblench'd from passing time 
 On dread eternity ? 
 
 O Jesu, Thou alone 
 The living fountain art, 
 A well of rapture all its own 
 Within the contrite heart. 
 
 My Saviour, let me drink 
 Of Thee until I stand 
 Beside the crystal river's brink 
 In heaven my fatherland. 
 
156 THE TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY 
 
 THE TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY ABTER 
 
 TRINITY. 
 
 Lessons : Hosea xiv. ; Joel ii. 21, iii. 9. 
 
 Epistle: Phil. iii. 17. Gospel: St. Matt. xxii. 1$ — 23. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 God, our refuge and strength, who art the author 
 of all godliness; Be ready, we beseech Thee, to hear 
 the devout prayers of Thy Church; and grant that 
 those things which we ask faithfully we may obtain 
 effectually ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 " 1 will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely : 
 for Aline anger is turned away from Jiim : I will be as 
 the dew unto Israeli — Hosea xiv. 4, 5. 
 
 ^Let my Beloved come into His garden?' — Song iv. 16. 
 
 "A rude unthankful plot, that ill repays 
 
 My labour ; rich in promise, scant in yield : 
 
 Its myrtles choked with wild convolvulus ; 
 
 Its vines tangled with briars, its choice trees 
 
 Hoary with lichen, and its flowering beds 
 
 With mosses overgrown and waving ferns : 
 
 And where the fruit should mellow on the wall 
 
 The ivy hugs the stones. And yet the sun 
 
 Shines on this hollow all the summer day, 
 
 And here the night clouds shed their kindliest dews. 
 
 Weeds ripen ; but the fruits and flowers, alas, 
 
 Are few and far and matted with thick leaves. 
 
 It hath been so for years. Must it be so 
 
 For ever ; life's for ever ? I have wept 
 
 Warm showers of tears upon its idle soil, 
 
 And labour'd early and late taken rest j 
 
 It boots not. 1 can do 110 more ; it needs 
 
 A stronger arm, a deeper skill than mine. 
 () Thou, the only Husbandman of hearts, 
 Stand, Lord, no longer at the wicket. See, 
 
AFTER TRINITY. 157 
 
 I draw the bar, I throw the latch-gate wide ; 
 Come, Lord, in all Thy tenderness and power, 
 And dress and keep my garden for Thine own.'' 
 
 " But if I enter at thy cry, My child, 
 
 I must pluck up full many a pleasant weed, 
 
 And prune away full many a wayward branch, 
 
 And disentwine full many a tendril's clasp, 
 
 And tear the ivy from its nest, and train 
 
 The bleeding fruit-bough to the ripening south, 
 
 And haply must transplant some drooping flowers, 
 
 Some of thy choicest treasures, from this soil 
 
 To My own mansion. I must come as Lord 
 
 And Master of thy Eden, if I come. 
 
 My pruning-knife is keen, My hand is firm. 
 
 Say, shall 1 linger at the wicket-gate, 
 
 Or enter at thy prayer ? n 
 
 " Come in, Lord, come ! 
 Thy pruning-knife is keen, Thy hand is firm, 
 But, Lord, Thy heart is tremulous with love ; 
 And Thou hast known the bitterness of tears : 
 Thou wilt not break the bruised reed for naught, 
 Thou wilt not wound the shrinking plant in vain. 
 Ask what Thou wilt, I would not say Thee nay ; 
 Do only as Thou wilt with me and mine. 
 Thy will is only to make earth as heaven ; 
 And if Thou deignest here to fix Thy home 
 And shed Thy benison upon the flowers 
 Thyself art planting, watching, watering ; 
 Or even, after lapse of many days, 
 To pluck some fruitage from Thy husbandry ; 
 Surely my ruin'd Eden would be yet 
 Part of God's Paradise. Come in, Lord ! come 
 To-day, Lord, not to-morrow. Oh, come now ! n 
 
 " I am within thy garden ; let Me work." 
 
158 THE TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY 
 
 THE T WENTY-FO UR TH S UN DA Y 
 AFTER TRINITY. 
 
 Lessons : Amos iii., v., ix. 
 Epistle : Col. i. 3—13. Gospel: St. Matt. ix. 18—27. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 LORD, we beseech Thee, absolve Thy people from 
 their offences ; that through Thy bountiful goodness 
 we may all be delivered from the bands of those 
 sins, which by our frailty we have committed : 
 Grant this, O heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ's 
 sake, our blessed Lord and Saviour. A?nen. 
 
 11 Strengthened with all might \ acco?'dingto His glorious 
 power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyful' 
 ness" — Col. i. II. 
 
 " Those members of the body which seem to be more 
 feeble are necessary/' — I Cor. xii. 22. 
 
 11 My work is done, I lay me down to die 
 Weary and travel-worn I long for rest, 
 Speak but the word, dear Master, and I fly, 
 A dove let loose, to nestle in Thy breast." 
 " Not yet, My child, a little longer wait, 
 I need thy prayerful watch at glory's gate." 
 
 11 But, Lord, I have no strength to watch and pray, 
 
 My spirit is benumb'd, and dim my sight, 
 And I shall grieve Thy watchful love, as they 
 Who in the garden slept that Paschal night." 
 " My child, I need thy weakness hour by hour, 
 To prove in Me, thy strengthlessness is 
 power.' 5 
 
AFTER TRINITY. 159 
 
 "Not for myself alone, I urge the suit, 
 
 But loved ones lose for me life's priceless bloom, 
 And tender, patient, uncomplaining, mute, 
 
 Wear out their joyance in my darkened room.'* 
 11 Enough, My child, I need their love to thee : 
 Around thy couch, they minister to Me." 
 
 u It is enough, dear Master ; yea, Amen, 
 I will not breathe one murmur of reply, 
 Only fulfil Thy work in me, and then 
 
 Call me and bid me answer — ' Here am I. ,a 
 " My child, the sign I waited for is given, 
 Thy work is done, I need thee now in 
 heaven." 
 
i6o THE SUNDA V NEXT 
 
 THE SUNDA Y NEXT BEFORE 
 ADVENT. 
 
 Lessons: Eccles. xi. and xii. ; Hag. ii. I — 10 ; 
 Mai. iii. and iv. 
 For the Epistle : Jer. xxiii. 5 — 9. Gospel : St. John 
 vi. 5-15. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Stir up, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the wills of Thy 
 faithful people ; that they, plenteously bringing 
 forth the fruit of good works, may of Thee be plen- 
 teously rewarded ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Amen. 
 
 " Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden boivl be 
 broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the 
 wheel broken at the cistern." — Eccles. xii. 6. 
 
 u Even to your old age I am He, and even to hoar hairs 
 will I carry you.'' 1 — Isaiah xlvi. 4. 
 
 Is thy journey, aged pilgrim, 
 
 Great, too great for thee ? 
 Pleads a tenderer voice than angels, 
 " Come to Me. 
 
 M Traveller of many summers, 
 
 Of the silvery hair, 
 Wrinkled brow, and eye betraying 
 Years of care. 
 
 " Come to Me ; I know thy burdens, 
 
 Failing strength and heart ; 
 Trust thyself to One who loves thee 
 As thou art. 
 
BEFORE ADVENT. 161 
 
 u I have trodden life's rough pathway ; 
 
 I its toil have known ; 
 Trodden it with bleeding footstep, 
 Faint, alone. 
 
 " Long thy staff thy only comrade 
 
 Day and night hath been ; 
 Now thy strength to grasp it fails thee, 
 On Me lean. 
 
 11 Everlasting Arms are round thee, 
 
 Thine My pillowing breast : 
 I will be thy Rock and Refuge : 
 I thy Rest. 
 
 " Through the depths of Jordan onward, 
 
 Through the dread To be, 
 Yes, for ever and for ever 
 I am He." 
 
 If there be any more Sundays before Advent Sunday, the 
 Service of some of those Sundays that were omitted after 
 the Epiphany shall be taken in to supply so many as are 
 here wanting. And if there be fewer, the overplus may 
 be omitted : Provided that this last Collect, Epistle, and 
 Gospel shall always be used upon the Sunday next before 
 Advent. (Rubric.) 
 
1 62 SAINT ANDRE IV S DA V. 
 
 SAINT ANDREWS DA Y. 
 
 Lessons : Isaiah liv., lxv. 1 — 17 ; St. John i. 35 — 43, 
 xii. 20 — 42. 
 Epistle : Rom. x. 9. Gospel : St. Matt. iv. 18—21. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty God, who didst give such grace unto 
 Thy holy Apostle Saint Andrew, that he readily 
 obeyed the calling of Thy Son Jesus Christ, and 
 followed Him without delay ; Grant unto us all, 
 that we, being called by Thy holy Word, may forth- 
 with give up ourselves obediently to fulfil Thy holy 
 commandments ; through the same Jesus Christ our 
 Lord. Amen. 
 
 " Again the next day after John stood, and two of his 
 disciples ; and looking upon Jesus as He walked, he saith, 
 Behold the Lamb of God! " — St. John i. 35, 36. 
 
 Not far from Jordan's ford 
 
 Unknown a Stranger trod, 
 When lo, the voice reveals the Word, 
 
 Behold the Lamb of God. 
 
 O true and living Bread ! 
 
 O present Paschal Feast ! 
 The One who liveth and was dead : 
 
 The Victim and the Priest. 
 
 Upon the Throne of thrones, 
 
 Where cherubim adore. 
 And prostrate ciders cast their crowns 
 
 And worship evermore, 
 
 Behold the Heavenly Lamb, 
 
 As on the altar slain, 
 There with the Infinite I AM, 
 
 Is seen to rest and reign. 
 
SAINT ANDRE WS DAY. 163 
 
 Amid the white-robed choirs, 
 
 Who with their waves of song 
 And melodies of golden lyres 
 
 The steeps of Zion throng, 
 
 The Shepherd King appears, 
 
 Who gave His life for them : 
 The Crucified is crown'd, and wears 
 
 Love's peerless diadem. 
 
 Hark the joy bells of home, 
 
 Ringing eternal life ! 
 The marriage of the Lamb is come : 
 
 He claims His holy wife. 
 
 What lies beyond no heart 
 
 Of pilgrim can conceive : 
 O Christ, we know Thee Who Thou art : 
 
 Heaven meets who heaven believe. 
 
 M 2 
 
1 64 SAINT THOMAS THE APOSTLE. 
 
 SAINT THOMAS THE APOSTLE. 
 
 Lessons : Job xlii. I — 7 ; Isaiah xxxv. ; St. John xx. 
 
 19—24, xiv. 1—8. 
 
 Epistle : Ephes. ii. 19. Gospel : St. John xx. 24. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty and everliving God, who for the more con- 
 firmation of the faith didst surfer Thy holy Apostle 
 Thomas to be doubtful in Thy Son's resurrec- 
 tion ; Grant us so perfectly, and without all doubt, 
 to believe in Thy Son Jesus Christ, that our faith 
 in Thy sight may never be reproved. Hear us, O 
 Lord, through the same Jesus Christ, to whom, with 
 Thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, 
 now and for evermore. Amen. 
 
 u Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen 
 Me, thou hast believed : blessed are they that hare not seen, 
 and yet have believed." — St. John xx. 29. 
 
 The Paschal feast was ended. Multitudes, 
 Unweeting what was done, that day had left 
 The gates of Zion for their far-off homes ; 
 And there was silence, where but yesterday 
 Had been the hum of thousands. Olivet 
 Slept calmly underneath the waning moon, 
 And darkening shadows fell across the steeps 
 And hollows of Jerusalem. D ?ep night 
 Had drench'd the eyes of thousands. But, behold, 
 Within the upper room where Jesus broke 
 The bread of life, and pour'd the mystic wine 
 The night before He suffered, once again 
 The little band of those who loved Him most 
 
SAINT THOMAS THE ATOSTLE. 165 
 
 Were gathered. On the morrow morn they thought 
 To leave the holy city, holier now 
 Than ever in their eyes, and go to meet 
 Their Lord upon the Galilean hill. 
 
 All bosoms swell'd with gla dness, all save one ; 
 One heart amid that group of light and love 
 Was desolate and dark : nine wearv days 
 Of doubt, which shadow'd all eternity, 
 Had written years of suffering on his brow. 
 The worst he fear'd to him was realized, 
 Life quench'd, for ever quench'd, and death 
 
 supreme. 
 Jesus was dead. And vainly others told, 
 How they had seen and heard their risen Lord ; 
 Himself had seen the lifeless body hang 
 Upon the cross ; and. till he saw like them 
 And like them touch'd the prints in hands and side, 
 He would not, for he could not, hope again. 
 
 But there has been enough of sorrow now 
 For that true mourner, sorely tried but true: 
 And as thev communed of an absent Lord 
 Jesus was there, though doors were shut and barr'd, 
 There in the midst of them ; and from His lips, 
 Who is Himself our Peace, the words of peace 
 Fell as of old like dew on every heart, 
 But surely sweetest, calmest, tenderest 
 On one most torn and tost. The waves were still ; 
 Day broke ; the shadows fled : nor this alone, 
 Love offer' d all which bitterest grief had ask'd, 
 And laying bare the inly bleeding wound 
 Heal'd it, which haply else had bled afresh 
 In after years, till faith adoring claim'd 
 
1 66 SAINT THOMAS THE APOSTLE. 
 
 In One, whom sense no longer sought to touch, 
 The Lord of life, the everlasting God. 
 
 O Master, though our eyes have never look'd 
 Upon Tby blessed face and glorious form, 
 Grant us to trust Thee with a perfect trust. 
 And love Thee and rejoice in Thee unseen, 
 And prove the heaven of Thy beatitude 
 On those who, though they see Thee not, believe. 
 
THE CONVERSION OF SAINT PAUL. 167 
 
 THE CONVERSION OF SAINT PAUL. 
 
 Lessons: Isaiah xlix. I — 13 ; Jer. i. 1 — 11 ; Gal. i. 11 ; 
 
 Acts xxvi. 1 — 21. 
 
 For the Epistle : Acts ix. 1 — 23. Gospel : St. Matt. 
 
 xix. 27. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 O GOD, who through the preaching of the blessed 
 Apostle Saint Paul, hast caused the light of the 
 Gospel to shine throughout the world ; Grant, we 
 beseech Thee, that we, having his wonderful con- 
 version in remembrance, may show forth our thank- 
 fulness unto Thee for the same, by following the 
 holy doctrine which he taught ; through Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 "Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, 
 and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of 
 Tarsus : for, behold, he prayeth" — Acts ix. 11. 
 
 A sinner, wrestling in his guilt, 
 " Forgive, Thou canst, Lord, if Thou wilt, 
 Whose life-blood for my soul was spilt : n 
 Behold, he prays. 
 
 A child, compell'd by love to press 
 Still nearer to Thy holiness. 
 Who cries, u Bless me, my Father, bless : " 
 Behold, he prays. 
 
 A saint, whose heart's compassions yearn 
 To see the prodigals return 
 And lost ones all Thy mercy learn : 
 Behold, he prays. 
 
1 68 THE CONVERSION OF SAINT PAUL. 
 
 A herald of the love of God, 
 Whose footsteps, dew'd with tears and blood, 
 Through the wide world unwearied trod : 
 Behold, he prays. 
 
 A sufferer beneath the cross, 
 Whose gold is daily fined from dross, 
 For Jesus counting all things loss: 
 Behold, he prays. 
 
 A wayfarer whose course is run, 
 The Jordan flush'd at set of sun, 
 And blessed Canaan almost won : 
 Behold, he prays. 
 
 Oh, voice of prayer ! Oh, voice of song 
 Borne through the gates of heaven along ! 
 Amid the everlasting throng, 
 Behold, he prays. 
 
 Written at Damascus, 1881. 
 
PURIFICATION OF THE VIRGIN MARY, 169 
 THE PRESENT A T10N OF CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE 
 
 COMMONLY CALLED 
 
 THE PURIFICATION OF SAINT MARY 
 THE VIRGIN. 
 
 Lessons : Exod. xiii. 1— 17 ; Hag. ii. 1 — 10. 
 
 For the Epistle : Mai. iii. 1—6. Gospel : St. Luke ii. 
 
 22-41. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty and everliving God, we humbly be- 
 seech Thy Majesty, that as Thy only-begotten Son 
 was this day presented in the temple in substance 
 of our flesh, so we may be presented unto Thee 
 with pure and clean hearts, by the same Thy Son 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen, 
 
 " And when the days of her purification according to 
 the laiv of Moses were accomplished^ they brought Him to 
 Jerusalem to present Him to the lord; . . . a?id to offer 
 a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of 
 the lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." — 
 St. Luke ii. 22—24. 
 
 Upon the virgin mother's breast 
 
 Asleep the Holy Infant lay, 
 As fill'dwith awe His parents press'd 
 
 Into the temple courts to pray. 
 
 Sure never gifts of costlier price 
 
 Were offerd at the throne of prayer, 
 
 Since Abel's earliest sacrifice, 
 Than they that hour presented there. 
 
170 THE PURIFICATION OF 
 
 The tribute of their humble vow ; 
 
 The doves which breathed of sin forgiven ; 
 The calm of Joseph's saintly brow, 
 
 Reflecting all the peace of heaven ; 
 
 The mother's mystery of bliss 
 In giving up to God her Child, 
 
 When at her gentle reverent kiss 
 
 Incarnate Love look'd up and smiled ; 
 
 For as the lowly offering 
 
 Was on the brazen altar laid, 
 The closer seem'd the Babe to cling 
 
 And fonder to the blessed maid. 
 
 Now human love and love Divine 
 
 Are seen to be for ever one ; 
 The Father's infinite design 
 
 Reveal'd in His Eternal Son, 
 
 Who there self-emptied, self-abased, 
 
 God everlasting was and is, 
 And by the virgin's arms embraced 
 
 Embraces heaven and earth in His. 
 
 O lordliest Child, O lowliest Lord, 
 With majesty and meekness crown'd, 
 
 By saints and seraphim adored, 
 
 In swaddling bands of weakness bound ; 
 
 Jcsu, vouchsafe us day by day 
 
 To follow Thy humility, 
 And offer, as we kneel and pray, 
 
 Pure minds and chasten'd hearts to Thee. 
 
SAINT MAR V THE VIRGIN. 1 7 1 
 
 And, when the mystic veil is rent 
 
 Which hides the Holiest from our eyes, 
 
 O merciful High Priest, present 
 In the great temple of the skies, 
 
 Array'd in garments pure and white, 
 Wash'd in the fountain of Thy blood, 
 
 Unblemish'd as the morning light, 
 Thy Bride before the throne of God. 
 
172 SAINT MA TTHIASS DA Y. 
 
 SAINT MATTHIAS'S DAY. 
 
 Lessons : I Sam. ii. 27 — 36 ; Isaiah xxii. 15. 
 For the Epistle : Acts i. 15. Gospel : St. Matt. xi. 25. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 O Almighty God, who into the placeofthe traitor 
 Judas didst choose Thy faithful servant Matthias 
 to be of the number of the twelve Apostles ; Grant 
 that Thy Church, being alway preserved from false 
 Apostles, may be ordered and guided by faithful 
 and true pastors ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Amen. 
 
 " His bishopric let another take." — Acts i. 20. 
 "Behold, I co?ne quickly: hold that fast -which thou 
 hast, that no man take thy crown!* — Rev. iii. 11. 
 
 Be strong, be strong, O struggling saint, 
 Lift up thine heart, lift up thine eyes ; 
 
 Nor in the conflict fail nor faint, 
 Until thou grasp the glorious prize. 
 
 Thy Lord on thee is looking down 
 With pity's tender pleading face ; 
 
 And in His pierced hand the crown, 
 He longs upon thy brow to place. 
 
 Be of good courage : He has known 
 
 The bitterness of mortal strife, 
 And through the darkness pass'd alone 
 
 Into the perfect light of life. 
 
 Alas, upon the hills of time 
 
 Too many a shield is cast away, 
 
 And many a recreant fails to climb 
 The path that leads to endless day. 
 
SAINT MA TTHIAS'S DA Y. 
 
 173 
 
 There are who, lamp in hand, are found 
 To slumber at the Bridegroom's gate, 
 
 And only waken as the sound 
 
 Dies in their ears, ''Too late, too late." 
 
 There are who like the traitor sell 
 The dear Lord for this passing world, 
 
 And bartering heaven itself for hell 
 To lowest depths of shame are hurl'd. 
 
 Thou weepest, — it is well, — for those 
 
 Who shipwreck of their faith have made : 
 
 Thou tremblest ; it is well : God knows 
 Thy weakness, His Almighty aid. 
 
 Weep, tremble, struggle, — only cast 
 On Him thy weakness hour by hour, 
 
 And clinging to the cross hold fast 
 His word of patient love and power ; 
 
 And thou with all His saints ere long, 
 
 Crown'd, robed in white, in Him complete, 
 
 Shalt sing the everlasting song 
 And cast thy trophies at His feet. 
 
174 THE ANNUNCIATION- OF THE 
 
 THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE 
 BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. 
 
 Lessons : Gen. iii. I — 16 ; Isaiah lii. 7 — 13. 
 
 For the Epistle: Isaiah vii. 10 — 16. Gospel: St. Luke i. 
 
 26—39. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 We beseech Thee, Lord, pour Thy grace into 
 our hearts ; that as we have known the incarnation 
 of Thy Son Jesus Christ by the message of an angel, 
 so by His cross and passion we may be brought 
 unto the glory of His resurrection; through the 
 same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 11 And when she saw him, she 7uas troubled at his say- 
 ing, and east in her mind what manner of salutation this 
 should be. . . . And Mary said, Behold the handmaid oj 
 the Lord ; be it unto me according to thy word." — St. Luke 
 i. 29, 38. 
 
 u Behold the handmaid of the Lord ; 
 Be it unto me as thy word," — 
 So spake in accents low and sweet 
 The humblest heart that ever beat. 
 Nor would the Blessed Spirit come 
 And make a temple of her womb, 
 Nor to His yoke her spirit bow, 
 
 Nor in her God's designs fulfil, 
 Until His gently breathed tl Wilt thou ?" 
 
 Was answered by her meek " I will.'' 
 
 The vigils of the Church were past ; 
 The heavenly day-spring dawn'd at last ; 
 But everlasting ageS wait 
 And knock at time's reluctant gate, 
 
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. 175 
 
 Till God with man on earth shall dwell, 
 Incarnate Love, Emmanuel : 
 For all Redemption's issues hung 
 
 Upon the words of lowly faith, 
 Which falter'd on the trembling tongue 
 
 Of that pure maid of Nazareth. 
 
 Be still, my heart : no fears could move 
 
 The counsels of eternal love. 
 
 Be still : the trouble pass'd away, 
 
 Like clouds that melt at break of day ; 
 
 And, as the angel spake of things 
 
 Beyond her soul's imaginings, 
 
 The words of self-surrender fell 
 
 From lips of one supremely blest, 
 Who half her rapture could not tell, 
 
 But knew her Father's will was best. 
 
 And it was best. W T hat bliss like hers 
 
 The heart of mother ever stirs ; 
 
 The union in her Infant's birth 
 
 Of loftiest heaven and lowliest earth ? 
 
 Or who before her ever smiled, 
 
 Confiding, on a sinless Child? 
 
 No film to stain the stream of joy 
 
 That from its crystal fountain ran, 
 While in her home the perfect Boy 
 
 Grew up into the perfect Man. 
 
 Her Father's will was best ; though she.. 
 
 Who drank that cup of ecstasy, 
 
 In bitterness of heart must drain 
 
 The dregs of agonizing pain, — 
 
 Her tender bosom deeply gored 
 
 By stabs of sorrow's piercing sword, — 
 
176 
 
 THE ANNUNCIA TION. 
 
 When by the cruel Cross she stood, 
 Where all her hopes were crucified ; 
 
 And sprinkled with His dying blood 
 In spirit with her Saviour died. 
 
 But Easter morning breaks ere long 
 
 To welcomes of celestial song, 
 
 And softer human melodies 
 
 Swell the high triumph of the skies : 
 
 And is not hers the sweetest note 
 
 Of all the strains that heavenward float? 
 
 If none like sorrowing love must weep, 
 
 No hymns like love's joy-anthems flow : 
 Lord, grant us in Thy bliss to reap 
 
 Seeds steep'd and sown in tears below. 
 
SAINT MA RICS DAY. 177 
 
 SAIXT MARKS DA Y. 
 
 Lessons : Isaiah lxii. 6 ; Ezek. i. 1 — 15. 
 Epistle : Ephes. iv. 7 — 17. Gospel: St. John xv. I — 12. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty God. who hast instructed Thy holy 
 Church with the heavenly doctrine of Thy Evan- 
 gelist Saint Mark ; Give us grace, that being not 
 like children carried away with every blast of 
 vain doctrine, we may be established in the truth 
 of Thy holy Gospel ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Amen. 
 
 " Abide in Me, and I in yon : as the branch cannot bear 
 fruit of itself except it' abide in the vine, no more can ye, 
 except ye abide in Me." — St. John xv. 4. 
 
 The ivy clasps the pine, 
 
 And climbs the while it clings ; 
 
 The tendrils of the vine 
 
 Are given in place of wings. 
 
 The limpet hugs the rock 
 
 The closer for the wave ; 
 And dares the tempest's shock 
 
 In feebleness to brave. 
 
 The little child holds fast 
 
 Its father in alarms ; 
 Or nestles down at last 
 
 Within his sheltering arms. 
 
 So hangs my soul on Thee, 
 
 O Lord, where'er I roam ; 
 Guide, guard, hold, carry me, 
 
 And bear me safely home. 
 
1 78 SAINT PHILIP AND 
 
 SAINT PHILIP AND SAINT JAMES' 
 DAY. 
 
 Lessons : Isaiah lxi. ; Zech. iv. ; St. John i. 43. 
 Epistle : James i. 1 — 13. Gospel : St. John xiv. 1 — 15. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty God, whom truly to know is ever- 
 lasting life ; Grant us perfectly to know Thy Son 
 Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life ; 
 that, following the steps of Thy holy Apostles, 
 Saint Philip and Saint James, we may stedfastly 
 walk in the way that leadeth to eternal life ; through 
 the same Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. A men. 
 
 " The flower falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it 
 perisheth : so also shall the rich man fade away in his 
 ways. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation : for 
 when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which 
 the lord hath promised to tliem that love Him." — James 
 i. 11, 12. 
 
 The meadow grass is green and blithe, 
 With gold and purple hues besprent ; 
 
 It recks not of to-morrow's scythe 
 Rich in its lavish bloom and scent : 
 
 The sun is warm, the evening gay, 
 
 Who speaks of aught but lile to-day ? 
 
 The jocund world is borne along 
 
 By troops of rosy-fingcr'd hours, 
 Its path of merriment and song 
 
 Still garlanded with new-cut llowers ; 
 And all her children seem to say, 
 To-morrOW will be as to-day. 
 
SAINT JAMES'S DA Y. 
 
 179 
 
 But standing from the throng apart 
 
 There are who drink of sorrow's springs, 
 
 And answer to their bleeding heart 
 That hearts persistent questionings, 
 
 " Is there no harvest far away 
 
 Of seed we sow in tears to-day ? " 
 
 Listen, the world's melodious chime 
 Grows faint and fainter year by year, 
 
 And things to come are shadowing time, 
 And soon the Master will be here : 
 
 God grant us crown'd by Him to say 
 
 Eternity is ours to-day. 
 
 N ^ 
 
i8o SAINT BARNABAS THE APOSTLE. 
 
 SAINT BARNABAS THE APOSTLE. 
 
 Lessons : Deut. xxxiii. I — 12 ; Nahum i. ; Acts iv. 31, 
 
 xiv. 8. 
 
 For the Epistle : Acts xi. 22. Gospel : St. John xv. 
 
 12 — 17. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 O LORD God Almighty, who didst endue Thy holy 
 Apostle Barnabas with singular gifts of the Holy 
 Ghost ; Leave us not, we beseech Thee, destitute 
 of Thy manifold gifts, nor yet of grace to use them 
 alway to Thy honour and glory ; through Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 u Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, 
 was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of 
 heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good 
 man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith : and much 
 people was added unto the Lord.'" — Acts xi. 23, 24. 
 
 My God, my Father, let me rest 
 In the calm sun-glow of Thy face, 
 
 Until Thy love in me express'd 
 
 Draws others to Thy throne of grace. 
 
 O Jesu, Master, let me hold 
 
 Such secret fellowship with Thee, 
 
 That others, careless once and cold, 
 Won to my Lord and theirs may be. 
 
 Eternal Spirit, heavenly Dove, 
 The light of Life to me impart, 
 
 Till lire descending from above 
 
 Burns on and on from heart to heart. 
 

 SAINT BARNABAS THE APOSTLE. i8x 
 
 O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, 
 Still, still may love to love respond ; 
 
 And teach me, when I love Thee most, 
 Depths all unfathom'd lie beyond, 
 
1 82 SA INT JOHN BA P TISTS DA Y 
 
 SAINT JOHN BAPTISTS DA Y. 
 
 Lessons : Mai. iii. I — 7, iv. ; St. Matt, iii., xiv. I — 13. 
 For the Epistle : Isaiah xl. 1 — 12. Gospel : St. Luke i. 57* 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty God, by whose providence Thy servant 
 John Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to 
 prepare the way of Thy Son our Saviour, by preach- 
 ing of repentance ; Make us so to follow his doc- 
 trine and holy life, that we may truly repent ac- 
 cording to his preaching ; and after his example 
 constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and 
 patiently suffer for the truth's sake ; through Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 " The voice of him that crietJi in the Wl 'Idem ess, Prepare 
 ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a high- 
 way for our God." — Isaiah xl. 3. 
 
 Through the crowded streets of Salem, see, they 
 
 whisper man to man, 
 Like a flash of summer lightning through the 
 
 heavens, the tidings ran ; 
 " In the wilderness by Jordan unto us a voice is 
 
 sent, 
 God is on His way. His herald cries before He 
 
 comes, Repent. w 
 
 On the mart of busy traffic, on the merchant's 
 
 growing board, 
 On the bridegroom's perfumed chamber, on the 
 
 banquet's festive board, 
 
SA INT JOHN BA PTIS TS DAY. 183 
 
 On the halls where pleasure squandered all the 
 
 heaps of avarice, 
 On the dreams of blind devotion, on the loathsome 
 
 haunts of vice 
 Like a thunder-roll the tidings fell, and lo ! the 
 
 sudden gloom 
 Then and there gave fearful presage of the coming 
 
 day of doom. 
 But the workman left his workshop, and the 
 
 merchant left his wares, 
 And the miser left his coffers and the Pharisee his 
 
 prayers : 
 From Jerusalem to Jordan, see they pour a motley 
 
 group, 
 Young men, maidens, old men, children, priests 
 
 and people, troop on troop : 
 Neighbour thought not now of neighbour, parent 
 
 scarcely thought of child : 
 There were few who spoke or answer'd, there were 
 
 none who jeer'd or smiled : 
 No one wept : tyrannic conscience seal'd their eyes 
 
 and ears and lips, 
 And Eternity was shadowing Time with terrible 
 
 eclipse. 
 
 There it wound, that ancient river : there he stood, 
 
 that lonely man. 
 Is it yet too late ? to rearmost some shrank back, 
 
 some forward ran : 
 Brave men quail'd, and timid women bolder seem'd 
 
 beneath his eye : 
 Age grew flush'd, and youth grew paler, and the 
 
 voice was heard to cry, 
 
1 84 SATNT 'JOHN BAPTISTS DA Y. 
 
 " God is on His way. The Judge already stands 
 
 before the gate ; 
 Make the lofty low before Him, rugged smooth, 
 
 and crooked straight." 
 As the multitudes in thousands round him throng'd, 
 
 a timorous flock, 
 Fell his words like hail in harvest, like the 
 
 hammer on the rock, 
 Breaking stony hearts to shivers, cloaking, sparing, 
 
 softening naught, 
 But with lightning flash revealing midnight 
 
 mysteries of thought. 
 God was Master, man was servant ; right was 
 
 right and wrong was wrong : 
 Sinners might dream on a little, but the respite 
 
 was not long. 
 Good or evil fruit trees, whether of the twain ? no 
 
 test but fruit : 
 Cut it down ; the fire is kindled, and the axe lies 
 
 at the root. 
 Wherefore call themselves the children of the God- 
 like Abraham ? 
 Things that are alone are precious unto the 
 
 supreme 1 AM. 
 Generation bred of vipers, wherefore arc they pale 
 
 and dumb ? 
 Will they flee? oh, who hath warn'd them of the 
 
 dreadful wrath to come ? 
 Are the dry bones stirring, breathing? God can 
 
 raise up men from stones. 
 See the Lamb, the dying Victim! only life for life 
 
 atones : 
 And the dee]) red current, flowing from the first- 
 lings Abel vow'd, 
 
SAINT JOHN BAPTISTS DA Y. 185 
 
 Cries from age to age for mercy, louder yet, and yet 
 
 more loud, 
 Till the sacrifice be offer'd for the world's stupen- 
 dous guilt, 
 And the Lamb of God is smitten on the altar God 
 
 has built. 
 Is the hard heart bruised and contrite? Do they 
 
 weep and vow and pray ? 
 It is well ; let Jordan's waters wash their loathed 
 
 stains away. 
 But the coming One, whose coming now was every 
 
 moment nigher, 
 He, the Son of God, baptizes with the Holy Ghost 
 
 and fire : 
 In His hand the fan that winnows ; at His feet the 
 
 harvest floor ; 
 Chaff the food for quenchless burnings : garner'd 
 
 wheat for evermore. 
 
 These lines are taken from a longer poem, entitled, " John 
 Baptist." _ See "The Two Brothers, and other Poems," pp. 113— 
 133. Rivingtons. 
 
SAINT PETER'S DA V. 
 
 SAINT PETER'S DAY. 
 
 Lessons : Ezek. iii. 4 — 15 ; Zech. iii. ; St. John xxi. 15 — 
 
 23 ; Acts iv. 8—23. 
 
 For the Epistle : Acts xii. 1 — 12. Gospel: St. Matt. 
 
 xvi. 13 — 20. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 O Almighty God, who by Thy Son Jesus Christ 
 didst give to Thy Apostle Saint Peter many excel- 
 lent gifts, and commandest him earnestly to feed 
 Thy rlock ; Make, we beseech Thee, all Bishops and 
 Pastors diligently to preach Thy holy Word, and 
 the people obediently to follow the same, that they 
 may receive the crown of everlasting glory ; through 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen, 
 
 iC Jesus saith to Simon Peter % Simon, son of Jonas, 
 loves t thou Me more than these? He sdilh unto Him, 
 Yea, Lord ; Thou knowest that I love 'Thee. lie saith unto 
 him, Teed My lambs T — St. John xxi. 15. 
 
 *• I am the Good Shepherd : the Good Shepherd giveth 
 His life for the sheep.'" — St. John x. II. 
 
 From the heaven of heavens descending, stooping 
 
 from the throne of ( rod, 
 Clothed in hum. in flesh the Shepherd once our 
 
 mortal valley trod. 
 See Omnipotence self-humbled ; Light In darkness 
 
 undented ; 
 Love untired with weary footstep seeking us o'er 
 
 waste and wild. 
 
SAINT PETER'S DA Y. 187 
 
 But the storm-clouds round Him gather : o'er 
 
 Jerusalem He weeps : 
 Crush'd and bruised by our transgressions now He 
 
 treads the river deeps : 
 Onward, onward : " It is finished '' on the bitter 
 
 cross He cries ; 
 And the unseen world receives Him, Lord of earth 
 
 and Paradise. 
 
 Easter dawns : the bars are broken : hark, the 
 
 shout of victory ! 
 Death is death-struck, and Emmanuel captive leads 
 
 captivity : 
 Bringing many sons to glory, crown'd with many 
 
 crowns of love, 
 To the songs of heaven He rises and the Father's 
 
 home above. 
 
 Those eternal Hallelujahs, those adoring Seraphim, 
 Saints and angels and archangels, are they not 
 
 enough for Him ? 
 Wherefore from that throne of triumph do His 
 
 soul's compassions flow 
 Over those who once refused Him, and His scatter'd 
 
 sheep below ? 
 
 Far upon the rocky mountains, wayworn, wounded, 
 
 cast away, 
 Those for whom He died and suffer'd in the paths 
 
 of ruin stray ; 
 And His voice thrills through and through us, Who 
 
 for us His life-blood gave, 
 " Do ye love Me, O My children? feed the lambs I 
 
 died to save. ;j 
 
i88 
 
 SAIXT PETER'S DA Y. 
 
 Lord, Thou knowest that we love Thee : only let 
 
 us love like Thee, 
 Seek the lost, and heal the wounded, track Thy 
 
 steps unvveariedly ; 
 Till beside the living waters, glorified, redeem'd, 
 
 forgiven,' 
 Thou, the One Eternal Shepherd, gather us one 
 
 flock in heaven. 
 
 This hymn was written for the Centenary Commemoration of 
 the Church of England Sunday Schools. 
 
SAINT JAMES THE APOSTLE, 
 
 SAINT JAMES THE APOSTLE. 
 
 Lessons : 2 Kings i. I — 16; Jer. xxvi. 8 — 16 ; St. Luke 
 
 ix. 51 — 57. 
 For the Epistle : Acts xi. 27, xii. 1—4. Gospel : St. Matt. 
 
 xx. 20 — 29. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Grant, merciful God, that as Thine holy Apostle 
 Saint James, leaving his father and all that he had, 
 without delay was obedient unto the calling of Thy 
 Son Jesus Christ, and followed Him; so w r e, for- 
 saking all worldly and carnal affections, may be 
 evermore ready to follow Thy holy commandments ; 
 through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 " Ye shall drink indeed of My cup, and be baptized with 
 the baptism that I a?n baptized with ; but to sit on My 
 right hand, and on A/y left, is not Mine to give, but it shall 
 be given to the??i for whom it is prepared of My Father" — 
 St. Matt. xx. 23. 
 
 " All things are yours ; whether Faul, or Apollos, or 
 Cephas ; . . all are yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ 
 is God's.'" — 1 Cor. iii. 21 — 23. 
 
 For ever ours, 
 The good and great of all the ages past ; 
 The Father's children gathered home at last : 
 Oh wealth, unutterable wealth of love, 
 
 All ours above. 
 
 For ever ours, 
 The noblest and the best of every land, 
 Innumerable as the silver sand 
 Of ocean, or the dust of stars that gem 
 
 Night's diadem. 
 
190 SAINT JAMES THE APOSTLE. 
 
 For ever ours, 
 Pilgrims and patriarchs and kings and seers, 
 Whose forms loom dimly through the mist of years ; 
 Apostles, martyrs, and evangelists, 
 
 All who are Christ's. 
 
 For ever ours, 
 The lowliest who the purest crowns have won 
 And sit the nearest Jesus on His throne, 
 And love Him most for most has been forgiven ; 
 
 The peers of heaven. 
 
 For ever ours, 
 The children by their angel guards caress'd ; 
 And all the myriad myriads of the blest ; 
 Each heart a crystal well-spring of delight, 
 
 All clothed in white. 
 
 For ever ours ; 
 What eye can range the limitless expanse, 
 Or bear the blaze of love's inheritance ? 
 Ours : — Christ is ours : Oh, miracle of bliss ! 
 
 And we are His. 
 
SAINT BAR THOL OME W. 191 
 
 SAINT BARTHOLOMEW THE APOSTLE. 
 
 Lessons: Gen. xxviii. 10 — 18 j Deut. xviii. 15. 
 
 For the Epistle : Acts v. 12 — 17. Gospel : St. Luke 
 
 xxii. 24 — 31. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty and everlasting God, who didst give 
 to Thine Apostle Bartholomew grace truly to be- 
 lieve and to preach Thy Word ; Grant, we beseech 
 Thee, unto Thy Church, to love that Word which 
 he believed, and both to preach and receive the 
 same : through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 " And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the 
 earth, and the top of it reached to heaven : and, behold, the 
 angels of God ascending and descending on it." — Gen. 
 xxviii. 12. 
 
 u Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see 
 heaven ope?i, and the angels of God ascending and descend- 
 ing upon the Son of Man." — St. John i. 51. 
 
 Behind us Sinai's awful form, 
 
 With fiery smoke beclouded, 
 Lies wrapt in solitude and storm 
 
 And mists of darkness shrouded ; 
 While far aloof a trumpet sound, 
 As from creation's outmost bound, 
 
 Grows faint and fainter ever. 
 
 Gaze not upon the pathway trod : 
 
 Mount Zion is before us, 
 The city of the living God, 
 
 Jerusalem the glorious. 
 Lo, yonder through the crystal skies 
 Its gates and golden ramparts rise, 
 
 The home of love for ever. 
 
1 92 SAINT BAR THOL OME W. 
 
 And there beside the fruitful banks 
 
 Of life's perennial waters, 
 Mingle with myriad angel ranks 
 
 God's ransom'd sons and daughters : 
 While echo from their festal throng 
 The voice of harping and the song 
 
 Of jubilee for ever. 
 
 O joy of joys ! no cloud between; 
 
 No dream of fabling story ; 
 They see Him whom they loved unseen 
 
 There face to face in glory. 
 Before the uncreated Light 
 They stand in robes of hlmless white, 
 
 And reign with Him for ever. 
 
SAINT MATTHEW THE APOSTLE. 193 
 
 SAINT MATTHEW THE APOSTLE. 
 
 Lessons : 1 Kings xix. 15; 1 Chron. xxix. 1 — 20. 
 Epistle : 2 Cor. iv. 1 — 7. Gospel : St. Matt. ix. 9—14. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty God, who by Thy blessed Son didst 
 call Matthew from the receipt of custom to be an 
 Apostle and Evangelist ; Grant us grace to forsake 
 all covetous desires, and inordinate love of riches, 
 and to follow the same Thy Son Jesus Christ, who 
 liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, 
 one God, world without end. Amen. 
 
 "As Jesus passed forth from thence. He saw a man, 
 named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom : and he 
 saith unto him, FoIIotj Me. And he arose, and followtu 
 Him."— St. Matt. ix. 9. 
 
 The publican at custom's throng'd receipt 
 Was sitting ; but his heart was far away, 
 
 And through the crowds that press'd around his 
 feet 
 He mark'd Another passing by that day. 
 
 The Master spoke ; and, when His voice was heard, 
 
 The servant rose obedient to His word. 
 
 His home was stored with every soft delight, 
 
 His secret coffers overflow'd with gold : 
 And many felt and many feard the might 
 
 With which his riches arm'd him. But, behold, 
 It needed but that low-breathed ■' Follow Me,'' 5 
 And he surrender'd all, dear Lord, for Thee. 
 
 O 
 
194 SAINT MATTHEW THE APOSTLE. 
 
 Was it the mighty impulse of that hour, 
 One sudden masterful resolve of will, 
 
 Which made him, quicken'd by Thy Spirit's power, 
 With seraph promptitude Thy word fulfil ? 
 
 Or rather was it fruit of many years, 
 
 Which in Thy time of love now first appears ; — 
 
 Even as the aloe, which in one brief night 
 Miraculously clothes itself in bloom, 
 
 Has nurtured in its bosom out of sight 
 
 The hidden germs of beauty and perfume ? 
 
 Thou knowest, Who alone canst touch the springs 
 
 And read the deepest of the heart's deep things. 
 
 It may be, he had oftentimes confess'd 
 To his own heart its aching want and woe, 
 
 And felt that indescribable unrest 
 
 Which only Mammon's favourite children know; 
 
 And through the shadowy veil that hangs between 
 
 Had look'd on things eternal and unseen. 
 
 It may be, he had heard when Jesus spoke 
 Of rest for weary ones and sin forgiven, 
 
 Of patient service and the easy yoke, 
 
 And true and lasting treasures stored in heaven 
 
 The glories of the Father's house above, 
 
 The priesthood and the royalty of love. 
 
 Enough, the spring was touch'd : he gave up all, 
 And more than all rejoicing found in Christ ; 
 
 A true dis< iple from his earliest call, 
 Apostle, prophet, and evangelist ; 
 
 Who seal'd his faithful witness with his blood 
 
 And lived and loved and died a man of God. 
 
SAINT MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS. 195 
 
 SALNT MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS. 
 
 Lessons : Gen. xxxii. ; Dan. x. 4 ; Acts xii. 5 — 18 ; 
 
 Rev. xiv. 14. 
 
 For the Epistle : Rev. xii. 7 — 13. Gospel : St. Matt, xviii. 
 
 1 — 11. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 EVERLASTING God, who hast ordained and 
 constituted the services of Angels and men in a 
 wonderful order ; Mercifully grant, that as Thy 
 holy Angels ahvay do Thee service in heaven, so 
 by Thy appointment they may succour and defend 
 us on earth ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Amen. 
 
 '* Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones ; 
 for I say unto you. That in heaven their angels do always 
 behold the face of My Father which is in heaven" — 
 St. Matt, xviii. 10. 
 
 And do Thy angels always worship Thee, 
 And guard Thy little ones adoring thus ? 
 
 Always Thy face, O holy Father, see, 
 And in Thy presence minister to us ? 
 
 And do they always drink the streams above 
 That from the Fount of living waters flow, 
 
 The while on secret embassies of love 
 
 They camp unwearied round Thy saints below ? 
 
 And are the little ones who lisp Thy name 
 As much the objects of their tender care, 
 
 As those whose loftier work might seem to claim 
 In their great ministries a nobler share ? 
 O 2 
 
196 SAINT MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS. 
 
 Still on the mystic ladder of the seer 
 
 Ascending and descending do they come, 
 
 And watch with sleepless love Thy pilgrims here, 
 Until they bear them to Thy perfect home ? 
 
 And shall we join their shining ranks ere long 
 With harps of praise and garments wash'd in 
 blood, 
 
 And swell with them the Alleluia song 
 Which rises from the universe of God ? 
 
 O holy Father, make our service now 
 A daily sacrifice of prayer and praise : 
 
 And, as beneath Thy easy yoke we bow, 
 Vouchsafe us on Thy blessed face to gaze ; 
 
 Till in Thy glory, earthly labour done, 
 
 We see Thee as Thou art on Zion's height, 
 
 Service and worship blending into one 
 And duty felt to be supreme delight. 
 
SAINT LUKE THE EVANGELIST. 197 
 
 SAINT LUKE THE EVANGELIST. 
 
 Lessons : Isaiah lv. ; Ecclus. xxxviii. I — 15. 
 Epistle: 2 Tim. iv. 5 — 16. Gospel : St. Luke x. 1 — 8. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty God, who calledst Luke the Physician, 
 whose praise is in the Gospel, to be an Evangelist, 
 and Physician of the soul ; May it please Thee, 
 that, by the wholesome medicines of the doctrine 
 delivered by him, all the diseases of our souls may 
 be healed ; through the merits of Thy Son Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 " Only Luke is with me" — 2 Tim. iv. 11. 
 " Luke, the beloved physician" — Col. iv. 14. 
 
 Who feels not thoughts within him rise 
 At some beloved physician's name, 
 
 Which fill with brimming tears his eyes 
 And waken memory's warmest claim ? 
 
 Haply a parent or a child 
 
 Owes to his skill their power to bless ; 
 And home's sweet Eden since has smiled, 
 
 Which else had been a wilderness. 
 
 Or if the message came, " The Lord 
 Surely hath need of him or her," 
 
 Who has not known the balsam pour'd 
 In deep wounds by His minister. 
 
 In tenderest hours of life or death 
 That healing friend is by our side, 
 
 Perhaps the last to catch our breath, 
 Or gently whisper, " Jesus died." 
 
19S SAINT LUKE THE EVANGELIST. 
 
 O Healer of our spirit needs, 
 
 Who knowest every tear that starts, 
 
 And every inward wound that bleeds 
 Down in the deeps of human hearts, 
 
 We tell Thee all ; we may, we must : 
 We cannot, would not hide from Thee : 
 
 Thy perfect love wins perfect trust ; 
 Our suffering is our only plea. 
 
 And Thou art with us all the way 
 Of life's uncertain pilgrimage, 
 
 In storm and calm, by night and day, 
 In childhood, manhood, shadowing age ; 
 
 And when we feel the hands no more, 
 That grasp our own by Jordan's brink, 
 
 Thy arm will bear us safely o'er, 
 Thy bosom will forbid us sink. 
 
 And in the land that lies beyond, 
 Where sin and sickness never come, 
 
 Thy love will be the clasping bond 
 Of all within the Father's home. 
 
SAINT SIMON AND SAINT JUDE. 199 
 
 SAINT SIMON AND SAINT JUDE, 
 APOSTLES. 
 
 Lessons : Isaiah xxviii. 9 — 17 ; Jer. iii. 12 — 19. 
 Epistle : Jude i. 1 — 9. Gospel: St. John xv. 17. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty God, who hast built Thy Church 
 upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, 
 Jesus Christ Himself being the head corner-stone ; 
 Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit 
 by their doctrine, that we may be made an holy 
 temple acceptable unto Thee ; through Jesus Christ 
 our Lord. Amen. 
 
 " Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord ; and I 
 will not cause Mine atiger to fall upon you : for I am mer~ 
 ciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever." 
 — Jer. iii. 12. 
 
 " Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied." — 
 Jude 2. 
 
 Not worthy, Lord, to gather up the crumbs 
 With trembling hand that from Thy table fall, 
 
 A weary heavy-laden sinner comes, 
 
 To plead Thy promise and obey Thy call. 
 
 1 am not worthy to be thought Thy child, 
 
 Xor sit the last and lowest at Thy board ; 
 Too long a wanderer, and too oft beguiled, — 
 I only ask one reconciling word. 
 
 One word from Thee, my Lord, one smile, one look, 
 And I could face the cold rough world again ; 
 
 And with that treasure in my heart could brook 
 The wrath of devils and the scorn of men. 
 
200 SA INT SIMON A ND SA INT JUDE. 
 
 And is not mercy Thy prerogative, 
 
 Free mercy, boundless, fathomless, divine ? 
 
 Me, Lord, the chief of sinners, me forgive ; 
 And Thine the greater glory, only Thine. 
 
 I hear Thy voice : Thou bidst me come and rest ; 
 
 I come, I kneel, I clasp Thy pierced feet : 
 Thou bidst me take my place, a welcome guest 
 
 Among Thy saints, and of Thy banquet eat. 
 
 My praise can only breathe itself in prayer, 
 My prayer can only lose itself in Thee : 
 
 Dwell Thou for ever in my heart, and there, 
 
 Lord, let me sup with Thee : sup Thou with mc. 
 
ALL SAINTS' BAY. 
 
 ALL SAINTS' DA Y. 
 
 Lessons : Wisdom iii. I — 10, v. I — 17 ; Heb. xi. 33 and 
 
 xii. 1 — 7 ; Rev. xix. I — 17. 
 
 For the Epistle : Rev. vii. 2—13. Gospel : St. Matt. 
 
 v. I — 13. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 O Almighty God, who hast knit together Thine 
 elect in one communion and fellowship, in the 
 mystical body of Thy Son Christ our Lord ; Grant 
 us grace so to follow Thy blessed Saints in all 
 virtuous and godly living, that we may come to 
 those unspeakable joys which Thou hast prepared 
 for them that unfeignedly love Thee ; through Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 "Alleluia, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth : let 
 us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him ; for the 
 marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath i?iade 
 herself ready ." — Rev. xix. 6, 7. 
 
 " Them which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. 
 .... Then we which are alive and remain shall be 
 caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the 
 Lord in the air ; and so shall we ever be with the Lord" 
 — I Thess. iv. 14, 17. 
 
 Now, in this our pilgrim day, 
 Brothers, it is we and they : 
 We upon the weary road, 
 They at rest with Christ in God. 
 
 We with conflicts compass'd round, 
 Victors they with glory crowned ; 
 We mid shadows of the tomb, 
 They within the light of home. 
 
202 ALL SAINTS' DAY. 
 
 Yet with quicken'd steps we press 
 Through the thorny wilderness, 
 While on earth we sing of them 
 Singing in Jerusalem. 
 
 For the angels to and fro 
 Ply their tasks above, below, 
 And by countless ministries 
 Knit our tents and Paradise. 
 
 Nearer yet, One Spirit bears 
 Witness in our hearts and theirs ; 
 Day by day we kneel and meet, 
 Children at One Father's feet ; 
 
 Nearer yet, the Bridegroom's voice 
 Bids His drooping ones rejoice : 
 Tears are dried and grief is dumb 
 Listening His " Behold, I come." 
 
 Then no longer we and they. 
 Former things all past away : 
 Then no more that world and this, 
 One abode of perfect bliss. 
 
 We the circle of His own ; 
 We the Bride upon His Throne ; 
 One indissoluble wt\ 
 Ever, Jesu Lord, with Thee. 
 
HOL Y COMMUNION. 203 
 
 HOLY CO MM UNION. 
 
 We do not presume to come to this Thy table, 
 merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, 
 but in Thy manifold and great mercies. We are 
 not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs 
 under Thy table. But Thou art the same Lord, 
 whose property is always to have mercy : Grant us 
 therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of Thy 
 dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink His blood, that 
 our sinful bodies may be made clean by His body, 
 and our souls washed through His most precious 
 blood, and that we may evermore dwell in Him, and 
 He in us. Amen. 
 
 u I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, 
 until that day when I drink it new with yon in My 
 
 Father's kingdom." — St. Matt. xxvi. 29. 
 
 The hour is come ; the feast is spread : 
 
 Behold My body given ; 
 Behold My life-blood freely shed 
 
 To ransom souls for heaven. 
 
 When of this cup I drink again, 
 
 In glory and with you, 
 No tears its perfect joy shall stain, 
 
 A joy for ever new. 
 
 Ere then ten thousand thousand times 
 
 My table shall be spread, 
 And countless souls in distant climes 
 
 Be comforted and fed. 
 
204 HOL Y COMMUNION. 
 
 Grace, mercy, peace be multiplied 
 To those who commune there : 
 
 While seated by My Father's side 
 Their mansions I prepare. 
 
 But now these lips a different cup 
 For you must taste and drain, 
 
 And unrepiningly drink up 
 The dregs of bitter pain. 
 
 The griefs ye know not that are Mine, 
 
 Nor yet My glories see ; 
 But break the bread and drink the wine, 
 
 And thus remember Me. 
 
 See al?o hymns for the Fourth Sunday in Lent, the Wednesday 
 before Easter, the Thursday before Easter, St. Simon and St. Judei 
 Day, and the Communion of the Sick. 
 
PUBLIC BAPTISM OF INFANTS. 205 
 
 PUBLIC BAPTISM OF INFANTS. 
 
 We receive this Child into the congregation of 
 Christ's flock, and do sign him with the sign of the 
 Cross, in token that hereafter he shall not be 
 ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified, 
 and manfully to fight under His banner, against sin, 
 the world, and the devil ; and to continue Christ's 
 faithful soldier and servant unto his life's end. 
 Amen. 
 
 " Suffer the Utile children to come tin to Me, and for bin 
 them not; for of stick is the kingdom of God." — St. Mark 
 x. 14. 
 
 O God our strength, our hope, our rock, 
 
 Whose promise faileth never, 
 Into Thy chosen blood-bought flock 
 
 Receive this child for ever. 
 
 Now seal'd with Thy thrice holy Name 
 
 In these baptismal waters, 
 For him a place we humbly claim 
 
 Among Thy sons and daughters. 
 
 We stamp the cross upon h is brow, 
 
 The symbol of Thy passion ; 
 O Christ, vouchsafe his earliest vow 
 
 May be his life's confession. 
 
 This banner over him unfurl'd, 
 
 May he fight on, subduing 
 The flesh, the devil, and the world,— 
 
 His strength in Thee renewing. 
 
206 PUBLIC BAPTISM OF INFANTS. 
 
 May nothing, Lord, in life or death 
 From Thee Thy servant sever : — 
 
 Thy soldier true to plighted faith, 
 Henceforward, and lor ever. 
 
PRIVATE BAPTISM OF CHI ID REN. 207 
 
 PRIVATE BAPTISM OF CHILDREN. 
 
 We yield Thee hearty thanks, most merciful Father, 
 that it hath pleased Thee to regenerate this Infant 
 with Thy Holy spirit, to receive him for Thine own 
 Child by adoption, and to incorporate him into 
 Thy holy Church. And we humbly beseech Thee 
 to grant, that as he is now made partaker of the 
 death of Thy Son, so he may be also of His resur- 
 rection ; and that finally, with the residue of Thy 
 Saints, he may inherit Thine everlasting kingdom ; 
 through the same Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Amen. 
 
 il He took them up in His arms, pit His hands upon 
 them, and blessed them " — St. Mark x. 16. 
 
 Come, infant, to His heart of love 
 Who seals thee with His grace ; 
 
 And nestle, as .a foster'd dove, 
 In His Divine embrace. 
 
 Baptized into the name of God 
 
 The Father, Son, and Spirit, 
 Thou by the water and the blood 
 
 His kingdom shalt inherit. 
 
 Thee with His holy cross we sign 
 
 In token thou art His, 
 And He Himself with all things thine, 
 
 Earth's service or heaven's bliss. 
 
 God bless thee and thou shalt be bless'd, 
 
 God keep thee and defend ! 
 Who clasps His children on His breast 
 
 Will clasp them to the end. 
 
2o8 Baptism of such 
 
 BAPTISM OF SUCH AS ARE OF RIPER 
 YEARS. 
 
 And as for you, who have now by baptism put on 
 Christ, it is your part and duty also, being made the 
 children of God and of the light, by faith in Jesus 
 Christ, to walk answerably to your Christian calling, 
 and as becometh the children of light. 
 
 '* And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, 
 and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord' ' 
 — Acts xxii. 16. 
 
 Stand, soldier of the cross, 
 Thy high allegiance claim, 
 And vow to hold the world but loss 
 P or thy Redeemer's name. 
 
 Arise and be baptized, 
 And wash thy sins away : 
 Thy league with God be solemnized, 
 Thy love avouch'd to-day. 
 
 Our heavenly country now, 
 Our Lord and Master, thine, 
 Reccne imprinted on thy brow 
 1 lis Passion's awful sign. 
 
 No more thine <>u n but Christ's ; 
 With all the mints of old, 
 Apo • evangelists, 
 
 And martyr tin i ll'd ; 
 
AS ARE OF RIPER YEARS. 209 
 
 In God's whole armour strong, 
 Front hell's embattled powers : 
 The warfare may be sharp and long, 
 The victory must be ours. 
 
 O bright the conqueror's crown, 
 The song of triumph sweet, 
 When faith casts every trophy down 
 At our great Captain's feet. 
 
2io CATECHISM. 
 
 CA TECH ISM. 
 
 I heartily thank our heavenly Father, that He 
 hath called me to this state of salvation, through 
 Jesus Christ our Saviour. And I pray unto God to 
 give me His grace, that I may continue in the same 
 unto my life's end. 
 
 " Leaving us an example that ye should follow His 
 steps." — I Pet. ii. 21. 
 
 When the morning paints the skies, 
 And the birds their songs renew, 
 
 Let me from my slumbers rise, 
 Saying, " What would Jesus do ? " 
 
 Countless mercies from above 
 Day by day my pathway strew ; 
 
 Is it much to bless Thy love ? 
 " Father, what would Jesus do ?" 
 
 When I ply my daily task, 
 
 And the round of toil pursue, 
 Let me often brightly ask, 
 
 " What, my soul, would Jesus do ?" 
 
 Would the foe my heart beguile, 
 
 Whispering thoughts and words untrue ; 
 
 Let me to his subtlest wile 
 
 Answer, " What would Jesus do ? " 
 
 When the clouds of sorrow hide 
 Mirth and sunshine from my view, 
 
 Let me, clinging to Thy side, 
 
 Ponder, "What would Jesus do?" 
 
CATECHISM. 
 
 Only let Thy love, O God, 
 
 Fill my spirit through and through, 
 
 Treading where my Saviour trod, 
 Breathing, " What would Jesus do ? ? 
 
 This hymn is published on a separate fly-leaf, with the tune 
 St. Bees by the late Dr. Dykes. (S. Low and Co.) 
 
 P 2 
 
CONFIRM A TION. 
 
 CONFIRM A TION. 
 
 Defend, O Lord, this Thy child with Thy 
 heavenly grace, that he may continue Thine for 
 ever ; and daily increase in Thy Holy Spirit more 
 and more, until he come unto Thy everlasting king- 
 dom. Amen. 
 
 "lam Thine, save me." — Psalm cxix. 94. 
 
 " Thine, Thine for ever " — blessed bond 
 
 That knits us Lord to Thee : 
 May voice, and heart and soul respond 
 
 Amen, so let it be. 
 
 When this world strikes its dulcet harp, 
 
 And earth our heaven appears, 
 Be "Thine for ever," clear and sharp, 
 
 God's trumpet in our ears. 
 
 When sin in pleasure's soft disguise 
 
 Would work us deadliest harm, 
 May " Thine for ever" from the skies 
 
 Steal down, and break the charm. 
 
 When Satan flings his fiery darts 
 
 Against our weary shield, 
 May " Thine for ever" in our hearts 
 
 Forbid us faint or yield. 
 
 Thine all along the flowery spring, 
 
 Along the summer prime, 
 Till autumn fades in welcoming 
 
 The silver frost of time. 
 
CONFIRM A TION. 2 1 3 
 
 " Thine, Thine for ever " — body, soul, 
 
 Henceforth devote to Thee, 
 While everlasting ages roll : 
 
 Amen, so let it be. 
 
2 1 4 HOL Y MA TRIMON Y. 
 
 HOL Y MA TRIMONY. 
 
 Almighty God, who at the beginning did create 
 our first parents, Adam and Eve, and did sanctify 
 and join them together in marriage ; Pour upon 
 you the riches of His grace, sanctify and bless you, 
 that ye may please Him both in body and soul, 
 and live together in holy love unto your lives' end. 
 Amen. 
 
 " Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him" 
 Psalm xxxvii. 7. 
 
 u Rest in the Lord," from harps above 
 
 The music seems to thrill ; 
 Rest in His everlasting love, 
 Rest and be still. 
 
 Rest thou, who claimest for thine own 
 
 Thy chosen bride to-day. 
 Affianced in His faith alone 
 
 Thy bride for aye. 
 
 And thou, whose trustful hand is given 
 
 Avouching here thy spouse, 
 Rest, for a Father seals in heaven 
 His children's vows. 
 
 Rest ye, who cluster round them both 
 
 To mingle praise and prayers ; 
 Your God affirms the plighted troth, 
 Your God and theirs. 
 
 Rest, for the Heavenly Bridegroom here 
 
 Is standing by your side, 
 And in this union draws more near 
 His mystic bride. 
 
HOL Y MA TRIMONY. 2 1 5 
 
 u Rest in the Lord : " thrice Holy Dove, 
 
 In us Thy word fulfil ; 
 Rest in His everlasting love, 
 Rest and be still. 
 
 This hymn is especially designed to follow the air from Men- 
 delssohn's Elijah, " Rest in the Lord," which is so often played at 
 the marriage service. See also hymn for the Second Sunday after 
 the Epiphany. M , 
 
2i6 VISITATION OF THE SICK. 
 
 VISITATION OF THE SICK. 
 
 O SAVIOUR of the world, who by Thy Cross and 
 precious Blood hast redeemed us, Save us, and 
 help us, we humbly beseech Thee, O Lord. 
 
 u And so He bringcth tJieni unto the haven when they 
 would be " — Psalm cvii. 30 (Prayer-book Version). 
 
 Yes, billow after billow : see they come 
 Faster and rougher as her little boat 
 Nears evermore the haven. Oftentimes 
 It seems to sink and fall adown the wave, 
 As if borne backward by the struggling tide ; 
 Yet mounting billow after billow, wave 
 On wave o'er-ricling, tempest-tost and shatter'd, 
 Still, still it nears the haven evermore. 
 " Poor mariner, art thou not sadly weary ?" 
 Dear brother, rest is sweeter after toil. 
 " Grows not thine eye confused and dim with sight 
 Of nothing but the wintry waters ? M True, 
 But then my pole-star, constant and serene, 
 Above the changing waters changes not. 
 "But what if clouds, as often, veil the sky?" 
 Oh, then an unseen hand hath ever taVn 
 The rudder from my feeble hands the while — 
 And I cling to it. "Answer me once more, 
 Mariner, what think'st thou when the waters bear 
 Thy frail boat backward from the long'd-for har- 
 bour?" 
 Oh, brother, though innumerable waves 
 Still seem to rise betwixt me and my home — 
 Still billow after billow, wave on wave — 
 
VISITATION OF THE SICK. 217 
 
 I know that they are number'd ; not one less 
 
 Should bear me homeward if I had my will ; 
 
 For One who knows what tempests are to weather, 
 
 O'er whom there broke the wildest billows once, 
 
 He bids these waters swell. In His good time 
 
 The last rough wave shall bear me on its bosom 
 
 Into the haven of eternal peace. 
 
 No billows after : they are number'd brother. 
 
 " Oh, gentle mariner, steer on, steer on ; 
 
 My tears shall flow for thee, but they are tears 
 
 In which faith strives with grief, and overcomes." 
 
2iS THE COMMUNION OF THE SICK. 
 THE COMMUNION OF THE SICK. 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 Almighty, everliving God, Maker of mankind, who 
 dost correct those whom Thou dost love, and chastise 
 every one whom Thou dost receive ; we beseech 
 Thee to have mercy upon this Thy servant visited 
 with Thine hand, and to grant that he may take his 
 sickness patiently, and recover his bodily health 
 (if it be Thy gracious will) ; and whensoever his 
 soul shall depart from the body, it may be without 
 spot presented unto Thee ; through Jesus Christ our 
 Lord. Amen, 
 
 " / sleep, but my heart waketh : it is the voice of my 
 beloved that knocketh, saying. Open to Me, My sister, Mv 
 love, My dove, My undefiled ; for My head is filled with 
 deiu, and My locks with the drops of the night" — Song v. 2. 
 
 " Behold, I stand at the door, and knock : if any man 
 hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, 
 and will sup with him, and lie with Me. u — Rev. iii. 20. 
 
 The sun is set, the twilight's o'er, 
 The night-dews fall like rain ; 
 
 A Prince stands at a suppliant's door, 
 And knocks and knocks again. 
 
 " I slumber ; but my heart is moved 
 
 With joy and holy fear ; 
 Is it Thy footstep, () beloved, 
 
 Thy hand, Tin voice I hear ? " 
 
 "'Tis I, thy Lord, who stand and wait 
 Beneath the darkening sky .: 
 
 Arise, unbar, unclose the gate, 
 Fear nothing ; it is I. 
 
THE COMMUNION OF THE SICK. 219 
 
 u The bread of life is in My hand ; 
 
 The wine of heaven I bring : 
 Fulfil My tenderest last command ; 
 
 Thy Bridegroom is thy King. 
 
 " Eat, drink ; and muse in loving trust, 
 
 The while I sup with thee, 
 If this be heaven on earth, what must 
 
 My bridal banquet be.' J 
 
220 THE BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 
 
 THE BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 
 
 FORASMUCH as it hath pleased Almighty God of His 
 great mercy to take unto Himself the soul of our 
 dear brother here departed, we therefore commit 
 his body to the ground ; earth to earth, ashes to 
 ashes, dust to dust ; in sure and certain hope of 
 the Resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord 
 Jesus Christ ; who shall change our vile body, that 
 it may be like unto His glorious body, according to 
 the mighty working, whereby he is able to subdue 
 all things to Himself. 
 
 " 1 heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, 
 From henceforth blessed are the dead which die in (he Lord: 
 even so saith the Spirit ; for they rest from their labours" 
 — Rev. xiv. 13. (Prayer-book Version.) 
 
 Hush ! blessed are the dead 
 
 In Jesus' arms who rest, 
 And lean their weary head 
 
 For ever on I lis breast. 
 
 O beatific sight ! 
 
 No darkling veil between, 
 They see the Light of Light, 
 
 Whom here they loved unseen. 
 
 For them the wild is past 
 
 With all its toil and care; 
 Its withering midnight blast, 
 Its iiery noonday glare. 
 
THE BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 22 
 
 Them the Good Shepherd leads, 
 
 Where storms are never rife, 
 In tranquil dewy meads 
 
 Beside the Fount of life. 
 
 Ours only are the tears, 
 
 Who weep around their tomb 
 The light of bygone years 
 
 And shadowing years to come. 
 
 Their voice, their touch, their smile, — 
 Those love-springs flowing o'er, — 
 
 Earth for its little while 
 
 Shall never know them more. 
 
 O tender hearts and true, 
 
 Our long last vigil kept, 
 We weep and mourn for you ; 
 
 Nor blame us : Jesus wept. 
 
 But soon at break of day 
 
 His calm Almighty voice, 
 Stronger than death, shall say, 
 
 Awake, — arise, — rejoice. 
 
 r+ 
 
THE CHURCHING OF WOMEN. 
 
 THE CHURCHING OF WOMEN. 
 
 O Almighty God, we give Thee humble thanks 
 for that Thou hast vouchsafed to deliver this woman 
 Thy servant from the great pain and peril of Child- 
 birth ; Grant, we beseech Thee, most merciful 
 Father, that she, through Thy help, may both faith- 
 fully live, and walk according to Thy will, in this 
 life present ; and also may be partaker of everlast- 
 ing glory in the life to come ; through Jesus Christ 
 our Lord. Amen. 
 
 " What shall I render unto the lord for all His benefits 
 tcnvards me ? I will take the cup of salvation and call upon 
 the ?ia?ne of the Lord." — Psalm cxvi. 12, 13. 
 
 Before the everlasting Throne 
 The Angel of Jehovah's Presence stands ; 
 With pierced feet and hands, 
 
 Our great High Priest, Supreme, Alone : 
 
 And mingling incense-clouds that rise 
 From off the golden altar day and night 
 And fill with fragrance all the heavenlies, 
 
 He offers up with calm delight 
 
 And love that never fails nor faints 
 The prayers and praises of His struggling saints. 
 But surely none are dearer in I lis -sight, 
 Who deigns to dwell 
 
 Amid the eucnarists of Israel, 
 Than when a mother, shielded by His love 
 Through her worst fears of peril and of pain, 
 Returns to prove 
 
 The quiet of her Father's house again ; 
 
THE CHURCHING OF WOMEN. 223 
 
 And, her fond heart with gladness flowing o'er, 
 Presents the choicest she can bring 
 
 For freewill offering, 
 Herself a living sacrifice for evermore. 
 
 And not herself alone ; 
 But that w r hich Heaven has given her for her own, 
 A priceless dowry bought with Jesus' blood, 
 
 Her new-born treasure around whom 
 Hopes sweetest bloom, 
 
 The offspring of her vows and womb, 
 The pledge of human and of heavenly love 
 
 SeaPd here and ratified above, 
 She lays upon the altar of her God. 
 It is too precious and too frail a thing 
 Even for the shelter of a mother's wing : 
 God grant the fond petition she prefers 
 And be her darling rather His than hers : 
 His be the Hand that holds the brimming cup 
 
 In this uncertain world of storm and strife, 
 And His the Arm Omnipotent to shield 
 The fountain pure from sin He has unseal'd, 
 
 A well of water springing up 
 To everlasting life. 
 
 List, touch a tenderer string : 
 Another comes ; but will she weep or sing ? 
 Her folded blossom 
 Was taken, ere it well was given, 
 And carried by the angels into heaven, 
 And laid on Jesus' bosom. 
 
 But as she prays 
 And lifts her pale confiding gaze 
 To those clear crystal skies 
 Which hardly veil the nearer Paradise, 
 
224 THE CHURCHING OF WOMEN. 
 
 She smiles amid her tears, 
 For heaven's far music falls upon her ears : — 
 Whate'er betides her here below, 
 Her child shall never know 
 One touch of woe : 
 It has been hers to place another gem 
 In Jesus' many-jewell'd diadem, 
 And her dear Lord, her home, and she 
 Are richer for her babe to all eternity. 
 
 O Thou, who by Thy lowly birth 
 Hast knit for ever heaven and earth, 
 
 The Virgin's Saviour and the Virgin's Son, 
 Breathe in our every word and thought 
 The filial prayer Thyself hast taught, 
 
 And as in heaven on earth Thy will be done. 
 
CO MM IN A TION. 225 
 
 CO MM IX A TIOX. 
 
 Turn Thou us, good Lord, and so shall we be 
 turned. Be favourable, Lord, Be favourable to 
 Thy people, Who turn to Thee in weeping, fasting, 
 and praying. For Thou art a merciful God, Full 
 of compassion, Long-suffering, and of great pity. 
 Thou sparest when we deserve punishment, And 
 in Thy wrath thinkest upon mercy. Spare Thy 
 people, good Lord, spare them, And let not Thine 
 heritage be brought to confusion. Hear us, O Lord, 
 for Thy mercy is great, And after the multitude of 
 Thy mercies look upon us ; Through the merits and 
 mediation of Thy blessed Son, Jesus Christ our 
 Lord. Amen. 
 
 M Wlien I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy 
 time was the time of love, ' — Ezek. xvi. 8. 
 
 My God, my Father, dost Thou call 
 
 Thy long-lost wandering child to Thee ? 
 
 And canst Thou, wilt Thou pardon all ? 
 I come, I come : Lord, save Thou me. 
 
 O Jesus, art Thou passing by 
 
 With all Thy goodness, grace and power ? 
 And dost Thou hear my broken cry ? 
 
 1 come, I come in mercy's hour. 
 
 O Holy Spirit, is it Thou 
 
 My tenderest Friend, refused too long ? 
 And art Thou pleading, striving now ? 
 
 I come, I come : make weakness strong. 
 
 Q 
 
226 C0MM1NA TION. 
 
 Yes, Lord, I come : Thy heart of love 
 Is moving, kindling, drawing mine. 
 
 I cast me at Thy feet to prove 
 
 The bliss, the heaven of being Thine. 
 
FORMS OF PRAYER TO BE USED AT SEA. 227 
 
 FORMS OF PR A YER TO BE USED 
 AT SEA. 
 
 O eternal Lord God, who alone spreadest out 
 the heavens, and rulest the raging of the sea ; who 
 hast compassed the waters with bounds until day 
 and night come to an end ; Be pleased to receive 
 into Thy Almighty and most gracious protection 
 the persons of us Thy servants, . . . that we may 
 return in safety to enjoy the blessings of the land, 
 with the fruits of our labours, and with a thankful 
 remembrance of Thy mercies to praise and glorify 
 Thy holy Name ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Amen* 
 
 " O God of our salvation, iu/10 art the confidence of them 
 that are afar off upon the sea" — Psalm_lxv. 5. 
 
 Almighty Father, hear our cry, 
 
 As o'er the trackless deep we roam ; 
 
 Be Thou, our haven, always nigh ; 
 On homeless waters Thou our home. 
 
 O Jesu, Saviour, at whose voice 
 
 The tempest sank to perfect rest, 
 Bid Thou the mourner's heart rejoice, 
 
 And cleanse and calm the troubled breast. 
 
 O Holy Ghost, beneath whose power 
 
 Creation woke to life and light, 
 Command Thy blessing in this hour, 
 
 Thy fostering warmth, Thy quickening might. 
 Q 2 
 
22S FORMS OF PR A YFR TO BF USED AT SEA. 
 
 Great God, Triune Jehovah, Thee 
 We love, we worship, we adore ; 
 
 Our refuge on time's changeful sea, 
 Our joy on heaven's eternal shore. 
 
0RD1XATI0X. 229 
 
 ORDIXA TIOX. 
 
 Do you trust that you are inwardly moved by the 
 Holy Ghost to take upon you this Office and Minis- 
 tration, to serve God for the promoting of His 
 glory, and the edifying of His people ? I trust so. 
 
 11 Before thou earnest forth out of the womb 1 sanctified 
 thee, and I ordained thee ^ — Jer. i. 5. 
 
 In earliest bloom of wedded life, 
 
 When young love blush'd its bliss to own, 
 The husband knelt beside his wife ; 
 And, witness : d by the stars alone, 
 They hid within their hearts and pledged to heaven 
 The hrst faint fluttering hope which God had given. 
 
 Their prayer was heard ; and at the font 
 
 The happy parents stood, and saw 
 The cross stamp'd on their infant's front, 
 And clasp'd again with loving awe 
 Their darling in a joy too great for words, 
 Now doubly theirs because he is the Lord's. 
 
 Years pass'd like dreams ; and, reverent truth 
 
 Writ on his trustful thoughtful brow, 
 The lad in sunny prime of youth 
 
 Himself confirms the Christian's vow, 
 And answers to the holy benison, 
 " Yea, Lord, Thine own for ever : it is done.' 5 
 
 And from that hour a bidden guest 
 
 He hears and loves to hear the voice 
 Of Jesus. " Come to Me. and rest, 
 
 And make My easy yoke thy choice ; 
 
2 so ORDINATION. 
 
 And ever to thy first allegiance true 
 
 Still in My feast of love thy strength renew." 
 
 But often in his waking dreams, 
 
 And often in the hush of prayer, 
 A cry of thirst and hunger seems 
 To throb upon the troubled air, 
 The cry of thousands lying at our doors, 
 Or wafted by the winds from far-off shores : 
 
 And, mingling with that cry, the sweet 
 
 Low whisper of a heavenly word, 
 Which from above the mercy-seat 
 
 Breathes, " Who will go for Us ? " is heard ; 
 Though for a while the passionate reply 
 Is crush'd within him, "Send me : here am I." 
 
 But lo, the still small voice, not once 
 
 Nor twice persisting, " Lovest Me ? ' 
 Wakes in his heart of hearts response, 
 "Thou knowest, Master, I love Thee," 
 Till, like words graven on the soul in sleep, 
 The message thrills his bosom, " Feed My sheep. 5 ' 
 
 The sun has risen ; and doubts and fears 
 
 Melt like the shades of night away, 
 As through the dewy mist of tears 
 Morn struggles to the perfect clay : 
 Twice bless'd : his blessedness henceforth to bless : 
 The Spirit with his spirit answers, Yes. 
 
THE ROYAL ACCESSION. 231 
 
 THE ROYAL ACCESSION. 
 
 O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our 
 only Saviour, the Prince of Peace ; Give us grace 
 seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are 
 in by our unhappy divisions. Take away all hatred 
 and prejudice, and whatsoever else may hinder us 
 from godly Union and Concord : that, as there is 
 but one Body, and one Spirit, and one Hope of our 
 Calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God 
 and Father of us all, so we may henceforth be all 
 of one heart, and of one soul, united in one holy 
 bond of Truth and Peace, of Faith and Charity, 
 and may with one mind and one mouth glorify 
 Thee ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 "Behold, O God, our shield, and look upon the face of 
 Thine anointed" — Psalm lxxxiv. 9. 
 
 God of our fatherland, 
 
 Stretch forth Thy glorious hand 
 
 And shield our isle ! 
 Beautiful, brave, and free, 
 As her own guardian sea, 
 May she for ever be 
 
 Under Thy smile ! 
 
 God of our royal kings, 
 
 Spread Thou Thy sheltering wings 
 
 Over our throne ! 
 Blest in her people's love, 
 Thrice blessed from above, 
 Safe as a cherish'd dove, 
 
 God keep His own ! 
 
THE ROYAL ACCESSION. 
 
 Still be Thy Gospel's light 
 Shining by day and night 
 
 Buckler and sword : 
 And where our fathers pray'd, 
 None making them afraid, 
 Vouchsafe Thy mighty aid : 
 
 Help us, O Lord ! 
 
 Great Father of us all, 
 
 On Thee Thy children call, 
 
 Save and defend ! 
 May we be one in Thee, 
 Knit as one family, 
 One for eternity, 
 
 World without end ! 
 
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