SABBATH HALTINGS. ' 1' •.;.;'■"; V,,;'.; ' - FROM THE LIBRARY OF REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON, D. D. BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO THE LIBRARY OF PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY /ySo'-j EXPORT BOOKSELLERS 32, GAY STREET. B ATM SABBATH HALTINGS IN LIFE'S WILDERNESS. / SABBATH HAL TINGS IESS LIFE'S WILDERNESS-;. OR, SACRED POEMS FOR EVERY SUNDAY IN THE YEAR. BY H. OUTIS. LONDON: SAMPSON LOW, SON, AND CO. +7, LUDGATE HILL. i860. DEDICATION. O the only friend who has been cognizant of his labours the Author would affec- tionately dedicate this volume, which, whatever its merits, has been much improved by his fuggeflions. Should the approval of the public ratify the com- mendatory criticifms of that friend, the Author will no longer deny himfelf the high gratification and pride of aflbciating with his own a name which for twenty years has prompted every feeling of eiteem and love. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2013 http://archive.org/details/haltingsiOOouti INTRODUCTION. LITTLE volume like the prefent would require no Introduction were it not to anticipate and remove an objection with which, it is only too obvious, it will have to contend. There are few perfons to whom it will not occur that I am venturing upon ground not only preoccupied, but moft fuccefsfully main- tained, by the Author of the " Chriftian Year;" and that I mull therefore ex peel: tobechallenged at the threfhold with the inquiry, whether I am an imitator, or a rival, or poffibly an intruder. Now I hope that a few words in explanation of my views will fhow that I have not been guilty of fufficient temerity to be obnoxious to the charge of being; either. A glance at almoft any of the following lyrics will be fufficient to fhow that I am not an imitator, either in defign or execution. It is true that I have written a facred poem for every Sunday in the year ; and that the fubject has viii INTRODUCTION. been fuggefted by the fervices in the Book of Common Prayer for that particular Sunday; as is generally the cafe in the admirable volume referred to: nay, it is even true (vae mihi !) that I have been irrefiftibly led, in fome few inftances ; to attempt to illuftrate the fame fubjecT: as the author of that volume ; yet would I af- firm — however difparaging to myfelf the avowal may be — that nothing can exemplify the dif- tincT: originality of the prefent work more forcibly than a perufal (I deprecate a comparifon) of any two poems on the fame text : fo great, fo marvellous, is the diverfity of human minds ! If I have occafionally fallen into the fame train of thought, which, of courfe, I have pru- dently avoided as much as poflible, it may be accounted for, not only by a certain fimilarity of the general plan, but by the circurnftances that for many years the poem for the day in the " Chriftian Year" has formed a portion of my appointed reading. Such coincidences, however, are extremely rare ; for it is one of the charac- teristics of the great fource from which we have both drawn, that its precious truths prefent new and ever-varying beauties, according to the afpecl in which they are viewed. The two works manifeft an efTential differ- ence in the defign of their refpedtive writers ; for while the author of the" Chriftian Year" has INTRODUCTION. ix devoted himfelf to one particular object, that of prefenting a a fober ftandard of feeling in mat- ters of practical religion," and has toned down his colours into a monochrome harmony, if I may be allowed the expreflion, to promote that obje£t, and to exhibit " the foot hing tendency of the Prayer Book ; " it has been my chief aim to aroufe and excite the mind to a more com- prehenfive and practical view of its own duties and deftinies, as unfolded Sunday after Sunday, with equal variety and beauty, in the fervices of the Church of England. I have taken my ftarting-point from thofe fervices, as having, amongft other irrefiftible recommendations, that of being always fpecially adapted to the feafons both of the facred and civil year ; but I have attempted a range as ample and difcurfive as Chriftianity itfelf; which, I have endeavoured to mow, embraces, in its manifold relations to our moral and intellectual faculties, all " The bright things of earth and air, 1 ' and all the myfteries and glories of the fpiritual world. Taking my key-note from the Church of England, I have addrefled my fong to the whole Church of Chrift, without any reftridiion, national or otherwife. Our Heavenly Father has mercifully appointed Sabbath haltings for us all in our journeyings x INTRODUCTION. through life's wildernefs ; and I have availed myfelf of thefe feafons of reft to attempt fuch themes in verfe as will afford refrefhment and encouragement to my fellow-pilgrims when called upon to rename their fandals. If I have fucceeded, though but imperfectly, in my en- deavours, I truft that I fhall not be deemed an intruder into a field of labour which will be found to be wholly inexhauftible, and the trea- fures of which no perfon, however gifted, can exclufively appropriate. Were any reply necefTary to the challenge of rivalry with the illuftrious poet of the " Chrif- tian Year," I would fay that the humbleft com- panionfhip with the clafs to which he belongs is the higheft honour to which my ambition would afpire : — Quod fi me lyricis vat'ibus inferis, Sublimi feriam fidera vertice. CONTENTS. Pase |ffqpn| HE Firft Sunday in Advent . . W& vjhp The Second Sunday in Advent . 4 9 13 The Third Sunday in Advent . m** The Fourth Sunday in Advent . Chriftmas-Day . . 16 The Laft Sunday in the Year 19 The Firft Sunday in the Year 22 Firft Sunday after Epiphany 26 Second Sunday after Epiphany 29 Third Sunday after Epiphany 32 Fourth Sunday after Epiphany 36 Fifth Sunday after Epiphany 39 Sixth Sunday after Epiphany 42 Septuagefima Sunday 45 Sexagefima Sunday 48 Quinquagefima Sunday 51 Firft Sunday in Lent 54 Second Sunday in Lent 56 Third Sunday in Lent 59 Fourth Sunday in Lent 61 Fifth Sunday in Lent 64 The Sunday next before Eafter 66 Supplemental Hymn for Good Friday ... 71 Eafter Hymn 73 Firft Sunday after Eafter ........ 76 Second Sunday after Eafter 79 xii CONTENTS. Page Third Sunday after Eafter 82 Fourth Sunday after Eafter 85 Fifth Sunday after Eafter 87 Afcenilon-Day and the Sunday after Afcenfion- Day 90 Whitfunday 92 Trinity Sunday 95 Firft Sunday after Trinity 98 Second Sunday after Trinity 10 1 Third Sunday after Trinity 104 Fourth Sunday after Trinity ic8 Fifth Sunday after Trinity 1 1 1 Sixth Sunday after Trinity 114 Seventh Sunday after Trinity 117 Eighth Sunday after Trinity 121 Ninth Sunday after Trinity 125 Tenth Sunday after Trinity 128 Eleventh Sunday after Trinity 131 Twelfth Sunday after Trinity 1 34. Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity 137 Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity 141 Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity 144 Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity 147 Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity 150 Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity 153 Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity 156 Twentieth Sunday after Trinity 158 Twenty-iirft Sunday after Trinity 161 Twenty-fecond Sunday after Trinity .... 164 Twenty- third Sunday after Trinity . . . . 167 Twenty-fourth Sunday after Trinity . . . . 171 Twenty-fifth Sunday after Trinity .... 176 Appendix: — A Harveft Hymn 179 THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT. The night is far fpent, the day is at hand ; therefore caft off the works of darknefs, and let us put on the armour of light. — Rom. xm. 12. I. \IST, hift, to the trumpet-clang pealing afar, Jehovah, triumphant, returns from the war ; The fheenof His chariot-wheels gleams through the fky, And the mountain-tops glow as the morning draws nigh : The night is far fpent, and the day is at hand, When before their dread Judge quick and dead (hall both ftand. 11. Hafte, hafte ye to meet Him, from {lumber awake, Aroufe, and the ftrong withs of indolence break ; B 2 FIRST SUNDAY Too long hath thy fpirit to earth been confined, And the grofs works of darknefs o'erfhadow'd thy mind : Oh, caft them away, don the armour of light, And ftand forth complete in the Conqueror's might. in. Ay, blufh for thine arms, fcarce a dint do they bear; Sure thou haft but ufed them in beating the air !* True, paflion hath dimm'd them, and ftain'd, too, hath luft, And floth hath difhonour'd their temper with ruft; But no bruife, and no fweat of the ftruggle they fhow, No wrench of the wreftler, no blood of the foe. IV. Where, where are thy captives, thy trophies, thy fpoils, The meed of thy vigils, thy confli&s, thy toils; The proofs that the world was o'ermafterM and left, Its purfuits and opinions of potency reft ; So fight I, not as one that beateth the air. i Cor. ix. 26. IN ADVENT. 3 That the fiefh was fubdued, its affedtions and pride, And that hell's fiery darts have leap'd back from thy fide ? v. Rife, dafh off that tear, and rufh into the field, The foe lingers yet all unwilling to yield ; The bright orb of faith may its radiance repair, The fword of the fpirit is fharpen'd by prayer ; Thy Lord's precious blood for the paft will attone : Oh, fhow that the foes of that Lord are thine own. VI. Then arife,caft away the dark veftments of night, And clothe thy braced limbs in the armour of light ; That, array'd in His robes, thou His triumph mayft fhare Whofe hofts even now feem to brighten the air : For the night is far fpent, and the day is at hand, When before their dread Judge quick and dead mail both {land. SECOND SUNDAY THE SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT. Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the fcriptures might have hope. — Rom. xv.4. And there fhall be figns in the fun, and in the moon, and in the ftars 5 and upon the earth diftrefs of nations, with perplexity 5 the fea and the waves roaring j men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after thofe things which are coming on the earth : for the powers of heaven fhall be fhaken. And then fhall they fee the Son of man coining in a cloud with power and great glory. And when thefe things begin to come to pafs, then look up, and lift up your heads 5 for your redemption draweth nigh. — St. Luke xxi. 25-8. I. |H, if there be one gift of heaven For which our praife fhould deeper flow, One guide to erring mortals given, One antidote to human woe ; It is the fcriptures — book of love ! The charter of our reft above ! IN ADVENT. 5 ii. Dear chronicle ! thy pictured page, Crowded with patriarchs, prophets, kings, Collects the fpoils of every age, And all to meek-eyed Patience brings \ Bidding her con, recorded there, The widow's wail, the monarch's prayer. in. Nor, as their courfe thefe pilgrims wind, Doft thou their track alone difplay ; My Saviour's footprints, too, I find, His glory lingering on the way : Lamp of my feet ! my only light, Through pathway lorn, in dreary night ! IV. Him chiefeft doft thou love to paint, Whofe lips once fpake as ne'er man fpoke ; Who never murmur'd a complaint, Though prefs'd to earth by forrow's yoke. Heaven-colour'd portraiture divine, I would tranfcribe thy every line ! v. But whence the patience thou doft teach, The comfort thy fweet words afford ; Which could thefe toiling pilgrims reach, And e'en fupport their dying Lord ? — 6 SECOND SUNDAY 'Tis that thou fhow'ft redemption feal'd ; A glory yet to be reveal'd ! VI. Yes, through life's long and darkfome night Thy fteady radiance gleams afar ; 'Mid many a falfe and fleeting light, The only fix'd — the polar ftar ; Guiding, and pointing to the fun, When moft our fight he's fain to fhun. VII. When higheft feem affliction's waves, And keeneft difappointment's blaft, Thou fhow'ft us that thefe fwelling graves Of perifh'd hopes will foon be pafs'd ; And that beyond there lies a fhore Where winds and waves fhall rage no more. VIII. Nay, when above red meteors fcowl, And fhaken are the powers of heaven ; When the fea roars, and tempefts howl, And with difmay men's hearts are riven ; And fun and moon, no longer bright, Glare only with portentous light ; — IX. When, weary of the flow decay Which into all that's human winds, IN ADVENT, 7 Impatient hands (hall rend away Whate'er the focial fabric binds ; And, public faith and laws o'erthrown, Stern felfifhnefs (hall reign alone ; — x. When nations, frantic with diftrefs, See meekeft hearts moft wrong'd and vex'd ; And governments yield no redrefs, But wifeft heads are moft perplex'd ; And loyalty, and love, and mirth, Have plumed their wings to fly from earth : — XI. Then doft thou bid us lift the head, For our redemption draweth nigh \ The lightnings, which we fo much dread, But clear the air, and calm the fky : The falling fig doth but atteft The lufcious ripenefs of the reft. XII. The anarchy which earth involves, And lays all human fyftems bare, In primal elements refolves, Only for reconftru&ion fair ; By Him whofe kingdom ne'er fhall end Till earth and heaven together blend 8 SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT, XIII. No more by fierce oppreffion built. No more on covetoufnefs bafed, Shall frown the piles of power and guilt, With pride's untemper'd mortar faced ; But one vaft temple earth and fky, Compact in love and fympathy ! XIV. Thefe are the vifions, book divine ! Which gild with hope thy radiant page ; While each imperifhable line Shines brighter ftill from age to age : — Then, treafured volume, ever reft Within the cafket of my breaft ! * * This laft line will fuggeft the cuftom of Alexander the Great of carrying the Iliad about with him, in a cafket, and placing it under his pillow ; as related by Plutarch in Vit. Alex. M. s. 8. THE THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT. Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of dark- nefs, and will make manifeft the counfels of the hearts. i Cor. iv. 5. I. Therefore fo harfhiy of thy brother deem ? Doft thou his trials, his tempta- tions know ; The hidden fprings which feed his life's dark ftream ; His fecret conflicts with a viewlefs foe ? 11. Perhaps thou fcarce haft heard his flighted name, And yet thou wouldft repeat that name with fcorn ; Or, be it that it wear the taint of fhame, Too juftly earn'd, but too retentive worn : — in. Oh, may not tears, fuch as, in tepid mowers, A Saviour's feet did once, accepted, lave, io THIRD SUN DAT Long fince have wafh'd, from brighter eyes than ours, That ftain thou fcarce wouldft hide within the grave ? IV. Or fay, perchance, his foul, enchain'd to earth, E'en now her crimes nor fhuns, nor feeks to hide; Heedlefs of higher hopes, and heavenly birth : — It was for fuch as he thy Saviour died ! v. Then weep, but fcorn him not ; e'en ftains of blood Have been effaced by votaries' frequent kifs ; Thou mayft reftore that wandering foul to God, With thee to fhine — a fatellite in blifs. VI. Ah, many an erring, heedlefs, earth-fpoilt child, That, lingering, loves on ruin's brink to play, Needs but fome fifter-fpirit's whifper mild, To beckon it to purer joys away. VII. And many a loving fpirit, too, too frail, Still clings to earth for lack of fome fupport ; As unpropt vines will their luxuriance trail, Wafteful, and wild, of wanton winds the fport. IN ADVENT. u VIII. But thou ftand'ft mute, and all unhelping, by, Perhaps cenforious ; — oh, beware left He, Who fees no fparrow's fall with unmoved eye, " Where is thy brother?" fhall demand of thee. IX. Hafte then, felf-conftituted judge, defcend, Nor longer dare ufurp His awful feat, Who all difguife from human hearts fhall rend, And give to humble worth its guerdon meet. x. Ah, then yon trembling, but heaven-pointing, foul, Whom thou efteem'ft a frail, wind-fhaken reed, Shall ftand,'mid falling worlds, ere£l and whole, When thofe who fhow leaft mercy moft fhall need. XI. 'Tis not profeffion's purple robe fo fair, The garment foft which wins the world's efteem, Shall hide the cold, unloving bofom, there, Though here its felfifh pride may virtue feem. XII. For here fuch flourifh ; while, their fhade beneath , Struggle, uncherifh'd by one look benign, 12 THIRD SUN DAT IN ADVENT. Hearts, frefh as dew-drops on the untrod heath, And rich as rubies in the unfunn'd mine. XIII. But wait awhile ; the Lord with trumpet found The hidden things of darknefs fhall reveal : No tinfel 'mongft His jewels will be found, When on the cafket He mall fet His feal. '3 THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT Rejoice in the Lord alway; and again I fay, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. — Phil. iv. 4, 5. I. » HOUGH long is the race, and though rough is the ground, And the fetters of flefh ftill upon us are hung ; Though the fhadows of evening are length'ning around, And the goal is unreach'd, and our nerves are unftrung ; Yet the Chriftian finks not 'neath his burden of care, For his Lord is at hand, his faint ftrength to repair. 11. Though fparkles life's chalice with love and with blifs, And the ardour of youth adds its own ge- nerous glow ; 1 4 FOURTH SUNDAY Though richer than even the furface we kifs, Fond hopeftill imagines fome pearl hid below; Yet the Chriftian that chalice, undrain'd, can refign, For his Lord is at hand, with a cup more divine. in. Though all that is beautiful fadeth away, Nor lingers youth's lovelinefs, frefhnefs, or bloom ; Though hope's bright illufions diflblve day by day, And unfulfill'd purpofes crowd tow'rds the tomb ; Yet the Chriftian can fit on life's ruins and fmile, For his Lord is at hand, to rebuild the fair pile. IV. Though clofes the grave o'er the one he loved beft, The defire of his heart, the delight of his eyes ; And the lorn, widow'd fpirit in vain feeks for reft, For the deluge of grief fweeps o'er all 'neath the ikies ; Yet the Chriftian, though weeping, blends hope with his pain, For his Lord is at hand, to unite them again. IN ADVENT. 15 v. In joy and in forrow, in toil and at reft, Be gladfome, or gloomy, the path where we roam ; No paffionate tranfport can ruffle his breaft, Who knows that each ftep bears him nearer his home : Then well may the Chriftian " rejoice ever- more," For his Lord is at hand, who fhall all things reftore. CHRISTMAS-DAY. Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hoft praifing God, and faying, Glory to God in the higheft, and on earth peace, good will toward men.— St. Luke n. 13, 14. Almighty God, who haft given us Thy only-be- gotten Son to take our nature upon Him, and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin 5 grant that we being regenerate, and made Thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by Thy Holy Spirit. — Collefl for Chriftmas-day, USH'D was the found of war, I I The long vex'd earth had reft, Save that the city's hum afar Rofe like the breathings of a child drftreft, That fobs itfelf to fleep upon its mother's breaft. 11. Softly the moon look'd down, As pitying mortals frail ; On Olive's gliftening fummit fhone, With holy Jordan communed in the vale, And o'er the Dead Sea hung, to view her image pale; CHRISTMAS-DAT. 17 in. Sleep wrapt the weary world, Save where, in ftudious mood, The fage his myftic fcroll unfurl'd, Or on lone tower the feer ftar-watching ftood, Or fhepherds with light fong their drowfinefs fubdued. IV. Suddenly, angel-ftrains Peal'd through the midnight fky ; And, lighting foft on Judah's plains, A choir of radiant minftrels from on high, With light and mufic fill'd Heaven's purple canopy ! v. " Glory to God on high ! " Sweetly the lay began ; Then, as the echoes found reply, It rofe, till u Peace on earth, good will to man," In one feraphic fwell, along the mountains ran. VI. " Good tidings of great joy, Shepherds, to you we bring ; Let holier themes your fongs employ -, This day is born a Saviour and a King ; Arife, to Bethlehem hafte, Hofannas there to fing." c 1 8 CHRISTMAS-DAT. VII. " Glory to God on High ! " Once more burft forth the ftrain, As 'twould diflblve the echoing fky ; One blaze of ftarlike glory fill'd the plain, And then the fquadron bright to Heaven re- turn'd again. VIII. Mefliah fhone reveal' d On fcroll but erft fo dim ; Chaldaea's feer, with eyes unfeal'd, Beheld the new-lit ftar of Bethlehem ; The fhepherds hail'd the babe adored by Sera- phim. IX. Glory to God on high ! We too may learn the lay : When every ftar mail quit the fky, And, like a fhrivell'd fcroll, heaven pafs away, Thou, Lord, fhalt but commence Thy never- ending fway ! x. Immortal Prince of peace ! Vouchfafe this boon divine ; — u When Thou fhalt reign in righteoufnefs, Oh, grant that we, whofe nature Thou mad'ft Thine, Regenerate, and renew'd, may in Thine image fhine ! " 19 THE LAST SUNDAY IN THE YEAR. Mine age is departed, and is removed from me as a fhepherd's tent. — Ifaiah xxxviii. 12. I. [HE founding pinions of the parting year, Juft plumed to take irrevocable flight, Bade memory her ilumbering powers beftir, Her tablet to review, ere fnatch'd from fight. 11. Alas, what opportunities of good, By me negle£ted, though in mercy given, There, making off their duft, before me ftood, Sad witnefTes, but true, 't wixt me and heaven ! in. And oh, what broken refolutions, there, Reveal'd themfelves to Memory's waking glimpfe ; Foul ferpent fhapes added to features fair, Like angels half transform'd to mocking imps ! 20 THE LAST SUNDAT IV. What flighted confcience-whifpers, heard no more ; E'en by their very filence, then appall'd ; What pure and childlike feelings, frefh before, Then firft were mifs'd, but might not be recall'd ! v. What warm affections, there, lay dwarf 'd and chill'd ; What gentle fympathies for ever flown ; What kindly plans abandon'd unfulfill'd ; What noble afpirations now unknown ! VI. " Give me, departing Time, thy fcroll," I cried, " And let contrition's tears efface the paft." cc Alas ! that may not be," the voice replied, " Time's records through eternity muft laft ; VII, t4 The deep-dyed ftain for ever muft endure, For aught contrition's tears avail t'efface ; But there is One whofe blood, refined and pure, Sprinkled by faith, can cleanfe the foul dif- grace : VIII. u And thofe few lines of worth, fo lightly traced, Shall be burn'd in by His approving fmile ; IN THE TEAR. 21 Thy (lender merits by His own replaced, Thyfelf receiving the reward the while." IX. While fpeaking thus, Time fix'd the Nortian nail : * Weeping, I turn'd me towards the wall, and prayed, — " Lord, for the paft, oh, let Thy blood avail ; And for the future, grant Thy Spirit's aid ! " x. So fhall the lengthening fhadow backward fly; So fhall my days to come more brightly fhine ; So, be it here, or 'neath a brighter fky, The glory I reflect fhall all be thine. * The Romans recorded the progrefs of time by fixing a nail, on the firft day of the new year, in the temple of the Etrufcan goddefs Nortia. 22 THE FIRST SUNDAY THE FIRST SUNDAY IN THE YEAR. Grant us the true circumcifion of the fpirit ; that our hearts being mortified from all worldly and carnal lufts, we may in all things obey Thy bleffed will. Co lie Si for the Circumcifion of Chrift. I. *ELCOME, new year ! what weal, or woe, Thou bring 1 ft tome, I may not know, Nor feek I to divine : It is enough thou com'ft from Him, Whofe eye the future cannot dim, Whofe ear is ever mine. ii. What, if behind thy fcarce-fledged wing Death points the fhaft from viewlefs ftring, Deftined at me to fly ! Or one that bears Heaven's high beheft To ftrike fome loved-one's fhieldlefs breaft, Dear as my own right eye ! IN THE TEAR. 23 in. God's will be done, fo He impart, With thy new era a new heart, New feelings, new defires ; A foul renew'd, which tow'rds the fkies, In all its hopes and fympathies, Continually afpires. IV. With the old year be put away Whatever favours of decay, Or we could wifh to die ; All felfifh aims, all worldly lufts, All that defiles, and all that rufts, And all that fhuns Heaven's eye. v. With vain regret we need not figh For hours and feelings long gone by, Which Time may not renew ; When firft a beauteous, untried world, Its unfufpected charms unfurPd, To childhood's longing view : VI. When the fun, finking in the fkies, Anon more glorioufly to rife, Was all we knew of death ; 24 THE FIRST SUNDAY And the oblivion of the tomb, Was as when flowers had loft their bloom, But ftill retain'd their breath.* VII. When the limb-waving, darkfome wood, The booming fea, or rufhing flood, Our infant minds could awe ; And the bright rainbow, as it beam'd, To us an angel-ladder feem'd, Such as the patriarch faw : VIII. Or when in youth's firft confcious might, The immortal, and the infinite, Expanded to our view ; And o'er deep thoughts the heart would brood, And long for whatfoe'er feem'd good, And beautiful, and true : IX. When high refolves, and hopes of fame, And feelings which have here no name, And friendfhips pure and deep ; And love's firft whifperings, too, too fweet, And rapt devotion's kindling heat, Firft broke the fpirit's fleep : — * I allude with pleafure to two very beautiful images which occur in Dr. Watts's poems for children. IN THE TEAR. 2 x. All hopeleffly we need not figh, When fweep o'er manhood's memory The thoughts of days long pall, If, mindful of our fecond birth, Tow'rds the new heavens and the new earth Our wiftful view we caft. XI. For there the young heart's richeft wine — All feelings which are moft divine — Shall gum forth frefh and new ; And we, like little children, there, Shall with our heavenly Father (hare The bright, and good, and true. XII. Like the young eagle, bathed in dew, The fpirit {hall her ftrength renew, And tafte of death no more ; No more fhall droop her feraph-wing, But ever a new fong mall fing, And ever higher foar. 26 FIRST SUNDJT FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. When they faw the ftar, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. — St. Matt. II. 10. I. jH, who that feels the facred fire Which burns within the Chriftian's breaft, But fain would bid the flame afpire, Till the whole earth be warm'd and bleft ; Till from each land, and tongue, and clime, In mingled fragrance fhall arife, — Like the laft pyre, intenfe, fublime, — One univerfal facrifice ! ii. Could we, with eyes that know not fleep, Stand by the angel in the fun, While round its axle once fhould fweep The earth, and they that dwell thereon ; How mould we ftart with horror back From one day's cruelty and wrong, As dungeon, fcaffbld, fcourge, and rack, In fickening terror fwept along ! AFTER E PIP HANI. 27 in. Ah, yes, the whole creation groans ; Upon oppreffion's wide domain The fun ne'er fets, but ceafelefs moans The figh of fleeplefs woe and pain : And fhall it be that ever thus, Unheard, the voice of blood fhall rife, Mute creatures toil and bleed for us, And man o'er man fo tyrannize ! IV. Oh, no ; another day-fpring foon With brighter hopes mail gild the fcene ; Truth glorious mine as cloudlefs noon, And love as fummer eve ferene : Already gleams, although afar, And u fcarce more grofs"* than earthly gem, The world-wide long'd for morning-ftar, The herald-ftar of Bethlehem. Until the dawn thus harbinger'd Unfolds to our expe&ant eyes, Be day and night the prayer preferr'd, And morn and eve the facrifice ; * The crows, and choughs, that wing the midway air Show fcarce fo grofs as beetles. King Lear, Acl iv. Sc. 6. 28 FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY Nor deem our heavenly Father fleeps, Or ceafe His chariot-wheels to run ; — Only o'er earth the fhadow creeps ; The darknefs cannot reach the fun. VI. Soon (hall that fun this cold earth warm, Which falfe opinion's mifts enthral, And fuperftition's giant form, Like Dagon, at the threfhold fall : Right fhall not fear oppreffion's fcowl, Nor worth to power forced homage pay ; But many-featured errors foul Shall flee, like ghofts, that break of day. 2 9 SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee ; and the mother of Jefus was there : and both Jefus was called, and his difciples, to the marriage. St. John 11. 1,2. jH for a Guido's magic hand, Which life and fmiles o'er canvafs ftrew'd, To limn the holy nuptial band, That erft in Cana's hamlet rude, Beheld the miracle divine, Tranfmuting water into wine. 11. See round that lowly board reclined, Unconfcious of their glorious fate, The " little flock " by Heav'n defign'd A loft world to regenerate ; Its turbid lifefprings to refine, And change its waters into wine. 30 SECOND SUNDJT in. See, too, the holy mother there, Watching, with triumph unconfefs'd, Beam from thofe features, fad but fair, She oft in childhood had carefs'd, That glance, refiftlefs as benign, Which kindled water into wine. IV. How mean the pomp, how vain the vaunt, Of kingly dome, or prieftly fane, Compared with that pretencelefs haunt, That poor, but heav'nly-honour'd train, And that meek gueft, whofe power divine Earth's fimpleft waters flum'd to wine ! v. Ah thus, though humble be our lot, Though mean our name, and poor our fare ; If He who brighten'd Cana's cot Partake the burden of our care ; — If faith with poverty combine, Soon will the water turn to wine. VI. And, oh, if in thofe happier hours Which e'en the wearieft pilgrim knows, Chrift be invited to our bowers To fhare our joys as well as woes, — AFTER EPIPHANY, 31 The fprings which now but fparkling fhine Shall redden into heavenly wine. VII. But earth has yet a purer ftream Than waters of affliction meek ; Tears of repentance brighter beam, And fofter make the tepid cheek : Thefe tears, illumed by love divine, Are pledges of celeftial wine. VIII. Symbols divine ! inftructed whence, The church delights the change to trace From pure baptifmal innocence, To glowing euchariftic grace. Foretafte, and earned — be it mine ! Of heaven's immortal nuptial wine ! 32 THIRD SUNDAY THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. And I fay unto you, That many fhall come from the Eaft and Weft, and mall fit down with Abraham, and Ifaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven, St. Matt. viii. ii. I. [H, who does not thrill with emotions ofjoy, As fall on his ear from fome far diftant clime, The accents which fouls when impaflion'd em- ploy, If his heart with thofe accents in fympathy chime ! Should they take the rich tones of the bright, pictured Eaft, Too oft, alas, drown'd by the claming of fwords, If humanity's voice, though conftrain'd, have not ceafed, More fweet than the fong of the bulbul her words ! AFTER EPIPHANY. 33 11. Should they hymn the wild notes of the fea- fever'd Weft, Whofe forefts no track but the lightnings have known, — Wherever, dear Nature, thy power is confeft, The language thou fpeak'ft we adopt as our own : Variety gives to the concert its fweetnefs, And diftance itfelf has a hallowing pow'r ; As Time gives a tendernefs, beauty, and meet- nefs, We feek for in vain in the rude prefent hour. in. Oh, fay, then, what raptures of pleafure await, In the u great congregation," the fouls of the bleft, Who, meeting no more to be fever'd by fate, Sit down at heaven's banquet from Eaft and from Weft : There gather around them the mighty of eld, The founders of nations that knew but one tongue ; Whofe thoughtful brows throbb'd, and whofe loving hearts fwell'd, With youthful emotions when Time too was young: — D 54 THIRD SUN DAT IV. He who talk'd with his Maker at evening's cool hour, And watch'd the fun fet on a fin-ftainlefs world ; He who walk'd with his God, till, transferred by His power, He could fmile at death's dart when in im- potence hurPd ; He who faw torn afunder the bonds of the deep, And the fathomlefs ocean earth's treafures fubmerge, Yet beheld 'round his ark, like fome tamed monfter, creep, The omnidevouring, but heav'n-reftrain'd furge. v. He who communed with Deity 'neath his own tent ; He who ftrove with the angel on Bethel's lone plain ; He who fojourn'd on Sinai trembling and rent, Till his face beam'd with glory he fcarce could reftrain. He, too, the " fweet pfalmift of Ifrael" hight ; And he who afcended in chariot of fire ; With a hoft of immortals as pure and as bright, All claim'd, and all fung, by the Hebrew's rapt lyre. AFTER E PIP HANI'. 35 VI. And not only thefe, but a multitude vaft, The choice of each nation, and language, and clime, Shall fit down at meat with thefe fons of the paft, With patriarch kings, and with prophets fublime : The ftudent in converfe familiar (hall greet The fage whofe loved writings he deem'd half divine -, And faints, and confefTors, and martyrs mall meet, From the cell, and the ftake, from the defert, and mine. VII. Ah yes, in that concourfe from Eaft and from Weft, The fever'd and fcatter'd once more mall unite ; And the wifeft and greateft, moft loving and beft, Unenvied, unenvying, fwell the delight ; And fouls, refting there from the fever of life, Shall review their paft courfe, which feem'd erft fo obfcure ; Recount each his ftory with intereft rife, And together rejoice, as for ever fecure. 36 FOURTH SUNDAY FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jems : and when they faw Him, they befought Him that He would depart out of their coafts.— St. Matt. vm. 34. I. |EAR Lord, and is man funk fo low, Of will fo warp'd, of mind fo flow, And fo depraved of heart, That a whole city with one voice, — (Agreeing but in this fad choice) — Could urge Thee to depart ! 11. Thee, who for them Thy throne hadft left, From Thine own Father's bofom reft, And all the blifs on high ; Who waft for them content to bear A life of poverty and care, A death of agony : in. Thee, too, who hadft fo lately mown That winds and waves were ft ill Thine own, AFTER EPIPHANY. 37 Obedient to Thy word ; That e'en foul fiends at Thy beheft Muft flee th' ufurped human breaft, Submiflive to their Lord ! IV. Oh, could not this unequall'd love, Gaugelefs by higheft powers above, And undeferved as great, And all this might, in vain withftood, Miniftering only for their good, Protect Thee from their hate ? v. Ah no, and hence we fpeak with fhame The Gergefenes' opprobrious name, Their nation fatuous call ; Preferring their unlawful gains, Their fiendifh foes, and flavifh chains, To Thee, the Lord of all ! VI. But, oh, while thus we deem of them^ Doth confcience ne'er our/elves condemn, As far more mad than they ! We, who prefer the gold which rufts, And facrifice to fwinifh lufts, The joys which ne'er decay ! 3 8 FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPH. VII. Ah, Lord, I, too, alas, have been In heart a very Gergefene, With fcorn requiting love ; Though feal'd my lips, my wayward life, With evil thoughts and paffions rife, Hath urged Thee to remove. VIII. But, Lord, Thou know'ft the tempter's fnares, Be better to me than my prayers, Nor leave this froward heart : Trembling, I think, Lord, what if Thou, With anger fhadowing Thy brow, Should fay to me " Depart !" 39 FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which (owed good feed in his field : but while men (lept, his enemy came and fowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. — St. Matt. xiii. 24, 25. I. SEE yonder field with golden plenty bending, As fwept by fummer airs ; Amongft the ruftling ears, too clofely blending, Are rank and wafteful tares ! 11. Such is our life ; our beft and pureft pleafures Are mix'd with fad alloy ; And few among the foul's moft cherifh'd treafures But yield more grief than joy. in. Even affections the moft pure and holy — The fpirit's choiceft flowers — Are intertwined with weeds of melancholy, And (hade with gloom our bowers. 4 o FIFTH SUN DAT IV. The holieft incenfe we prefent to heaven Is mingled with ftrange fire ; The bread of life is blended with earth's leaven, Nor fatisfies defire. v. Ill dreams mix with our ilumbers when repofing ; Hopes are allied to fears ; Clouds blend with funfhine when the day is clofing ; Excefs of joy brings tears. VI. A canker-worm round every gourd is creeping That fpringeth from this earth ; The enemy fows tares while we are fleeping, To mar our harveft-mirth. VII. Nought here is pure, all is confufed and blended, The evil with the good ; The falvage of loft Eden has defcended With relics of the flood. VIII. Yet will this mixture prompt no vain repining, Nor the meek heart offend, AFTER EPIPHANY. 41 That might be afk'd, were all fo bright and mining, " How cam'ft thou hither, friend ?" IX. Here we expect not prizes, but probation ; Labour, and not repofe ; Our fafeft triumph is fome felf-ovation, And our bed gifts our woes. x. Patience awhile, the day of retribution Will come, nor tarry long ; Each doubt will then receive a clear folution, A remedy each wrong. XI. Let all grow on till harveft, tares ftill blending, And dazzling the mock'd eye ; The humbler corn, laden with worth, low bending, In fcorn'd humility. XII. The tares will then no more elude the reapers. The fire will have its prey \ No enemy will mock the expectant fleepers, Or fteal their hopes away. 4 z SIXTH SUNDAY SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. Beloved, now are we the fons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we mall be : but we know, that when He (hall appear, we (hall be like Him ; for we mail fee Him as He is. And every one that hath this hope in him purifieth himfelf, even as He is pure. 1 St. John ill. 2, 3. I. H, could our eyes but pierce the awning Which copes this fhadowy world of ours, And catch, though but the diftant dawning, Of Heav'n's bright palaces and towers, — How little {hould we reck of earth, How mean her joys, how dull her mirth ! 11. When Ifrael's king, with wealth furrounded, Bafk'd in the pomp of eaftern pride, Sated and pall'd with power unbounded, He ftruck his plaintive lyre, and figh'd, — " Ne'er will my foul her longings flake Till in Thy likenefs I awake." AFTER EPIPHANY. 43 in. Ah yes, one glimpfe of heaven, unfhrouded, To the firft martyr's upturn'd eye, Although by death's cold fhadow clouded, And film'd with mortal agony, — Lit up with more than angel's grace The pallor of that dying face ! But, oh, in vain imagination Attempts to grafp the infinite, Or guefs what glorious confummation Awaits God's chofen fons of light : Enough, they'll be like Him in blifs \ For they fhall fee Him as He is. v. Let, then, each foul whom thefe hopes lighten Make itfelf pure as He is pure ; In the Lamb's blood its garments whiten, In the Lamb's book its name fecure : So when it meets its Maker's gaze It fhall reflect His glorious rays ! VI. The lovelieft ftar of all heaven's clufter, The faireft fountain eye may fee, Attracts us only by its luftre, And charms but by its purity ; 44 SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPH. And can we deem the turbid mind Shall with its God acceptance find ! VII. Ah no, that very glance tranfcendent, Which fhrined the martyr's face in light, For finful flefh is too refplendent, And blinds the unprepared fight : — Saul faw that glance, nor more might fee, O'erwhelm'd by its intenfity. 45 SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize ? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that ftriveth for the maftery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown 5 but we an incorruptible. — I Cor. ix. 24, 25. I. >H, could we remember that life is a race, And a bright crown of glory is hung at its goal, That to turn back is death, and to look back difgrace, We fhould tremble indeed for the indolent foul! 11. What pains fhould we take the reward to fecure, How fcorn fully call: off the garments of pride; View power as diffraction, and wealth as a lure, — Mere apples of gold thrown to draw us afide ! 46 SEPTUJGESIMA SUNDAT. in. Each hour would feem loft that no progrefs could fhow, And a hindrance each tie that our limbs did not brace ; Naught more mould we feek than a " plain path" below, And a glimpfe of the prize at the end of the race. IV. But, alas, though we know with what ftruggles are gain'd E'en the honours of earth, that fo foon fade away, Yet with minds all undifciplined, bodies un- train'd, We prefume on a crown which can never decay. v. But this crown incorruptible will not be given, Save only to him, amongft all who contend, That with foot fpurning earth, and with eye fix'd on heaven, In patience and faith mall endure to the end. VI. The fleeteft at ftarting are ofttimes the laft, And many are hinder'd who once did run well ; SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY, 47 The felf-confident ftumble, the faint are foon pafs'd, And the proud are earth-bound, as it were with a fpell. VII. Oh, then be it ours to aroufe from our fleep, And forfaking, forgetting the things left be- hind, To prefs forward boldly, and evermore keep In fubjeclion the body, in patience the mind. 4 8 SEXAGESIMA SUNDAY. A sower went out to fow his feed. — St. Luke viii. 5. I. j H, how prolific are the feeds Of baneful herbs and noxious weeds; Ne'er doth their harveft fail : Night from her wings could never fhed More ftars than from one thiftle's head Load the curfe-wafting gale ! 11. And fo, alas, one feed of fin, Falling bleft Eden's bounds within, Fill'd the whole earth with bane : The dire infection fpread around, Till fooner earth itfelf was drown'd, Than wafh'd away the {lain. in. But, ah, not fo the feeds of life ; Although w T ith every bleffing rife, God can, Himfelf, bellow, — SEXAGESIMA SUNDAY. 49 With flowers immortal and fublime, And fruits which mock the frofts of time, — How rarely do they grow ! IV. Though fown by no penurious hand, Nor fparfely fcatter'd o'er the land, They ftrike no fibrous root ; They fhrink as 'twere from alien foil, Their heads they droop, their leaves they coil, They yield no lufcious fruit. v. Some on the wayfide fall, but foon Hell's harpies feize the pricelefs boon, Ere it renews its birth ; For Satan, ever on the watch, Hovers, unfeen, the prize to catch, Though man knows not its worth. VI. And fome fall on the rocky breaft, And hide anon their place of reft With blofloms falfe as fair ; But no congenial foil they find, And foon temptation's fcorching wind Sweeps o'er their pillow bare. E 5° SEXAGESIMJ SUN DAT. VII. And fome, e'en more deceptive ftill, The air with ripening odours fill Of fruits which won't endure ; For, touch'd by pleafure's blighting air, Or choked with thorns of worldly care, They perifh immature. VIII. But, ah, 'tis not that heavenly feeds In native vigour yield to weeds ; Let grace renew the ground, And foon tow'rds Heaven fhall rife the tree, Laden with immortality, And fhowering bleflings round ! QUINQUAGESIMA SUNDAY. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, thefe three ; but the greateft of thefe is charity. — I Cor. xiii. 13. I. H Charity ! fpirit of fpirits the faireft, Of all that to cheer, or to blefs us were given ! Whofe vifits,on earth, are the briefed and rareft, Mayhap becaufe thine is the free range of heaven ! 11. Oh, turn not away, though thy leffbns be flighted, For what could earth's coldeft profeflbr do more ? — E'en truth teaches frill, with neglect though requited, — Can love then be mute when we moft need her lore ? in. Nay, teach us, and breathe in our hearts thine own fpirit, Which fuffereth long, and for ever is kind ; 52 QUINQUJGESIMA SUNDAY. Which envieth not, but is firft to hail merit, And e'en to the worth of a foe is not blind. IV. Which mourns with fuch anguifh her own imperfections, That ne'er is fhe known e'en in triumph to vaunt ; For crimes in another feem but the reflections Of frailties and faults which her own bofom haunt. v. Unfordid, unfelfifh, her own fhe ne'er feeketh — Or, rather, all human (he deemeth her own — For fympathy's voice in her ear ever fpeaketh, And pleadeth a kindred to others unknown. VI. Oh yes, there's a kindred the proud never mention, A brotherhood holy of all the redeem'd, Which fhudders when kindnefs is called con- defcenfion, But loves becaufe all are Chrift's little ones deem'd. VII. How then can fhe lift to ill tales of another, Or, hearing, believe, if one doubt fupervene ; When ftill (he beholds on the brow ofeach brother Some trace where divinity's imprefs hath been? QUINQUJGESIMA SUNDAY. 53 VIII. Ah no, fhe ftill hopeth, the beft ftill believeth ; The kindeft construction fhe deems the moft true ; She knows — and the knowledge her heart often grieveth — That through a glafs darkly each other we view. IX. She longs for the time when no prejudice darkling, — (The haze of the mind, caufed by diftance alone,) — Shall hang o'er the forms, which, in purer light fparkling, Shall fee face to face, and mail know as they're known. x. Come then, Holy Spirit, thine own gift be- llowing, Bid love in our hearts o'er each felfifh thought rife, And, like hallow'd Jordan, its banks overflowing, Enrich the parch'd earth, and exhale to the fkies. 54 FIRST SUNDAY FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT. Then was Jefus led up of the fpirit into the wilder- nefs to be tempted of the devil. — St. Matt. IV. i. I. |LEST Jefu ! who for mortals' fake All our infirmities didft take, And, Thine own Godhead laid afide, In all points like as man waft tried ; None knows like Thee the tempter's pow'r, Oh, fave us in temptation's hour ! ii. Thou for that conteft didft prepare With failing, folitude, and prayer ; Nor fpared'ft that frame attenuate Which fank beneath the crofs's weight ; None knows like Thee the tempter's pow'r, Oh, fave us in temptation's hour ! in. No carnal weapon didft Thou wield To drive the aflailant from the field ; IN LENT. 55 For nought avails mere flefhly might 'Gainft fpirits to contend in fight ; None knows like Thee the tempter's pow'r, Oh, fave us in temptation's hour ! IV. Thy Father's all-refiftlefs word Supplied Thee with the two-edged fword, Which, flaming on the foul-fiend's fight, Drove him, defpairing, back to night ; None knows like Thee the tempter's pow'r, Oh, fave us in temptation's hour ! v, Thou feeing, too, how frail we are, How ill-equipp'd for fuch a war, Around our fhield this fpell haft wrought, " Into temptation lead us not : " None knows like Thee the tempter's pow'r, Oh, fave us in temptation's hour ! VI. Yet fince Thou didft the foe withftand With arms which prayer may ftill command, Our pattern may we draw from Thee, Our weapons from Thine armoury; None knows like Thee the tempter's pow'r, Oh, fave us in temptation's hour ! S6 SECOND SUNDAY SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT. Almighty God, who feeft that we have no power of ourfelves to help ourfelves ; keep us both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our fouls; that we may be defended from all adverfities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may aflault and hurt the foul; through JefusChrift our Lord. Amen. Colleclfor the Second Sunday in Lent, I. i H, could we fee the countlefs foes Which daily with the Chriftian rife, Could the throng'd fky the hoits difclofe Which flefh conceals from mortal eyes ; And, worfe than all the powers of air, Saw we what traitors lurk within, — How mould we urge the daily prayer, — " Lord, keep me this day without fin ! " ii. Each fenfe, erft lock'd in deep profound, Now oped, invites the tempter's fkill \ Each faculty in (lumber bound Is now an inftrument of ill ; IN LENT. 57 Our intercourfe with man renew'd Renews the occafion, too, of fin ; And morn has with frefh ftrength endued Our foes above, around, within. in. Ay, now may eyes immortal fee The leader of that ghoftly van Pointing his dread artillery At frail and unfufpecting man ; And none can tell how he may fall Ere the next morn his eyes {hall greet ; Him Satan feeks, perhaps, chief of all, To have, that he may fift as wheat. IV. Mofes at break of day arofe With meeknefs more than mortal bleft ; But finn'd through wrath ere that day's clofe, And was excluded Canaan's reft : David, too, hail'd the morning's light As mirror of his Maker, here, But, oh, he laid him down at night, A falfe, adulterous, murderer ! v. Peter, who with a prophet's zeal Falfehood and faithleflhefs abhorr'd, At evening fhared Chrift's parting meal, But ere funrife denied his Lord. 58 SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT. Then who are we, that we fhould ftand, When fuch as thefe around us fall ; When e'en the leaft of Satan's band The ftrongeft faint may thus enthrall ! VI. Oh God ! Thou feeft we have no power To keep the fouls Thy blood has bought ; But, oh, do Thou in danger's hour Pray for us that our faith fail not : If in temptation's fiery furge Thy prefence {hare the furnace-glow, Then fcathlefs mall our fouls emerge, Nor e'en the fmell of fire fhall know. 59 THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children. Epkef. v. i. I. ; ORD, how can I follow Thee ? — Can I drink Thy cup of woe ? ^Jl|g@ Can I walk the treacherous fea ? Where Thou wenteft, can / go? ii. Yes, Thy cup, Lord, I may drink, If, when its dark dregs I fee, On the bitterer draught I think, Which Thou once didft drain for me. in. Then, like Thee, though Nature fhrink, I might fay, " Thy will be done ; What my Father gives to drink Is it for His child to fhun ? " IV. And I, too, may walk the wave, Heedlefs of life's darkeft florin, 60 THIRD SUN DAT IN LENT. If above the glafly grave I can view Thv hallow' d form. v. Then, like Thee, on love divine, Pillow'd fafe, 'mid threatening ill, I could every care refign, Calmly whifpering, u Peace, be ftill ! " VI. And where Thou art gone, bleft Lord ! Weak and frail, I too may go, If my treafure there be ftored, Nor my heart remain below. VII. Then, like Thee, no bonds to rend, Earth but lightly to untwine, Peacefully I might afcend, To Thy Father, and to mine. 6i FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT. fa perfecuted him that was born after the _w. Galat. iv. 29. I. |VER hath been, fince time began, A weary and unceafing ftrife, fSMa^ff I n tne diftracted breaft of man, Between the powers of death and life : For, oh, to each of thefe was given A part in man's ambiguous birth ; His foul is living breath of heaven ; His body, frail, decaying earth. 11. Hence, when he would to heaven afpire, And commune with his native fides, Earth's vapours dim the holy fire, And clouds obfeure the facrin; And even truth's celeflial rays — Unerring: li^ht of fouls divine — Refracted through earth's murky haze, Diftorted, and deceptive fhine. 62 FOURTH SUN DAT in. The prefent always feems fo vaft That we can fcarce the future fee ; As fome near cloudlet hurrying paft Will hide the fun's immenfity : Hence prefent joys, how fleet foe'er, Our hearts engrofs, our bofoms fwell, And fcarce one ftray affection fpare For diftant blifs ineffable. IV. Yet fo perverfe the mind, that care, The fhadow of approaching ill, Eclipfes all our profpects fair, And throws a dark portentous chill : Hence, future fears o'er prefent joys, And doubts o'er faith preponderate; And light afflictions counterpoife Eternal glory's fpeechlefs weight. v. Our wills are warp'd, our judgments bent, Our beft affections cleave to duft, And e'en our pureft thoughts are blent With felfifh aims, and flemly luft : The fon of bondage and of fin, Parent of lawlefs wild purfuits, Maintains a maftery within, And Heaven's own heir ftill perfecutes. IN LENT. 63 VI. Rife, then, oh child of freedom, rife ! And caft the fon of bondage forth ; Affert thy home, thy native fkies, Thy promifes of countlefs worth : Free, free mud beat the heart once warm'd With heaven's own glow of liberty; And ftronger than the ftrong man arm'd Is He who lives to fuccour thee ! 64 FIFTH SUN DAT FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT. Christ being come an High Prieft of good things to come * * * by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. — Heb t ix. n, 12. I. ^REAT High Prieft, and Interceflbr ! Sinlefs, fpotlefs, Lamb of God ! Who atoned'ft for the tranfgrefTor With Thine own — Thy pricelefs blood ! From the holieft of holies, Thy felf-confecrated place, Purge us from our fins and follies ; Purify us by Thy grace. 11. True it is, by lufts imbruted, Scarce Thine image we retain ; Sin hath all our powers polluted, Deep the dye, and dark the ftain ; Yet if Thou our confcience fprinkle With Thy defecating blood, Then, without or fpot or wrinkle, May we ftand before our God. IN LENT. 65 in. Not alone feek we exemption From the penalties of fin ; But we aflc a full redemption From its influence within : For our oft-renew'd tranfgreflion Be Thy blood as oft applied ; Let Thy conftant interceflion For our countlefs wants provide. IV. Not as lamb, ftill torn and bleeding, Weep we now Thy wounds to fee ; But as High Prieft, interceding, Lift we up our eyes to Thee : On Thy jewell'd breaftplate wear Thou Our poor names, of little worth ; In Thy golden cenfer bear Thou Our dull prayers, weigh'd down by earth ! 66 THE SUNDAY NEXT THE SUNDAY NEXT BEFORE EASTER. Being found in fafhion as a man, He humbled Him- felf unto death, even the death of the crofs.— Fhil II. 8. I. [UDiEA'S captive fons, who erft with tears Their filent harps upon the willows hung, Defpite the lapfe of twice a thoufand years, Still mourn the woes which then their bofoms wrung ; Oft as returns the day of their diftrefs, They mingle, in the duft, their groans and prayers ; Around their ruin'd walls in anguifh prefs, And weep o'er glories now no longer theirs.* * I know of nothing in facred or profane hiftory more touching than the two facls recorded below : — " On every Friday it is the cuftom for many Jews to affemble for humiliation and fupplication, near the BEFORE EASTER. 67 11. Nor Zion's children only thus have ufed To confecrate a day to tearful thought, While on their degradation they have mufed, And mourn'd the caufes which their forrows wrought : — Thy fons, oh Greece, to ruder climes removed, Were yearly wont to wail their common fate ; Revive each lingering trace of lands fo loved, And weep that they fhould e'er degenerate. precincls of the facred fpot on which flood the Temple in its glory 5 but within which not one of them can now obtain admiilion. On reaching the fpot we found a row of aged Jews fitting in the dull in front of the wall, all of them engaged in reading or reciting certain portions of the Hebrew Scriptures. * * * * " Among them were feveral Jevvefles, enveloped from head to foot in ample white veils. They flepped forward to various parts of the ancient wall, kiffed them with great fervour of manner, and uttered their petitions, in a low whifper, at the points where the ftones came into contact. I thought of Ifrael when by the waters of Babylon they fat down and wept." — Fife's Pajior's Memorial of the Holy Land, &c. pp. 290, 1. u The Pofidonians on the Tyrrhine fea were once Greeks, but became degenerated, as they deemed it, into Romans or Tyrrhenians, lofing their original language and manners. To perpetuate their illuitrious defcent, they held an annual Greek feftival, in which they were wont to aflemble together and recall to recollection their 68 THE SUNDAY NEXT in. Oh, fay, and is the Chriftian only free From fadden'd memory's remorfeful tears ? Knows he no change from primal purity, No home eftranged by long fucceeding years ? Bears he his Maker's image uneffaced, — Beauty without, and harmony within, Powers undegraded, paffions undebafed, And principles unftain'd by earth or fin ? IV. If fuch the cafe, dance on from youth to age ; Be life one carnival of feftive mirth ; Let flefh and fpirit no more conflict wage ; Be heav'n itfelf but a lefs tranfient earth ! — But, oh, if Eden we once call'd our own, If angels as with equals communed then, If Godhead's form amid our bowers was known ; — If fuch things were—but may not be again : — And if with lofs of thefe celeftial bow'rs, And glorious vifitants, be vanifh'd quite primitive names and cuftoms, and bewail with tears their degradation." — Arijloxenus, cited in Mullens Fragmenta Hiftoric. Graec. II. p. 291. BEFORE EASTER. 69 The nobleft faculties that once were ours, The love of good, and power to judge aright;* And if when One of more than mortal mould, Thefe to reftore forfook His Father's fide, Him we rejected with defiance bold, And — hear, oh Earth ! — mock'd, fcourged, and crucified ! — VI. Oh, afk not if 'twere right that we mould weep, But rather pray that tears be not in vain : — More have we loft than erft the favage deep Reft from the fire "who never fmiled again. "f 'Tis but becaufe hope is not wholly fled That aught but " endlefs weeping" ftill remains ; % 'Tis but becaufe the blood we madly fried, Befought with tears, can cleanfe the mur- derous ftains. * See a very remarkable and extremely eloquent fermon on this fubjecl by Dr. South, from the text, " So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him." — Gen. 1. 27. South's Sermons, vol. 1. pp. 31, et feq. •f* Mrs. Hemans's beautiful verfes, " He never fmiled again, " are almoft as extenfively known as the fubjeclof them. \ " ' Say what remains when hope is fled ? ' She anfwer'd, * Endlefs weeping/ " Rogers's Boy of Egremond. 7 o SUNDAY NEXT BEFORE EASTER. VII. Lord, when I think what agony was Thine, When the laft cry burft from Thy fever'd lips ; When Godhead's felf fhaded His brow benign, And fhuddering Nature felt the dread eclipfe : And when I think, too, how I cherifh ftill The fins which bow'd to death Thy blefsed head, While all Thy pangs fcarce caufe my heart one thrill — I fmite my breaft that I no tears can fhed ! 7' SUPPLEMENTAL HYMN FOR GOOD FRIDAY. God forbid that I fhould glory, fave in the crofs of our Lord Jefus Chrift, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. — Gal. vi. 14.. I. I ORBID it, Lord, that I fhould glory, Save in that crofs of blood and tears, Where Thou didft hang, all pale and gory, The marvel of a myriad fpheres : Where Thou, the Sovereign of creation, The Conqueror of death and hell, Didft ftoop to loweft degradation, And agony unfpeakable. II. When I behold thofe hands extended, Lifelefs and powerlefs, torn with nails, Whofe hollow earth once comprehended, And weigh'd the mountains in its fcales — Can I be covetous or grafping, Forgetful that, whate'er I own, Soon death, the firmeft hold unclafping, Will cite me naked and alone ? 72 HYMN FOR GOOD FRIDAY. in. When I behold that head fo drooping, Circled with thorns and mockery, Which bright archangels, lowly ftooping, Once diadem'd with majefty ; — Can I for earth's diftinclions languifh, Or love thofe mifcreant fins fo well, Which heapM on Thee more bitter anguifli Than ever human heart befell ? IV. When I behold that fide now riven, Collapfing, fhrinking, bleeding ftill, Whofe beating heart the range of heaven, Till earth were added, could not fill ; — Can I be felfifh, or unfeeling, And my contracted bofom clofe y No kindly fympathy revealing, Towards a brother's wants and woes ? v. In every pain, in every pleafure, Lord, when I think upon Thy crofs, How poor feems every other treafure, How trifling every other lofs ! Content, though earth's more cherifh'd prizes But fparfely to my lot may fall ; This thought a fount of comfort rifes, Win Chrift win heaven, win God win all. 73 EASTER HYMN. Christ is rifen from the dead, and become the firft- fruits of them that flept. — I Cor. xv. 20. I. f||AIL, immortal King of glory ! Fain would I — durft I afpire — Sing Thy refurrecrion ftory ; Worthier of a feraph's lyre, Or the fabbath trumpet-note Which did erft o'er Patmos float. 11. Vainly Death fought to enchain Thee ; — Death, fay where was then thy fting ? Noifome Grave might not retain Thee ; — Grave, where was thy triumphing ? E'en mortality's laft veft Could an angel's care atteft. in. Hell might not detain Thy fpirit ; — From Thy prefence glad to flee : Nor Corruption Thee inherit ; His ftain might not reft on Thee : 74 EASTER HTMN. Vain the thirfting fpirit's prifon, King of glory, Thou art rifen ! IV. Hallelujah ! Angel-chorus — Ye who roll'd the ftone away- Shed your heavenly raptures o'er us As we greet the glorious day, Which led forth, with conqueror's might, Immortality to light ! v. Ye who, penfive filence keeping, See the beautiful decay ; Ye who, tears of anguifh weeping, Watch the loved one pafs away ; Ceafe your fighs, rejoice and fing, Death no more (hall boaft his fting ! VI. Ye whofe hearts, with life difgufted, Man's unkindnefs may have chilPd ; Ye whofe powers neglect hath rufted, Whofe beft hopes are unfulfill'd ; Lift your heads : — to life immortal, See, the grave is but the portal ! VII. There no more fhall imperfection, Tangling, choke the beft we do ; EASTER HYMN. 75 Throwing fhadows of dejection O'er the brighter!: paths below : Life's formalities no more Ice the loving bofom o'er. VIII. Every nobler afpiration Which can here the foul refine, Every germ worth cultivation Of the inner life divine; There (hall bloom in fadelefs hue, Cherifh'd with immortal dew. IX. If we then with Chrift be rifen, Let us feek the things above -, Let us look beyond life's prifon, To the realms of light and love ; Where the body of this death Taints no more each purer breath. x. Hallelujah, Lord of glory ! Conqueror of death and hell ! At Thy refurreclion ftory Angel harps with rapture fwell : — Oh, forgive me if in vain To fuch themes my lyre I ftrain. 76 FIRST SUNDAY FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. The fame day at evening, being the firft day of the week, when the doors were fhut where the difciples were aflembled for fear of the Jews, came Jefus and flood in the midft, and faith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when He had fo faid, He (hewed unto them His hands and His fide. — St. John xx. 19, 20. I. |H, if there be one tranquil hour, When jarring thoughts the bofom leave, And holiefr things aflert their power,- — It is the peaceful fabbath eve ! 11. Angels, methinks, are on the wing, Diftilling dews of heavenly balm ; And hufhing each unquiet thing That might diflurb the holy calm. in. The fetting fun, as loath to hide In lengthening (hades a fcene like this, Heaven's curtain feems to lift afide, To (how how like our fabbath 'tis ! AFTER EASTER. 11 IV. On fuch an eve, on fuch an hour, 'Tis fweet Time's fetters forth to caft, And, raifed by contemplation's power, To commune with the facred paft : v. With Ifaac, perhaps, in penfive mood, , Far from the haunts of man to roam ; And, rapt in holy folitude, To meditate on God and home. VI. Or, perhaps, to join the faithful few Convened on Eafter's earlieft even, Who, with clofed doors, fat in review On deeds which late their hearts had riven ; VII. To whom their newly-rifen Lord, Entering unfeen, and whifpering " Peace," Show'd His torn hands, and fide ftill gored, And bade each doubt and forrow ceafe. VIII. Ah, mow me^ Lord, that bleeding fide, That fount ftill warm with healing blood : Bid Faith her hand within it hide, And own Thee for her Lord and God ! 78 FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. IX. So (hall each fabbath-even prove A holier calm, a happier reft ; Till banqueting with Thee above, I lean my head upon Thy breaft ! 79 SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. Christ alfo fuffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye mould follow His fteps. — I Peter II. 21. I. ^jp^HRICE bleffed Redeemer, whofe fjf^ crofs, and whofe paffion, Is all our falvation, our hope, and our ftay, — Be Thy life, too, our rule, our enfample, our fafhion ; Our ftudy by night, and our mirror by day ! 11. Not only as God^ o'er Thy works would we ponder, Adoring the hand which the dead could re- ftore ; But, oh, as along the world's defert we wander, Reflect that as man^ Thou haft trod it before. 80 SECOND SUNDAY III. No thorn lifts its head on our path, howe'er dreary, That has not been crufh'd by Thine own precious feet ; Nay, the print of Thy footfteps, all bleeding and weary, On the brink of the flough of defpondence we meet. IV. But, oh, when with thirft and fatigue Thou waft finking, And the cool well of Sichem low mirror'd Thy feet, On a far purer ftream was Thy faint fpirit thinking, — For the will of Thy God was Thy drink and Thy meat. v. And when, for a moment, in triumph and gladnefs, Thou rod'ft through the city, with palm branches ftrewn, From joy fo unwonted Thou turned'ft with fad- nefs, To weep o'er her fons that mould perifh fo foon. AFTER EASTER. 81 VI. Thus, the weal of Thy brethren, the work of Thy Father, Abforb'd every feeling and want of Thine own ; By day, fuffering crowds Thou around Thee didft gather ; By night, in the mountain Thou prayed'ft alone. VII, Vouchfafe then, dear Lord, as Thy crofs, and Thy paffion, Is all our falvation, our hope, and our flay ; That our lives by Thine own holy life we may fafhion, And follow Thy footfteps more clofely each day ! 82 THIRD SUNDAY THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. What is this that He faith unto us, A little while, and ye fhall not fee Me : and again, a little while, and ye fhall fee Me ; and, Becaufe I go to the Father ? St. John xvi. 17. I. LITTLE while — oh, what a fpell Seems in thofe fimple words todwell ! What fad reverfe, what glorious change, Lie hidden in their import ftrange ! 11. A little while — and that bright eye Which beams as 'twere a fun-lit fky, Diffufing light and gladnefs round, In death's dark cere-cloth fhall be bound ! in. A little while — that life-flufh'd heart, Which feems in all to have a part, Refponfive as the breath-ftirr'd wave, Shall lie unmoved in fome cold grave ! AFTER EASTER. 83 IV. A little while — that fuafive mouth, Whofe words, like foft airs from the South, Melt the chill icebergs of the foul, Shall moulder like fome time-worn fcroll ! v. A little while — but, ah, forbear To trace, in language of defpair, The common havoc which (hall bind The young, the fair, the good, the kind. VI. A little while — oh, change the ftrain. Shake off earth's melancholy chain ; And, foaring, fing what joys beguile The forrows of a little while. vn. A little while — the child of pain, Whofe anguifh'd features fpeak too plain The pangs conceal'd, but not fubdued, — Shall tafte the balm of life renew'd ! VIII. A little while — the child of want, Who fteeps in tears his morfel fcant, And fhrinks from looks which ftill implore, — Shall hunger and deny no more ! 84 THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. IX. A little while — the child of woe, Opprefs'd, negle&ed, fcorn'd, below, On whofe mean grave there falls no tear, Shall rife, the feraph's bright compeer ! A little while — the child of death, All tainted by corruption's breath, And crufh'd beneath the worm-wove fod, Shall wake, the image of his God ! XI. A little while — then weep no more ; Death, like the fea, fhall all reftore ; He whom you feek mall foon appear, And wipe away each lingering tear ! 85 FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. O Almighty God, who alone canft order the unruly wills and affections of finful men ; grant unto Thy people that they may love the thing which Thou com- mander!:, and defire that which Thou doft promife j that ib, among the fundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may furely there be fixed where true joys are to be found j through Jefus Chrift our Lord. ColleSi for the Fourth Sunday after Eajler. I. jH God, who, alone, canft our wills and affections Control, though unruly and felfifh they be, So govern our hearts, that, defpite their deflec- tions, And dips towards earth, they may ftill turn to Thee. ii. Be, Lord, Thy commandments, how painful foever, More dear to our hearts than the voice of a friend ; 86 FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. Ne'er let us Thy love from Thy wifdom difle ver ; But feel them combined with our blifs for their end. in. And, turning unfated from earth's tranfient pleafures, Which fade while we gaze, and diflblve into tears, Be Thy promifes, pricelefs, our heart's chiefeft treafures, The aim of our hopes, and the end of our fears. IV. That fo, 'mid the manifold chances and changes Which life's plans and profpe&s difturb and diflblve, Our hearts may fix furely where nothing de- ranges, But earth's petty cares far beneath us revolve. v. Thee ever approaching, at length may we enter Thofe regions of glory, unchangeably bright, Where Thou, ever mining, the fun and the centre, Diffufeft around Thee unfading delight. 87 FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. Eeing feen of them forty days, and fpeaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. — ASis I. 3. I. |ORD, when Thou didft, o'er death victorious, The grave's feal'd portals rend, Not to Thy native fkies, all-glorious, Didft Thou in hafte afcend ; But lingered'ft forty days below, Amid the fcenes of Thy late woe. 11. How couldft Thou, with full godhead teeming, Ineffable and pure, Forego Thy home in triumph beaming, And this dark world endure \ Where frill Thy crofs reek'd with Thy blood, And men yet breathed who flew their God ? in. Ah, Lord, Thy million was not ended, Thy foes yet fill'd the plain ; SS FIFTH SUNDAY Their precious fpoils they ftill defended, Though vanquifh'd yet not flain : Ungarner'd ftill the harveft ftood, Which Thou hadft water'd with Thy blood. IV. It was this harveft home to gather, Thefe fcatter'd fpoils to pile, Leaving the bofom of Thy Father, Thou tarried'ft here awhile ; A kingdom for Thyfelf to gain, Where this world's prince no more fhould reigi. v. This was the glorious confummation By ancient feers foretold ; The prophet's dream and infpiration, The poet's fong of old : The theme which burft from Balaam's lyre, And touch'd Ifaiah's lips with fire. VI. This hope, through Time's long vifta gleaming, Was Jacob's ftar of truth ; Through aged Simeon's veins when ftreaming Was renovated youth ; Was, Lord, in dark Gethfemane, A ftrengthening angel e'en to Thee ! AFTER EASTER. 89 VII. Nor could it be that Thou fhouldft cherifh, In vain, this hope fublime, And found a kingdom but to perifli Upon the fands of Time ; Where ruin's waves, uncurb'd, fhould roll Over the travail of Thy foul ! VIII. Therefore for forty days enduring The fin-ftain'd haunts of man, Thou tarried'ft, patiently maturing Thine everlafting plan ; A church to build and organize, Vaft and immortal as the Ikies. IX. For this the midnight lake Thou walked'ft, In fpirit's robe of light ; For this on Emmaus' road Thou talked'ft, In words of burning might; For this with threefold fcrutiny Tried'ft him who thrice denied Thee : x. For this upon Thy church Thou breathed'ft As 'twere new life and power ; For this throughout all time bequeathed'ft Thy prefence as her dower : For this, until the day of doom, Haft bade us pray, " Thy Kingdom come ! " ASCENSION-DAT AND THE ASCENSION-DAY AND THE SUNDAY AFTER ASCENSION-DAY. O God the King of glory, who haft exalted Thine only Son Jefus Chrift with great triumph unto Thy kingdom in heaven ; we befeech Thee leave us not comfortlefs 5 but fend to us Thine Holy Ghoft to com- fort us, and exalt us unto the fame place whither our Saviour Chrift is gone before, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghoft, one God, world with- out end. — Collefl for the Sunday after Afcenfwn-day. jH, hafte from your thrones, ye band of immortals ! Your lyres on your fhoulders, your wreaths in your hands : Oh, hafte, open wide your adamant portals ; The dread King of glory admiffion demands. 11. " Who is," do ye afk, cc the dread King of glory ? " The Lord, ftrong and mighty, in battle fo fell : A thoufand gold harps now ring with His ftory,— The Viftor of death, and the Captor of hell ! SUNDAY AFTER ASCENSION-DAT. 91 in. No longer on earth His faints now behold Him, A man full of forrows, with no place to reft; But rifing, fublime, the clouds now enfold Him, And myriads of chariots attend His beheft. IV. Ah, Lord, fince in triumph Thou haft afcended, Oh, leave us not comfortlefs, weary, and lone : With mortals on earth Thy tears were once blended ; Thy fmiles let them ftiare, too, where tears are unknown. v. And fince at Thy feet all heaven pours its treafure, And crowns and dominions encircle Thee there, And gifts without fcant, and grace without meafure, — Think, Lord, of Thy poor needy fuppliants here. VI. But chiefeft, good Lord, impart Thine own fpirit, Our fouls to exalt, and our fears to difpel ; That feeing the realms, which Thou doft inherit, In heart, we afcending, may there alfo dwell. 9 2 WHITSUNDAY. Jesus faid unto His difciples, If ye love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He mall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth. St. John xiv. 15-17. I. \PIRITof life— who erft did brood O'er chaos, uninform'd and rude, Till life and beauty forth did fwell Like mufic burfting from the fhell ; Oh, hover o'er my lifelefs heart, And warmth and energy impart ! 11. Spirit of truth — whofe only light Can guide Thy wandering church aright, When earth's falfe fires but flit abroad To draw us further from our God ; In Thee alone would I confide, Into all truth Thy fervant guide ! in. Spirit ofwifdom — oh, impart A wife and underftanding heart ; WHITSUNDAY, 93 In all things give a judgment right, To view them only in thy light ; That, like the gems on Aaron's breaft, Thofe may but mine where Thou doft reft ! IV. Spirit of comfort — leave me not Alone, unhelp'd, to bear my lot ; Beyond life's vifta guide my view, And teach me, while I'm ftruggling through, — " The fwifter fweep the dark clouds by, The fooner comes the calm blue fky." v. Spirit of peace — whofe form appears Brighter! to thofe baptized in tears ; Whofe femblance is the dove, which bore Hope, when the floods the earth whelm'd o'er; Grant me that heavenly peace, I pray, The world nor knows, nor takes away ! VI. Spirit of love — thyfelf transfufe, In Thee may I my being lofe ; Prompt every action, every thought ; From Thee be every impulfe caught ; That, with affections fix'd above, I may but breathe, and burn with, love ! 94 WHITSUNDAY. VII. Spirit of grace — frefh life impart, Renew and fanctify my heart ; Remould my will, my foul refine, Adopt me, make me wholly Thine ; And let me daily " grow in grace," Till I behold my Maker's face ! VIII. Spirit of infpiration high, Grand fource of heavenly minftrelfy, Who taught'ft with more than mortal (kill A Saul's rude hand the lyre to trill ; Ever do Thou my fong infpire, And clothe my tongue with Thine own fire ! 95 TRINITY SUNDAY. Almighty and everlafting God, who haft given unto us Thy fervants grace by the confeflion of a true faith to acknowledge the glory of the Eternal Trinity, and in the power of the Divine Majefty to worfhip the Unity 5 we befeeech Thee that Thou wouldft keep us fteadfaft in this faith. — ColleSi for Trinity Sunday, \ YSTERIOUS Trinity ! what mind can grafp Thine awful nature, or what tongue can tell ? Sooner fhall finite man that book unclafp, Which to unfeal did angels' might repel : We only know Thy love ineffable ! — So 'mid the higheft heavens' effulgence bright, The wearied eye might frill, repofing, dwell On the o'erarching bow of emerald light, Which calm'd the troubled heart, and footh'd the aching fight ! ii. Father of heaven ! Lord of the ftarry hofts, Which,countlefs as the moats in noontide rays , 96 TRINITY SUNDAY. Sweep circling through the fea which knows no coafts, — Should mortal fenfe attempt the dizzy maze, 'Twere overpower'd, and loft amid the blaze : Yet who can view that love, which did not fpare Thine only Son, nor feel conftrain'd to praife ? If Thy foul's mirror, and Thy glory's heir, For us that love could give, oh, what can it forbear ? in. Eternal Son ! coequal with Thy fire ! Whom higheft angels reverently adore ; Who mad'ft the heavens, and from Thy throne of fire Wilt judge mankind, when time fhall be no more ; To fing Thy power the Mufe would vainly foar : Yet would fhe falter fomething of that love Which all our fins, and all our fufferings bore, And left the blifs of tearlefs realms above, With torn and bleeding hands, our burden to remove. IV. Celeftial Spirit ! great creative power ! Fountain of wifdom ! Source of life divine ! Thou too didft aid at nature's primal hour ; To found the abyfs of fpace with plummet line, And hold the golden compaffes, was thine : Yet is thy love thy chiefeft attribute ; For 'tis thine office, Comforter benign ! To lure the foul away from earth's purfuit, Its forrows to afluage, its feeble ftrength recruit. What then, though through a glafs I darkly fee, And, darkly feeing, faintly underftand, Thy triune nature, myftic Trinity ! — Though very far off is that glorious land, Where, circled by a bright redeemed band, The King in all His beauty doth abide, And loftieft notes of angel-lyres command — Yet would I hail Thee, Father, Saviour, Guide, In all Thy power rejoice, in all Thy love con- fide ! 98 FIRST SUNDJT FIRST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedft thy good things, and likewife Lazarus evil things ; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. St. Luke xvi. 25. I. THOUGHTFULLY, I watch'd the river ?rfay8 O'er its fhining pebbles flow, And the pale green afpens quiver In their chequer'd {hade below ; Fifh like filver arrows darted Through the furrowy, cryftal ftream, And the joy of life imparted, As they caught the funny gleam. II. By a lonely willow fhaded From the unaccuftom'd heat, Where the ripple oft invaded, I had form'd my ruftic feat ; There I watch'd, amid the eddy, One poor objecT:, half a worm, Struggling, but with effort fteady, To emerge its flimy form. AFTER TRINITY. 99 in. Clofe at hand a fifli was flaming, Like a ray through window ftain'd : Now and then with menace darning At the wretch his pride difdain'd : Too contemptible and fordid To invite more near refort, Yet the uncouth fhape afforded, Seemingly, derifive fport. IV. Ah, thought I, how partial Heaven, In its gift of happinefs ; Some to blifs at birth are given, Others fwathed in wretchednefs : See yon radiant, ftarry creature, As a mooting meteor bright ; While, begrimed in every feature, This poor wretch toils tow'rds the light ! v. While I gazed, this form unmuffled, Stretch'd its nafcent wings in air ; Off "its mortal coil it muffled," And burft forth, as angel fair : Borne, as 'twere on faery pinions, A cerulean body foar'd, And, forfaking earth's dominions, More congenial realms explored. ioo FIRST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. VI. Turning from this floating glory, Towards its foe — now foe no more — I beheld it, faint and gory, Writhing on the diftant fhore ; For fome angler, fkill'd in hiding Fatal barb in mimic fly, There, its ftruggles vain deriding, Left the gorgeous wretch to die. VII. Humbled by the fcene before me, As I gazed upon the ftrand, Suddenly the words flafh'd o'er me, As though traced by burning hand — " Son, in this life thou hadft pleafure, And thy neighbour couldft defpife : Earth from him withheld her treafure — He has found it in the ikies." VIII. Ah, methinks, how vainly mortals Form their eftimates of blifs, And from life's half-open'd portals Speculate on happinefs ; In the twilight of exiflence Judge of things they fcarce can fee, Nor heed, dawning in the diftance, Shadowlefs Eternity ! 101 SECOND SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. We know that we have patted from death unto life, becaufe we love the brethren. . . . Hereby perceive we the love of God, becaufe He laid down His life for us. — i St. John in. 14. 16. I. jH fay, can yonder violet Its own fweet nature fo forget, As when baptized in vernal dews, No perfume round it to diffufe ? Ah no ! — 'tis odorous in death, For fragrance is its very breath. 11. Can yonder reftlefs flame of fire All tremblingly towards heaven afpire, And yet, defpite its glowing heart, No genial, melting, heat impart ? Ah no ! — it cannot warmth deny, For it muft either burn or die. ioz SECOND SUNDAY in. Can, then, Religion, flower divine, The fibres of the heart entwine, Yet felfifhly drink in heaven's dews, Nor balmy love around diffufe ? Ah no ! — love is religion's breath, Moft fragrant in the martyr's death. IV. Religion is the facred name We give to love's divineft flame : Howe'er Devotion may afpire, Love is its life, its foul, its fire ; Nor will the flame be own'd above That is not fed, and filPd, with love. v. The heart is no funereal urn Lighted by flames which do not burn ; For v/here fuch flames are haply found, They fhow but the corruption round : But the true heart which love doth blefs Is the fire-fide of wretchednefs. VI. Yes, not alone fhould kindred come To that fire-fide and find a home ; AFTER TRINITY. 103 But the bright glow mould fpread, and rife O'er earth's conventionalities, Till all the barriers of pride In vain might ftrive its flame to hide. VII. The foul, thus warm'd with fire divine, Shall like a ftar in glory mine ; While far below, however bright, Shall gleam each infulated light, That, like fea-beacon, cold as clear, Seems but to whifper, " Come not near." VIII. When felfifh thoughts the bofom move, Oh, think of Him whofe name is Love ; Gaze on the realms He left for thee, Then view Him on the torture-tree, With arms outfpread as to embrace The whole of man's rebellious race. io 4 THIRD SUNDAY THIRD SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. Likewise, I fay unto you, there is joy in the prefence of the angels of God over one finner that repenteth. St. Luke xv. 10. I. | H, the countlefs myfteries Which our being here enfold ; Oh, the thoufand fympathies Which its links together hold ! Never yet did mortal's mind Half the hidden ties unwind Which the mute creation bind With man's deftinies ! II. Nature is, as bards maintain, Full of fympathizing life ; Though the founds and fhapes they feign Are with their own fancies rife : Voices in the folemn woods, Sirens in the booming floods, Elves in moonlit folitudes, Have their femblances. AFTER TRINITY. 105 in. Far, oh far, excels the truth ; There are fpirits bright and fair, Sent to guide the fteps of youth, Sent to fmooth the brow of care ; Wife as fage, than faint more good. Strong as fiend in fierceft mood, Gentler e'en than womanhood, Are thefe minifters. IV. They from their celeftial bow'rs, Far above the haunts of men, Caft towards this world of ours No unfympathizing ken : Well they know each form of life, Who the foe, and what the ftrife, With what toils and dangers rife Is our pilgrimage. v. Tears — were tears not ours alone — Might lave many an angel-cheek ; But fince tears are there unknown, They but gaze with forrow meek, When tow'rds that abyfs of woe, Deep, beyond what mortals know, They behold us, hurrying, go, Gay and heedleflly. io6 THIRD SUNDJT VI. But when one forfakes the crowd, Mourning he fo long hath ftray'd, And, with true repentance bow'd, Weeps beneath his fig-tree's {hade, Thefe fair fpirits, as they lean, Liftening, o'er the hallow'd fcene, Wake their lyres from joy ferene Into ecftafy. VII. Never with intenfer joy Did the raptured mother ftrain To her breaft her darling boy, Whom me long had fought in vain, Truant in fome pathlefs wood Where the wolf could fcarce find food, And the ferpent rear'd her brood Unmoleftedly > — VIII. With more rapturous delight Sailor's wife did never hail, After long tempeftuous night, Her loved hufiband's ftorm-ripp'd fail, When, funk rocks and quickfands pafs'd, It hath fafe arrived at laft Where the breaker and the blaft Murmur diftantly ; — AFTER TRINITY. 107 IX. Than do thefe bright watchers feel When a foul to God returns, And big tears in filence fteal Down the cheeks remorfe ftill burns : Then, oh then — but hufh my lyre, Vainly would Thy notes afpire To give utterance to the fire Of heaven's rhapfodies. io8 FOURTH SUN DAT FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. For the earned expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifeftation of the fons of God. — Rom. VIII. 19. I. IEAUTIFUL myths have ancient fages CulPd from the fpoils of olden time, Strewing o'er their illumined pages Relics of early truth, fublime. 11. Well did they feign that when defcended, Earthward, the veffel of human woe, Ills flying round with all things blended, Hope only ftay'd with man below.* in. Well did they feign, too, how endurance, Tortured, and rock-bound, triumph'd o'er time ;f * The ftory of Pandora's box, of which there are feveral verfions, is well known. — Vid. Hefiod, Op. et Dies, 90 et feq. f The myth of " Prometheus Vinclus" is, of courfe, familiar to all clafTical readers. AFTER TRINITY. 109 Cheer'd and fupported by the affurance, " Heav'n has for patience guerdons fublime." IV. Even a nation peel'd and fcatter'd, Sitting in allies ftill could fmile, While its old bards the fond hope flatter'd, " That its flain prince but flept awhile."* v. Oh,'tis the voice of all creation, " Not ever-during are its woes ;" There is an earneft expectation, Patiently pointing to life's clofe. VI. Man, it is true, who reads his ftory On the rough ruins round him hurl'd, Tries but in vain to paint the glory Of a new, finlefs, deathlefs, world. VII. Still he who lifts to infpiration, Turning his back on crowds below, * The Welfh nation long believed that their king, Arthur, would be reftored again to his life and kingdom, and thus teftified their faith by the infcription upon his tomb : — Hie jacet Arturus, Rex quondam, Rex- qUE FUTURUS. Pellicier's Don Quixote, note to p. 130. no FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER TRIN. Sees on the hill-tops of falvation Kindling reflections of its glow. # VIII. Yes, there's a day of reftitution, One univerfal jubilee ; Then fhall the wrong'd have retribution, And the opprefs'd full liberty. IX. Sin-laden earth fhall feel redemption, Breathe o'er its frame like Spring's firft breath, Fraught with perpetual exemption From the chill blafts of pain and death. * The (laves of Tyre having revolted againft their mailers, and flain them, determined to elecl a king from among them (elves, referving the honour for him who mould be the iirft to obferve the rays of the rifing fun on a given day. While all the others were anxioufly watch- ing with eyes intent upon the Eaft, the flave of the philolbpher Strato, inftrucled by his mafter whofe life he had fpared, turned toward the Weft, where he obferved the firft rays of the fun lighting up a high tower before the luminary itfelf was vifible above the horizon. The moral drawn by the philolbpher from this ingenious device was, that, in order to difcover truth, one muft turn his back upon the multitude. Fontenelle's Dialogues des Morts, Dial. v. II I FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers. i St. Peter ill. 12. I. E the path or bright, or darkfome, Of the righteous to their reft, O'er it hovers love more tender Than e'er warm'd a parent's breaft ; Sleeplefs eyes each footftep watch, Ears attent each accent catch. 11. In the folitary mountain — Oratory moft fublime, By the far refounding ocean — Nature's quire of ceafelefs chime ; Want hath ne'er unnoticed pray'd, Silent grief unpitied ftray'd. in. In the damp, found-muffling dungeon, In the dark and dreary mine, H2 FIFTH SUN DAT In the felfifh, crowded city, Where lone fpirits oftener pine ; He who ftills the raven's cry, Spurns not man's neglected figh. IV. In the waving, ruftling cornfield Ruth could not unheeded glean ; Nor could meditative Ifaac Take his funfet walk unfeen ; Known is earth's remoteft nook, Horeb's cave, and Chereth's brook. Where the weary-hearted exile Liftlefs tracks his path of foam, Or in dark primaeval foreft Traces out his future home ; One ftill marks, though none Hand by, The dim retroverted eye. VI. Where the fleeplefs mother watches, In the noifelefs, curtain'd room, Scrutinizing thofe pale features, Late fo flufh'd with youthful bloom ; Hands more fkill'd than hers to foothe, Her fick child's toft pillow fmooth. AFTER TRINITY. 113 VII. Where the broken-hearted widow Stands half paralys'd with grief, When to her firft fwell of anguifh Even tears refufe relief; One with more than hufband's love Gazes on her from above. VIII. Where the fage, in lonely ftudy, Meditates fome fcheme benign, And endeavours to infpirit Souls to purpofes divine ; He is near, whofe fmile on high Kindles immortality. IX. Nor in forrow, nor in labour, Does He only fympathize ; But our pleafures and amufements He beholds with kindly eyes ; For He loves His children's play, Strewing flowers around their way. ii4 SIXTH SUNDAY SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. Jesus faid unto His difciples, Except your righteouf- nefs (hall exceed the righteouinefs of the fcribes and Pha- rifees, ye mall in no cafe enter into the kingdom of heaven. — St. Matt. v. 20. I. EHOLD yon fepulchre, all pure and white, fJ^2^% The images of virtues fculptured round, Like mimic temple fwelling on the fight, With holy crofs fymbolically crown'd. 11. Could the eye pierce beneath that polifh'd dome, Naughtwould it fee but faplefs,lifelefs, forms, And fights obfcene, meet for corruption's home — The hall of death — the tryfting-place of worms. in. Here we fee mirror'd, as in molten glafs, Our focial fabric, and our daily life, Outwardly comely, but within, alas ! With empty forms and foul corruptions rife. AFTER TRINITY. 115 IV. Our very righteoufnefs is fin difguifed, Our hofpitality ambition mafk'd, Our faith is more contended for than prized, Our love leaves felf-denial all untafk'd. v. Our worfhip is a heartlefs facrifice, The cenfer far more holy than the fire ; Our clofeft focial bonds a proud device To fever thofe whom kindred fouls infpire. VI. Gold is our ftandard, cuftom is our law, Public opinion is our rule of right; From felfifhnefs our every ac~t we draw, And adulation is our chief delight. VII. Such, but lefs fordid, was the righteoufnefs The Pharifees of yore were fain to vaunt ; Which drewthe curfe of Himwho came to blefs, And chang'd His words of love to bitter taunt. VIII. Ah, how unlike the a righteoufnefs of faints," The fnowy robes of the redeem'd on high : Our garb of" filthy rags" the fpirit taints, Nor hides its fqualor from Heaven's piercing eye. 1 1 6 SIXTH SUN DAT AFTER TRINITY. IX. Oh, I am weary of this mockery — This fin-defiled, but fin-diffembling drefs ; And, ftriving from its folds my limbs to free, Would pray, " Be thou, oh Lord, my righteoufnefs." ii 7 SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. For the end of thofe things is death. — Rom. vi 21. I. I HERE is, bards fay, one midnight dread, When, at bell-toll, the future dead, Of the enfuing year, Their deftined graves feek, 'mid the dew, As travellers their couches view, Ere they repofe them there.* 11. Oh, 'twere a folemn thing to trace, Shadow'd on each pale, prefcient face, Inftincts of coming doom ; * The ghofts of all, whom Death mail doom Within the coming year, In pale proceffion walk the gloom, Amid the filence drear. See Montgomery's Vigil of St. Mark. n8 SEVENTH SUNDAY How fome would fadly turn them back, And fome would fhrink, as 'twere a rack, From the unopen'd tomb. in. Scarcely might we — though much we dare- The fecrets of one grave-yard bear, E'en for a fingle hour : What then, if to our eyes unfeal'd, Death's whole domains mould be reveal'd, In full appalling power ! IV. Each moment frefli, unhoufel'd ghofts, Take through the air, in countlefs hofts, Irremeable flight ; The quails in Sinai's wildernefs, In hurtling crowds fo numberlefs Strew'd not the ground at night. v. But ah, on ghoftly fcenes why dwell, Which, were they not invifible, Would mar each moment's blifs ; When nations loft, except to fame, And buried cities, earth proclaim One huge Necropolis ? AFTER TRINITY. 119 VI. Each element is fraught with death ; Air wafts the fever's foetid breath, Fire all things living dread ; Earth's mountains feem but heroes' graves, And natural fepulchres her caves ; The fea is full of dead ! VII. Turn where we will, Death meets our view ; Ever the faireft avenue Conduits us to fome urn : 'Mid mirth and dance in feftal hall Death's dread handwriting on the wall Doth ftill before us burn. VIII. Leaves ever fall, flowers ever fade, Fruit ere 'tis ripen'd is decay'd, Birds foon as feather'd fly ; Streams ever change, but ne'er return, The brighteft lamps the fafteft burn ; The loveliefl fooneft die. IX. When locufts darken'd Egypt's coafts, A wind fwept back th' unnumber'd hofts Into the deep Red Sea ; izo SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRIN. Thus hourly fweeps earth's myriads, Death, - Sin's blafting and peftiferous breath — Into Eternity ! Yet droop not, Hope, thy liftlefs wings, For e'en the blighting Eaft-wind brings The weary traveller home ; Nay, fire itfelf once form'd a car, Which bore the feer up, like a ftar, Above earth's lefTening dome.* * In a letter written by the martyr Bradford to Cran- mer, Ridley, and Latimer, after his condemnation, and immediately before his execution, occurs the following ejaculation : " Oh, what am I, Lord ! that thou fhouldft thus magnify me fo vile a man and miler(able) as always I have been ! Is this thy