The Cathedral, or the Catholic and Apostolic Church in England Second edition [by Isaac Williams] |
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The Pillars of the Nave.
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243
The Pillars of the Nave.
PATRIARCHS AND PROPHETS.
“And he reared up the pillars . . . one on the right hand, and the other on the left.”
2 Chron. iii. 17.
“Unto them that take hold of My covenant; even unto
them will I give in Mine house and within My walls a place
and a name . . . . I will give them an everlasting name.”
Isaiah lvi. 4, 5.
244
NOAH.
Father of nations! what high thoughts endued
And arm'd thy soul with matchless fortitude,
Walking with God, in tranquil wisdom strong,
'Mid turbulence, and violence, and wrong?
Sole star descried in that tempestuous night,
Sole thing of life in that o'erwhelming blight!
And arm'd thy soul with matchless fortitude,
Walking with God, in tranquil wisdom strong,
'Mid turbulence, and violence, and wrong?
Sole star descried in that tempestuous night,
Sole thing of life in that o'erwhelming blight!
It was the stronger Man, Eve's promis'd Son,
Bound Death's strong arm within thee, and put on
His armour: it was Christ in thee enshrin'd,
Stretching imploring hands to lost mankind.
In thee His feet found “rest” amid the gloom,
Noah, great name of comfort! Lights illume
The darkness, where He comes with thee to stay;
And, on th'horizon's verge, a heavenly ray
Surrounds thee, while the black baptismal flood
Seems but to lift thee, in thy solitude,
Nearer th'aerial hall, to walk among
The stars of Heav'n;—such hopes to faith belong.
Bound Death's strong arm within thee, and put on
His armour: it was Christ in thee enshrin'd,
Stretching imploring hands to lost mankind.
In thee His feet found “rest” amid the gloom,
Noah, great name of comfort! Lights illume
The darkness, where He comes with thee to stay;
And, on th'horizon's verge, a heavenly ray
Surrounds thee, while the black baptismal flood
Seems but to lift thee, in thy solitude,
Nearer th'aerial hall, to walk among
The stars of Heav'n;—such hopes to faith belong.
In that frail bark Christ, our Emmanuel,
Is passing o'er that more than ocean's swell,
Where seas and skies the gathering darkness fills,
Bearing His own to the celestial hills.
Is passing o'er that more than ocean's swell,
Where seas and skies the gathering darkness fills,
Bearing His own to the celestial hills.
245
ABRAHAM.
Great emblem of the righteous, who shall stand
Girt with bright clouds on the eternal strand,
And see the world in ruin going by,
Stood Abraham, and for Sodom look'd from high.
Girt with bright clouds on the eternal strand,
And see the world in ruin going by,
Stood Abraham, and for Sodom look'd from high.
Behind a misty bank, skirted with gold,
The morning was contending, to unfold
And open all the gloom, where lightnings now
Retiring shew'd black waters far below;
And nothing but destruction seem'd alive,
Save where was seen a hurrying fugitive
With his two daughters, suddenly reveal'd,
And Zoar—by dark clouds again conceal'd.
The morning was contending, to unfold
And open all the gloom, where lightnings now
Retiring shew'd black waters far below;
And nothing but destruction seem'd alive,
Save where was seen a hurrying fugitive
With his two daughters, suddenly reveal'd,
And Zoar—by dark clouds again conceal'd.
'Twas on that mount, where, at last evening's close,
He stood with God; strengthen'd with thoughts that rose
On his true soul, when importuning love
Long interceded, nor all vainly strove.
He stood with God; strengthen'd with thoughts that rose
On his true soul, when importuning love
Long interceded, nor all vainly strove.
Was it in that dread hour that Bethlehem's star
Gleam'd on thy sorrowing heart, and shew'd afar
That coming, which shall light this vale of woe?
Sure that deep calm was thine, which spirits know
When, first awak'ning from the world's alarms,
They feel beneath the everlasting arms.
Gleam'd on thy sorrowing heart, and shew'd afar
That coming, which shall light this vale of woe?
Sure that deep calm was thine, which spirits know
When, first awak'ning from the world's alarms,
They feel beneath the everlasting arms.
246
JOSEPH.
Into some wave, which heedless night-winds rock,
The moon comes down with all her starry flock;
Her glorious imagery around her brings,
And forms a temple of celestial things.
The moon comes down with all her starry flock;
Her glorious imagery around her brings,
And forms a temple of celestial things.
Thus, sweet-soul'd Joseph, as thy life ran on,
Each scene disclos'd anew th'eternal Son,
Till all thou didst, on thy meek purpose bent,
Became in thee divinely eloquent,
Presenting thee, in all that hurried by,
The mirror of some holier history.
Each scene disclos'd anew th'eternal Son,
Till all thou didst, on thy meek purpose bent,
Became in thee divinely eloquent,
Presenting thee, in all that hurried by,
The mirror of some holier history.
Tried by th'adult'rous world, temptation-proof,
But “number'd with transgressors.” Now aloof
Thou sitt'st on high,—around the heathen press,
And from thine hand are fill'd with plenteousness.
But who are these? lift up thine eyes,—behold
Thy brethren, they who set at nought, and sold!
Bid all depart,—Ye little company,
Come ye around, behold me, “it is I,”
Feel me, fear not! the prisoner's chain unbind:
But who is he that lingers yet behind,
“Out of due time?” let ye the stranger in,
'Tis mine own Paul, mine own lov'd Benjamin.
But “number'd with transgressors.” Now aloof
Thou sitt'st on high,—around the heathen press,
And from thine hand are fill'd with plenteousness.
But who are these? lift up thine eyes,—behold
Thy brethren, they who set at nought, and sold!
Bid all depart,—Ye little company,
Come ye around, behold me, “it is I,”
Feel me, fear not! the prisoner's chain unbind:
But who is he that lingers yet behind,
“Out of due time?” let ye the stranger in,
'Tis mine own Paul, mine own lov'd Benjamin.
247
MOSES.
Mortal, endow'd with more than Angel's grace!
Admitted to approach, and face to face
Converse with God; upon the mount profound,
While the thick darkness sentry kept around;
Or 'neath His feet, when, in the sapphire stone,
The body of the Heavens in clearness shone.
Admitted to approach, and face to face
Converse with God; upon the mount profound,
While the thick darkness sentry kept around;
Or 'neath His feet, when, in the sapphire stone,
The body of the Heavens in clearness shone.
All nature at thy bidding stood aghast;
And tempests came and went with ready blast;
And the wild sea drew up his watery bands,
To save or to destroy at thy commands.
And tempests came and went with ready blast;
And the wild sea drew up his watery bands,
To save or to destroy at thy commands.
Thus didst thou shadow forth the Living Word
Who spoke in thee, and nature knew its Lord.
Cleft at thy rod was the obedient stone,
And waters learn'd a sweetness not their own:
But more obdurate than the hardy rock,
Less yielding than the waves thy stubborn flock.
Who spoke in thee, and nature knew its Lord.
Cleft at thy rod was the obedient stone,
And waters learn'd a sweetness not their own:
But more obdurate than the hardy rock,
Less yielding than the waves thy stubborn flock.
Thus from an ardent soul the meekest man
Came forth; for so, in the eternal plan,
Do outward circumstance and inward toil
In stern probation join; mid the turmoil
Faith sits at the soul's helm, the storm to brave,
And gains the haven against wind and wave.
Came forth; for so, in the eternal plan,
Do outward circumstance and inward toil
In stern probation join; mid the turmoil
Faith sits at the soul's helm, the storm to brave,
And gains the haven against wind and wave.
248
JOSHUA.
By Jericho's doom'd towers who stands on high,With helmet, spear, and glittering panoply?
“The Christian soldier, like a gleaming star,
“Train'd in the wilderness to iron war.”
Take off thy shoes, thy promis'd land is found,
The place thou standest on is holy ground.
“Take thou the shield and buckler, stop the way
“Against mine enemies! be Thou my stay!”
I am thy rock, thy castle; I am He
Whose feet have dried up the Egyptian sea:
Fear not, for I am with thee; put on might;
'Gainst thrones and powers of darkness is the fight.
“I go, if Thou go with me; ope the skies,
“And lend me Heav'n-attemper'd armories.”
Gird Truth about thee for thy mailed dress,
And for thy breastplate put on Righteousness;
For sandals, beauteous Peace; and for Thy sword
The two-edg'd might of God's unfailing word;
Make golden Hope thy helmet: on, and strive:—
He that o'ercometh in those courts shall live,
Whose crystal floor by heavenly shapes is trod,
“A pillar in the temple of my God.”
249
DAVID.
The shepherd's staff, the sceptre, and the sword,
And Faith's victorious sling, and tuneful chord
Rife with prophetic minstrelsies, was thine,
Sweet son of Jesse! and such grace divine
Shed beauty o'er thy ways, that thou wast prov'd
Princely and chief in all, till on thee mov'd
The eyes and hearts of men. From Heav'n came down
Such rays of grace, and, forming a bright crown
Around thy brow, mark'd Jesse's honour'd stem,
The morning star of royal Bethlehem.
And Faith's victorious sling, and tuneful chord
Rife with prophetic minstrelsies, was thine,
Sweet son of Jesse! and such grace divine
Shed beauty o'er thy ways, that thou wast prov'd
Princely and chief in all, till on thee mov'd
The eyes and hearts of men. From Heav'n came down
Such rays of grace, and, forming a bright crown
Around thy brow, mark'd Jesse's honour'd stem,
The morning star of royal Bethlehem.
But not the shepherd's crook, sceptre, nor sword,
Nor the lov'd tones of poet's tuneful chord,
Wherein were hid prophetic mysteries,
Nor love of all men's hearts and wond'ring eyes,
Nor Sion's rising towers, nor Carmel's hill,
Nor visions which the minstrel's bosom fill,
The varying robe of day, and beauteous night,
Could meet the yearnings of his longing spright,
When his full heart upon the soothing wires
Broke forth, and pour'd therein his deep desires,—
“Thee, Lord, alone I seek, to keep Thy door,
And dwell within Thy courts for evermore.”
Nor the lov'd tones of poet's tuneful chord,
Wherein were hid prophetic mysteries,
Nor love of all men's hearts and wond'ring eyes,
Nor Sion's rising towers, nor Carmel's hill,
Nor visions which the minstrel's bosom fill,
The varying robe of day, and beauteous night,
Could meet the yearnings of his longing spright,
When his full heart upon the soothing wires
Broke forth, and pour'd therein his deep desires,—
“Thee, Lord, alone I seek, to keep Thy door,
And dwell within Thy courts for evermore.”
250
ELIJAH.
Stern, awful was thy mercy, Tishbite seer,
To close Heav'n's crystal doors, for three long year,
With bands of thy strong prayer, and from men's eyes
To sweep each cloud from the offended skies.
Sure our apostate land is worse than thine,
Nor know we what to seek, what to decline.
To close Heav'n's crystal doors, for three long year,
With bands of thy strong prayer, and from men's eyes
To sweep each cloud from the offended skies.
Sure our apostate land is worse than thine,
Nor know we what to seek, what to decline.
Where wast thou wafted o'er earth's azure roof,
Borne on the whirlwind wheel and fiery hoof?
From whence thou camest forth to realms of sight,
With Moses on the mount in radiant light;
And by the gifted eye of Faith wast seen
In the stern Baptist's vest and awful mien.
Borne on the whirlwind wheel and fiery hoof?
From whence thou camest forth to realms of sight,
With Moses on the mount in radiant light;
And by the gifted eye of Faith wast seen
In the stern Baptist's vest and awful mien.
From Heav'n's calm mansions and ethereal cell,
Where thou beyond the summer clouds dost dwell,
Wilt thou again upon the earth appear,
In living form, or type, or vision clear,
To harbinger the great Elisha's sway,
The coming in of the eternal day?
Where thou beyond the summer clouds dost dwell,
Wilt thou again upon the earth appear,
In living form, or type, or vision clear,
To harbinger the great Elisha's sway,
The coming in of the eternal day?
Full much we need thee, and thy mantle strong,
To part the rising waters! Envious wrong
And filial disobedience lift on high
Their swelling waves, and seem to threat the sky.
To part the rising waters! Envious wrong
And filial disobedience lift on high
Their swelling waves, and seem to threat the sky.
251
ELISHA.
The great Elisha may I call Thy name,
Eternal Saviour, and be free from blame?
E'en as the sun, in things of meanest worth,
His coming and his going shadows forth
From image unto image, so art Thou
Full oft anew revealed; Elijah now
Lone wandering, then Elisha's loftier seat,
The Son of man, and then the Paraclete.
Eternal Saviour, and be free from blame?
E'en as the sun, in things of meanest worth,
His coming and his going shadows forth
From image unto image, so art Thou
Full oft anew revealed; Elijah now
Lone wandering, then Elisha's loftier seat,
The Son of man, and then the Paraclete.
Thou wast mysterious veil'd in growing bread;
Thou in the sacramental oil didst shed
Thine undiminish'd Spirit, flowing o'er
The widow'd Church's vessels evermore.
Thou in the sacramental oil didst shed
Thine undiminish'd Spirit, flowing o'er
The widow'd Church's vessels evermore.
It is Thy figure in the dead man's bones,
Where charnel'd death life-giving virtue owns;
'Tis Thou in unapproached purity,
Who smit'st Thy foes with eyes that cannot see;
While Thine own friends discern a rampart round,
Where cars and horse of living flame abound.
It was Thy word turn'd the baptismal wave
Of Jordan to Thy blood with power to save.
May we in that sure word, that cannot fail,
Strike seven times, and seven times prevail!
Where charnel'd death life-giving virtue owns;
'Tis Thou in unapproached purity,
Who smit'st Thy foes with eyes that cannot see;
While Thine own friends discern a rampart round,
Where cars and horse of living flame abound.
It was Thy word turn'd the baptismal wave
Of Jordan to Thy blood with power to save.
May we in that sure word, that cannot fail,
Strike seven times, and seven times prevail!
252
ISAIAH.
Deep vision'd son of Amoz! with fix'd gaze
And full-tranc'd eyelid, when the illumin'd rays
Fell on thy heart, and to thy ravish'd sense
Rose future scenes hid in Omnipotence:—
And full-tranc'd eyelid, when the illumin'd rays
Fell on thy heart, and to thy ravish'd sense
Rose future scenes hid in Omnipotence:—
Whether when Hell was mov'd, and from its throne
Arose to greet the crown-less Babylon,
Or lifted earth, and the descending sky
In vocal gladness blend, as feeling nigh
The coming of th'eternal Jubilee;
And mountains find a voice, and the glad sea
Listens with all his isles: or from thy brow
A hand unseen the curtain lifts, and, lo,
Dread judgments lower o'er guilty Israel;
And, by near shadows made more visible,
Bright scenes come forth; like landscapes, baffling thought,
Pictur'd afar on hanging clouds, and brought
To a strange nearness; fairer than the state
Which evening pours upon Heav'n's western gate,
Or music opens, with a touch of light
Bringing lost Eden on the inward sight.
Arose to greet the crown-less Babylon,
Or lifted earth, and the descending sky
In vocal gladness blend, as feeling nigh
The coming of th'eternal Jubilee;
And mountains find a voice, and the glad sea
Listens with all his isles: or from thy brow
A hand unseen the curtain lifts, and, lo,
Dread judgments lower o'er guilty Israel;
And, by near shadows made more visible,
Bright scenes come forth; like landscapes, baffling thought,
Pictur'd afar on hanging clouds, and brought
To a strange nearness; fairer than the state
Which evening pours upon Heav'n's western gate,
Or music opens, with a touch of light
Bringing lost Eden on the inward sight.
At every turn the Man of sorrow stands,
Bearing the key to those unearthly lands.
Bearing the key to those unearthly lands.
253
JEREMIAH.
“Come, see, was ever sorrow like to mine?”
What more than human woe, dread Voice, is thine,
While armed shapes of terror throng the cloud,
Which over Judah brings destruction's shroud?
Carrying our griefs, and supplicating still,
It is the Man of sorrows climbs the hill
Of Calvary: o'er Salem shedding tears,
In Anathoth's sad Seer He witness bears.
What more than human woe, dread Voice, is thine,
While armed shapes of terror throng the cloud,
Which over Judah brings destruction's shroud?
Carrying our griefs, and supplicating still,
It is the Man of sorrows climbs the hill
Of Calvary: o'er Salem shedding tears,
In Anathoth's sad Seer He witness bears.
“Come, see, was ever sorrow like to mine?”
From age to age still sounds that voice divine,
Still Sion's virgin daughter heaves the sigh,
“Say, is it nought to you, ye that pass by?”
From age to age still sounds that voice divine,
Still Sion's virgin daughter heaves the sigh,
“Say, is it nought to you, ye that pass by?”
Ye Heav'ns, be hung with sackcloth, and thou earth
Shorn of thy beauty! let the robe of dearth
Clothe the green mountains! they their Maker own,
But of mine Israel I am not known.
“Seek ye the ancient paths, and ye shall live,”
But they cry out, “we will not.” I would strive,
But strong-arm'd vengeance, as it grows more deep,
Holds them in her embrace and lays asleep,
While I o'er your destruction watch and pine,—
“Come, see, was ever sorrow like to mine?”
Shorn of thy beauty! let the robe of dearth
Clothe the green mountains! they their Maker own,
But of mine Israel I am not known.
“Seek ye the ancient paths, and ye shall live,”
But they cry out, “we will not.” I would strive,
But strong-arm'd vengeance, as it grows more deep,
Holds them in her embrace and lays asleep,
While I o'er your destruction watch and pine,—
“Come, see, was ever sorrow like to mine?”
254
EZEKIEL.
Lend me the key which opes the secret cells,
Where, in His words and works, the Godhead dwells.
Where, in His words and works, the Godhead dwells.
As nearer we approach Him, all things throng
Vocal with heav'nly language, and a tongue
Speaking in figure, where the East descries
The glowing footsteps of th'unfolded skies.
Vocal with heav'nly language, and a tongue
Speaking in figure, where the East descries
The glowing footsteps of th'unfolded skies.
By Chebar's flood, around the prophet come
Dread speaking faces, peopling all the gloom,
And Cherubim with Cherubim do ply
Their wheeling wings, and fiery shapes pass by.
Or, with the swiftness of a flying star,
He in Jerusalem is found afar.
Now Egypt, the great dragon, netted lies
'Mid his own waters; or the seas arise
O'er Tyre, the princely ship that walk'd the waves;
Now Lebanon's Cedar the strong tempest braves.
Dread speaking faces, peopling all the gloom,
And Cherubim with Cherubim do ply
Their wheeling wings, and fiery shapes pass by.
Or, with the swiftness of a flying star,
He in Jerusalem is found afar.
Now Egypt, the great dragon, netted lies
'Mid his own waters; or the seas arise
O'er Tyre, the princely ship that walk'd the waves;
Now Lebanon's Cedar the strong tempest braves.
E'en now, as then, in images of fire
Men see the flashes of th'Almighty's ire,
Admire, and tremble not; they come around
And listen to the Church, as to the sound
Of a sweet lovely song, or tuneful reed,
And hear her awful voice, but do not heed.
Men see the flashes of th'Almighty's ire,
Admire, and tremble not; they come around
And listen to the Church, as to the sound
Of a sweet lovely song, or tuneful reed,
And hear her awful voice, but do not heed.
255
DANIEL.
We sit beside the streams of Babylon,
'Neath willowy shades, and hang our harps thereon,
Rememb'ring Sion. What strong chords of love
Shall bind the exile to his home above?
'Neath willowy shades, and hang our harps thereon,
Rememb'ring Sion. What strong chords of love
Shall bind the exile to his home above?
Lov'd intercessor, thou the arts canst tell,
Which draw from Heav'n that all-constraining spell;
Whether thou sitt'st by Hiddekel's broad stream,
Or where on Ulai sleeps the noonday beam;
Or stand'st with outstretch'd hands in palace hall,
Where fiery characters night's shades appal.
Which draw from Heav'n that all-constraining spell;
Whether thou sitt'st by Hiddekel's broad stream,
Or where on Ulai sleeps the noonday beam;
Or stand'st with outstretch'd hands in palace hall,
Where fiery characters night's shades appal.
It is in stedfast prayer the earnest eyes
Set toward the living temple of the skies,—
Stern hardihood, 'mid fasts and watches won,—
And that pure lamp that shall outshine the sun,
The virgin soul,—these, in thy breast inurn'd,
All glowing thoughts to love seraphic turn'd:
Until an ear in wakeful trance was given,
Converse to hold with pursuivants of Heaven;
An eye, the shapes in Time's dark womb to scan,
And see amid the clouds the Son of Man;
A better boon than sons or daughters fair,
To find a place within God's House of Prayer.
Set toward the living temple of the skies,—
Stern hardihood, 'mid fasts and watches won,—
And that pure lamp that shall outshine the sun,
The virgin soul,—these, in thy breast inurn'd,
All glowing thoughts to love seraphic turn'd:
Until an ear in wakeful trance was given,
Converse to hold with pursuivants of Heaven;
An eye, the shapes in Time's dark womb to scan,
And see amid the clouds the Son of Man;
A better boon than sons or daughters fair,
To find a place within God's House of Prayer.
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