 | The Sanctuary |  |
The Trisagion.
“Evermore praising Thee, and saying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts.”
—Prayer Book.
Thrilling with an inward glory
Light of light! elate before Thee
Lifted in heart absolvèd spirits stand;
And like angels overawed
While they chant the choral laud,—
In loud Trisagions feel their souls expand.
Light of light! elate before Thee
Lifted in heart absolvèd spirits stand;
And like angels overawed
295
In loud Trisagions feel their souls expand.
Melodies of paschal mirth
Now become their spirit-birth
Who in this Festival of pardon meet,—
Heart and voice too here uplift
Lauding God's eternal gift
Which brightens o'er them from the mercy-seat.
Now become their spirit-birth
Who in this Festival of pardon meet,—
Heart and voice too here uplift
Lauding God's eternal gift
Which brightens o'er them from the mercy-seat.
Low on earth while guilt remains,
Let the pardon'd soar in strains
Which thrill the heavens, and with angelic quires
Around the Throne triumphant
Blend their voices jubilant,—
Welcomed by Him Whose praise their harp inspires.
Let the pardon'd soar in strains
Which thrill the heavens, and with angelic quires
Around the Throne triumphant
Blend their voices jubilant,—
Welcomed by Him Whose praise their harp inspires.
Meet and right it is to sing
And with hearts thus worshipping
Circle the shrine where our Passover lies;
While in words whose mystic tone
Proto-martyrs loved to own
God-ward ascends the oral sacrifice!
And with hearts thus worshipping
Circle the shrine where our Passover lies;
While in words whose mystic tone
Proto-martyrs loved to own
God-ward ascends the oral sacrifice!
Time nor scene contain that heart
Unto which all gifts impart
A sense immortal of Thy goodness, Lord!—
What is life, but love to Thee
In divine Humanity,
Our will Thy wisdom, and our law Thy word?
Unto which all gifts impart
A sense immortal of Thy goodness, Lord!—
What is life, but love to Thee
In divine Humanity,
Our will Thy wisdom, and our law Thy word?
But the temple-courts do most
Kindle Thine adoring host
To hymn th' Incarnate with melodious bliss:
There what inspirations glow
While above, around, below
Spells not of earth array an hour like this!
Kindle Thine adoring host
To hymn th' Incarnate with melodious bliss:
There what inspirations glow
While above, around, below
Spells not of earth array an hour like this!
Aisled cathedrals dimly-glorious
Haunted by saints who sang before us
Well may we dream,—while vaulted arches ring,
And before each echoing shrine
Lauds and litanies divine
Worship and wonder in full chorus bring.
Haunted by saints who sang before us
296
And before each echoing shrine
Lauds and litanies divine
Worship and wonder in full chorus bring.
Holy! Holy! Holy One!
Boundless, Endless, Unbegun,
In Threefold Unity the God of all,—
While archangels Thee adore
Seraph-like our hearts would soar
And with their company “our Father,” call.
Boundless, Endless, Unbegun,
In Threefold Unity the God of all,—
While archangels Thee adore
Seraph-like our hearts would soar
And with their company “our Father,” call.
Heaven and earth are full of Thee
Lord of dread eternity
Throned in Thyself unutterably bright!
But in Christ Thy children dare
Offer Thee both praise and prayer,
And see how Love can mitigate that Light
Lord of dread eternity
Throned in Thyself unutterably bright!
But in Christ Thy children dare
Offer Thee both praise and prayer,
And see how Love can mitigate that Light
Which would blast them!—but for Him
By Whom saints and seraphim
Blend in one family of blissful joy;
And round 'mortal shrines can blend
Anthem'd strains which never end,
But through eternity their harps employ.
By Whom saints and seraphim
Blend in one family of blissful joy;
And round 'mortal shrines can blend
Anthem'd strains which never end,
But through eternity their harps employ.
With them, like them, let us sing,
Who entranced on outspread wing
Warble and worship round Thy burning Throne:
Feebly though our music float
Falt'ring with imperfect note,—
Heaven holds One heart the Church may call her own!
Who entranced on outspread wing
Warble and worship round Thy burning Throne:
Feebly though our music float
Falt'ring with imperfect note,—
Heaven holds One heart the Church may call her own!
Thine it is, Thou King of Glory!
Nor can angels hymn before Thee
A chant more grateful, though in purer strain:
Boldly therefore let us chant
And with chorus jubilant
Cry “Holy!” till the heavens respond again!
Nor can angels hymn before Thee
A chant more grateful, though in purer strain:
Boldly therefore let us chant
And with chorus jubilant
Cry “Holy!” till the heavens respond again!
297
Thought of dread, for words too deep,
Let it in mute wonder sleep,—
Angels are kneeling round yon Altar-shrine!
Though their lustres none can see,
Over man their wings may be
And shade the spirit with a spell divine.
Let it in mute wonder sleep,—
Angels are kneeling round yon Altar-shrine!
Though their lustres none can see,
Over man their wings may be
And shade the spirit with a spell divine.
| The Sanctuary | |