 | The Sanctuary |  |
23
Te Deum.
“We praise Thee, O God; we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord.”
—Ambrose.
O Lord, how luminous dark Earth can be
When Faith beholds it shine with Thee,
Whose viewless Presence, arm'd with vital power,
Irradiates each heart and hour:—
Sea, air, and ocean with “laudamus” ring,
“Te Deum,” hark! the planets sing;
Each watching star that sentinels the night
Grows eloquent with throbbing light,
Till Souls below, with Saints above,
Complete the litany of Love.
When Faith beholds it shine with Thee,
Whose viewless Presence, arm'd with vital power,
Irradiates each heart and hour:—
Sea, air, and ocean with “laudamus” ring,
“Te Deum,” hark! the planets sing;
Each watching star that sentinels the night
Grows eloquent with throbbing light,
Till Souls below, with Saints above,
Complete the litany of Love.
And here, in this Ambrosian chant of praise
High o'er the heaven of heavens we raise
Heart, soul, and spirit, till we seem to blend
Our lauds with theirs, which never end;
But in eternity of chanting joy
Each faculty of bliss employ,—
Deep'ning above that coronation-hymn
Harp'd from the lyres of Cherubim
To One in Three, and Three in One
Infinite Essence unbegun!
High o'er the heaven of heavens we raise
Heart, soul, and spirit, till we seem to blend
Our lauds with theirs, which never end;
But in eternity of chanting joy
Each faculty of bliss employ,—
Deep'ning above that coronation-hymn
Harp'd from the lyres of Cherubim
To One in Three, and Three in One
Infinite Essence unbegun!
Nine versicles of anthem'd praise we pour
Round the I am our souls adore:
And, what a company with us shall meet
With songs to gird the Mercy-seat!
Apostle, Prophet, Saint, and Martyr there,
Angel, and Seraph,—more than words declare
Of Beings countless as the rays of noon,
Each chord of rapture now attune;
And cast their coronets before Thee,
Centre of uncreated Glory!
Round the I am our souls adore:
And, what a company with us shall meet
With songs to gird the Mercy-seat!
Apostle, Prophet, Saint, and Martyr there,
Angel, and Seraph,—more than words declare
Of Beings countless as the rays of noon,
Each chord of rapture now attune;
And cast their coronets before Thee,
Centre of uncreated Glory!
And oh! that these reluctant hearts of ours
Were not so loveless, with their powers;
Then would they “cry aloud,” and louder still,
And yon supernal Arches fill
With lauding thunders of melodious song,—
By Angels, as they roll'd along,
Re-echo'd back to eucharistic earth
Enrich'd with their celestial worth!—
Thus would our lives religion be,
By praise return'd to Deity.
Were not so loveless, with their powers;
24
And yon supernal Arches fill
With lauding thunders of melodious song,—
By Angels, as they roll'd along,
Re-echo'd back to eucharistic earth
Enrich'd with their celestial worth!—
Thus would our lives religion be,
By praise return'd to Deity.
To live, is mercy! not a pulse, or breath,
But preaches His vicarious Death,
Whose Blood redeem'd us from that yawning hell
Justice unveil'd, when Adam fell:
But, never can mere finite numbers count
Of mercies our immense amount
Morn, noon, and night!—In all we hope, or feel,
The Trinity this truth reveal,—
Creation only by the Cross
Becomes a gain, and not a loss.
But preaches His vicarious Death,
Whose Blood redeem'd us from that yawning hell
Justice unveil'd, when Adam fell:
But, never can mere finite numbers count
Of mercies our immense amount
Morn, noon, and night!—In all we hope, or feel,
The Trinity this truth reveal,—
Creation only by the Cross
Becomes a gain, and not a loss.
Hence, Lauds and Litanies alone can bless
Hearts which the Triune God confess,—
Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost divine,
The True and Everlasting Trine!
And Him, who did not spurn the Vestal womb,
But rose refulgent from the tomb
To perfect glory in Paternal Bliss,
Ruling the world, by purchase His;
Thence to return, and from the Throne
Reward the Souls He calls His own.
Hearts which the Triune God confess,—
Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost divine,
The True and Everlasting Trine!
And Him, who did not spurn the Vestal womb,
But rose refulgent from the tomb
To perfect glory in Paternal Bliss,
Ruling the world, by purchase His;
Thence to return, and from the Throne
Reward the Souls He calls His own.
“Number'd with Saints!”—not less, nor more, we ask
To cheer us in life's weary task:
Lord of The Spirit! teach us how to pray,
As here we tread that narrow way
Whose windings by Thy sacred Feet were trod
When Earth beheld her weeping God:—
Our perill'd hearts secure from impious sin,
By law without, and love within;
“Te Deum!” then, our souls will cry,
And while we live, shall learn to die.
To cheer us in life's weary task:
Lord of The Spirit! teach us how to pray,
As here we tread that narrow way
Whose windings by Thy sacred Feet were trod
When Earth beheld her weeping God:—
Our perill'd hearts secure from impious sin,
By law without, and love within;
“Te Deum!” then, our souls will cry,
And while we live, shall learn to die.
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