The Sanctuary A Companion in Verse for the English Prayer Book. By Robert Montgomery |
 |
 |
| THE LITANY. |
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. |
| 6. |
| 7. |
|
|
|
 | The Sanctuary |  |
55
THE LITANY.
1. In its Idea.
“Then followeth the Litany, or General Supplication.”
—Rubric.
From God Himself, the Fount of prayer,
Have Litanies proceeded,
Where superhuman tones declare
What saint, or sinner, needed:
Thus did the Bard of Zion lift
His “Miserere”-cry;
And Daniel seek a pardon-gift
With face toward the sky.
Have Litanies proceeded,
Where superhuman tones declare
What saint, or sinner, needed:
Thus did the Bard of Zion lift
His “Miserere”-cry;
And Daniel seek a pardon-gift
With face toward the sky.
And thus, of old, did Heaven command
Priesthood and people.—“there,
Between the Porch and Altar stand,”
And cry, “Jehovah! spare!”
E'en once, the weeping God-Man pray'd
His litany of tears,
While breaking heart and blood betray'd
The agony of fears!
Priesthood and people.—“there,
Between the Porch and Altar stand,”
And cry, “Jehovah! spare!”
E'en once, the weeping God-Man pray'd
His litany of tears,
While breaking heart and blood betray'd
The agony of fears!
What, though no more Procession leads
A fasting, barefoot throng,
Sad nature and her myriad-needs
Yet to the Cross belong:
Still mercy is our master-want,
And helpless guilt the plea,
Nor lives a Soul, who should not chant,
“Be gracious, Lord! to me.”
A fasting, barefoot throng,
Sad nature and her myriad-needs
Yet to the Cross belong:
Still mercy is our master-want,
And helpless guilt the plea,
Nor lives a Soul, who should not chant,
“Be gracious, Lord! to me.”
56
And, glory be to Him Who gives
His Church both prayer, and praise!
That Liturgy, on which She lives,
Boasts of primeval days;
Since, not from East, or West, alone,
But cull'd from ancient time,—
It breathes an Apostolic tone
How simple, and sublime!
His Church both prayer, and praise!
That Liturgy, on which She lives,
Boasts of primeval days;
Since, not from East, or West, alone,
But cull'd from ancient time,—
It breathes an Apostolic tone
How simple, and sublime!
Here, Priest and People, both unite
Each audibly to pray,
While hov'ring mercies round them light,
To answer what they say.
And, could that Litany obtain
From God what there is pleaded,
Dead Paradise might bloom again,
And prayer be superseded!
Each audibly to pray,
While hov'ring mercies round them light,
To answer what they say.
And, could that Litany obtain
From God what there is pleaded,
Dead Paradise might bloom again,
And prayer be superseded!
Intensely-earnest, truthful, deep,
Impassion'd, chaste, severe,
Pathetic, as when spirits weep
And shed the God-known tear,
Embracing individual heart,
Yet, catholic as all,—
Humanity Itself takes part
When thus on Christ we call.
Impassion'd, chaste, severe,
Pathetic, as when spirits weep
And shed the God-known tear,
Embracing individual heart,
Yet, catholic as all,—
Humanity Itself takes part
When thus on Christ we call.
2. Invocation.
“O God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy upon us, miserable sinners.”
—The Litany.
Thee we invoke, Thou Father-God!
Thine erring Children all,
Who oft Perdition's way have trod
But now, their steps recall:—
Created by Thy faultless Power
We broke creation-law;
Nor can we name one conscious hour
Which no corruption saw.
Thine erring Children all,
Who oft Perdition's way have trod
But now, their steps recall:—
Created by Thy faultless Power
We broke creation-law;
Nor can we name one conscious hour
Which no corruption saw.
57
Thee we invoke, Incarnate Lord!
Whose Blood almighty flow'd
And fill'd the wonders of Thy word
With all such death bestow'd:
Oh! did we live for Him Who died,
A shadow from His Cross
Would image forth the Crucified
In every scene, and loss.
Whose Blood almighty flow'd
And fill'd the wonders of Thy word
With all such death bestow'd:
Oh! did we live for Him Who died,
A shadow from His Cross
Would image forth the Crucified
In every scene, and loss.
Thee we invoke, in Godhead, Third!
From Sire and Son proceeding,
Who in Thy Sacraments and Word
When souls are little heeding,—
Art mystically there enshrined
As fontal Source of all
That soothes, or sanctifies mankind,
When they for mercy call.
From Sire and Son proceeding,
Who in Thy Sacraments and Word
When souls are little heeding,—
Art mystically there enshrined
As fontal Source of all
That soothes, or sanctifies mankind,
When they for mercy call.
Holy and undivided Three!
And Three in One adored,
From guilt-born anguish set us free,
And be our sins deplored
As heart-rebellions, dread and deep,
'Gainst Father, Son, and Spirit,
Like those which made Emanuel weep
When Earth despised His Merit.
And Three in One adored,
From guilt-born anguish set us free,
And be our sins deplored
As heart-rebellions, dread and deep,
'Gainst Father, Son, and Spirit,
Like those which made Emanuel weep
When Earth despised His Merit.
Sadness and shame, and guilt and sorrow,—
Haunted by these we move;
But, Faith predicts a brighter morrow
Of calm and cloudless love.
Our pangs are great, yet Mercy reigns
Above dark nature's doom,
And out of guilt a glory gains
Whose radiance fills the tomb!
Haunted by these we move;
But, Faith predicts a brighter morrow
Of calm and cloudless love.
Our pangs are great, yet Mercy reigns
Above dark nature's doom,
And out of guilt a glory gains
Whose radiance fills the tomb!
Hail! Trinity of grace Divine,
The Sempiternal Holy,
Prostrate before the mercy-shrine,
Sackcloth'd with shame, and lowly,
Our litanies we lift on high,
And, by Thy Blood-drawn tears!
Oh, waft some whisper from yon sky
To lull tempestuous fears.
The Sempiternal Holy,
Prostrate before the mercy-shrine,
Sackcloth'd with shame, and lowly,
58
And, by Thy Blood-drawn tears!
Oh, waft some whisper from yon sky
To lull tempestuous fears.
Priest of all priests! in flesh Who died,
That Man might live for ever;
God in our nature crucified!
Let sin, nor sorrow sever
That Body of believing hearts
Who throne Thee as their King,
And, when this dying world departs,
Love's Easter-chant will sing.
That Man might live for ever;
God in our nature crucified!
Let sin, nor sorrow sever
That Body of believing hearts
Who throne Thee as their King,
And, when this dying world departs,
Love's Easter-chant will sing.
3. Intercessions.
“We sinners do beseech Thee to hear us, O Lord God.”
—Litany.
More genial than the glorious Sun,
And wider than the Sea,
Those Litanies our Church begun
In hoar antiquity!—
No accent of sectarian mind
Contaminates their tone;
But in them throbs for all Mankind
A heart, like Jesu's own.
And wider than the Sea,
Those Litanies our Church begun
In hoar antiquity!—
No accent of sectarian mind
Contaminates their tone;
But in them throbs for all Mankind
A heart, like Jesu's own.
So greet we now, with boundless love,
Earth's family below,
And supplicate our God above
Alike for friend, and foe;
But still, the sacramental ties
Which bind the Lord's elect,
Prompt from the soul those deeper cries
Worldlings alone reject.
Earth's family below,
And supplicate our God above
Alike for friend, and foe;
But still, the sacramental ties
Which bind the Lord's elect,
Prompt from the soul those deeper cries
Worldlings alone reject.
Lamb of Jehovah! Light of Light!
Saviour, and Son of God!
Still may Thy Church pursue the right,
The path Thy virtues trod:
Govern, and guard, and inly guide,
And teach her “how to pray,”
Who is the Body, and the Bride
Of Him, the Truth, and Way.
Saviour, and Son of God!
Still may Thy Church pursue the right,
The path Thy virtues trod:
59
And teach her “how to pray,”
Who is the Body, and the Bride
Of Him, the Truth, and Way.
And may th' Anointed of the Lord,
Our Rulers, and our Kings,
Sanction their sceptres with Thy Word
And reign beneath Thy wings:
Thus will our Throne, and Altar stand
Co-ordinately blest;
And richly o'er a christian land
Heaven's radiant mercies rest.
Our Rulers, and our Kings,
Sanction their sceptres with Thy Word
And reign beneath Thy wings:
Thus will our Throne, and Altar stand
Co-ordinately blest;
And richly o'er a christian land
Heaven's radiant mercies rest.
And, next to Thee, but nearer Thine,
By supernat'ral law,
The Clergy, to that care divine
Cold prudence never saw,—
Commit we now; that all, and each,
In order and degree,
May practise what their sermons preach,
Like living Texts on Thee.
By supernat'ral law,
The Clergy, to that care divine
Cold prudence never saw,—
Commit we now; that all, and each,
In order and degree,
May practise what their sermons preach,
Like living Texts on Thee.
Give wisdom unto Power, and Place;
Ennoble all our Peers;
While Justice, panoplied by grace,
None but th' Almighty fears!—
Since Magistrates Thine impress bear
And are by Thee array'd,
A shadow of Thy Crown to wear
When Order is display'd.
Ennoble all our Peers;
While Justice, panoplied by grace,
None but th' Almighty fears!—
Since Magistrates Thine impress bear
And are by Thee array'd,
A shadow of Thy Crown to wear
When Order is display'd.
And, may the darken'd and deceived,
Self-exiled from the Fold,
Turn to That Spirit they have grieved,
And yet, their Home behold;—
True Home of faith, Thy Church, O God!
The structure of Thy Will,
When martyr'd saints in meekness trod
Their way to Zion-hill.
Self-exiled from the Fold,
Turn to That Spirit they have grieved,
And yet, their Home behold;—
True Home of faith, Thy Church, O God!
The structure of Thy Will,
When martyr'd saints in meekness trod
Their way to Zion-hill.
60
Strengthen beleaguer'd Hearts which stand,
Shelter the wounded Dove,
And o'er Thy fainting Ones expand
Plumes of protecting Love:
Succour and soothe the desolate,
Allay the Widow's sigh;
Nor let lone Orphans meet their fate,
Without Compassion's eye.
Shelter the wounded Dove,
And o'er Thy fainting Ones expand
Plumes of protecting Love:
Succour and soothe the desolate,
Allay the Widow's sigh;
Nor let lone Orphans meet their fate,
Without Compassion's eye.
The helpless babe, the mother's throe,
The dungeon'd captive's groan,
Whate'er the hue of mortal woe
Sickness, or health, may own,—
Head of the Church! Incarnate Grace!
To Thee we all commend;
And in the features of Thy face
See Father, God, and Friend.
The dungeon'd captive's groan,
Whate'er the hue of mortal woe
Sickness, or health, may own,—
Head of the Church! Incarnate Grace!
To Thee we all commend;
And in the features of Thy face
See Father, God, and Friend.
Nor, be our deepest foes forgot;
Forgive each bitter wrong;
And teach the lore this world knows not,—
That love, not hate, is strong:
Lost in Thy cleansing Blood-fount lie
All feelings harsh, and stern,
And from the warning of Thy sigh
Let Speech true wisdom learn.
Forgive each bitter wrong;
And teach the lore this world knows not,—
That love, not hate, is strong:
Lost in Thy cleansing Blood-fount lie
All feelings harsh, and stern,
And from the warning of Thy sigh
Let Speech true wisdom learn.
But oh! of gifts the crowning all,
Thy Spirit, Lord! bestow;
Without it, Faith herself must fall
And weal become a woe:
While conscience slumbers o'er the sin
Veil'd in those depths unknown,
Where Satan, from the heart within,
In secret rears his throne!
Thy Spirit, Lord! bestow;
Without it, Faith herself must fall
And weal become a woe:
While conscience slumbers o'er the sin
Veil'd in those depths unknown,
Where Satan, from the heart within,
In secret rears his throne!
O, Lamb of God! O, Lord of lords!
Saviour, and Sun of souls,
This litany of erring words
Ere into heaven it rolls,—
Attuned by Thy perfecting love
Grant that each tone may rise,
And summon from The Heart above
What God to prayer replies.
Saviour, and Sun of souls,
This litany of erring words
Ere into heaven it rolls,—
61
Grant that each tone may rise,
And summon from The Heart above
What God to prayer replies.
4. Deprecations.
“Spare Thy people! whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy most precious blood.”
—Litany.
If Man be want, and God supply,
And prayer unite the Two,
Then may our Church the soul defy
Her wisdom to outdo,—
In seeking what she hath not sought
'Mid the vast world of need,
From all in Godhead faith is taught
Through pard'ning Love to plead.
And prayer unite the Two,
Then may our Church the soul defy
Her wisdom to outdo,—
In seeking what she hath not sought
'Mid the vast world of need,
From all in Godhead faith is taught
Through pard'ning Love to plead.
But, while the flesh-blind Sense believes,
To suffer, is the worst
Of pangs o'er which proud nature grieves,
And ranks that evil first,
The Church, endow'd with sight divine,
In sin, not suff'ring, sees,
When prostrate at the Christian shrine,—
What most requires release.
To suffer, is the worst
Of pangs o'er which proud nature grieves,
And ranks that evil first,
The Church, endow'd with sight divine,
In sin, not suff'ring, sees,
When prostrate at the Christian shrine,—
What most requires release.
Lightning and thunder, plague and pest,
Sickness, and pain, and fear,
Whatever racks with deep unrest
Our spirit-life's career,—
Without, within, from friend or foe,
Amid that vast and varied all
Which makes the mingled sum of woe,
Men sad experience call,
Sickness, and pain, and fear,
Whatever racks with deep unrest
Our spirit-life's career,—
Without, within, from friend or foe,
Amid that vast and varied all
Which makes the mingled sum of woe,
Men sad experience call,
62
Say, is not Sin the venom'd root,
The vip'rous source and spring
Of whatsoe'er, in flower or fruit,
Our aching hearts can wring?
So evil, that its boundless curse
Nor God, nor man, can change!—
Hell could not wish to make it worse,
If once allow'd to range
The vip'rous source and spring
Of whatsoe'er, in flower or fruit,
Our aching hearts can wring?
So evil, that its boundless curse
Nor God, nor man, can change!—
Hell could not wish to make it worse,
If once allow'd to range
Uncheck'd in all its hideousness!—
And hence, O Lord of grace
We seek not now, in mere distress,
One beam from Thy bright Face;
But this our yearning souls would pray,—
Freedom from awful sin!
While in the true and living Way
Our hearts pure triumph win.
And hence, O Lord of grace
We seek not now, in mere distress,
One beam from Thy bright Face;
But this our yearning souls would pray,—
Freedom from awful sin!
While in the true and living Way
Our hearts pure triumph win.
Ah! little boots it, what our doom
Of ever-changing life;
Whether, in radiance, or in gloom,
In softness, or in strife
We onward to Hereafter move,
If pureness be our guide;
Since all we need is heavenly Love,
And Jesus at our side!
Of ever-changing life;
Whether, in radiance, or in gloom,
In softness, or in strife
We onward to Hereafter move,
If pureness be our guide;
Since all we need is heavenly Love,
And Jesus at our side!
And, Lord, without Thee, dark indeed
Life's burden'd lot must be,
Thou Balm alone to hearts that bleed
From wounds which none can see
But Thou!—Whose sympathetic eye
Irradiates the soul,
And brightens, when believers cry
For Thy serene control.
Life's burden'd lot must be,
Thou Balm alone to hearts that bleed
From wounds which none can see
But Thou!—Whose sympathetic eye
Irradiates the soul,
And brightens, when believers cry
For Thy serene control.
O, what is life in fallen Man,
But one collected sin
Against Love's everlasting Plan,
Without, or from within?
And hence, we suffer, while we live;
To struggle, is to be;
And, nought our selves to Self can give
But lost eternity!
But one collected sin
Against Love's everlasting Plan,
Without, or from within?
63
To struggle, is to be;
And, nought our selves to Self can give
But lost eternity!
Now, by Thine Agony and Blood,
Thy Passion's bosom-groan,
By more than Angels understood
Who heard Thy garden-moan!—
Incarnate, tempted, crucified,
Buried, arisen Lord!
We glory in Thy wounded Side,
Thy Sacraments, and Word.
Thy Passion's bosom-groan,
By more than Angels understood
Who heard Thy garden-moan!—
Incarnate, tempted, crucified,
Buried, arisen Lord!
We glory in Thy wounded Side,
Thy Sacraments, and Word.
And through all destined years
Down to the brink of death,
In Thee we hide our solemn fears,
And with departing breath
This litany the Church will cry,—
“Deliver, Lord, and spare;”
And when Thy throne o'erawes the sky,
Oh! grant acquittal, there.
Down to the brink of death,
In Thee we hide our solemn fears,
And with departing breath
This litany the Church will cry,—
“Deliver, Lord, and spare;”
And when Thy throne o'erawes the sky,
Oh! grant acquittal, there.
5. Supplication.
“We beseech Thee to hear us, Good Lord.”
—Prayer Book.
With ardency, and not by Art
Which earth-born skill inspires,
Our Litany its closing part
Rolls through responsive quires;
Instinct with all that plaintive tone
By persecution's horde
Drawn from the Church, when left alone
To suffer for her Lord;—
Which earth-born skill inspires,
Our Litany its closing part
Rolls through responsive quires;
Instinct with all that plaintive tone
By persecution's horde
Drawn from the Church, when left alone
To suffer for her Lord;—
64
Alone to man, and yet sustain'd
By Him, the Ever-Nigh!
When blood and battle round Her reign'd
And war-fiends revell'd by:
E'en then, while Rome's barbaric foes
Trampled an Empire down,
The Church in prayer to God arose
And won her martyr-crown.
By Him, the Ever-Nigh!
When blood and battle round Her reign'd
And war-fiends revell'd by:
E'en then, while Rome's barbaric foes
Trampled an Empire down,
The Church in prayer to God arose
And won her martyr-crown.
The Crucified became Her Strength,
The Cross, a weapon'd charm;
And by Love's chivalry, at length,
Was quell'd satanic harm:
Mighty through meekness, thus she stood
Miraculous by grace!
And proved how martyr'd virtue could
Rescue a perill'd race.
The Cross, a weapon'd charm;
And by Love's chivalry, at length,
Was quell'd satanic harm:
Mighty through meekness, thus she stood
Miraculous by grace!
And proved how martyr'd virtue could
Rescue a perill'd race.
What, though the hour of blood be past,
Yet, militant on earth,
Her lot amid that world is cast
Who hates her awful worth:
Still must she weep, and fast, and fight,
And reap no placid rest,
But feel dejection's aching might
Burden her wounded breast.
Yet, militant on earth,
Her lot amid that world is cast
Who hates her awful worth:
Still must she weep, and fast, and fight,
And reap no placid rest,
But feel dejection's aching might
Burden her wounded breast.
Hence, lift we now, as once of old
United Martyrs did,
Those Litanies which often roll'd
From Saints, in caverns hid,
When, hunted there by blood-hound zeal,
Mangled adorers came,
And felt, as only Martyrs feel,—
His sacramental Name
United Martyrs did,
Those Litanies which often roll'd
From Saints, in caverns hid,
When, hunted there by blood-hound zeal,
Mangled adorers came,
And felt, as only Martyrs feel,—
His sacramental Name
Who, in the fire and flood alike,
As 'mid the Temple-calm,
Though Rage her direst terror strike,
Breathes omnipresent balm!—
That peace which Purity bestows,
The Halcyon of His grace,
Whose promise through portentous woes
Points to a heaven-bright place!
As 'mid the Temple-calm,
Though Rage her direst terror strike,
Breathes omnipresent balm!—
65
The Halcyon of His grace,
Whose promise through portentous woes
Points to a heaven-bright place!
Thus, Lamb of God! dread Sacrifice!
For mercy still we pray;
Nor shall the incense-prayers that rise
Melt in mere breath away,—
But, pleading at Thy Heart, shall bring
Celestial answers down,
And prompt the saddest Hour to sing,
“The Cross shall win the Crown!”
For mercy still we pray;
Nor shall the incense-prayers that rise
Melt in mere breath away,—
But, pleading at Thy Heart, shall bring
Celestial answers down,
And prompt the saddest Hour to sing,
“The Cross shall win the Crown!”
Atoner for the World's vast sin!
Our ransom-Price is paid,
And all we bear, without, within,
When by Thy truth array'd,
Is fraught with victory to Faith,
Whate'er the doom may be,—
Whose heart can hear the Love which saith,
“Suffer, and follow Me!”
Our ransom-Price is paid,
And all we bear, without, within,
When by Thy truth array'd,
Is fraught with victory to Faith,
Whate'er the doom may be,—
Whose heart can hear the Love which saith,
“Suffer, and follow Me!”
6. Prayer for Mercy.
“That it may please Thee to have mercy on all men.”
—Prayer Book.
Adorable! yet unadored
Too oft is Thy transcendent Name,
O Thou! at Whose creative Word
Forth sprang this universal Frame.
Too oft is Thy transcendent Name,
O Thou! at Whose creative Word
Forth sprang this universal Frame.
Yet, mercy art Thou, measureless,
Beyond all span of thought to reach;
And through the Earth's vast diocess
Ten thousand Tongues that mercy preach.
Beyond all span of thought to reach;
And through the Earth's vast diocess
Ten thousand Tongues that mercy preach.
66
Bright Orator, the burning sun
Whose rays are eloquent of Thee
And symbolise that righteous One
Who brightens dark eternity,—
Whose rays are eloquent of Thee
And symbolise that righteous One
Who brightens dark eternity,—
Pale Vestal of the placid sky
Encircled with each nun-like star
Whose throbbing radiance fills the eye
Which museth on it, faint and far,—
Encircled with each nun-like star
Whose throbbing radiance fills the eye
Which museth on it, faint and far,—
These, with all the choral throng
Which make yon firmamental lyre,
Harp to the saintly Mind a song
Whose tones celestial truths inspire.
Which make yon firmamental lyre,
Harp to the saintly Mind a song
Whose tones celestial truths inspire.
Thus, Ocean with her chime of waves,
Meadow, and fruit, and wood-born flower,
Each lends a voice, whose meaning saves
The heart from ev'ry creedless hour.
Meadow, and fruit, and wood-born flower,
Each lends a voice, whose meaning saves
The heart from ev'ry creedless hour.
Yet, faintly such reveal Thy Name,
Though whisper'd forth by sea, and air:
For God alone can God proclaim,
And pardon guilt by answer'd prayer.
Though whisper'd forth by sea, and air:
For God alone can God proclaim,
And pardon guilt by answer'd prayer.
7. Alternate Supplications.
“O Christ, hear us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.”
—Prayer Book.
Lord, have mercy upon us.”
—Prayer Book.
Singer of Zion! on whose harp there hung
Tones which inspired some dying martyr-tongue,
Now would our sorrowing Mother's prayer of sighs,
Wing'd on thy words, exclaim, “Help, Lord, arise!”
Tones which inspired some dying martyr-tongue,
Now would our sorrowing Mother's prayer of sighs,
Wing'd on thy words, exclaim, “Help, Lord, arise!”
Pallid, and pensive, Mary-like in woe,
That Cross beneath, whence consolations flow,
Meekly to God she lifts her asking gaze,
Which seems to brighten with celestial rays.
That Cross beneath, whence consolations flow,
Meekly to God she lifts her asking gaze,
Which seems to brighten with celestial rays.
67
Lord of the Church! as Thine uplifted Arm
Scatter'd of old the wounded Dragon's harm,
Awake! awake! put on Thy strength, and prove
The deathless valour of redeeming Love.
Scatter'd of old the wounded Dragon's harm,
Awake! awake! put on Thy strength, and prove
The deathless valour of redeeming Love.
Egypt, and Canaan, sun, moon, and sea,
Subdued by miracle, or, awed by Thee,
Yielded their vassal-powers, and changed their laws
To aid Thy people, and promote their Cause.
Subdued by miracle, or, awed by Thee,
Yielded their vassal-powers, and changed their laws
To aid Thy people, and promote their Cause.
And, art Thou not Eternal, and the Same?
And bear we not Thy sacramental Name,—
Baptised for ever into Thee, and Thine,
Bone of Thy bone, by mystery divine?
And bear we not Thy sacramental Name,—
Baptised for ever into Thee, and Thine,
Bone of Thy bone, by mystery divine?
Nor bonds, nor banishment, nor rack, nor ire,
The sworded despot, or the seven-fold fire,
Fraud, force, or falsehood, have prevail'd, O Lord,
To cloud her glory, or conceal Thy word.
The sworded despot, or the seven-fold fire,
Fraud, force, or falsehood, have prevail'd, O Lord,
To cloud her glory, or conceal Thy word.
The blood of Martyrs proved the Church's seed,
And show'd her noblest, in the hour of need;
While pangs enrich'd the radiance of her crown,
And life was grandest, when she laid it down.
And show'd her noblest, in the hour of need;
While pangs enrich'd the radiance of her crown,
And life was grandest, when she laid it down.
Hence, to her homeless exile, Truth can bring
Chants learnt from Christ, Whose life was suffering,
And Litanies so deep, that Angels own
Earth teaches heaven by some mysterious tone.
Chants learnt from Christ, Whose life was suffering,
And Litanies so deep, that Angels own
Earth teaches heaven by some mysterious tone.
And, when those sorrows, cloister'd in the heart
In which the rude cold stranger hath no part,
Sighless and speechless, are unveil'd to Thee,
Incarnate Lord of man's eternity,—
In which the rude cold stranger hath no part,
Sighless and speechless, are unveil'd to Thee,
Incarnate Lord of man's eternity,—
High o'er yon heavens ascends the soaring prayer,
Wafted beyond adoring Seraphs there,
And in Thine Attributes divinely-lost
Trembles round Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!
Wafted beyond adoring Seraphs there,
And in Thine Attributes divinely-lost
Trembles round Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!
68
Grace to Sanctify Troubles.
“Strengthen such as do stand; comfort and help the weak-hearted.”
—Prayer Book.
A viewless breeze, on vagrant wing,
That like an air-bird loves to sing,
Or, wavelet laughing in the wind,
Are types of Youth's unthoughtful mind,
Hither and thither, with impulsive glee
Careering onward, where it wills to be.
That like an air-bird loves to sing,
Or, wavelet laughing in the wind,
Are types of Youth's unthoughtful mind,
Hither and thither, with impulsive glee
Careering onward, where it wills to be.
But, soon will dawn a deeper hour;
And cool Reflection's calming power
O'er such delirium shed a ray
Which bids the heedless spirit pray,
While sin and sorrow to the inner Man
Preach the sad lore their blent experience can!
And cool Reflection's calming power
O'er such delirium shed a ray
Which bids the heedless spirit pray,
While sin and sorrow to the inner Man
Preach the sad lore their blent experience can!
And, what is Man?—a pulse and breath
Which flutter into fleetest death;
Infirmer than the faintest thing
A harp of Sentiment can sing,
And, ever finding, like a sea of waves,
This broad earth cover'd with increasing graves!
Which flutter into fleetest death;
Infirmer than the faintest thing
A harp of Sentiment can sing,
And, ever finding, like a sea of waves,
This broad earth cover'd with increasing graves!
“Pity and spare” the vile and weak,—
Such are the tones Thy Children speak:
In mis'ry, sin, and punishment
Our minute-lives are almost spent;
And thus we realise, O Father-God!
A blighted destiny beneath Thy rod.
Such are the tones Thy Children speak:
In mis'ry, sin, and punishment
Our minute-lives are almost spent;
And thus we realise, O Father-God!
A blighted destiny beneath Thy rod.
In “trouble,” be Thou all our Trust,
Rememb'ring, Man is feeble dust;
Deal gently with the Mind deprest,
That faith may learn this wisdom blest,—
Afflictions are the mystic overflow,
Dropt on the Church, from Christ's dread Cup of woe.
Rememb'ring, Man is feeble dust;
Deal gently with the Mind deprest,
That faith may learn this wisdom blest,—
Afflictions are the mystic overflow,
Dropt on the Church, from Christ's dread Cup of woe.
69
And thus, if shaded life appears
To sadden, with evolving years,
While fast decaying, one by one,
The darlings of the Soul are gone,—
Still may we nestle, with confiding art,
Closer and closer to Emanuel's heart.
To sadden, with evolving years,
While fast decaying, one by one,
The darlings of the Soul are gone,—
Still may we nestle, with confiding art,
Closer and closer to Emanuel's heart.
From pureness, comes divinest peace;
From holiness, the heart's release;
And in that boundless word, “forgiven,”
Are tones by grace attuned for heaven:
And God is ours, if we in God confide,
And stand erect, though Worlds should draw aside.
From holiness, the heart's release;
And in that boundless word, “forgiven,”
Are tones by grace attuned for heaven:
And God is ours, if we in God confide,
And stand erect, though Worlds should draw aside.
'Tis not, when fav'ring smiles alone
Fall richly from Thy radiant Throne,
Elected-spirits love to fall
Low in the dust, and Abba! call:—
Not what Thou giv'st, but what Thou art, they love,
Whose graces ripen for the Realms above.
Fall richly from Thy radiant Throne,
Elected-spirits love to fall
Low in the dust, and Abba! call:—
Not what Thou giv'st, but what Thou art, they love,
Whose graces ripen for the Realms above.
Hence, “evermore” and “evermore”
Children of Light their God adore;
And deepen'd holiness desire,
Though graven by affliction's fire:—
For, Christ and Cross must in communion be,
If from the First man seeks eternity.
Children of Light their God adore;
And deepen'd holiness desire,
Though graven by affliction's fire:—
For, Christ and Cross must in communion be,
If from the First man seeks eternity.
| The Sanctuary | |