The Cathedral, or the Catholic and Apostolic Church in England Second edition [by Isaac Williams] |
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The North Porch.
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 | The Cathedral, or the Catholic and Apostolic Church in England |  |
The North Porch.
THE CHURCH IN HOPE.
There are instances of two Porches, though one only on the south side is more usual. The exact uniformity and correspondence with which the two sides of the Nave have been constructed, including the Oratories, Sepulchral Recesses, &c. (which it may be observed most closely answer to each other even to the structure of the verse,) may appear to be beyond the precision required from the example of any of our Cathedrals. But it has been thought, that the regularity at which Architecture aims might be more conducive to bring before the mind the end proposed by these associations. And there are higher reasons than these; viz. from the model of the Temple of Jerusalem, and that shadowed forth by the Prophet. Of the former we read, “And he put five bases on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house;” (I Kings vii. 39.) and “the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding;” (Ibid. vi. 34.) “and of the latter, “the little chambers thereof were three on this side and three on that side;” (Ezek. xl. 21.) “and palm trees were upon the posts thereof on this side, and on that side;” (v. 34.) “and at the side without, as one goeth up to the entry of the north gate, were two tables; and at the other side, which was at the porch of the gate, were two tables; four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side.” (v. 40, 41.)
As Sin and Sorrow woke in Paradise,
When Mercy's voice mid frighted Nature's cries
Broke forth, and pledg'd a Saviour's birth.
Sat on the grave of what did once rejoice,
'Twas then he saw the Bow, thrice heard the voice,
“With thee shall stand My Covenant.”
And childless, whom the Lord took forth and shew'd
On night's dark vault a starry multitude,—
Such, Abram, shall of thee be born.
Lean'd Israel on his staff beside his tomb,
'Twas light that broke from that dark gathering gloom,
Which upon Judah's sceptre played.
Forbidden with stain'd hands to build the shrine,
His harp reveal'd a holier Palestine,
And spoke strange things of import high.
And Judah heard the sound of Ephraim's chain,
And rent in thousand shivers on the plain
Saw her long-promis'd Diadem,
'Twas that dark cloud which did on her alight,
Was loaded with glad Prophecy, and bright
With the Eternal Saviour nigh.
Saw Lebanon's cedars wave to Seraph's hymn,
And mid the vale of Desolation dim
A helm and moonlight-gleaming spear.
When the shock'd Earth shook in her agony,
And sun in shame had veil'd his sorrowing eye,
'Twas then our better Birth began.
Shall shake, like figs upon the wither'd tree,
Then your redemption cometh speedily,
And ye too may lift up your eyes.
Shall speak Thy heavy vengeance at the door,
May we but cling unto Thy hand the more,
And in a holier hope be still.
When Sorrow's clouds obscure her firmament,
'Tis then the many-colour'd bow is bent,
To bid the birds of darkness flee.
But when bluff Winter's blustering Charioteer
Chases the relics of the faded year,
The lowly Child of Peace is born.
Of Calvary, Poverty is our best wealth,
Sorrow our comforter, and Sickness health,
And Death of endless life the door.
Hath unlearn'd her black nature, and brought down
High thoughts, a better righteousness to own,
And, much forgiven, loveth much.
Marshall'd the shapes of darkness manifold,
A gleam hath turn'd to palaces of gold,
From the bright sun gone to his rest.
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