The Cathedral, or the Catholic and Apostolic Church in England Second edition [by Isaac Williams] |
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 | The Cathedral, or the Catholic and Apostolic Church in England |  |
X.
Thus hallow'd in Thy house of Prayer
Each change, else leading to despair,
Doth, like a pillar, heavenward rise,
On which are built our destinies.
Each change, else leading to despair,
Doth, like a pillar, heavenward rise,
On which are built our destinies.
I thank Thee, oft as we are there
And stand upon the heavenly stair,
Thy words the key note still return,
Lest all too bold our fancies burn.
And stand upon the heavenly stair,
Thy words the key note still return,
Lest all too bold our fancies burn.
As “Holiness” on Aaron's head
Which o'er his purple garments shed
That felt but untold sanctity
Of him who bears the Priestly key,
O'ershadowing with awe profound
Unto his tuneful skirts around.
Which o'er his purple garments shed
That felt but untold sanctity
Of him who bears the Priestly key,
O'ershadowing with awe profound
Unto his tuneful skirts around.
Or as on Aaron's holier breast
The glorious constellations rest,
Enfolding “Light and Truth” from high,
The voice of God in mystery.
Thus o'er each worship here below,
A light divine that Prayer doth throw.
The glorious constellations rest,
Enfolding “Light and Truth” from high,
The voice of God in mystery.
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A light divine that Prayer doth throw.
If 'neath the Church's parent shade
'Tis thus transform'd to meet our aid,
How shall it not abide the proof
For every want 'neath mortal roof?
O thought too high for mortal sense
The lowliness, the confidence,
Reposing love, retiring fear,
Unspeakably combining there!
Within the wayside leaf, or flower,
Is hid a temple of strange dower,
Of order fair a very world
Beneath a vein'd envelope curl'd,
All wondrous hid in viewless bars,
Like a blue night of silver stars.
'Tis thus where'er Thy hand hath been,
Tho' oft by none but Angels seen:
And here, conceal'd from careless eyes,
In sheltering veils there folded lies,
Within that heav'n-made prayer enroll'd,
Simplicity most manifold!
'Tis thus transform'd to meet our aid,
How shall it not abide the proof
For every want 'neath mortal roof?
O thought too high for mortal sense
The lowliness, the confidence,
Reposing love, retiring fear,
Unspeakably combining there!
Within the wayside leaf, or flower,
Is hid a temple of strange dower,
Of order fair a very world
Beneath a vein'd envelope curl'd,
All wondrous hid in viewless bars,
Like a blue night of silver stars.
'Tis thus where'er Thy hand hath been,
Tho' oft by none but Angels seen:
And here, conceal'd from careless eyes,
In sheltering veils there folded lies,
Within that heav'n-made prayer enroll'd,
Simplicity most manifold!
Forms which surround Truth's secret throne,
By varied name to mortals known,
Are here united all in one;
The Eight that hold the heavenly door
Beatitudes of Gospel lore;
The number'd Graces which all lie
In bosom of true Charity;
The Fruits which round the branches twine,
And gather o'er the mystic Vine.
Like fairest shapes, unchang'd above,
By varied name to mortals known,
Are here united all in one;
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Beatitudes of Gospel lore;
The number'd Graces which all lie
In bosom of true Charity;
The Fruits which round the branches twine,
And gather o'er the mystic Vine.
Like fairest shapes, unchang'd above,
Yet altering their mien and air,
Throw varying shadows as they move
Throw varying shadows as they move
O'er sunny earth and waters fair.
Within this Prayer come from on high,
Their embryo forms in secret lie,—
Here are the roots which all supply.
Like that dread image from the skies,
Before and after having eyes:—
Or like a cloud, with lustre sown,
Where stars of the celestial zone
Blend in a bright communion.
Within this Prayer come from on high,
Their embryo forms in secret lie,—
Here are the roots which all supply.
Like that dread image from the skies,
Before and after having eyes:—
Or like a cloud, with lustre sown,
Where stars of the celestial zone
Blend in a bright communion.
O hidden wisdom, ever nigh,
Then let me school mine ear and eye
To unwind all thine harmony.
'Tis ever thus in holy things,
The more we seek the sacred springs,
More fresh and deep their bounty flows,
More calm beneath the skies repose.
Oft'ner we turn, more love we learn,
And loving more, more thither turn.
For Prayer doth feeble Faith repair,
And Faith repair'd doth kindle Prayer;
Like Angel forms on either hand,
They hold the Pilgrim thro' life's strand,
From strength to strength both leading on
In holy wondrous union.
Thus lifting up our thoughts on high,
We nearer bring the starry sky,—
E'en thus for ever newly born
Advance we into Heav'nly morn.
Then let me school mine ear and eye
To unwind all thine harmony.
'Tis ever thus in holy things,
The more we seek the sacred springs,
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More calm beneath the skies repose.
Oft'ner we turn, more love we learn,
And loving more, more thither turn.
For Prayer doth feeble Faith repair,
And Faith repair'd doth kindle Prayer;
Like Angel forms on either hand,
They hold the Pilgrim thro' life's strand,
From strength to strength both leading on
In holy wondrous union.
Thus lifting up our thoughts on high,
We nearer bring the starry sky,—
E'en thus for ever newly born
Advance we into Heav'nly morn.
Blest words come from the holiest shrine,
Ye that on Jesus' lips divine,
Ye that with saints from age to age
Have been throughout their pilgrimage!
In triumph and in agony
Ye went between them and the sky,—
A road where aiding Angels came;
May we in you partake their flame,
Bond of strange union when we kneel,
Think as they thought, and with them feel,
With saints on earth and saints on high,
Bound in mysterious sympathy!
By day and night there may we flee,
As to a sheltering sanctuary,
The refuge of a Father's name
Which only doth abide the same.
Ye that on Jesus' lips divine,
Ye that with saints from age to age
Have been throughout their pilgrimage!
In triumph and in agony
Ye went between them and the sky,—
A road where aiding Angels came;
May we in you partake their flame,
Bond of strange union when we kneel,
Think as they thought, and with them feel,
With saints on earth and saints on high,
Bound in mysterious sympathy!
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As to a sheltering sanctuary,
The refuge of a Father's name
Which only doth abide the same.
Thro' life, as change and chance succeed,
That Prayer to Heav'n doth bear our need,
And with Thine inspiration warm
Turns our dead thoughts to living form:
As when goes forth thy quickening breath,
Kindling the wrecks and dust of Death,
Into the shapes of varied Life,
Trees, flowers, and streams, all beauty rife,—
Man, beast, and bird, one kindred strife,—
Earth, Sea, and Sky, uniting raise
A living temple to Thy praise.
That Prayer to Heav'n doth bear our need,
And with Thine inspiration warm
Turns our dead thoughts to living form:
As when goes forth thy quickening breath,
Kindling the wrecks and dust of Death,
Into the shapes of varied Life,
Trees, flowers, and streams, all beauty rife,—
Man, beast, and bird, one kindred strife,—
Earth, Sea, and Sky, uniting raise
A living temple to Thy praise.
Thus have our earthly wishes turn'd
To wings that have with glory burn'd,
Fann'd into pure serene desires,
They clothe them with celestial fires,
Borne on the breath of our own Lord,
And instinct with the living Word.
But unto what shall we compare
The boundless hopes embosom'd there?
To wings that have with glory burn'd,
Fann'd into pure serene desires,
They clothe them with celestial fires,
Borne on the breath of our own Lord,
And instinct with the living Word.
But unto what shall we compare
The boundless hopes embosom'd there?
How beauteous here the Moon at night
Walks forth amid her hosts of light;
And Evening looks, a pilgrim sage,
Out of his western hermitage;
And Earth and Sea, whose voices rise
In solemn and dread harmonies;
Then what shall be the spirit's home,
When Thy true Kingdom shall have come?
Walks forth amid her hosts of light;
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Out of his western hermitage;
And Earth and Sea, whose voices rise
In solemn and dread harmonies;
Then what shall be the spirit's home,
When Thy true Kingdom shall have come?
If in the flower such beauty lies,
Which blooms at morn, at evening dies,
And in each form of life around
Mysterious wisdom hides profound;
What shall our heav'nly bodies be
When cloth'd with immortality?
Which blooms at morn, at evening dies,
And in each form of life around
Mysterious wisdom hides profound;
What shall our heav'nly bodies be
When cloth'd with immortality?
If in Thy guiding hand above
The glorious hosts are seen to move,
And all creation here below
Thy daily ordering seems to know;
How much more Thine unseen controul
Must be around the human soul,
Prepar'd, beyond the starry skies,
To put on endless destinies!
The glorious hosts are seen to move,
And all creation here below
Thy daily ordering seems to know;
How much more Thine unseen controul
Must be around the human soul,
Prepar'd, beyond the starry skies,
To put on endless destinies!
| The Cathedral, or the Catholic and Apostolic Church in England | |