The Sanctuary A Companion in Verse for the English Prayer Book. By Robert Montgomery |
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Septuagesima Sunday.
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 | The Sanctuary |  |
Septuagesima Sunday.
“To humble thee, and to prove thee, and to know what was in
thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no.”
—Deut. viii. 2.
“So run that ye may obtain.”
—Epistle for the Day.
As Adam was in Eden tried
By limitation's triple law,
Which bade him see in Self denied
What self-indulgence never saw,
By limitation's triple law,
Which bade him see in Self denied
What self-indulgence never saw,
So we, who share his curse and crime,
A kindred process still prolong:
And, near six thousand years of time
Have never proved that process wrong!
A kindred process still prolong:
And, near six thousand years of time
Have never proved that process wrong!
Power, knowledge, pleasure—round those three
A limit and a law are thrown,
By which the Rights of Deity
To Conscience make their meaning known.
A limit and a law are thrown,
By which the Rights of Deity
To Conscience make their meaning known.
Self-will to Duty sacrifice,
Or, Duty for self-will forego—
Between them both probation lies,
By which we purchase weal, or woe.
Or, Duty for self-will forego—
Between them both probation lies,
By which we purchase weal, or woe.
132
Thus, Life one long temptation forms;
Scene, time, or change the heart assails;
And he alone resists their charms
Whose creed o'er circumstance prevails.
Scene, time, or change the heart assails;
And he alone resists their charms
Whose creed o'er circumstance prevails.
Probation is God's moral plan;
Virtue and vice from hence begin
To mould, or mar, the inward man,
By holy choice, or wilful sin.
Virtue and vice from hence begin
To mould, or mar, the inward man,
By holy choice, or wilful sin.
The Will untried leaves Man unseen,
No character can such display;—
Nor saints, nor martyrs could have been,
Except they chose the better Way.
No character can such display;—
Nor saints, nor martyrs could have been,
Except they chose the better Way.
Hence, Trial proves the law of life,
Election is of Will the soul;
While, heavenward through mysterious strife
Mount we to Him, Who guides the Whole.
Election is of Will the soul;
While, heavenward through mysterious strife
Mount we to Him, Who guides the Whole.
And, is it not a boundless thought
Burden'd with doom'd eternity?—
By evil choice our hell is wrought,
In which to suffer, is to be!
Burden'd with doom'd eternity?—
By evil choice our hell is wrought,
In which to suffer, is to be!
O Thou, Who art essential Grace,
Spirit Divine, such faith inspire,
That we may run our destined race
In truth and love, which never tire.
Spirit Divine, such faith inspire,
That we may run our destined race
In truth and love, which never tire.
Thus, shall the Saviour be our guide,
Whose life redeem'd the will to God,
And proved, by human Self denied,
Perfection was the path He trod.
Whose life redeem'd the will to God,
And proved, by human Self denied,
Perfection was the path He trod.
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