 | Sacred Verses, with Pictures |  |
[Why hast Thou for our earthly gloom]
“HE LAYETH IT ON HIS SHOULDERS REJOICING.”
St. Luke xv. 6: “I have found My sheep
which was lost.”
“O good Shepherd, I thank Thee for Thy
tender care and concern for Thy lost sheep.
I had indeed been for ever lost, had not Thy
love sought and found me when I was
astray: for Thy goodness' sake keep me,
for the time to come, from wandering from
Thee and from Thy fold.”
Bp. Wilson's Prayers.
Why hast Thou for our earthly gloom
Thus left Thy Father's hall?
“Not for the righteous am I come,
But sinners to recall.”
Thus left Thy Father's hall?
“Not for the righteous am I come,
But sinners to recall.”
What bear'st Thou from yon desert rock
Upon Thy shoulders bound?
“A sheep that left My Father's flock,
Whom I have lost and found.”
Upon Thy shoulders bound?
“A sheep that left My Father's flock,
Whom I have lost and found.”
What is it causes Angels' mirth
'Mid sons of God in Heaven?
“'Tis some poor sorrowing child of earth
Who is of God forgiven.”
'Mid sons of God in Heaven?
“'Tis some poor sorrowing child of earth
Who is of God forgiven.”
What makes the gracious Father rise,
And hasten from His seat?
“'Tis one in distance He descries,
A long-lost son to meet.”
And hasten from His seat?
“'Tis one in distance He descries,
A long-lost son to meet.”
What is that poor and abject thing,
Washing Thy feet with tears?
“One that would hide beneath My wing
Her sin and shame and fears.”
Washing Thy feet with tears?
“One that would hide beneath My wing
Her sin and shame and fears.”
In Paradise who is that one
That hastes Thy side along?
“One of earth's outcasts I have won;
With Me in death he hung.”
That hastes Thy side along?
“One of earth's outcasts I have won;
With Me in death he hung.”
Dear words to sinner, at the door
Who feels Thy judgment near;
And still the more he mourns, the more
These words of love are dear.
Who feels Thy judgment near;
And still the more he mourns, the more
These words of love are dear.
[THE GOOD SHEPHERD]
“I HAVE GONE ASTRAY,
LIKE A SHEEP THAT IS LOST.”
Good Shepherd, bear Thy long-lost sheep
Upon Thy shoulders home;
By Thine own side the wanderer keep,
That I no longer roam.
Upon Thy shoulders home;
By Thine own side the wanderer keep,
That I no longer roam.
When, viewing all the past, I think
How I have gone astray,
My spirit doth within me sink;
I feel me far away.
How I have gone astray,
My spirit doth within me sink;
I feel me far away.
Thy words, in trembling fear and love,
Then o'er and o'er I read,
Pledging that Thou from heaven above
Wilt come down in our need;
Then o'er and o'er I read,
Pledging that Thou from heaven above
Wilt come down in our need;
That Thou wilt all our sorrows own
When most we feel forlorn,
And Angels which surround Thy throne
Will pity them that mourn.
When most we feel forlorn,
And Angels which surround Thy throne
Will pity them that mourn.
With them that mourn loss of Thy grace,
In sorrow and in fear,
The Angels which surround Thy face
And Thou Thyself art near.
In sorrow and in fear,
The Angels which surround Thy face
And Thou Thyself art near.
The Warning of Joseph.
No sooner is our Saviour born
Than He is mark'd by woe;
Those who love Him must learn to mourn
And suffer pain below.
Than He is mark'd by woe;
Those who love Him must learn to mourn
And suffer pain below.
His parents have done no man wrong,
That they must flee away;
But all who unto Him belong
Will this bad world betray.
That they must flee away;
But all who unto Him belong
Will this bad world betray.
Yet they are unto God above
And holy angels dear;
Bright are their footsteps in His love,
Calm'd by His holy fear.
And holy angels dear;
Bright are their footsteps in His love,
Calm'd by His holy fear.
To Joseph in a vision deep
The angel now return'd,
And all around him in his sleep
The light celestial burn'd.
The angel now return'd,
And all around him in his sleep
The light celestial burn'd.
The Flight into Egypt.
Be still, thou wintry Storm,Nor hurt her gentle form;
Shine out again from far,
Thou Bethlehem's lowly Star;
Their pathway strew, thou Earth,
For Him who gave thee birth,
By Virgin-mother trod,
The mother with her God.
From nightly winds so wild
She wraps her Holy Child;
In each thought of unrest,
She clasps Him to her breast.
Good Joseph by her side
Hastes, like a Heaven-sent guide;
While Faith throughout the night,
Than morning star more bright;
And round them holy Love
A peaceful light doth prove.
[THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE]
It is written, My house shall be called
the House of Prayer: but ye have made
it a den of thieves.
S. Matt. xxi. 13.
Ye who approach God's House of Prayer
Remember God Himself is there,
Though not beheld by eyes of sense;
Do Him all lowly reverence.
Remember God Himself is there,
Though not beheld by eyes of sense;
Do Him all lowly reverence.
Remember Christ the Crucified
Was like a Lamb in all beside;
But in His Father's House His zeal
Did the avenging Judge reveal.
Was like a Lamb in all beside;
But in His Father's House His zeal
Did the avenging Judge reveal.
All that profaned He swept from thence,
Dreadful in His omnipotence;
And 'mid them, with uplifted rod,
Stood terrible the Almighty God.
Dreadful in His omnipotence;
And 'mid them, with uplifted rod,
Stood terrible the Almighty God.
There is He still, although unseen—
Take heed no deed or thought unclean
Enter within that sacred door,
Or tread upon that hallow'd floor.
Take heed no deed or thought unclean
Enter within that sacred door,
Or tread upon that hallow'd floor.
Let not the thoughts of merchandise
In thine unheeding breast arise;
Nor pleasure past, nor future care,
Dare breathe within that hallow'd air.
In thine unheeding breast arise;
Nor pleasure past, nor future care,
Dare breathe within that hallow'd air.
To eyes of faith there God is found,
The angel hosts keep watch around;
Upon thine heart are countless eyes,
As if admitted to the skies.
The angel hosts keep watch around;
Upon thine heart are countless eyes,
As if admitted to the skies.
Thus when men know not He is near,
In His own House shall He appear,
And drive with scourge of endless woe
All that defiles His Church below.
In His own House shall He appear,
And drive with scourge of endless woe
All that defiles His Church below.
[THE WIDOW OF NAIN]
“HE WAS THE ONLY SON OF HIS MOTHER, AND SHE WAS
A WIDOW.”—Luke vii. 12.
“The whole tale of misery is told in a few words. The mother was a widow, and had
no hope of having children; she had no one upon whom she might look in the
place of him that was dead. To him alone she had given suck; he alone made
her home cheerful. All that is sweet and precious to a mother, was he alone to
her.”—St. Gregory Nyssen.
Who says the widow's heart must break,
The childless mother sink?—
A kinder, truer voice I hear,
Which even beside that mournful bier
Whence parents' eyes would hopeless shrink,
The childless mother sink?—
A kinder, truer voice I hear,
Which even beside that mournful bier
Whence parents' eyes would hopeless shrink,
Bids weep no more.—O heart bereft,
How strange to thee that sound!
A widow o'er her only son,
Feeling more bitterly alone
For friends that press officious round.
How strange to thee that sound!
A widow o'er her only son,
Feeling more bitterly alone
For friends that press officious round.
Yet is the voice of comfort heard,
For Christ hath touched the bier—
The bearers wait with wondering eye,
The swelling bosom dares not sigh,
But all is still, 'twixt hope and fear.
For Christ hath touched the bier—
The bearers wait with wondering eye,
The swelling bosom dares not sigh,
But all is still, 'twixt hope and fear.
Even such an awful soothing calm
We sometimes see alight
On Christian mourners, while they wait
In silence, by some churchyard-gate,
Their summons to the holy rite.
We sometimes see alight
On Christian mourners, while they wait
In silence, by some churchyard-gate,
Their summons to the holy rite.
And such the tones of love which break
The stillness of that hour,
Quelling th' embittered spirit's strife—
“The Resurrection and the Life
Am I: believe, and die no more.”
The stillness of that hour,
Quelling th' embittered spirit's strife—
“The Resurrection and the Life
Am I: believe, and die no more.”
Unchanged that voice—and though not yet
The dead sit up and speak,
Answering its call; we gladlier rest
Our darlings on earth's quiet breast,
And our hearts feel they must not break.
The dead sit up and speak,
Answering its call; we gladlier rest
Our darlings on earth's quiet breast,
And our hearts feel they must not break.
Far better they should sleep awhile
Within the church's shade,
Nor wake until new heaven, new earth,
Meet for their new immortal birth
For their abiding place be made,
Within the church's shade,
Nor wake until new heaven, new earth,
Meet for their new immortal birth
For their abiding place be made,
Than wander back to life, and lean
On our frail love once more.
'Tis sweet, as year by year we lose
Friends out of sight, in faith to muse
How grows in Paradise our store.
On our frail love once more.
'Tis sweet, as year by year we lose
Friends out of sight, in faith to muse
How grows in Paradise our store.
Then pass, ye mourners, cheerly on,
Through prayer unto the tomb,
Still, as ye watch life's falling leaf,
Gathering from every loss and grief
Hope of new spring and endless home.
Through prayer unto the tomb,
Still, as ye watch life's falling leaf,
Gathering from every loss and grief
Hope of new spring and endless home.
Then cheerly to your work again,
With hearts new braced and set
To run, untired, love's blessed race,
As meet for those who face to face
Over the grave their Lord have met.
With hearts new braced and set
To run, untired, love's blessed race,
As meet for those who face to face
Over the grave their Lord have met.
[THE DAUGHTER OF JAIRUS]
“He had one only daughter, about twelve years of age,
and she lay a dying.”—Luke viii. 42.
Youthful maiden, beauty's flower,
Opening for thy summer hour,
Know there is a sadder death
Than this one, of parting breath.
First of all, in secret sins
The undying worm begins;
But when prayer is given o'er,
Then the pulse doth beat no more;
Next, when Faith in God's high will
Ceases, then the breath is still.
Soon Decay, with secret traces,
All the work of God effaces;
Yet awhile calm beauty lingers,
E'en beneath Death's silent fingers;
For the features still are fair,
You might think that life was there.
Now, before Corruption foul
Makes his bed in that dark soul,
Blest if love should thither lead
Christ, the Raiser of the dead.
Upon Him, with earnest call,
Cast thyself, thine all in all
Make Him; what though others scorn,
Mock, and laugh, or o'er thee mourn,
Life shall soon resume her seat,
Thou with Him shalt rise and eat.
[THE AGONY].
O Holy Lamb, slain ere the world was made,And hast Thou from Thy Father's bosom come,
Thyself the Sacrifice
Dimly shadow'd of old?
[WASHING THE DISCIPLES FEET]
Lord, why in this mysterious sceneArt Thou thus kneeling low?
Teach us what Thou by this dost mean
That we should do or know.
[THE BURIAL]
One shall say unto Him, What are these
wounds in Thine hands? Then shall
He answer, Those with which I was
wounded in the house of My friends.
Zech xiii. 6.
Hush'd is the noise of that tremendous day
In Gabbatha's dark hall and Calvary's hill;
The dreadful sounds in distance die away,
And in that rocky garden all is still.
In Gabbatha's dark hall and Calvary's hill;
The dreadful sounds in distance die away,
And in that rocky garden all is still.
The Shepherd of the sheep there smitten lies;
His sheep beloved are scatter'd far and wide;
One faithful group stands in the evening skies,
Beneath a rugged rock's o'erhanging side.
His sheep beloved are scatter'd far and wide;
One faithful group stands in the evening skies,
Beneath a rugged rock's o'erhanging side.
Joseph and Nicodemus, now grown bold,
There wrap their Lord in the white winding-sheet;
With fragrant funeral honours they enfold
His Head and Body and His sacred feet.
There wrap their Lord in the white winding-sheet;
With fragrant funeral honours they enfold
His Head and Body and His sacred feet.
The Holy Women too are gazing there,
In sorrow beyond sorrow drawing nigh;
But the sore agonies of their despair
Are calm'd by the deep sense that God is nigh.
In sorrow beyond sorrow drawing nigh;
But the sore agonies of their despair
Are calm'd by the deep sense that God is nigh.
Here Mary and Salome foremost stand,
And gaze on that loved Face all mark'd with gore;
The thorny crown hard by, and wounded Hand,
Speak agonies which none hath known before.
And gaze on that loved Face all mark'd with gore;
The thorny crown hard by, and wounded Hand,
Speak agonies which none hath known before.
The Magdalene at feet of her dear Lord
Kneels down, o'erwhelm'd with passionate grief profound,
Remembers her anointing and His word,
And gains an unknown comfort from each wound.
Kneels down, o'erwhelm'd with passionate grief profound,
Remembers her anointing and His word,
And gains an unknown comfort from each wound.
The Virgin Mother of our Lord and God
Is sitting by, in speechless woe, apart;
They who approach Him most feel most the rod;
The sword e'en now hath pierced her inmost heart.
Is sitting by, in speechless woe, apart;
They who approach Him most feel most the rod;
The sword e'en now hath pierced her inmost heart.
Christ risen.
In majesty unspeakable
He rose from the dark grave,
Victorious o'er the powers of hell,
Omnipotent to save.
He rose from the dark grave,
Victorious o'er the powers of hell,
Omnipotent to save.
The soldier-guard that watched the tomb
Lay breathless with affright,
Their souls were wrapt with twofold gloom,
While round them shone the light.
Lay breathless with affright,
Their souls were wrapt with twofold gloom,
While round them shone the light.
Then came that holy company
Of mourners ever blest,
The sepulchre of death to see,
But found an angel-guest.
Of mourners ever blest,
The sepulchre of death to see,
But found an angel-guest.
Why seek the Living 'mong the dead?
No more the grave's dark prison
Shall hold Him in her silent bed;
The Lord of life is risen!
No more the grave's dark prison
Shall hold Him in her silent bed;
The Lord of life is risen!
[BEHOLD I STAND AT THE DOOR]
“BEHOLD, I STAND AT THE DOOR, AND KNOCK.”
Rev. iii. 20.
Rev. iii. 20.
A Stranger in the morning light,
Without the door He stood,
His locks are wet with dews of night,
His hair is drench'd with blood.
Without the door He stood,
His locks are wet with dews of night,
His hair is drench'd with blood.
Lord, art Thou still a stranger, then,
By love and pity led,
No place among the sons of men
To lay Thy sacred Head?
By love and pity led,
No place among the sons of men
To lay Thy sacred Head?
Thou bid'st us knock with earnest cries,
And none on earth so poor
But if he knocks, Thou wilt arise,
And ope for him the door.
And none on earth so poor
But if he knocks, Thou wilt arise,
And ope for him the door.
Still Thou for us art listening long,
To rise and let us in,
We heed Thee not, we do Thee wrong,
And stray in ways of sin:
To rise and let us in,
We heed Thee not, we do Thee wrong,
And stray in ways of sin:
For all too well Thy spirit knows
Short time doth yet remain
Before the eternal door shall close,
And we shall knock in vain.
Short time doth yet remain
Before the eternal door shall close,
And we shall knock in vain.
Thou waitest, but we do not hear;
From Heaven Thou comest down;
To us on earth Thou drawest near,
Thy wandering sheep to own.
From Heaven Thou comest down;
To us on earth Thou drawest near,
Thy wandering sheep to own.
Yea, Thou Thyself to us art come,
And listening at the door,
Seeking with us to make Thine home,
And dwell for evermore.
And listening at the door,
Seeking with us to make Thine home,
And dwell for evermore.
His locks are wet with dews of night,
His hair is drenched with blood,
And long within the morning light
He at the door hath stood.
His hair is drenched with blood,
And long within the morning light
He at the door hath stood.
Two men of old the risen Lord
Once joined along the way,
With burning hearts they heard His word,
And urged with them to stay.
Once joined along the way,
With burning hearts they heard His word,
And urged with them to stay.
Beneath their roof then Him they led,
An unknown stranger-guest,
When suddenly in breaking bread
Their God was manifest.
An unknown stranger-guest,
When suddenly in breaking bread
Their God was manifest.
'Tis He that's called the Morning Star
Who listeneth at thy door,
Within His side there is a scar,
His hands are mark'd with gore.
Who listeneth at thy door,
Within His side there is a scar,
His hands are mark'd with gore.
If thou wilt ope the door e'en now,
His pledge to thee is given;
“Then I will sup with thee below,
And thou with Me in Heaven.”
His pledge to thee is given;
“Then I will sup with thee below,
And thou with Me in Heaven.”
A Stranger in the morning light
Without the door He stood,
His locks are wet with dews of night,
His hair is drench'd with blood.
Without the door He stood,
His locks are wet with dews of night,
His hair is drench'd with blood.
The Guardian Angel.
“TAKE HEED THAT YE DESPISE NOT ONE OF THESE
LITTLE ONES: FOR I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT IN HEAVEN
THEIR ANGELS DO ALWAYS BEHOLD THE FACE OF MY
FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.”
See those bubbles, one, two, three,
How they sparkle! now they flee,
Now they stop and look at me;
Then they hide; now, three, four, five,
Whirl about as if alive;
Then they break; and then another
Rises up, and wheels around,
With that rippling, pleasant sound.
But how little does my mother
Think that I have strayed so far,
Or what I have got for her!
Guardian Angel.
Gently tread, my little one!
Fair and bright the waters run;
But where most they seem asleep,
There are whirlpools very deep;
And you have no stay to hold
On the plank so free and bold;
And to save yourself, I know,
You that flower would ne'er let go.
The Child in the Storm.
“FOR THEY SAY THAT LITTLE INFANTS
REPLY BY SMILES AND SIGNS
TO THE BAND OF GUARDIAN ANGELS
THAT ROUND ABOUT THEM SHINES.”
REPLY BY SMILES AND SIGNS
TO THE BAND OF GUARDIAN ANGELS
THAT ROUND ABOUT THEM SHINES.”
And no human footstep near;
'Neath the shelter of my wing
Safely sleep, thou helpless thing;
For the storm that beats so wild
Shall not harm thee, little child.
From beyond the silver star
Have I spied thee from afar;
And have come, my watch to keep
O'er thee smiling in thy sleep.
Gently smile, my little one,
For thou art not left alone;
Happy would thy mother be
Could she wisdom learn of thee—
'Mid the tempest thus to smile,
And to trust in God the while.
He through the dark mountain-way
Watches where her footsteps stray;
But she is half dead with care,
For she knows not He is there.
| Sacred Verses, with Pictures | |