 | Sequences, Hymns, and Other Ecclesiastical Verses |  |
34
Sequence for All Souls.
O the vastness! O the terror!
O the launching on the sea!
Sailing dangerous, tempest threatening—
is there no help? must it be?
O the launching on the sea!
Sailing dangerous, tempest threatening—
is there no help? must it be?
“Even so: the Admiral's flag-ship
this same way hath sailed before,
Leading to that waveless harbour,
leading to that stormless shore.”
this same way hath sailed before,
Leading to that waveless harbour,
leading to that stormless shore.”
When the South-West wind blew softly,
we supposed our purpose gained;
Full of hope, without a drawback,
shrouds were set and sails were strained;
we supposed our purpose gained;
Full of hope, without a drawback,
shrouds were set and sails were strained;
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For we deemed the pleasant breeze that
from our native regions bore,
Very, very soon would land us
on the ever peaceful shore.
from our native regions bore,
Very, very soon would land us
on the ever peaceful shore.
And we spake of that dear Country,
And its Fourfold Streams that part,
Carrying healing to the nations,
joy to the distress'd in heart:
And its Fourfold Streams that part,
Carrying healing to the nations,
joy to the distress'd in heart:
In the valleys where they delve it,
how the gold is good indeed:
In the pastures by Life's water,
how the flocks lie down and feed:
how the gold is good indeed:
In the pastures by Life's water,
how the flocks lie down and feed:
How the Lord of that same Kingdom,
once the Admiral of this sea,
Brought His vessel to the harbour
where He wills that we should be;
once the Admiral of this sea,
Brought His vessel to the harbour
where He wills that we should be;
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Brought her through the sorest tempest,
anchored her in quiet tides;
Where in everlasting triumph
with her victor flag she rides.
anchored her in quiet tides;
Where in everlasting triumph
with her victor flag she rides.
While we thought and spake on this wise,
clouds drew in and night drew on;
Dashed upon our labouring bulwarks
that fierce wind Euroclydon;
clouds drew in and night drew on;
Dashed upon our labouring bulwarks
that fierce wind Euroclydon;
And our Lord's own dear assistance
scarcely kept our grace alive,
When we saw the vessel caught up
in the wind and let her drive.
scarcely kept our grace alive,
When we saw the vessel caught up
in the wind and let her drive.
Yet He did not leave us wholly,
strengthening us for what remained,
As, well getting under Clauda,
by hard work our boat we gained:
strengthening us for what remained,
As, well getting under Clauda,
by hard work our boat we gained:
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And though tempests of temptations
made our vessel lurch and dip,
By far mightier Words of Promise
now we undergird the ship.
made our vessel lurch and dip,
By far mightier Words of Promise
now we undergird the ship.
But far out the fearful Whirlpool
stretched ahead before us lay;
Hour by hour our keel was driving
for its ravenous jaws a prey.
stretched ahead before us lay;
Hour by hour our keel was driving
for its ravenous jaws a prey.
And no blessed sun gave comfort,
and no moon her gentler light,
And the stars in all their courses
sang no songs to cheer our night.
and no moon her gentler light,
And the stars in all their courses
sang no songs to cheer our night.
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Now when prayer and toil had failed, and
no small tempest on us lay,
All the hope of our salvation—
once so bright—was ta'en away.
no small tempest on us lay,
All the hope of our salvation—
once so bright—was ta'en away.
Then stood forth God's Priest amidst us,
he whose faith could never swerve:
“Hear,” he said, “His holy message,
Whose I am, and Whom I serve.”
he whose faith could never swerve:
“Hear,” he said, “His holy message,
Whose I am, and Whom I serve.”
And he gave us Absolution,
and he taught us that the strife,
Though it cost the vessel's being,
Should not cost a single life.
and he taught us that the strife,
Though it cost the vessel's being,
Should not cost a single life.
Midnight passed,—the shipmen, deeming
that we drifted to some shore,
Cast four anchors from the sternward
longing that the night were o'er.
that we drifted to some shore,
Cast four anchors from the sternward
longing that the night were o'er.
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Four great anchors—tried sheet-anchors—
each one in itself an host,
Those infrangible Evangels,
welded by the Holy Ghost.
each one in itself an host,
Those infrangible Evangels,
welded by the Holy Ghost.
Bound by these, we there swung safely
till the pitch-black passed away,
And an Unknown Land they made out
through the mirkiness and spray.
till the pitch-black passed away,
And an Unknown Land they made out
through the mirkiness and spray.
Ah! unknown, unknown to mortals!
Is it thus, with longing eyes,
First we see thee, first we hail thee,
First we have thee, Paradise?
Is it thus, with longing eyes,
First we see thee, first we hail thee,
First we have thee, Paradise?
Is it thus, in form so differing
from our fancied flowers and vales,
In these rock-crests swept and shattered
by the equinoctial gales?
from our fancied flowers and vales,
In these rock-crests swept and shattered
by the equinoctial gales?
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As the lingering day was breaking,
stood our Captain forth and said,—
(All Eternity before us,—)
“I beseech you, take some Bread.”
stood our Captain forth and said,—
(All Eternity before us,—)
“I beseech you, take some Bread.”
O that Bread! that Bread of Angels!
O that Corn of Mighty men!
Never, never, had we tasted
of its mightiness as then!
O that Corn of Mighty men!
Never, never, had we tasted
of its mightiness as then!
And at length the Master called us;
(for the time was come at last
When the perils of the voyage
should for evermore be past;)
(for the time was come at last
When the perils of the voyage
should for evermore be past;)
Called us to the latest effort;
bade us all, without delay,
Plunge into that self-same sea-surge,
Where our Admiral led the way.
bade us all, without delay,
Plunge into that self-same sea-surge,
Where our Admiral led the way.
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Planks or spars or boards or splinters,
each and all shall save from loss;
Anything Life's Tree hath hallowed;
any fragment of the Cross.
each and all shall save from loss;
Anything Life's Tree hath hallowed;
any fragment of the Cross.
—Blest the Wood whereby salvation
cometh to the shipwrecked race!
—Paradise! made sure by angels,
be henceforth our resting-place!
cometh to the shipwrecked race!
—Paradise! made sure by angels,
be henceforth our resting-place!
There beside the Living Waters
now they see Him Eye to eye,
Where shall go no oarèd galley,
no brave ship shall pass thereby;
now they see Him Eye to eye,
Where shall go no oarèd galley,
no brave ship shall pass thereby;
Living Waters, where at noon-day
feed the flocks of that far land;
Glassy and triumphant ocean,
where the guerdon'd Conquerors stand.
feed the flocks of that far land;
Glassy and triumphant ocean,
where the guerdon'd Conquerors stand.
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