The Anniversaries Poems in Commemoration of Great Men and Great Events. By Thomas H. Gill |
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January 25.
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January 25.
SAINT PAUL.
“I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.”—
St. Paul.
St. Paul.
Lord! Thou wilt surely greet
Souls for thy service meet;
No bars of brass can keep Thine own from Thee.
O! vainly Earth and Hell
Guard their grand captives well
Against the glimpses of Thy radiancy.
Thou streamest on their startled eyes,
And makest them Thine own by some divine surprise.
Souls for thy service meet;
No bars of brass can keep Thine own from Thee.
O! vainly Earth and Hell
Guard their grand captives well
Against the glimpses of Thy radiancy.
Thou streamest on their startled eyes,
And makest them Thine own by some divine surprise.
Forth from the leaguer fell
Wherein thy foemen dwell,
The glorious captains of Thy host Thou takest;
The mighty souls that came
To quench the sacred flame
The bearers of the Heavenly Fire Thou makest;
And hands that vexed Thy people most
Do wave the greenest palms of all the Martyr Host.
Wherein thy foemen dwell,
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The mighty souls that came
To quench the sacred flame
The bearers of the Heavenly Fire Thou makest;
And hands that vexed Thy people most
Do wave the greenest palms of all the Martyr Host.
Thy light not vainly glowed
On that Damascus road:
O not for nought that Voice Divine was heard,
The foeman was o'erthrown,
The champion made Thine own
When right against Thee in hot haste he spurred:
Then streamëd forth the world to win
The mighty burning flame of Love that hate had been.
On that Damascus road:
O not for nought that Voice Divine was heard,
The foeman was o'erthrown,
The champion made Thine own
When right against Thee in hot haste he spurred:
Then streamëd forth the world to win
The mighty burning flame of Love that hate had been.
Strange realms, wide waters o'er,
The conquering Cross he bore,
In her own isle the Love Queen he abashed:
Through Asian cities bright
He poured the sweet, strange light;
Down Dian in her Ephesus he dashed;
Greece glowed beneath his golden tongue;
Full in Athenian ears their unknown God he rung.
The conquering Cross he bore,
In her own isle the Love Queen he abashed:
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He poured the sweet, strange light;
Down Dian in her Ephesus he dashed;
Greece glowed beneath his golden tongue;
Full in Athenian ears their unknown God he rung.
Each rich Corinthian shrine
Grew dim and undivine,
Philippi heard the captor-captive's song;
O! ne'er from Grecian soul
Such golden streams did roll;
No Roman hand e'er smote, e'er built so strong.
Down temples fell where'er he trod,
And on from land to land stretched the dear Church of God.
Grew dim and undivine,
Philippi heard the captor-captive's song;
O! ne'er from Grecian soul
Such golden streams did roll;
No Roman hand e'er smote, e'er built so strong.
Down temples fell where'er he trod,
And on from land to land stretched the dear Church of God.
O bearer of all shame!
O Earth's most glorious name!
O weakling by whom mightiest deeds were done!
O prisoner, whose strong stroke
Ten thousand fetters broke!
O outcast, by whose word the world was won!
O bruisëd one, whose cheer ran o'er
To make divinely glad all souls for evermore!
O Earth's most glorious name!
O weakling by whom mightiest deeds were done!
O prisoner, whose strong stroke
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O outcast, by whose word the world was won!
O bruisëd one, whose cheer ran o'er
To make divinely glad all souls for evermore!
Thy bright, victorious way
'Neath scourge and fetter lay;
The headsman met thee at imperial Rome:
Now lay thy burden down!
Now, victor, take thy crown!
Now, lover, stay with thy dear Lord at home!
Now lead that martyr-army bright!
Now wave that palm most green, now wear that robe most white!
'Neath scourge and fetter lay;
The headsman met thee at imperial Rome:
Now lay thy burden down!
Now, victor, take thy crown!
Now, lover, stay with thy dear Lord at home!
Now lead that martyr-army bright!
Now wave that palm most green, now wear that robe most white!
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