J--^-
^^ryi^S^
THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
s^;
!^tr:*g*7^^yaF/?i'^. ^ 1^-«' :J^-"K^i-
f-fe^
-^c
^' /-^^
^
■/^y
^i^-\.
^^
=>wu4ft^
^* ''^^J-;/:^'
/
/u
/ .
2^
BISHOP KEN'S CHRISTIAN YEAR.
THIRD EDITION.
I
BISHOP KEN'S
I €\fxistim ^ear
OR HYMNS AND POEMS FOR THE HOLY
DAYS AND FESTIVALS OF
THE CHURCH
r
LONDON
BASIL MONTAGU PICKERING
196 PICCADILLY
1868
3S3f
PREFACE.
OR more than a century and a half
the name of Bifhop Ken h?s been
afibciated with the three opening
Hymns of this ColIe6lion, which
fince their firft publication in 1700, at the end
of a Manual of Prayers v/hich he compiled for
the ufe of the fcholars of Winchefter College,
have perhaps enjoyed more popularity, and been
more fung in our churches, than any fimilar com-
pofitions in the language. In the meantime, the
equally fine Hymns on the Chriflian Feftivals,
publifhed pofthumoufly in 1721, have been unde-
fervedly negle6i:ed, though they have been highlv
praifed by the late John Keble, who was pro-
bably indebted to them for the idea of his own
"Chriftian Year."
610G3S
ENcnsH
\
vi PREFACE
Many, therefore, who reverence the name of
Ken and love to linger on the details of his holy
and felf-denying career — v^^ho look up to him as
the model of a Chriftian bifhop — will now learn
for the firft time what a rich legacy of facred
verfe he left behind him, and what a new claim
he has to their admiration and love.
Poetical blood flowed in his veins ; for he was
defcended on his mother's fide from John Chalk-
hill, the author of " Thealma and Clearchus."
Left an orphan in 1 651, at the early age of four-
teen, he had the advantage of being nurtured in
the love of all that is beautiful and pure by one
of the gentleft and tendereft fpirits of the feven-
teenth century — Izaak Walton, who had married
his elder fifter Ann in 1646. Having fpent fo
many years in familiar intercourfe with fuch a
mind, it is no wonder that he became a poet.
The tale of his faintly and devoted life has
been told fo often and fo well, that there is no
need to dwell on it here. It is only necelTary
to refer the reader to the narratives of Hawkins,
Bowles, and Markland, and laft but not leaft to
the exhauftive " Life of Bifhop Ken by a Lay-
PREFACE. vii
man," publifhed by the late William Pickering
in 1848.
Thefe hymns were the one confoling occupa-
tion of his declining years, when, deprived of
his wealth and honours for confcience' fake and
fuffering the direft tortures of phyfical pain, he
was looking forward with longing eyes to that
" reft prepared for the people of God," to which
he had fpent his life in fhowing the way.
The reader muft not expect to find in his
verfe the mellifluous fmoothnefs of a later age.
With Cowley and the " metaphyfical fchool"
as models, his diction is neceflarily fomewhat
obfolete and his ftyle difFufe, and he indulges
fometimes in a vein of conceit that has long
been out of fafhion. This will not invalidate
his claim to a high place among our earlier
facred poets — for Herbert, Crafhaw and Quarles,
Vaughan and Wither, if they {hared with him
in his excellencies, fhared with him alfo in his
moft charadleriftic faults. The hallowed at-
mofphere of devotion that impregnates every
line will endear him to all good churchmen of
the olden type : his lips feem for ever touched
vu
PREFACE.
with a live coal from off the Altar. OccafioRal
quaintnefs will be condoned for the fake of the
holy thoughts and afpirations which abound in
the poetry of Thomas Ken.
CONTENTS.
MORNING Hymn
An Evening Hymn
A Midnight Hymn
Advent Sunday. Days Numbered .
Second Sunday in Advent. Judgment
Third Sunday in Advent. RefurreSiion
Fourth Sunday in Advent
Chriftraas Day
St. Stephen's Day .
St. John the Evangelift's Day
The Holy Innocents
Firft Sunday after Chriftmas. God a Father
The Circumcifion .
Second Sunday after Chriftmas.
The Epiphany
Firft Sunday after Epiphany .
Second Sunday after Epiphany.
Third Sunday after Epiphany
Jefus ....
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany.
Fifth Sunday after Epiphany .
Sixth Sunday after Epiphany.
Septuagefima Sunday. "Jujiice
Sexagefima Sunday
On the Nati'vity
Chrijl-Uke Lo've
The Saints nxj'ith
Omnipotence .
The Trumpet
PAGE
I
3
5
7
1 1
13
16
17
22
28
34-
39
43
4-7
S3
58
65
67
69
73
75
78
82
X CONTENTS.
Qnlnquagefima Sunday .....
Afh Wednefday
Firft Sunday in Lent. T^e Temptation .
Second Sunday in Lent .....
Third Sunday in Lent
Fourth Sunday in Lent. The Life ofjefus
Fifth Sunday in Lent. God's Attributes .
Sunday next before Eafter. Name ofjefus
Monday before Eafter. On the Agony
Tuefday before Eafter. T/te Arraignment ofjefus
Wednefday before Eafter. The Paffwn .
Thurfday before Eafter .
Good Friday
Eafter-Eve
Eafter Day .
Monday in Eafter Week
Tuefday in Eafter Week. The Refurre^ion .
Firft Sunday after Eafter. Jefus on Tabor
Second Sunday after Eafter ....
Third Sunday after Eafter ....
Fourth Sunday after Eafter ....
Fifth Sunday after Eafter ....
Afcenfion Day, or Holy Thurfday .
Sunday after Afcenfion Day. Jefus Prefent .
Whit Sunday ......
Monday in Whitfun Week. All Blejfitigs by Jefus
Tuefday in Whitfun Week ....
Trinity Sunday
Firft Sunday after Trinity ....
Second Sunday after Trinity. God is Lo've .
Third Sunday after Trinity . . . •
Fourth Sunday after Trinity ....
Fifth Sunday after Trinity. Life .
Sixth Sunday after Trinity. Jefus our All in All
Seventh Sunday after Trinity ....
Eighth Sunday after Trinity ....
PACE
86
92
99
loi
104.
112
117
120
127
138
149
152
163
165
173
179
18S
191
19+
'95
1V8
199
208
2 1 1
218
222
227
237
242
244
2+7
251
254
257
Lo've taught by
Unity
CONTENTS.
Ninth Sunday after Trinity
Tenth Sunday after Trinity. Jefus' Love preferred
Eleventh Sunday after Trinity. Jefus our Priejl
Twelfth Sunday after Trinity. Likenefs to Jefus
Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity
Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity
Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity. The Sermon on the
Mount ....
Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity.
Jefus ....
Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity.
Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity
Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity
Twentieth Sunday after Trinity
Twenty-firft Sunday after Trinity .
Twenty-fecond Sunday after Trinity
Lon)e .....
Twenty-third Sunday after Trinity.
fought .....
Twenty-fourth Sunday after Trinity.
Twenty-fifth Sunday after Trinity.
St. Andrew's Day ....
St. Thomas the Apoftle .
Converfion of St. Paul .
Purification of St. Mary the Virgin .
St. Matthias' Day ....
Annunciation of the Blefled Virgin Mary
St. Mark's Day
St. Philip and St. James's Day
St. Barnabas the Apoftle
St. John Baptlft's Day .
St. Peter's Day
St. James the Apoftle
St. Bartholomew the Apoftle .
St. Matthew the Apoftle
St. Michael and all Angels
Prayer fo>
Hea-ven firjl
Hea'ven
Jefus our King
XI
PAGE
259
264
267
271
274
276
279
287
291
295
297
299
303
305
308
311
314-
318
322
326
33+
3 39
345
352
357
361
3^9
374.
382
387
39+
400
A MORNING HYMN.
Who all night long unwearied Ting,
High praife to the Eternal King.
I wake, I wake, ye Heavenly Choir,
May your devotion me infpire.
That I like you my age may fpend,
Like you may on my God attend.
May I like you in God delight.
Have all day long my God in fight.
Perform like you my Maker's Will,
may I never more do ill.
Had I your wings to Heaven I'd fly,
But God fhall that defedl fupply,
And my foul wing'd with warm defire,
Shall all day long to Heaven afpire.
All praife to Thee, Who fafe haft kept.
And haft refrefti'd me whilft I flept.
Grant, Lord, when I from death fhall wake,
1 may of endlefs Light partake.
I would not wake, nor rife again,
Ev'n Heaven itfelf I would difdain,
Wert not Thou there to be enjoy'd,
And I in hymns to be employ'd.
Heaven is, dear Lord, where'er Thou art,
O never then from me depart :
For to my foul, 'tis hell to be
But for one moment void of Thee.
AN EVENING HYMN.
Lord, I my vows to Thee renew,
Difperfe my fms as morning dew,
Guard my firft fprings of thought and will,
And with Thyfelf my fpirit fill.
Dire£l, control, fuggeft, this day,
All I defign, or do, or fay,
That all my powers, with all their might.
In Thy fole glory may unite.
Praife God, from Whom all bleffings flow,
Praife Him, all creatures here below ;
Praife Him above, ye Heavenly Hoft ;
Praife Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft.
AN EVENING HYMN.
ALL praife to Thee, my God, this night,
For all the bleffings of the light ;
Keep me, O keep me. King of kings.
Beneath Thy own Almighty Wings,
Forgive me, Lord, for Thy dear Son,
The ill that I this day have done j
That with the world, myfelf and Thee,
I, ere I fleep, at peace may be.
Teach me to live, that I may dread
The grave as little as my bed j
XII
CONTENTS.
St. Luke the Evangelift .
St. Simon and St. Jude, Apoftles
All Saints' Day
PAGE
405
411
418
Holy Baptifm
• 425
Confirmation
. 427
The Holy Eucharift
• 429
Ablblution
432
The Vifitation ofthe Sick ....
439
Holy Order .
• 444-
Matrimony
451
Appendix —
Firft Verfion of the Three Hymns printed in
the Manual of Prayers for the Scholars of Win-
chefter College 455
A MORNING HYMN.
WAKE, my foul, and with the fun
Thy daily ftage of duty run.
Shake off dull floth, and joyful rife,
To pay thy morning facrifice.
Thy precious time miffpent, redeem.
Each prefent day thy laft efteem,
Improve thy talent with due care,
For the Great Day thyfelf prepare.
In converfation be fmcere,
Keep confcience as the noon-tide clear,
Think how All-feeing God thy ways,
And all thy fecret thoughts furveys.
By influence of the Light Divine,
Let thy own light to others fhine,
Refle£l all Heaven's propitious rays.
In ardent love, and cheerful praife.
'Wake, and lift up thyfelf, my heart,
And with the angels bear thy part,
B
A MORNING HYMN.
Who all night long unwearied Ting,
High praife to the Eternal King.
I wake, I wake, ye Heavenly Choir,
May your devotion me infpire.
That I like you my age may fpend,
Like you may on my God attend.
May I like you in God delight.
Have all day long my God in fight.
Perform like you my Maker's Will,
may I never more do ill.
Had I your wings to Heaven I'd fly,
But God fhall that defecSt fupply.
And my foul wing'd with warm defire.
Shall all day long to Heaven afpire.
All praife to Thee, Who fafe haft kept,
And haft refrefli'd me whilft I flept.
Grant, Lord, when I from death ftiall wake,
1 may of endlefs Light partake.
I would not wake, nor rife again,
Ev'n Heaven itfelf I would difdain,
Wert not Thou there to be enjoy'd.
And I in hymns to be employ'd.
Heaven is, dear Lord, where'er Thou art,
O never then from me depart :
For to my foul, 'tis hell to be
But for one moment void of Thee.
AN EVENING HYMN.
Lord, I my vows to Thee renew,
Difperfe my fins as morning dew,
Guard my firft fprings of thought and will,
And with Thyfelf my fpirit fill.
Direct, control, fuggeft, this day,
All I defign, or do, or fay,
That all my powers, with all their mi
In Thy fole glory may unite.
ight,
Praife God, from Whom all bleflings flow,
Praife Him, all creatures here below ;
Praife Him above, ye Heavenly Hoft ;
Praife Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft.
AN EVENING HYMN.
ALL praife to Thee, my God, this night,
For all the bleffings of the light ;
Keep me, O keep me. King of kings.
Beneath Thy own Almighty Wings.
Forgive me. Lord, for Thy dear Son,
The ill that I this day have done j
That with the world, myfelf and Thee,
I, ere I fleep, at peace may be.
Teach me to live, that I may dread
The grave as little as my bed j
AN EVENING HYMN.
To die, that this vile body may
Rife glorious at the awful day.
! may my foul on Thee repofe,
And may fweet fleep my eyelids clofe ;
Sleep that may me more vigorous make,
To ferve my God when I awake.
When in the night I fleeplefs lie.
My foul with heavenly thoughts fupply ;
Let no ill dreams difturb my reft,
No powers of darknefs me moleft.
Dull fleep of fenfe me to deprive,
1 am but half my time alive,
Thy faithful lovers, Lord, are grieved
To lie fo long of Thee bereaved.
But tho' fleep o'er my frailty reigns.
Let it not hold me long in chains ;
And now and then let loofe my heart,
Till it an Hallelujah dart.
The fafter fleep the fenfes binds.
The more unfetter'd are our minds,
O may my foul, from matter free.
Thy lovelinefs unclouded fee !
O when fhall I in endlefs Day,
For ever chafe dark fleep away;
And hymns with the Supernal Choir,
Inceflant fing, and never tire !
A MIDNIGHT HYMN.
O may my guardian while I fleep,
Clofe to my bed his vigils keep ;
His love angelical inftil ;
Stop all the avenues of ill.
May he celeftial joy rehearfe,
And thought to thought with me converfe,
Or in my ftead, all the night long,
Sing to my God a grateful fong.
Praife God, from Whom all bleffings flow,
Praife Him, all creatures here below ;
Praife Him above, ye Heavenly Hoft ;
Praife Father, Son, and Holy Ghofl:.
A MIDNIGHT HYMN.
MY God, now I from fleep awake,
The fole pofTeffion of me take,
From midnight terrors me fecure.
And guard my heart from thoughts impure.
Blefs'd Angels ! while we filent lie.
You Hallelujahs fing on high,
You joyful hymn the Ever-Blefs'd,
Before the Throne and never reft.
I with your choir celeftial join.
In offering up a hymn divine,
With you in Heaven I hope to dwell.
And bid the night and world farewell.
: A MIDNIGHT HYMN.
My foul, when I fhake ofFthis duft,
Lord, in Thy Arms I will intruft :
O make me Thy peculiar care,
Some manfion for my foul prepare.
Give me a place at Thy faints' feet.
Or fome fall'n angel's vacant feat ;
I'll ftrive to fing as loud as they
Who fit above in brighter day.
O may I always ready ftand,
With my lamp burning in my hand ;
May I in fight of Heaven rejoice,
Whene'er I hear the Bridegroom's voice.
All praife to Thee in light array'd.
Who light Thy dwelling-place haft made,
A boundlefs ocean of bright beams
From Thy all-glorious God-head ftreams.
The fun in its meridian height
Is very darknefs in Thy fight !
My foul, O lighten and enflame,
With thought and love of Thy Great Name.
Blefs'd Jefu, Thou on Heaven intent,
Whole nights haft in devotion fpent ;
But I, frail creature, foon am tired.
And all my zeal is foon expired.
My foul, how canft thou weary grow
Of antedating blifs below,
ADVENT SUNDAY.
In facred hymns, and heavenly love,
Which will eternal be above.
Shine on me, Lord, new life impart,
Frefh ardours kindle in my heart;
One ray of Thy all-quickening Light
Difpels the floth and clouds of night.
Lord, left the tempter me furprife,
Watch over Thine own facrifice ;
All loofe, all idle thoughts caft out,
And make my very dreams devout.
Praife God, from Whom all bleflings flow,
Praife Him, all creatures here below ;
Praife Him above, ye Heavenly Hoft ;
Praife Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft.
ADVENT SUNDAY.
Days Numbered.
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to
awake out of fleep : for now is our falvation nearer than
when we believed. The night is far fpent, the day is at
hand ; let us therefore call off the works of darknef';, and
let us put on the armour of light. — Romans xiii. i.i, 12.
GOD a command upon me lays,
Rightly to number all my days,
Of all paft, prefent, and to come,
To caft the fum.
ADVENT SUNDAY.
That gracious God may be obey'd,
I call arithmetic to aid,
The fum, to which they all amount,
I ftrive to count.
But foon as I begin to caft.
The number of my days now paft,
All look like an evanid dream,
All cyphers feem.
My Now when I minutely weigh,
'Tis but a moment, not a day.
My Future is to all unknown.
But God alone,
I then arithmetic fufpedl.
And on the paft again refle6t.
To number not by days but fins.
My foul begins.
When I thus calculate my years.
Each guilty day an age appears,
Time tedious is which we miflpend
God to offend.
My fins to fuch vaft numbers fwell.
Which no arithmetic can tell j
Their multitude, which has no bounds,
My foul confounds.
My cyphers I to figures change.
And in a total fain would ran^e ;
ADVENT SUNDAY,
But when I refurvey the fcore,
I ftill find more.
And yet a fum much greater lies
Hid from my intelleftual eyes,
Of fins forgot whofe guilt remains,
And crimfon ftains.
Lord, in Thy book they are enroll'd,
O might I there the fum behold.
That I the debt immenfe may know
Which there I owe.
With fountains, Lord, fupply my head,
A wave for every fin I'd fhed,
I'd ftrive to pay the full in tear,
My debt to clear.
But fhould the ftreams which from me flow.
Up to a new Atlantic grow,
'Twould not the obligations pay
Of but one day.
The Blood of dying God alone.
Can for my vaft arrears atone ;
His Merits far my fins exceed :
Them, Lord, I plead.
Accept my plea, and when that's done.
While I my future race fhall run,
I'll not by fins, but duties rate.
My future ftate.
10 ADVENT SUNDAY.
I'll every morn my vows renew,
I'll God retain all day in view,
My confcience court in me fhall keep,
Before I fleep.
Confcience, you made me firft awake,
Due care to keep me waking take,
Mind me of duty, fteer my will.
And guard from ill.
My paft loft moments I difclaim.
My prefent fhall at duty aim.
And all my future as they glide,
To Heaven I'll guide.
I then no more the fool fhall a£l.
Or friendfhip with the world contra6t.
Or fquander precious time, to gain
Eternal pain.
But duly numbering all my days,
I fhall a ftock of wifdom raife.
And from the hours I well employ.
Reap endlefs joy.
SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT ii
SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT.
'Judgment.
And then (hall they fee the Son of man coming in a cloud
with power and great glory. — Luke xxi. 27.
WHEN the Arch-angel's trump fhall
found,
And warn the world in ftupors drown'd,
At God's Tribunal to appear,
Hell-powers the voice fhall quivering hear,
The earth fhall quake from pole to pole,
The orbs celeftial trembling roll :
The dead fhall in their graves awake.
The hearts of all the living quake,
Good Angels fhall the found revere,
And God adore with humble fear ;
God-man the Judge fhall ready ftand.
To leave His Throne at God's Right-Hand.
Supernal Hofts who beams diffufe.
Through arched Heaven fhall rendezvous ;
Horfes and chariots, with which God
In triumph through the waters rode,
Shall to the Heavenly Gates repair,
To wait on Jefus in the air.
12 SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT.
The Angels at His march {hall fhout,
And all the way, with zeal devout,
Shall hymns to the Incarnate King
Of Mercy, and of Juftice, fing ;
They'll then His Throne in air ere6t,
That all the world He may infpeiSl.
God-man His Angels will enjoin,
Saints' hallow'd dull to re-enfhrine.
And when their fouls they re-embrace.
Waft them to fee His blifsful Face ;
The Saints they'll in their chariots drive,
'Till they at Jefus' Throne arrive.
Damn'd fouls {hall then too late, in vain
Bewail their fms which caufed their pain.
They'll wi{h eternally to die.
Or buried under rocks to lie,
In vain their wi{hes will be made.
No guilt God's Judgment can evade.
The heavenly book {hall be unclofed,
The fecrets of all hearts expofed ;
God and their confcience faints will clear.
They'll plead not perfe£l, but fmcere ;
To their mild Judge they'll make appeals,
Who with His Blood their pardon feals.
The guilty finners, felf-condemn'd,
Who Jefus' laws and crofs contemn'd.
THIRD SUNDAY IN ADFENT. 13
Defpairing to decline their fate,
With horror fhall their doom await ;
No force of language can difclofe,
Saints' raptures, or curfed finners' woes.
Go, Curfed, doom'd to endlefs pain,
Come, Saints, in endlefs blifs to reign.
Good Angels thence fhall Saints attend.
With Jefus they'll to Heaven afcend ;
Curfed fiends fhall drag the damn'd to hell,
In everlafling pains to yell.
All praife to God, who here below.
Prolongs my choice of blifs or woe ;
My pafl ill choice may I deplore,
Fear hell, but fear offending more,
Keep a tribunal in my mind,
And have by God my pardon fign'd.
THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT.
RefurreSiion.
Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come.
I Cor iv. 5.
GREAT Day ! to mortals kept unknown,
When an Archangel from the throne
Shall on his radiant wings appear.
And hovering o'er this lower fphere.
14 THIRD SUNDAY IN ADFENT.
His trumpet blow, whofe mighty found
Shall undulate the globe around.
All feparate fouls where'er they dwell,
In the out-courts of Heaven or hell.
Soon as they hear fhall fummons have.
To fly to each appropriate grave,
And their corporeal bulk refume.
To wait their Everlafting Doom.
The particles of bodies dead.
Though over numerous regions fpread,
By fympathetic force imprefs'd.
Shall hafte in prifline form to reft j
While to its feat the foul reflies.
And the fame man who died fhall rife.
From glorious God an angel fent,
His Vial on Euphrates fpent.
Should he his empty Vial fill
With Hermon dew, and thence diftil,
One drop on every ftream which glides,
'Till it in ocean loft abides :
Yet every drop Omnifcience knows.
And where it in each billow flows.
Can every drop entirely lave
From its transfufions into wave.
Though diftant as each polar fhore.
Can to the Vial them reftore.
THIRD SUNDAY IN ADFENT. 15
Should every drop in vapour rife.
Turn rain, hail, fnow, w^hen in the fkies,
Thence falling into earth be funk.
And up by vegetables drunk,
God all their fhiftings can compute.
And into dew them re-tranfmute.
From Jefus' Body virtue came,
Which cured the blind, fick, dumb and lamej
But fince He from the grave arofe,
A nobler virtue from Him flows ;
A virtue over Death to reign,
And raife all dead mankind again.
Pure fouls with rapturous joy (hall hafte,
In their loved fliells to be encafed.
While impious fouls with hideous cry.
In vain fhall loathed re-union fly.
Saints' graces them for blifs difpofe ;
Guilt fmners weighs to endlefs woes.
God-man be praifed, who Saints' loofe duft,
To glorious bodies will adjuft :
Tho' foul and flefh (hall parted be,
They'll meet in blefs'd Eternity.
That thought devoutly, Saints, revolve,
And live in languor to diflTolve.
&
^^^R^^^
v=^
i6 FOURTH SUNDAJ IN ADFENT.
FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT.
John anfwered them faying, I baptize with water : but
there ftandeth one among you, whom ye know not. He it
is who, coming after me is preferred before me.
John i. 26, 27.
AS when a vifit emperors intend
To fome chief town, their harbingers they
fend,
To plain rough ways, to throw down every hill,
To ftraighten crooked roads, and valleys fill :
The Baptift for God-man thus pafTage made,
His work was true repentance to perfuade ;
To fmooth rough tempers, the perverted guide,
Eredt humility, and level pride.
Jerufalem, and all Judea round,
Drawn by a faint fo awful, fo renown'd,
Flock'd to clear Jordan's ftream, their fins con-
fefs'd.
Were all with his initial wafhing bleft ;
Of their difeafe true penitential fenfe.
To a kind Saviour made them all propenfe :
He profelytes of all conditions gain'd.
And in his difcipline for Jefus train'd.
God to His fervant this high honour gave.
Him to baptize, who the whole world fhould fave.
The Apparition then, and Voice Divine,
Were of Meffias the appointed Sign.
CHRISTMAS DAY. 17
He, from the hour when Jefus he defcried,
Exhorted all in Jefus to confide j
Commending Jefus to the world's efteem,
The Lamb of God, who fhould the world
redeem.
With water only, I, faid he, baptize,
To penitential tears excite your eyes ;
But Jefus inward graces fhall infpire.
Baptize you with the Holy Ghoft and fire.
Bleft Jefus with a fan fhall purge His floor.
The wheat in His repofitory ftore ;
To Saints give blifs, the bad to torment doom,
The chafF with fire unquenchable fliall fume.
CHRISTMAS DAY.
CELESTIAL Harps prepare
To found your loftieft air j
You choral Angels at the throne.
Your cuftomary hymns poftpone ;
Of glorious fpirits, all ye orders nine,
To fute' a hymn, to ftudy chords combine.
You all your happy days,
Pay tributary praife,
God's mighty works you fully view.
And give your Maker praifes due ;
' Suie, to follow.
c
j8 CHRISTMAS DAT.
This day a nobler theme your powers employs,
Deferving nobleft hymn, chords, love, and joys.
This day (for you well know,
Our time in flux below),
You Sons of God together met,
On a fix'd day which Godhead fet ;
This day God fent His Son to fave mankind,
You to adore His rifing, are enjoin'd.
You firft to humble fwains,
Who watch'd on Bethlehem plains,
Glad tidings in fweet fong proclaim'd,
And them with Jefus's love inflamed ;
O may my guardian, who then join'd your quire.
Me with like love in a like hymn infpire.
You with your heavenly ray,
Gild the expanfe this day,
You overlooking all the earth.
To all fang God Incarnate's birth ;
Fill with your fplendours the expanfe again,
Re-fing this day the fame angelic flrrain.
You all mufl; hymn this morn,
Not the Lamb flain, but born :
To Bethlehem lead me now the way,
Help me the wonders to furvey,
The ftable, and the manger, where God-man
His condefcenfions infinite began.
My eyes the Babe may reach,
You mufl: His Godhead teach ;
CHRISTMAS DAY. 19
God there His Godhead deigns to hide,
Which he can never lay afide ;
In human flefh His Majefty He fhrouds,
You Godhead fee, I only fee His clouds.
I, while you God defcribe.
Will what you fing imbibe ;
Then ftretch my powers to utmoft might,
Till of God-man I hymns indite ;
But yet I fear you all too finite are,
The Love of God Incarnate to declare.
I'll to my cell retire.
In filence God admire,
Who vileft finners to redeem,
Thus veil'd His Majeftatic beam ;
And while I in proftration fpeechlefs lie,
My love up to the Myftery fhall fly.
Blefs'd Angels, you mean time
Return to blifs fublime ;
But when at Glory you arrive,
The Saints in hymn with you will drive,
Their nature God affumed, not yours, and they
Will love God moft, and fing the nobleft lay.
Love on ambitious wing,
Soar'd up to hear them fing j
And though it could not reach the height.
Yet when it met the Sons of Light,
It irrefiftibly would them intreat
The hymns of competition to repeat.
20 CHRISTMAS DAY.
Love would ftridl notice take
Of a Saint's heaven-ward wake,
Watch openings of the heavenly gate,
Through that to eye the blifsful ftate j
How God this day in brighteft glory fhines.
Frefh joys dift'ufing o'er the heavenly lines.
God takes immenfe delight
In His own glorious fight ;
But no perfedtion He efteems
So dear as His redeeming beams :
Philanthropy this day moft bright appear'd.
And to the God of Love the day endear'd.
My love when back it came,
Brought fupplemental flame ;
Yet could not Jefus' Love conceive,
But my defpondence to relieve.
Since hymns all fell too low, faid, love would beft
By copying Jefus' graces be expreft.
My love would yet incline.
Together both to join ;
All praife to God, Who for our fake.
Of man's frail nature would partake ;
Born poor, to teach us riches to defpife.
Which worldly fouls infenfate idolize.
God-man be ever blefs'd,
Born naked and diftrefs'd ;
Who all terreftrial glare declined.
And tendencies of fenfual mind.
CHRISTMAS DAY. 21
'Gainft wealth, pomp, pleafure, earthly, tranfient,
vain,
May I a like antipathy maintain.
Our great difeafe was luft,
Which made us Heaven difguft :
God man be praifed, who chofe a ftate.
Our earthly paflions to abate.
Infpire me, Lord, with heavenly-minded fenfe,
Antar6tic to all foul concupifcence.
God-man no fooner rofe.
But He began His woes ;
It grieved the Babe's Omnifcient eye.
Men's curfed rebellions to defcry.
He knew the mighty guilt of man's offence
'Gainft boundlefs Love, and grieved with grief
immenfe.
God-man I Thee adore.
And from Thy Love implore,
Againft all fin a flagrant zeal.
Yet joys of pardon when I feel.
Sin tempts me to rejoice, which drew God down,
To raife vile finners to a heavenly crown.
With joy I praifes fing.
To our great humble King ;
Thou Heaven didft leave for love of me.
May 1 leave all for love of Thee,
With Saints above, this day I'll bear my part,
O may I Thee incarnate in my heart.
22 sr. STEPHEN'S DAT.
ST. STEPHEN'S DAY.
I SING, my God, the Saint this day.
Who led the fuffering hoft the way
To rife to glory moft fublime.
The Martyr prime.
God-man debafements ne'er declined,
To fhew companions to mankind j
He fervants would as mafters treat,
And wafti their feet.
He joy was wont for fmners' fake.
In humble charities to take:
Blefs'd Stephen kept God-man in view,
And copy drew.
In Jefus' love the Saint up-train'd,
Would humble deacon be ordain'd.
To all men's woes to condefcend.
And poor attend.
God with the zeal benign was pleafed.
Which had the Saint entirely feized,
And grace fuperlative defign'd,
To ftore his mind.
The Gracious Dove upon him came,
And kindled in him heavenly flame ;
ST. STEPHEN'S DAT. 23
He full of faith, blefs'd Jellis taught,
And wonders wrought.
Five Synagogues at once combined
Of various lands, to ftorm his mind ;
He ftood their fierce, confederate fpite,
With humble might.
No wit of men, no hellifli band,
His heavenly wifdom could withftand ;
Their greateft fages fear'd the force
Of his difcourfe.
The Jews, who in his death confpired
Falfe witneffes againft him hired.
Who (hould what malice could fuggeft.
With oaths atteft.
The people, elders, fcribes, enraged,
To feize his perfon then engaged.
And to the council dragged the Saint
With loud complaint.
The villains falfely him accufed.
That he had dangerous points infufed,
Their venerable law decried,
And God denied.
They fwore that he had fpread the fame
All Salem o'er of Jefus' Name,
To darken Mofes, and erafe
Their holy place.
24- ST. STEPHEN'S DAT.
But God, the injured Saint to clear,
Made faintfhip in his looks appear ;
The Council in his face faw light,
As Angels bright.
Great Mofes, when for forty days
He was ingulf 'd in awful rays,
Did not with fplendour more divine
Than Stephen fhine.
The High Prieft then the Saint befpake.
Some anfwer to the Jews to make.
Who with celeftial zeal began
To preach God-man.
He taught them fhadows to defpife,
And on the fubftance fix their eyes,
Truth in thofe vehicles convey'd,
Was now difplay'd.
He provocations high, yet true.
Laid to the unbelieving Jew,
Their harden'd heart he durft upbraid,
Which Truth gainfaid.
He charged on them their fathers' guilt.
And blood of all the prophets fpilt.
Sins cherifli'd, which they fhould bemoan.
Became their own.
He them reproach'd, who fet at nought.
All that God-man or did or taught,
ST. STEPHEN'S DAT. 25
That God's blefs'd Spirit to repel,
They leagued with hell.
That to the crofs God-man they led,
Blafphemed Him while His Blood they fhed.
And whilft He tortured hung for thofe
Who caufed thofe woes.
That they God's holy laws tranfgrefs'd,
Clear prophecies fulfiU'd, fupprefs'd.
And fhut their eyes againft the light,
In love with night.
Straight to the quick their hearts were
gafh'd.
Their teeth againft the Saint they gnafh'd,
They of their crimes reproof fincere
Abhorr'd to hear.
Heaven at that moment open flew.
The Saint had Heavenly Blifs in view ;
A thoufand deaths he could have died,
When blifs he eyed.
Angelic Hofts together flock'd,
To Heaven's bright gates, juft then unlock'd.
To fee a Chriftian Martyr's gore.
Ne'er feen before.
Love fhined fo bright in martyr's pains,
They ready were to wifh for veins.
That love they might with Stephen vie,
And martyrs die.
26 sr. STEPHEN'S DAT.
They Jefus faw His pofture quit ;
He at God's Right though wont to fit,
Then ftood, prepared to help with fpeed
The Saint in need.
Through open Heaven the Martyrs fight
Could reach to majeftatic height ;
Thus rapt, he could not fpeech withhold,
But vifion told.
Stopping their ears, the furious crowd
Doom him to death with ravings loud ;
Out of the city they him caft,
To breathe his laft.
There they the Proto-Martyr ftoned.
Who them, more than himfelf, bemoan'd ;
Midft ftony fliowers he kneel'd and pray'd.
Still undifmay'd.
At every ftone they at him threw,
Ejaculations from him flew ;
*' Jefus," he cried, "to Thee I cleave.
My foul receive.
" Forgive, O Lord, my caufelefs foes ;"
Love then put to his life the clofe :
He fank, and on the ftony heap
Fell faft afleep.
The Jews the murder to complete.
Their garments placed at young Saul's feet ;
sr. STEPHEN'S DAT. 17
He to like fury then was moved,
And crime approved.
Saints in his grave the Martyr laid,
And all due honour to him paid ;
Joy'd for his blifs, for lofs they grieved
The Church received.
God at the force of Stephen's prayer,
Decreed their lofles to repair ;
To an Apoftle raifing Saul
By heavenly call.
To Jefus praife, vv^ho midft the ftones,
Eafed all blefs'd Stephen's dying groans ;
Who deign'd for martyrs' aid to ftand
At God's Right Hand.
o
Heaven fent Angelic Squadrons dovi^n
To guard the Martyr to his crow^n ;
Saints joy'd that God had raifed his throne
Above their ovv^n.
Rays to that crown for every ftone
Which Jews had at the Martyr thrown,
Were added to reward his woe,
And honours {how.
May I, my God, by faith have fight
Of Jefus Handing at Thy Right :
And ready when this world I leave
Me to receive.
28 ST. JOHN'S DAY,
May I, like him, the influence feel
Of faith, love, patience, courage, zeal ;
Forgive my foes, for heaven prepare,
And die in prayer.
For love of Jefus, O may I,
Like Stephen live, difpofed to die j
And gladly joys of love to reap,
Lay flefh afleep.
ST. JOHN'S DAY.
FAITH, hope, and tear within my breaft,
Shall, Lord, this day in filence reft,
O raife my love upon the wing,
While I the loved Difciple fmg j
For Love can beft the fong indite,
Love only can of lovers write.
Blefs'd John, you young the world forfook.
Ere you too deep infection took ;
The lefs fouls have of worldly taint,
The fooner they grow up to faint ;
A foul towards heaven which early ftreams.
Is the offering which God moft efteems.
To God's high friendfliip, love afcends,
And dear communion ufed by friends ;
Love gave you nobleft heat and light,
You feem'd below to Hve by fight,
ST. JOHN'S DAT. 29
You leflen'd in felf humbling view
The more, the loftier heights you flew.
You when by Jefus' Love inflamed,
Were yet a fon of thunder named ;
O how could love foft, gentle, mild,
Be with dread thunder reconciled ?
When God fliines out in gracious rays,
He then afide His thunder lays.
O 'twas not thunder of the cloud,
'Twas heavenly, and benign, though loud;
Form'd to awaken, not to fcare.
Such as was heard at Jefus' prayer.
When a voice fweet, yet mighty, came
From Heaven, God's glory to proclaim.
Blefs'd Daniel was to rapture ufed,
Had evangelic truth infufed.
He taught by Heaven, Meflias knew
Should be cut ofFby impious Jew;
But he no further could afpire,
Than man oflanguifhing defire.
Incarnate God, who blefs'd your eyes,
Made you to man of love arife ;
You the inflammative beheld.
Which all but Jefus' Love expell'd ;
Great Mofes, when God gave the law.
Sight fo endearing never faw.
30 ST. JOHN'S DAY.
You had of dying Jefus view,
On His dire Crofs remembering you,
His deareft Mother, deeply grieved,
He will'd by you fhould be relieved ;
His Mother, He your Mother ftyled.
And in His room yourfelf her child.
Next to the Mother ever-blefs'd,
Who gave the God of Love her breaft,
(She melting, w^hile He fvi^eetly fhined,
To co-enarmourments inclined,)
None to fuch height of love attain'd,
As John on top of Calvary gain'd.
All gracious wonders Jefus wrought.
All His dear loves abforb'd your thought.
You well the fmner's merit weigh'd.
With Blood of God for ranfom paid,
And taught by the Eternal Dove,
Gave God the proper name of Love.
To God alone your love inclined,
The freer 'twas, the more confined ;
In God vaft amplitude you found,
And lovelinefs which had no bound ;
O'er love's expanfe it took its flight.
Imbibing fweetnefs infinite.
God-man who in pure Love decreed
For finners on the Crofs to bleed.
In you excited a frefh flame,
For all who from lapfed Adam came ;
ST. JOHN'S DAT. 31
A love which copied Love Divine,
Of Jefus' lovers made the fign.
God Filial, ere He ftoop'd to clay,
In His loved Father's Bofom lay,
And from His infinite repofe,
Came truth falviflc to difclofe ;
You moft beloved, loved Jefus beft.
You lean'd on loved God Filial's Breaft.
What loves, what heights you there attain'd
Could ne'er be by yourfelf explain'd ;
If envy on a Saint could feize,
All Saints would envy you that eafe j
If earth with Heaven in joy can vie,
'Tis next to Jefus' heart to lie.
You with the God of Love converfed.
From Fontal Love you ftreams difperfed,
You faving truth o'er Jewry fhed.
Glad tidings you o'er Afia fpread.
Seven Mother-Churches there you fteer'd.
To Jefus's love all co-endear'd.
Your love, which terrors all defied ;
Was yet by martyrdom untried ;
But God, who raifes good from ill.
Made hell fubfervient to His Will,
Turn'd from its aim infernal fpite.
To give your love its perfe6t hight.
32 ST. JOHN'S DAT.
By hell the Pagans fet on fire
Enkindled the Proconful's ire,
He fent you bound with guards to Rome,
To fierce Domitian for your doom j
He you into a cauldron caft
Of boiling oil, to breathe your laft.
But God, who furnace-fire reftrain'd,
While Saints in flame unfinged remain'd,
The raging, fiery force o'er-ruled,
And to kind heat the liquor cool'd :
God martyr's crown for you contrived,
Though you your martyrdom furvived.
Your limbs decrepit, ftiff, and cold,
Juft crumbling towards primeval mould,
By fuppling oil, and gentle heat.
Soon felt invigoration fweet.
Heaven made you vital force regain.
By what hell meant fhould be your bane.
At blifs delay'd, you ne'er repined,
God for your love more work defign'd ;
The tyrant at your 'fcape enraged,
In a frefli cruelty engaged,
He fent you bound to Patmos ifle,
To a difconfolate exile.
God fuff'erings there for you ordain'd.
Which numerous fouls to Jefus gain'd
Sr. JOHN'S DAT. 33
But when the bloody tyrant fell
To his imperial pains in hell,
Mild Nerva chofen to fucceed,
You by divine direction freed.
At Ephefus abode you made,
Where neighbouring Churches you obey'd,
You with illumination ftored,
When Afian guides your help implored,
The Church from heretics redeem'd,
Who raifed by hell, God-man blafphemed.
In all your writings every line
Was didated by Love Divine ;
Your love the more vivacious grew,
The nearer it to glory drew ;
When you a century had reach'd,
Love was the only thing you preach'd.
In vain no lover ever pray'd,
You gain'd a fuper-effluent aid ;
And God's perfections all combined
To further what you had defign'd ;
The miracles which made you famed,
Your love as well as truth proclaim'd.
Your love on Heaven fix'd vigorous aim.
Though you had fpent your vital flame ;
Hafle, O my Love, your longing heart
Cried, as it felt the welcome dart :
Love heard, and fent a feraph down
To waft you to a martyr's crown.
D
34- THE HOLY INNOCENTS.
Praife, Lord, to Thee, who didft outftream
On John a fweet enamouring beam,
Whofe love difFufmg heavenly flame,
Made pagan nations love Thy Name,
O may I feel Love's gracious might.
And all I can to love excite.
THE HOLY INNOCENTS.
SOON as Great God in flefti enfhrined,
Began falvation of mankind,
Hell utmoft fpite difclofed,
God's boundlefs Love oppofed j
And numerous fiends to Salem fent,
Judaic malice to foment.
The fiends faw Herod deeply grieved,
That the Wife Men had him deceived.
And would no tidings bring
Of Jewry's new-born King ;
And they a ftrong detachment made,
Which fhould the tyrant's foul invade.
A legion ftraight the wretch pofTefs'd,
Stror g jealous terrors to fuggeft ;
Ideas dire they wrought,
To haunt his troubled thought ;
THE HOLY INNOCENTS. 35
Amidft his {lumbers he would ftart,
In dream, the babe had ftabb'd his heart.
The jealous fears which tyrants feize,
Diabolize them by degrees,
Fierce Herod fwell'd to rage,
Which nothing could afluage j
For infant blood remorfelefs raved.
And the arch-murderer out-braved.
But Heaven to Jofeph warning gave,
The Mother and the Babe to fave ;
To take to Egypt flight
From Herod's murderous fpite;
Strange land, the Babe, long dangerous way,
They urge not j but with zeal obey.
Wills which to God furrender'd are.
He makes His own peculiar care,
His Wifdom, Goodnefs, Power,
Still nigh in needful hour,
Was their fupport, defence, and guide.
And what they wanted, ftill fupplied.
The tyrant troops, his rage to vent,
To murder Bethlehem infants fent ;
To kill one babe alone,
Could not his rage atone,
A general flaughter he decreed.
In hope the Rival Babe might bleed
36 THE HOLY INNOCENTS.
The mothers' fhrieks, the infants' cries,
Frighted the fiends who crowd the fkies ;
And Luciferian pride
The fa6t with envy eyed,
Swore fince the devils learn'd to kill,
They ne'er achieved fo brave an ill.
The land was deluged with a flood
Of mothers' tears, and infants' blood ;
Such a heart-burfting moan
Was ne'er in Egypt known.
When the Deftroying Angel's blade
Of the firft-born malTacre made.
Great God, whofe Omniprefent eyes
All human adlions fupervife.
Forced Herod 'gainft his will
Heaven's purpofe to fulfil ;
Turn'd his efforts of hellifh ire,
In his own ruin to confpire.
Juft vengeance on the wretch was fhewn,
By plagues and horrors on his throne ;
But reeking infant gore.
To vengeance cried for more :
With that God damn'd him to like pains.
Which the arch-murderer fuftains.
From danger when the coaft was clear'd,
God back all three to Nazareth fteer'd :
THE HOLT INNOCENTS. 37
Praife to the Mighty Child,
Content to be exiled,
And for our fakes in tendereft age,
In numerous hardfhips to engage.
There Jofeph, and the Virgin bleft
With her Redeemer at her breaft.
Lived in fweet, awful fenfe
Of their dear Babe immenfe,
Both by Angelic hofts revered,
Above all Saints to God endear'd.
Both by their humble Infant taught,
No worldly joy, wealth, honour fought.
To raptures ne'er afpired,
Lived humble, and retired.
In love, prayer, meditation, praife,
Form'd by His imitable rays.
May I, like them, in blefs'd retreat,
On Heaven employ refiduous heat.
Meek, humble, and ferene,
From wilful outrage clean,
Keep to God's Will, my own refign'd.
And fix on Jefus' Love my mind.
Blefs'd Jefus, on the babes, who bled
For His fole fake, high favours ftied j
By happy deaths fecure
From ills they might endure j
Of lofing Heaven from danger freed,
To heaven by making early fpeed.
38 THE HOLT INNOCENTS.
The Guardians, children wont to aid,
In vehicles like doves array'd,
Their innocence to paint,
Took each his infant Saint;
'Twixt their foft wings to Heaven they fwam,
Like cygnets on a fearher'd dam.
Heaven joy'd to fee the fpeechlefs flight,
All waih'd in blood of martyr white ;
Saints and Angelic Quires
To their refplendent lyres
The firrtlings of falvation fung,
Who join'd them with their loofen'd tongue.
All praife to God, whofe gracious Might
Even fucklings can to hymn excite :
O may I, born anew.
Keep heaven in longing view,
From ghoftly child, blefs'd manhood gain,
Till, ripe for heaven, I heaven obtain.
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS. 39
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS.
God a Father.
And becaufe ye are fons, God hath fent forth the Spirit
of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. —
Galatians, iv. 6.
TIS, Lord, Thy Will that all mankind
Should love Thee with heart, foul, and
mind;
And of all laws fublime,
Love nobleft is, and prime ;
But O ! by whom (hall we be taught,
To love Thy Goodnefs as we ought ?
Lord, 'tis Thyfelf, who haft imprefs'd.
In native light on human breaft ;
That their Creator all
Mankind (hould Father call ;
A Father's love all mortals know,
And the love filial which they owe.
Our Father gives us heavenly Light,
And to be happy, ghoftly fight;
He blefles, guides, fuftains
He eafes us in pains;
Abatements for our weaknefs makes.
And never a true child forfakes.
40 FIRST SUNDAY
He waits rill the hard heart relents,
Our felf-damnation He laments ;
He fweetly them invites,
To ftiare in Heaven's delights ;
His Arms He opens to receive,
All who for paft tranfgrefTions grieve.
•
My Father ! O that Name is fweet,
To finners mourning in retreat ;
God's Heart paternal yearns,
When He a change difcerns ;
He to His favour them reftores,
He heals their moft inveterate fores.
When pangs of the new birth they feel,
He to their pardon fets His feal ;
O Love I exceeding thought,
Which our redemption wrought;
Which endlefs blifs for Saints prepares,
To reign with His own Son, co-heirs.
Religious honour, humble awe.
Obedience to our Father's law j
A lively grateful fenfe,
Of tendernefs immenfe ;
Pull truft on God's paternal cares,
Submiffion which chaftifement bears.
Grief, when His Goodnefs we offend.
Zeal, to His Likenefs to afcend ;
AFTER CHRISTMAS. 41
Will, from the world refined,
To His fole Will refign'd ;
Thefe graces in God's children fhine,
Reflections of the Love Divine.
God's children love all human race,
In whpm they God's dear Image trace ;
More likenefs they attain,
The greater love they gain ;
Saints in whom God is moft exprefs'd,
Fraternal charity loves beft.
God's Son co-equal taught us all,
In prayer His Father ours to call ;
With confidence in need.
We to our Father fpeed ;
Of His own Son the language dear,
Intenerates the Father's ear.
I, prodigal, to fquander ftrive.
The portion I from God derive ;
I precious time miflpend.
Towards vanities propend ;
On hufks of worldly joys I feed.
Which nothing but fruftrations breed.
Thou Father art, though to my {hame,
I often forfeit that dear Name ;
But fince for fin I grieve.
Me Father-like receive ;
4J FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS.
O melt me into filial tears,
To pay of love my vaft arrears.
My love, my tears can never rife,
To a juft filial facrifice j
But Jefus for me bled.
Both love and tears He fhed ;
For His love, tears, O ! me forgive,
That I Thy child may ever live.
O Spirit of Adoption ! fpread
Thy Wings enamouring o'er my head ;
Filial Love immenfe !
Raife me to love intenfe ;
O Father ! fource of Love Divine,
My powers to love and hymn incline.
While God my Father I revere.
Nor all hell powers, nor death I fear j
1 am my Father's care,
His fuccours prefent are ;
All comes from my loved Father's Will,
And that fweet Name intends no ill.
God's Son, His Soul, when life He clofed,
In His dear Father's Hands repofed ;
I'll, when my laft I breathe.
My foul to God bequeath ;
And panting for the joys on high.
Invoking Love Paternal, die.
THE CIRCUMCISION 43
THE CIRCUMCISION.
UPON the oaave of Thy birth,
Since Thou God-man didft fhine on earth,
Thou as the blifsful light
Immaculately bright,
Wouldft a feverity endure,
Contrived to teach lapfed men they were impure.
Thy heav'nly Father it ordain'd,
. Love to obedience Thee conftrain'd,
Our fpirits to incline
To zeal for law divine.
From infancy Thy Father's Will,
It was Thy care devoutly to fulfil.
Thou our aft'e£lions to excite,
Wouldft ftoop to an affli6tive rite.
Thou early didft forefhew.
What Thou wouldft undergo.
Thy Crofs and agonizing pains.
Which made Thy Blood gufli out at all Thy Veins.
But, Lord, from fm all pain arofe,
Sin is the caufe of penal woes,
A babe Thou didft begin
To bear the weight of fin,
And by the circumcifing fteel.
Teach that Thy Flefh our punifhment fhould feel.
44 THE CIRCUMCISION.
All Heaven and earth which faw Thee bleed,
Saw Thee true man and Abraham's feed,
He firft received the fign
Of covenant divine,
And 'twas by Thee from him derived,
All dead in fin, to blifs fhould be revived.
Thy Love, fweet Babe, with willing heart
Endured Thy Circumcifion fmart
'Twas Thy propitious aim
To take that dearefl: Name
Of Jefus, at that rite impofed
Which Thy Salvation to the world difclofed
My fpirit makes its laft efforts,
To think what that dear Name imports,
One while I fm furvey,
Which Jefus takes away ;
I fee my Jefus bear the pains
Due to my own concupifcential ftains.
My love one while fuggefts to thought,
The great Salvation Jefus wrought
And while I Jefus fee
Hang on the Crofs for me,
My love traje£ted from my eye,
O'erflows my heart, I could for Jefus die.
Dear Jefus is a joyful Name,
And I a part in Jefus claim.
rHE CIRCUMCISION. 45
Sweet Jefus dries my tears,
Sweet Jefus calms my fears,
And I from guilt by Jefus freed,
The very Angels fhould in hymn exceed.
Blefs'd Angels ! you my Jefus praife,
Flefh cannot reach your heavenly lays.
Yet fince for me He deign'd,
Not you, to be arraign'd,
In love with you I'll ftrive to vie.
With all your might you love, and fo will I.
My love in this fhall yours outdo,
'Twill be the tenderer of the two,
Into foft tears 'twill melt,
For woes my Jefus felt ;
Our loves in different rills will ftream.
Mine native, yours but foreigner will feem.
At Jefu's Name all knees muft bow.
Their hearts for off'rings to Him vow,
I, Jefu, would vow mine,
But Thou muft it refine.
Till it to Thy fole Love adheres.
And at Thy Throne fit holocauft appears.
But what have I which is my own,
To offer, Jefu, at Thy Throne ?
The heart that I defign.
Is by dear purchafe Thine,
And I have nothing left in ftore.
But was Thy own, my Jefus, long before.
46 THE CIRCUMCISION.
O, my dear Jefus, 'twas Thy own,
I now my facrilege bemoan,
I ftole my heart away.
Made it to fm a prey.
Thou gaveft Thyfelf to free the Have,
Reject me not whom Thou didft die to fave.
My Jefus ! O Thy Name is fweet,
To fmners mourning in retreat,
The Name by God defign'd
To eafe a troubled mind.
God Love to us had ne'er been ftyled,
Had He not been in Jefus reconciled.
My Jefus ! while I here remain,
Affections vile, unruly, vain,
Are ready to arife.
My fpirit to furprife j
O circumcife them from my heart.
That naught mayme and my dear Jefus part.
Duration the Angelic quire
In hymning fpend and never tire.
Eternally delight
In Beatific Sight,
When Jefus has my heart poflefs'd,
O I could Jefus hymn and never reft.
A thoufand years is but one day,
In God's indivifible ray.
i
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS. 47
And while I Jefus fing,
An ever-gufhing fpring
With thought devout fupplies my zeal,
And I in finging no fucceflion feel.
My Jefus ! no feraphic flame
Has ardours fit to hymn Thy Name,
While I to hymn incline,
ril love and Jefus join,
And when my hymn remits its heat,
Jefus my love a thoufand times repeat.
My Jefus ! I my fpirit chide,
When from Thy thought it turns afide,
O be Thou on my breaft
Still virtually imprefs'd,
My love will long to fing with thofe,
Whofe hymns to Jefus never fhall have clofe.
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS.
On the Nativity.
Luke ii. 15-21.
O GREAT God-man ! my grovelling fpirit
raife,
To a devout fublimity of praife ;
Thy beams on me Thou Fontal Wifdom dart,
Thy boundlefs Love incarnate in my heart.
48 SECOND SUNDAY
That at full pitch of evangelic joy,
To fmg Thy birth, I may my powers employ.
The ftationary prieft, with lighted torch.
Had tried the Levites upper vefts to fcorch,
Whom at their various pofts he fleeping found.
As in the Holy Place he walk'd the round,
When God Incarnate pafs'd His virgin (hroud,
With gentler force than rays a yielding cloud.
And lapfed man faw the firft falvific gleams.
Which foon grew up to full meridian beams ;
Spreading a glorious evangelic lighr,
And uninvadable by ghoftly night ;
The Virgin Mother near the manger placed.
In her foft arms the boundlefs Babe embraced,
As on the Ark the Shechinah reclined,
Between the cherubims' bright wings enfhrined.
While all the world in fudden rapture joins.
And in high fympathetic praife combines.
The morning ftars new lofty carols fang,
And all the heavenly orbs of Jefus rang,
A cheerful fplendour brighten'd all the fphere,
The air ferene made clouds to difappear ;
The moon wiped her disfigured fpots away.
Ambitious at midnight to make midday ;
The drooping flow'rs which abfent fun bemoan,
Raifed up their heads, grew frefh, and fully
blown ;
AFTER CHRISTM-AS.
*9
All ftrove their quintefcential fweets to drain,
Perfuming earth, God-man to entertain.
Earth which with Paradife might then compare,
And felt more odorous incenfe in the air.
The woods, by winter of their fhade bereaved,
By an extemporaneous fpring were leaved ;
The nightingales, juft fallen afleep, awoke.
The airy quires with fmging to provoke.
And thick on every tree the winged throng
Strove to out-do the nightingales in fong ;
The God of harmony voiced all their throats,
And fweetly harmonized their various notes.
Ominous birds, at midnight wont to roam,
Made no dire noife, but filent perch'd at home.
The fiends were all night long in Tophet chain'd,
Wondering they from their haunts ftiould be
reftrain'd,
The ocean cryftal clear lay faft afleep.
The eye might view the bottom of the deep.
Dread thunders into warblings foft were ftill'd,
Heaven fhot kind lightnings the expanfe to gild ;
All the loofe winds which o'er the compafs flew.
In fweet, refrefliing, gentle murmurs blew ;
No noxious exhalations could arife,
Balfamic vapours only fiU'd the fkies.
And mortals drown'd in fleep alluring fleams.
Of flrange deliverance had tranfporting dreams.
The fhepherds, who near Bethlehem watch'd
the fold,
£
50 SECOND SUNDAY
A wondrous change could in the world behold ;
There was no need to drive the wolves away,
Wolves would with fearlefs lambs familiar play,
When on a fudden, arched Heaven around,
Of fwift angelic wings they heard the found,
With light a thoufand times beyond the fun,
All Heaven was in an inftant over-run,
Bright majeftatic glory fiU'd the fphere.
And ftruck the fwains with a fweet, awful fear ;
Till an Archangel ftay'd on wings outfpread.
With heavenly mildnefs, thus allay'd their dread.
Fear not : Behold, good tidings I declare
Of greateft joy, in which all men fliall fhare :
In David's city at this turn of morn,
A Saviour, Chrift, the Lord, to you is born.
This fign fliill Him diftinguifh to your eyes.
He's fwathed in clouts, and in a manger lies.
Straight with the radiant herald, numerous hofts
Of glorious Angels, till the airy coafts,
Dancing for joy o'er the expanfe on wing,
In heaven-taught meafures, while theyloudly fing,
To God in Heaven be Glory, on earth Peace,
God-will towards men, fuch as fhall never ceafe.
And while their voices in fweet chords confpire,
Each heavenly harper ftrikes his tuneful lyre :
Good Angels joy, when but one finner weeps,
Heaven Jubilee for every mourner keeps.
But their ecftatic joys were unconfined.
At the Salvation of all lapfed mankind.
AFTER CHRISTMAS. 51
God, who Himfelf immenfe complacence fhew'd,
With beams triunal the horizon ftrew'd.
The winged hoft remembering God's Decree,
When Fihal God they fhould Incarnate fee,
That they fhould all adore Him, fwiftly flew
To Bethlehem, there to pay their homage due ;
But ere to make their entrance they prefume,
Themfelves they firft proportion to the room,
They their expanded vehicles condenfe,
Their rays colle6i:ed, fhine the more intenfe.
Nine heavenly orders enter one by one,
The loweft fhined much brighter than the fun.
Jofeph and Mary's elevated fight
Remain'd undazzled at their glories bright ;
Angels firft, Seraphs laft, their reverence made,
In proper robes refplendent all array'd.
Each order entering the blefs'd humble door,
At the Babe's feet fell proftrate on the floor ;
Of humble Jefus, each fang hymns fublime,
With the celeftial harpers keeping time ;
Soon as they had their adorations paid,
And heap'd their bleflings on the heavenly Maid,
As forth they from the hallow'd ftable went,
They ftretch'd their radiant fliapes to full extent.
And ftraight remounting to the realm of light,
Hymn'd God Incarnate all along their flight.
The lowly fwains, to fee the wondrous Child,
Leave flieep and wolves together reconciled ;
Sz SECOND SUNDAY
On ftraw they find Him in the manger laid,
Till taken up by the fweet, humble Maid ;
As in her arms her deareft Babe repofed,
A wreath of heavenly glory both enclofed,
The fhepherds the Immortal Child adored,
His bleffings for themfelves and flocks implored.
And rapt at His tranfporting fight, diffufe
All o'er the city the tranfporting news,
While David's race in David's town enroll'd,
Hafte to the inn, the Infant to behold,
The faithful fhepherds to the crowd declare,
The glorious vifion they had feen in air.
All in amazement pleafing and devout.
Gave an exulting euchariftic fhout ;
Bleft Mary, who in joys had greateft part.
Kept all they faid deep graven on her heart ;
The fwains with overflowing joys repair,
Of their dear flocks to reafiAime the care.
And all the way returning to the field,
Praifed God for all the glorious things reveal'd ;
Their flocks they feeding in full fafety found,
And made the plains with Jefus' praife refound.
To guide the kings, a radiant ftar was fent,
Blefs'd fwains, celeftial beams o'erfpread your
tent,
God Angels chofe, glad news to them to bring.
They faw them dance for joy, and heard them
God, who exalts the humble, honour'd you
^
>>
^
AFTER CHRISTMAS. 53
Above all men, with God Incarnate's view.
May I, like you, life on my calling fpend.
Untainted by the world on God attend,
Devout, meek, peaceful, low in my own eye.
In God's tranfporting favour live and die.
Jefus be praifed ! Who deign'd the joyful news
By Angels into fhepherds to infufe.
Glory to Jefus ! the whole mount recites,
Who humblefl: faints exalts to nobleft heights.
THE EPIPHANY.
WHEN God from Heaven came down.
To take our flefli in Bethlehem town.
Heaven the tranfporting news
Declared at firft to none but Jews ;
To Bethlehem ihepherds who watch'd o'er the
fold,
A quire of Angels the glad tidings told.
They faw God's early ray.
And might keep feftival that day.
From Gentiles God conceal'd.
The faving truth to Jews reveal'd.
This day the Gentiles the glad tidings heard.
This day, by all the world to be revered.
A ftar, new, ftrange, and bright,
Appear'd by day as well as night.
54-
THE EPIPHANT.
And with its radiant beam,
Strove with the fun to be fupreme,
Which Eaftern Gentiles guefs'd was to forerun
The wilh'd-for dawn of the Eternal Sun.
By rays which from it ftream'd,
One of the morning ftars it feem'd,
Which from the quire detach'd,
Was to the folar fphere defpatch'd,
By the peculiar pointings of its ray,
To {hew the Gentiles where their Saviour lay.
Led by the wondrous ftar,
Three princely fages came from far,
Who made all Salem ring
Of their new-born propitious King,
And the great council Herod call'd agreed,
That for His birth-place Bethlehem was decreed.
This day the ftar ftood ftill,
Its rays which brighten'd Bethlehem vill,'
Towards the poor ftable veer'd,
Where God in fwaddling-clothes appear'd
The fages entering fell upon the floor,
The weak Almighty Infant to adore.
Next to the Infant, they
Due honour to the Mothei pay,
nil, town.
THE EPIPHANY. 55
Then cloths of ftate unfold,
Which wrapt myrrh, frankincenfe, and gold,
Thofe they prefented to the Infant's view,
The nobleft gifts which in their countries grew.
Ye eaftern fages fay
When you had travell'd a long way
To feek a King, and faw
None but an humble Babe on ftraw,
What moved you for a King that Babe to own,
Who had a manger only for His throne ?
Knew you what was of old.
By Balaam of a ftar foretold.
Which fliould in Jacob rife,
Whofe beams fhould glad their wifhing eyes ?
Or had fome long tradition reach'd your ear.
Of a new King to roll the Jewifh fphere ?
O it was Light Divine,
Which deign'd into your hearts to fliine,
Which ghoftly clouds difpell'd.
The ftar's effulgence far excell'd ;
Made you the guilt of human race defcry.
And long till a Redeemer blefs'd your eye.
You Mother faw and Child,
She fweetly yearn'd, He brightly fmiled ;
None of the blefs'd above,
E'er had fuch interchange of love.
56
rHE EPIPHANY.
'Twas heavenly glory which the Infant crown'd,
Dilating His pure Mother to furround.
You faw her fweet amaze,
How her full foul o'erflow'd with praife,
And how her eyes fhe tried
'Twixt Heaven and Infant to divide ;
Who taught her love to Heaven the readieft way
On His reflex of Fontal Godhead's ray.
Rapt at the Infant's fight,
You in a dream infpired by night
Were Salem charged to waive,
From Herod's rage the Babe to fave,
And to your lands return'd by fecret roads,
To fcatter light o'er all your dark abodes.
By the firft-fruits thus blefs'd,
Of Gentiles hallow'd were the reft ;
And foon the fplendour fpread,
Which the fweet Dove Eternal ftied j
'Twas on this happy day the Gentile world
Firft faw the banner of God's love unfurl'd.
No penitential moan
Should reach this day the Heavenly Throne,
But fhould a tincture have
Of joy, for Him who came to fave ;
And His Salvation to extend to all,
Who o'er the world for mercy to Him call.
(
THE EPIPHANY. 57
Be gracious God adored,
Who in pure pity unimplored,
Would yet the joyful news,
O'er this my native land diftufe ;
And whofe Omnifcience, which all perfons fees,
Defign'd me fhare in His benign decrees.
Thou, Lord, my plague haft heal'd.
By faving-truths by Thee revcal'd ;
While I Thy pardon feel,
With a compaflionating zeal,
I beg that darken'd fouls Thy Light may fee.
And in Thy Goodnefs fhare, which {hineson me.
For ftar my foul to lead,
Thy holy Word I'll daily read ;
'Twill fhine all o'er my way.
And fhew the right, whene'er I ftray :
But when I fhall approach my Heavenly King,
I votive gifts, like the wife men, {hould bring.
I'll, Lord, my gold prefent.
On Thy poor brethren to be fpent ;
Prayer fhall to Thee afpire.
As frankincenfe fumes up by fire ;
For uncorrupting myrrh, an heart fmcere
I'll bring, from wilful putrefadtions clear.
Lord, on my gifts though vile,
Let Thy benignity but fmile,
58 FIRST SUNDAY
My love fhall daily ftrive
At higher offerings to arrive ;
And for their daily failings to atone,
Prefent new hymns to Thy propitious throne.
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY".
His mother kept all thefe fayings in her heart.
St. Luke, )i. 51.
GOD, Who is pleafed bright Angels down to
fend.
On purpofe little children to attend j
When bleffed Mary firft drew vital air,
Entrufted her to a bright feraph's care ;
The aged Saints, who for a child had pray'd,
Sang hymns to God when joyful parents made ;
Devoted God's free gift to God alone.
And more God's child efteem'd her than their own;
Her feraph kept her in his fweet embrace.
No one foul fpirit durft approach the place ;
The Holy Ghoft His temple in her built,
Cleanfed from congenial, kept from mortal guilt ;
And from the moment that her blood was fired.
Into her heart Celeftial Love infpired.
The babe, when fhe began to fpeak, was taught
To confecrate to God her tongue and thought,
And, prompted by her feraph, took delight
4
AFTER EPIPHANY. 59
Continual hallelujahs to recite ;
Her phylacteries next fhe by degrees
Had learn'd, and to repeat them on her knees ;
Thofe which the love of God fincere enjoin'd
Aue6bed moft her heaven-enkindled mind :
When fhe began to read God's holy book,
In which {he her initiation took,
Her foul was with a heavenly manna fed.
Her fpirit tafted every truth fhe read ;
And ere fhe faw two weeks of years complete
She the whole pfalter could by heart repeat j
From types, and what the prophefies foretold,
Which fhe, by Heaven enlighten'd, could unfold,
She the idea of Meflias drew,
Pray'd for His advent, kept Him ftill in view ;
Seven times a-day (he to her clofet went.
Her fervent love in fervent prayer to vent ;
And her unwearied zeal was wont to pray
By warm ejaculations all the day ;
She in the depth of her ferene repofe
At midnight to her folemn office rofe :
As fhe grew up love daily gain'd new heights,
And fhe from them began fublimer flights.
No Angel who e'er human likenefs took
Had a more chafte,fweet, charming, heavenly look,
A look, which all at the firfl fight revered.
And while it flruck a facred awe endear'd ;
Plain, cleanly, and becoming was her drefs,
Had nothing curious, nothing of excefs ;
6o FIRST SUNDAY
She idlenefs, the peft of fouls to fliun,
In intervals of prayer her garments fpun ;
Soon as herfelf fhe decently array'd,
She veftments for the poor and naked made ;
Charity, next to Heaven, abforb'd her care,
The poor, in every meal fhe eat, had Ihare ;
Her clofet-meditations, moft fublime.
Where with her God alone fhe fpent her time ;
Her languors, blefs'd Meffias to behold,
Spring-tidesof Heaven,whicho'erherfpirit roU'd;
Humility, which all proud thoughts fupprefs'd.
As if no one perfe(ftion flie poffefs'd,
Her will transfufed into the Will Divine,
Accuftom'd with God's Will to co-incline ;
Her fandtity to God's true Likenefs grown,
Her frequent vifits from the glorious throne
A filent admiration may create,
None but her guardian feraph can relate.
To parents, next to God, fhe reverence paid,
They fweetly ruled, as fweetly fhe obey'd ;
She was the fubjed of their prayer and praife.
Their tender nurfe in their declining days ;
Heaven warn'd them their dear daughter to
commend
To reverend Jofeph's care, their ancient friend,
A faint, who would her purity protect.
And treat her with angelical refpecSt ;
To her dear parents' choice fhe chofe to yield,
And the efpoufals folemnly were feal'd,
AFTER EPIPHANY. 6i
Gabriel meanwhile from blifs flew down fuU-fpeed,
To tell her as fhe pray'd that Heaven decreed
She the Meflias in her womb fhould bear,
Whofe fight had been the fubjed of her prayer ;■
The boundlefs might of Fontal Love Divine
The love co-breathed, third of the GloriousTrine,
On thee defcending fhall thy womb difpofe
Great filial God incarnate to inclofe ;
She fcarcely could believe her ears and eyes,
The meffage had fuch rapturous furprife.
Till Gabriel her aflured it was God's Will,
Which 'twas her fole ambition to fulfil ;
And as he back to Heaven his flight began
In a love-tranfport fhe conceived God-man ;
While Godhead templing in her womb remain'd.
What influence from God within fhe gain'd,
What fuavities, loves, languors, ardours, lights,
Joys, jubilations, beatific fights,
What rapts when fhe Magnificats compofed,
Or when t' Eliza Gabriel's news difclofed,
Her fpirit fill'd, no poetry can guefs,
Herfelf could never what fhe felt exprefs.
Jofeph with jealous eye her change beheld,
Till a bright Angel all his doubts difpell'd ;
Then both at Nazareth lived a blifsful life,
Moft tender hufband, mofl fubmiflive wife ;
Their chaflity was free from fenfual taints.
Their mutual love pure, as in heavenly Saints ;
His Angel and her Seraph could not join
In friendfhip more endearing, more divine.
62 FIRST SUNDAY
When fhe to Bethlehem came that happy morn,
Her virgin-eyes faw God Incarnate born ;
How high her raptures then began to fwell,
None but her own omnifcient Son can tell ;
God-man, who deigns to temple in pure hearts,
A wondrous love to common faints imparts.
Gives them of heavenly love foretafting fight.
To comprehend its length, breadth, depth, and
height ;
Much greater love to His dear Mother Ihew'd,
Heaven in fweet deluge on her fpirit flow'd ;
As Eve when fhe her fontal fin review'd,
Wept for herfelf, and all fhe fhould include ;
Blefs'd Mary, with man's Saviour in embrace,
Joy'd for herfelf, and for all human race ;
All Saints are by her Son's dear influence
blefs'd.
She kept the very fountain at her breafl ;
The Son adored and nurfed by the fweet Maid,
A thoufand-fold of Love for love repaid ;
Saints, who of God have beatific view.
Such mighty joys peculiar never knew ;
They to hymn God as vot'ries are employ'd,
As Mother of the God they hymn'd, fhe joy'd.
But yet to temper rapturous excefs.
Her joys below were mingled with diflrefs ;
When fhe a Mother, yet a Virgin pure.
Purification legal would endure :
Simeon, who honour'd was God-man to hold,
jiFTER EPIPHANY. 63
The fword, which fhould the Mother pierce,
foretold,
Her Son was horn our griefs to undergo.
She fweetly fympathifed in all His woe :
The wound which firft check'd her ecftatic joy,
Was Herod's plot the Infant to deftroy ;
But warn'd by Heaven, to Egypt fhe took flight,
God cured that wound by baffling Herod's fpite j
Babe, Virgin, Jofeph, when the ftorm was o'er,
Return'd to Nazareth, where they lived before.
There humble and obfcure the parents dwelt.
And of their Son, God-man, the bleflings felt ;
Above two luftres in fweet peace they fpent.
Then with their wondrous Son to Salem went;
The Virgin there received a fecond wound,
Which foon was cured when the dear Child they
found ;
All three to pleafant Nazareth then retired,
Where Jofeph in the Virgin's arms expired ;
God-man Himfelf his abfolution fpake.
His fpirit long'd its prifon to forfake ;
Son then and Mother lived exempt from noife,
Reciprocating heavenly loves and joys.
Into the world foon as blefs'd Jefus came,
His mediatory-office to proclaim,
Blefs'd Mary, who in her refle61ing foul
Took care all Jefu's a6tions to enroll,
Who had of fin, and Love Divine, a fenfe
Next to her Son, moft lively, moft intenfe.
64 FIRST SUNDAY
When {he His Love, which finful man redeem'd,
Saw daily fcorn'd, infulted, and blafphemed,
The fword pierced daily through her tender heart,
And fhe of all His forrows felt the fmart ;
But when (he on the Crofs beheld God-man,
Up to the hilt the dolorous weapon ran.
Soon as He left His grave her joy revived,
She from her Son frefh fprings of joy derived ;
To John's dear care fhe by her Son confign'd.
To his fole manfion her abode confined ;
The blefs'd above adore their heavenly King,
Contemplate, love, converfe, rejoice, and fing
Thofe were her fole employments day and night.
Her converfation darted heavenly light ;
To all the hours of prayer fhe daily came.
When any cool'd, her zeal refrefh'd their flame ;
She to devotion all her time applied.
She lived as if already glorified ;
Her love ftill languifh'd for the happy day.
When to the grave fhe fhould refign her clay,
Exulting when the world fhe was to leave.
And her divine Viaticum receive,
Fell fick, and died of an excefs of love,
Haflening to her reflorative above ;
Heaven with tranfcendent joys her entrance
graced.
Next to His throne her Son His Mother placed ;
And here below, now fhe's of Heaven pofTefs'd,
All generations are to call her blefs'd.
AFTER EPIPHANY. 65
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.
Chrl/l-rike Love.
Be kindly afFeflioned one to another with brotherly love,
in honour preferring one another. — Romans xii. 10.
AS to myfelf, to be to others kind,
Jefu, is by Thy Law enjoin'd,
And how I love myfelf I well
Can by my own fenfation tell,
In grief, want, danger, pain, I recoiled
What love from neighbours I expedt.
By meafuring myfelf I know
Like love fmcere I to all others owe.
Thou, Jefu, in the Evangelic pact
A love much harder doft exa£t.
That all who Thy true lovers are
Their love, (hew'd with Thy own, compare,
That they fhould others love to like degree,
As they themfelves are loved by Thee,
This feems of love the utmoft height,
A pitch tranfcending far all human flight.
Thou, mighty God, out of pure boundlefs love
Didft leave Thy glorious Throne above
To fink to flefh, and to fuftain
Succellive want, reproach, and pain,
F
66 SECOND SUNDAY
And after all Thou didft Thyfelf expofe
To Crucifixion for Thy foes,
None but God-man fuch love could fhew,
Such undeferved griefs could undergo.
But fince Thou, Lord, haft made this Love Divine
Of cordial love to Thee the fign,
Since Thou haft thus loved me, I'll ftrive
From Thee like paffion to derive,
Love vi'ill think nothing grievous, nothing hard.
While to Thy Love it has regard,
Love of no fuft'erings is afraid,
Which are with beatific Love repaid.
Lord, (houldft Thou call me to the ftake to die,
To fave from hell my enemy,
O let Thy Love my fpirit fire,
I'll on the Crofs for love expire,
While I my foul for love an offering make,
I'll love to fufter for Love's fake,
I'll joy my fufferings are like Thine,
That I vv^ith Thee (hall in like glory fliine.
AFTER EPIPHANY. 67
THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.
The Saints with ye/us.
And I fay unto you, That many fhall come from the
eaft and weft, and (hall fit down with Abraham, and Ifaac,
and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. — Mattheiu viii. 1 1.
SOUL, when your flefh difTolves to duft,
To God's fafe Hands yourfelf entruft ;
Be not too curious to inquire,
Where to afpire ;
Whether to Paradife you fly,
Or in blefs'd Abraham's bofom lie.
Or to that orb your flight you raife
Where Enoch flays ;
Or to the third celeftial fphere,
Where wonders Paul was rapt to hear.
Or Hades blefs'd where fouls eledt
Full blifs expe6l.
Secure your Love while here below,
And dying you'll to Jefus go :
Paul long'd loved Jefus' face to view,
For that long you.
68 THIRD SUNDAY
Blefs'd Jefus' boundlefs blifs Divine
In you in miniature will fhine,
Glory for glory, beam for beam
Will on you ftream.
A crown, a throne at God's right Hand,
Where Saints their robes of ray expand,
Where Saints are kings, and on their ftate
High Angels wait.
Such bleflings on the Saints attend,
When Jefus-like they Heaven afcend,
The Lamb, of joys the boundlefs fpring.
They'll ever fing.
Death our fore-runner is, and guides
To Sion, where the Lamb abides,
There Saints enjoy ecftatic reft
In manfions bleft.
Death, I well know, that every day
W^ife Providence appoints your way,
Your thirft for blood would flay mankind.
If not confined.
I long to reach the Lamb's dear fight,
Be fure to hit my vitals right.
Left life half left prolongs my days
And blifs delays.
AFTER EPIPHANY. 69
FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.
Omnipotence.
But the men marvelled, faying, What manner of man
is this, that even the winds and the fea obey him ?
Matthenju viii. 27.
MY God, 'tis by Thy fweet fupports,
I offer Thee my laft efforts ;
In my declining painful years,
Thy gracious aid my fpirit cheers ;
Hymns on Thy Power benign I'll ftill compofe,
From which my power to love and hymn Thee
rofe.
I humbly, Lord, adore Thy Might,
With Deity co-infinite j
Nothing's impofTible to Thee,
Unlefs uncapable to be ;
Which either contradidlion pure implies,
Or cannot with Thy nature harmonize.
Thy Power could out of Nothing rear
Earth, ocean, the celeftial fphere.
And pafs the boundlefs gulf betwixt
Eternal Nought and Being flx'd ;
Thy Power immenfe, which could on Nothing
aa.
Could, with like eafe, unnumber'd worlds
extrail.
70 FOURTH SUNDAY
Thou, Lord, didft fpeak when Nothing heard,
And inftantly a world appear'd ;
To all things Thou didft fpace divide,
In minutes, Time began to glide ;
O wondrous Power, which all things out of
Nought,
By but a word, in beauteous order brought.
When all things, with coeval Light,
Were form'd by Thy Ideas bright ;
All joy'd their Being to commence,
Nought could infult Omnipotence ;
When Thy Almighty Word its effluence made.
Obediential chaos ne'er gainfaid.
But when Thou hadft fall'n man in view.
And Thy lapfed creature wouldft renew,
A thoufand oppofitions rofe,
That new Creation to oppofe j
Concupifcence, the World, and Hell combined.
To grieve, to outrage, Goodnefs unconfined.
Thy mighty Love would then redeem
The objects of Thy hate extreme.
And fent God Filial from on high,
For fmners on the Crofs to die ;
Thy Love was more omnipotent to fave.
Than Thy creative power, which Being gave.
Since Angels, men, and all below.
To Thy fole Word exiftence owe j
AFTER EPIPHANY. 71
Saints, in the moft affli6tive hour,
Recumb on Thy propitious power ;
Thou, Who the world didft by Thy Word create,
Canft refcue from the moft minacious' fate.
All things from Thee, which Being took,
Thy Omniprefent Eyes o'erlook ;
Thy Power o'er Heaven and Earth prefides,
All things controls, fupports and guides ;
Since all events Thy Power, wife, gracious,
fleers.
Thy lovers live exempt from fervile fears.
O happy fouls, who in diftrefs
Have to Omnipotence accefs j
No Faithful ever pray in vain,
Their prayers Almighty fuccours gain j
Omnipotence with Goodnefs ftill is join'd,
Both to foft pity always are inclined.
Lord, the fame Power which faints fuftains,
Inflidls on rebels endlefs pains ;
Thy Power is by Thy Juftice fway'd,
And fm is with due plagues repay'd ;
O may I ne'er that awful Power difpleafe,
Which keeps of endlefs Life and Death the keys !
Thy friend was, Lord, to walk enjoin'd.
With Thy Omnipotence in mind,
' Minacious, full of terror.
72 FOURTH SUNDAY
To keep, in every ftep he trod,
A reverential fight of God ;
May dread of the Almighty's Prefence reft,
Each ftep I take, imprinted on my breaft.
By miracles which Jefus wrought,
God-man His Power Almighty taught ;
Faith, to that gracious Might refign'd,
No dolorous Martyrdom declined ;
The world no bleffing knows, which can in
need,
Companionate Omnipotence exceed.
King David on Thy Power relied,
And, fmgle, num'rous hofts defied j
When Death with all his terrors tries
The Saints to frighten or furprife,
They him, difarm'd of deadly fting, outbrave,
AfTured Thy Power will raife them from the
grave.
Should devils a Saint's woe confpire.
With fpite as raging as their fire ;
With them fhould all fierce Neroes meet,
Inflamed with their infernal heat ;
And quintefTential torturing pains compound,
They might a Saint affli6t, but not confound.
Firm truft in God would him fecure,
Amidft his pains of Triumph fure j
AFTER EPIPHANY. 73
His Heavenly Crown he'd keep in view,
His patience would their rage outdo ;
vain efforts, the world and Tophet make,
Souls fhelter'd in Almighty Arms to fhake.
To the Omnipotent, Who reigns,
I off'er up my humble ftrains ;
With Saints I to the Heavenly King
My Hallelujahs drive to fing ;
When from frail flefh I take fupernal flight,
1 God fhall hymn, at the celeftial height.
FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.
Matthe^w xiii. 24-30.
LORD, 'tis not in Thy Church alone,
That tares among good corn are fown ;
Satan our hearts to difcompofe.
His tares there fows.
Soon as the amiable Dove
Sheds in our hearts celeftial Love ;
And our clear'd heaven-ere6ted eyes
This world defpife ;
Soon as our powers begin to feel
The fuavities of heavenly zeal,
And ftand propending to obey
Love's gentle fway :
74 FIFTH SUNDAY
Satan his force and wiles colle«5ls,
Loofe thoughts into our fouls inje£ts,
Which our imaginations lure
To loves impure.
Thy Word, Lord, in this life declares,
That corn will mingled be with tares,
Thou feparation doft delay
Till Judgment Day.
My God, let neither tares nor weeds,
Choke in my foul Thy heavenly feeds,
Keep, Lord, what Thou Thyfelf doft fow,
From the curfed foe.
From the curfed foe, for in my heart
'Tis he would fain ufurp a part,
But I to Thee my heart refign,
Keep what is Thine.
My Love fliall Satan's fpite oppofe,
And if in me his tares he fows,
May he at Judgment bear the blame,
I them difclaim.
Tares in the hearts of Saints remain.
Foils to the true and beauteous grain.
For love they trials are defign'd
In fouls refined.
Our birth propenfion fenfual fows
To wilful fm, which cherifh'd grows ;
We all our life muft God invoke,
That growth to choke.
AFTER EPIPHANY. 75
To all the daughters of lapfed Eve,
Eve-like concupifcences cleave,
And 'tis by power of Grace Divine,
We them confine,
Grace, which all votaries' wants fupplies.
Which God to no weak foul denies,
Strengthening the fraileft, to repel
The powers of hell.
Live fatisfied to be fincere,
Infirmities you'll fuffer here.
None to perfedlion can attain.
Till Heaven they gain.
Lord, fow Love in our fpirits deep.
That each a daily crop may reap.
To Thee a harveft every day.
Of Love to pay.
SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.
The Trumpet.
And he fliall fend his angels with a great found of a
trumpet, and they fhall gather together his elefl from the
four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
MattheiM xxiv. 31.
IN univerfal dread I waked,
Each atom in me quaked.
Tremendous founds, methought, hung in my ear.
Which (hook the circumambient fphere,
76 SIXTH SUNDAY
Methought it reach'd to hell,
Where all the frighted fiends a-trembling fell.
I ftarting, to my Guardian fay,
Sure 'tis the Judgment Day,
Woe, woe, is me, my foul is unprepared,
I am unutterably feared ;
O for one minute more.
In which I may my numerous fins deplore !
To God fend penitential cries j
My Guardian then replies,
God gives you time your wanderings to lament.
Which fhould upon your knees be fpent :
What found, I then rejoin'd.
Is that, which with this horror ftrikes my mind ?
I faw, my Guardian faid, this night
An Angel in his flight,
One of the feven, who at God's Throne of State
With their celeftial trumpets wait,
Him I, in darted thought.
To reft himfelf a while with me befought.
He mildly yields, I him embrace,
And as he took his place,
I faw his trumpet hang between his wings.
As we difcourfed of heavenly things.
And his right hand contain'd
Seven thunder-bolts, for fome curfed land
ordain'd.
AFTER EPIPHANY. 77
Ah me ! faid I, how is mankind
Turn'd deaf, dumb, ftupid, blind !
To the furprife of death and endlefs woes,
Each moment they themfelves expofe ;
This foul 1 tender here,
I rarely make my warnings to revere.
I long my pupil to fecure.
And keep him Chrift-like pure,
O lift your radiant trumpet to your head,
Sound in the key which wakes the dead,
Sound fingly to his ear ;
Wake all ye dead, at Judgment to appear.
The Angel with my wifh confpired,
Sounding what I defired,
But much more dreadful, more furprifmg found
Will through the hollow graves rebound,
When the laft trump begins
To fummon fouls to Judgment for their fms.
I thanks to my good Angel paid.
The warning duly weigh'd.
The found continues lively in my mind,
And when to ill I am inclined.
The trumpet I recall.
To keep me watchful, and prevent my fall.
78 SEPrUAGESIMA SUNDAY
SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY.
yujlice.
But he anfwered one of them, and faid, Friend, I do
thee no wrong : didft not thou agree with me for a penny?
Matthenv xx. 13.
THY Juftice, Lord, my fong excites,
Which guilty fpirits frights ;
As guardian it Thy Love attends.
Thy Goodnefs it defends ;
Men would Thy Love defpife,
Hadft Thou not awful Juftice to chaftife.
Ah, had we innocence retain'd.
Love o'er our powers had reign'd ;
Love which our fouls to God had fway'd,
God had with love repaid j
Reciprocations dear.
Had made this world a beatific fphere.
O curfed fin ! provoking God,
To His avenging rod ;
Which fet juft jealous God on flame.
To vindicate His Name j
Yet in God's Juftice we
Benignities ftill tempering terror fee.
Meek Mofes faw with happy eye,
Thy Goodnefs paffing byj
SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY. 79
Thy Goodnefs, Lord, was firft proclaim'd,
Next that Thy Juftice named ;
Both amicably join'd,
But the firft place to Goodnefs was affign'd.
Thy Wifdom with Thy Juftice fides,
And Thy vaft empire guides ;
Nothing unworthy thence can flow,
On finners here below j
Thou never couldft create,
A creature purpofely to damn and hate.
Our being from Thy Goodnefs ftreams,
Suftain'd by gracious beams ;
And 'tis Thy Will we (hould love Thee,
With love entire and free ;
But we, propenfe to ill,
Crofs the juft native purpofe of Thy Will.
Thou, Lord, rebellious man to fave,
Wouldft Thy dominion waive ;
A covenant Thou didft begin.
To refcue him from fin ;
By powerful hope, and fear,
Hell to embitter, glory to endear.
Thy Juftice which conftrains Thy Will,
Thy Promife to fulfil j
Creates condecencies as ftridt.
Woes threaten'd to infli//. iv. 18.
OF all the monfters which appear'd,
Since God the world from nothing rear'd,
None fhould (o odious be efteem'd,
As finners, by God-man redeem'd,
Who outrage for that boundlefs Love repay,
To make themfelves to hellifh fpite a prey.
E'er fmce God-man for finners bled,
God His dear Love difFufedly fhed,
Of all He the falvation wills.
Due grace He into all inftils ;
God reconciled to finners. Love became
Of Deity atoned, the proper name.
God who of Love the title chofe,
Averfion to our ruin fhews.
Love pities, and complains, and grieves,
Whene'er repulfes He receives,
A thoufand folemn proteftations makes.
He no delight in our damnation takes.
Love long for our converfion ftays.
Gently upbraiding our delays j
298 NINETEENTH SUNDAY
Love for each foul which torment feels,
Can make unnumber'd juft appeals :
Ah ! what can Love do more to refcue one,
Who Love contemn'd, and chofe to be undone ?
Love, when provoked, to wrath is flow.
Unwilling to inflicSt a woe ;
His anger He'll long time fufpend,
To try if finners will amend :
God even in wrath is of a temper meek.
Remembering He is Love, and man is weak.
Love, when a daring guilt provokes.
Shortens, and moderates His ftrokes.
On this fide of eternal pains,
God's wrath, allays of Love retains ;
And when they harden'd down to Tophet fall,
Love wifhes they had hearken'd to His call.
Say, all lapfed Adam's offspring, fay,
When love of fin to heart you lay ;
When men with devils you compare,
Who have in dying God no fhare :
Say, if your ftretch'd imaginations find
More horrid monfters than foul humankind.
Dark intelle6l, perverted will.
All powers, all paflions warp'd to ill ;
The likenefs diabolic placed,
Where God's bright image was effaced :
AFTER TRINITY. 299
A hell-fired tongue, a heart of fenfelefs ftone,
Are the foul fhapes by which the monfter's known.
I fuch a monfter, Lord, remain'd,
While I 'gainft Love curfed war maintain'd ;
Thy Love, Lord, firft propofed a peace,
Firft made hoftilities to ceafe :
Thy pure free Love created me anew,
Till from a monfter I a lover grew.
Mind was enlighten'd, paflions tamed.
My powers re-hallow'd, will inflamed ;
I felt Thy image re-imprefs'd,
Well-govern'd tongue, a tender breaft :
I ever will that Love immenfe adore.
Who when I monfter turn'd, would me reftore.
<^!^^'^S
TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.
Speaking to yourfelves in pfalms, and hymns, and fpirit-
ual fongs ; finging and making melody in your heart to the
Lord. — Eph. v. 19.
OF all the gifts which Heaven defign'd
To hallow and adorn the mind,
Sweet poetry has fuft'er'd moft
By bards from the infernal coaft,
Who in her beauteous vifage fpit
The putrefa£tion of their wit.
300 TIVENTIETH SUNDAY
The gift of God, by God infufed,
Should be for God, the Donor, ufed ;
From God primevally it ftreams,
And fhould in hymn refle6t His beams,
And every fong it flirivcs to fing
Should have the flavour of its Spring.
Great God, the Altar to fupply.
Bright fire commanded from on high.
The heavenly fire Jehovah fent,
Was only on His Altar fpent,
And all poetic heaven-born flam
Should be devoted to God's Name.
Great God intends His gifts divine
Should have an influential fhine,
God is of love and joy the Source,
His gifts fhould have a God-like force.
And gifted poets {hould excite
Pure heavenly love, and pure delight.
When bards againft great God confpire.
And kindle fervour at ftrange fire,
When they are warm'd by Pagan heat.
Their borrow'd phrafes they repeat,
Mean and inglorious aims purfue.
And find the Pagans them outdo.
Would they to God devote their wit,
And borrow^ lights from Sacred Writ,
AFTER TRINITY. 301
Their fancies nobler tracks would find,
With brighter thoughts enrich the mind,
They then would take fupernal flights,
Verfe would retrieve its native heights.
Souls raifed to a celeftial ftand
With freedom might their powers expand.
Of things divine they would difcourfe,
From the eternal boundlefs Source,
The fubjedts would their fouls fublime.
And keep wit ever in its prime.
True poets are a faint-like race,
And with the gift receive the grace,
Of their own fongs the virtue feel,
Warm'd with an heaven-enkindled zeal.
And warm'd itfelf, a facred Mufe
Like ardours may with eafe infufe.
A poet fhould have heat and light.
Of all things a capacious fight.
Serenity with rapture join'd.
Aims noble, eloquence refined.
Strong, modeft, fweetnefs to endear,
Expreflions lively, lofty, clear.
High thoughts, an admirable theme.
For decency a chafte efteem,
Of harmony a perfedl fkill,
Juft characters of good and ill,
30* TfTENTIETH SUN DAT
And all concentred, fouls to pleafe,
Inftru6t, inflame, melt, calm, and eafe.
Such graces can nowhere be found,
Unlefs on confecrated ground.
Where poets fix on God their thought.
By facred infpiration taught.
Where each poetic votary fings
In heavenly ftrains of heavenly things.
Prophets and poets were of old
Made of the fame celeftial mould,
O that the prophets now would ftrive
That hallow'd union to revive.
They'd facred poetry affert.
And the degenerate bards convert.
Bards, who will ftruggle ere they quit
Their bold and falfe pretence to wit.
They'll for a while make hideous cries
At priefts, who them would exorcife,
But Chriftian poets would gain ground.
And Antichriftians' ravings drown'd.
AFTER TRINITY. 303
TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.
Brethren, be ftrong in the Lord, and in the power
of His might. — Ep/i. vi. 10.
THRICE happy man whofe foul is ftaid
On God's unfeen, but certain aid,
Beneath his (hadow he'll retreat,
And never fear affli6ting heat.
I am by fweet experience fure
My God a Refuge is fecure,
He is my Fort againft my foes,
In God I truft in all my woes.
My foul, He'll fave thee from the fnares
Which hellifh fpite for thee prepares ;
When noifome peftilence fhall reign,
Infedlion he'll from thee reftrain.
His gracious Plttmes fhall thee enclofe,
Thy truft fhall in His Wings repofe,
His truth fhall arms defenfive yield,
It fhall thy buckler be and fhield.
Thou fhalt no terrors fear by night.
No arrows which are fhot in light,
No dangers which in darknefs rife.
Or at noon-day fhall thee furprife.
304. TtVENTT-FIRST SUNDAY
Amidft ten thoufand round thee flain
Thou unaflaulted fhalt remain,
And fee, when finners outrage God
The juft dire vengeance of His rod.
My foul, thou doft on God rely.
And haft thy fhelter from on high.
No evil fhall approach thy bed.
Thou no judicial plague fhalt dread.
God will command on angels lay
To guide and guard thee night and day,
Thev'll thee uphold in tender arm,
Anc no rude ftone thy foot (hall harm.
Thou {halt on fierceft lions tread,
Shalt bruife the afp's and dragon's head,
With the old ferpent doom'd to hell
Their venom damp, their fury quell.
Hear what God utters from above, —
Since he has fix'd on Me his love.
Has known, and has obey'd My Will,
I'll place him out of reach of ill.
Whene'er he prays his prayers I'll hear,
I'll in his trouble ftill be near.
Not only him from guilt redeem.
But raife him in the world's efteem.
AFTER TRINITY. ' 305
He long fliall happy live below,
My bleflings here (hall overflow,
When languifhing for Heaven he dies,
Eternal joys fhall glad his eyes.
TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY AFTER
TRINITY.
Prayer for Love.
And this I, pray, that your love may abound. — Phil. i. 9.
MY prayers for Love to Heaven direflly fly,
The God of Love cannot thefe prayers
deny,
The God of Love thefe prayers infpires,
He firft the incenfe fires,
Which, as it heavenward burns,
What Love fent down, to Love returns,
God is both Lovelinefs and Love immenfe,
And loves to be re-loved with love the moft intenfe.
All-gracious God, I cried, make no delay,
Vouchfafe me one inflammatory ray ;
And ftraight a ray of Love Divine
Deign'd on my foul to fhine,
I knew from whence it came.
It kindled in me heavenly flame,
I felt it gently over-fhine my breafl:.
But its fweet mighty force can never be exprefs'd.
X
3o6 TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY
Down on my fpirit flew the fpotlefs Dove,
Pluck'd from His fplendid Wings abeam of Love,
My heart with that bright beam He fiU'd,
Which heavenly Love inftill'd j
My heart was at one flroke
Of that foft beam in pieces broke,
I long for its obduratenefs was grieved,
And wonder'd how the rock could by a beam be
cleaved.
When His all-glorious Wings the Spirit fpread
O'er chaos, and enlivening influence fhed,
As He defcended His bright rays
Made ante-folar days,
Light on the mafs appear'd
Ere into creature it was rear'd ;
Thus on my heart when down the Spirit flew.
Light heavenly on it fell ere 'twas a creature new.
When Jefus to the man born blind gave eyes,
He all the creatures faw with ftrange furprife ;
Thus Love's difFufed enamouring light
Gave an amazing fight,
I clearly faw my heart,
Pry'd nicely into every part,
Concupifcence had made it fo impure,
Unfpotted Love Divine could not its fight endure.
Sin now in a true light itfelf difplays,
And diabolic uglinefs betrays ;
AFTER TRINITY. 307
O I have lived till novi^ ftark blind,
Stranger to my own mind,
Ah, I too late begin
To fee the finfulnefs of fin,
My deepeft wound is that I fhould mifpend
My ftrength fo much, fo long, Love boundlefs
to offend.
When I confront my fins, and Love Divine,
The infinite free Love of Godhead Trine
Has fuch fweet force, that it endears
The bittereft of my tears,
Hearts humble and contrite
In lamentations feel delight,
Each tear alleviates their afRicSting moan,
And glad advances makes, Love outraged to atone.
All worldly lufts I from my heart expell'd.
And the loved fin which furioufly rebell'd,
I then implored Love's gracious might,
Love ardent to excite ;
Soon as my heart was ciear'd,
Love in His temple re-appear'd.
My broken heart Love fiU'd, and Love rc-
clofed ;
And in His temple there Love Infinite repofed.
3o8 rjVENTY-rHIRD SUNDAY
TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER
TRINITY.
Heaven F'lrji Sought.
For our converfation is in Heaven, from whence alfo
we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jefus Chrift. — Phil. iii.
20.
WHETHER I will or no, I find
Myfelf to happinefs inclined,
What happinefs I then defire,
I next inquire.
I all my inclinations weigh.
What would content them, bid them fay,
But fee, they no enough will own,
Infatiate grown.
Pride, luft, and avarice ftill would crave,
Should they ten worlds for portion have,
Intoxicated though with ftore.
They'd third for more.
I then confult each learned i^ck^^
Who authors numberlefs colledl,
They who all fciences purfue
Enough ne'er knew.
In Solomon, of all mankind,
Wealth, honour, pleafure, wifdom join'd ;
AFTER TRINITY. 309
He felt the quinteflential heights
Of all delights.
He ftrove with an unbridled will
Of fenfual joys to take his fill,
Yet to his forrow, found his gain
Vexatious, vain.
Our God in that great King defign'd,
To unbeguile each worldly mind,
And teach that higheft joys below
Expire in woe.
There's no true fatisfa6lion here,
'Tis only in the Heavenly fphere ;
Souls who to perfe6l joys afpire
Quite lofe defire.
In death enough faints {hall not have.
Though flefli lies fenfelefs in the grave ;
And he their fpirits (hall difmifs
To enter blifs.
Enough no feparate fouls obtain.
Till bodies glorified they gain,
They'll live in languilhing defire
For blifs entire.
Jefus, to fix our choice aright,
Bids us firft feek the realm of light,
And to His Righteoufnefs Divine
To co-incline.
5IO TWENTY-rHIRD SUNDAY
None but the righteous are difpofed
For joys in endlefs light difclofed ;
Polluted fouls the region pure
Would not endure.
Left the vain world fhould us allure,
He deigns Heaven's feekers to affure,
That God their portion juft decreed
For earthly need.
Thus love unbounded overflows,
Both Heaven and earth on faints beftows :
What can the Infinite give more,
Or man implore ?
If Heaven ye worldlings firft would choofe.
And not enjoy this world, but ufe ;
'Twill pleafe you, to fubje61:ion brought,
More than firft fought.
My Jefus, had I fought Thee firft,
I ne'er had felt afflicting thirft ;
But this vain world from heavenly view
My fpirit drew.
Lord, to that fovereign blifs I tend,
Which all-fufficient has no end,
Perfedlions which belong to none
But Thee alone.
Meanwhile I on my God rely,
The wants, He wills me, to fupply ;
■.-.:!
f
AFTER TRINITT. 311
My juft enough He only knows,
For want or woes.
In God's enough, my foul fhall reft,
Though here I am but partly blefs'd,
Saints of the Crofs have ftill alloy
To temper joy.
Enough we have for earthly need,
Heaven's joys our foretaftes far exceed,
Enough, my God, is where Thou art,
There lodge my heart.
TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER
TRINITY.
Heaven.
For the hope which is laid up for you in Heaven
Coloffians i. 5.
NOR eye, ear, thought, can take the height
To which my fong is taking flight,
Yet raifed an humble wing,
My guefs of Heaven I'll fing ;
'Tis Love's reward, and Love is fired
By guefling at the blifs defired.
Guefs then at faints' eternal lot.
By due confidering what 'tis not,
3ia TWENTY-FOURrH-SUNDAT.
No mifery, wanr, or care,
No death, no darknefs there,
No troubles, ftorms, fighs, groans, or tears.
No injury, pains, ficknefs, fears.
There fouls no difappointments meet,
No vanities the choice to cheat.
Nothing that can defile,
No hypocrite, no guile,
No need of prayer, or what implies.
Or abfence or vacuities.
There no ill confcience gnaws the breaft,
No tempters holy fouls infeft.
No curfe, no weeds, no toil.
No errors to embroil.
No luftful thought can enter in,
Or poflibility of fm.
From all vexations here below,
The region of fin, death and woe.
Song, to your utmoft ftrefs
Now elevate your guefs.
Sing what in facred lines you read,
Of blifs for pious fouls decreed.
They dwell in pure ecftatic light.
Of God Triune have blifsful fight,
Of Fontal Love, who gave
God Filial, man to fave j
AFTER TRINITY. 313
Of Jefus' Love, who death fuftain'd,
By which the faints their glory gain'd ;
Of Love co-breathed the boundlefs Source,
From which faints' love derives its force,
Within the gracious ihine
Of the co-glorious Trine,
The faints in happy manfions reft,
Of all they can defire pofTefs'd.
Saints' bodies there the fun outvie
Temper'd to feel the joys on high.
Bright body and pure mind.
In rapture unconfined.
Capacities expand, till fit
Deluge of Godhead to admit.
In all-fufficient blifs they joy.
Duration in fweet hymns employ ;
With angels they converfe.
Their loves and joys rehearfe,
Tafte fuavities of Love immenfe,
Of all delights full confluence.
With God's own Son they reign co-heirs,
Each faint with Him in glory fhares.
Like Godhead, happy, pure,
Againft all change fecure.
In boundlefs joys they fabbatife,
Which Love Triune will eternife.
31+ TIFENTT-FIFTH SUNDAY
By boundlefs Love, for fouls refined,
Are joys unfpeakable defign'd,
When I thofe joys imbibe,
I then may them defcribe ;
Joys to full pitch will hymn excite,
When from fenfation I endite.
afefps£5
TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.
"Jefus our King.
Behold, the days come, faith the Lord, that I will raife
unto David a righteous Branch, and a King fliall reign,
and profper, and fhall execute judgment and juftice in the
earth. — Jeremiah xxiii. 5.
BLESS'D Spirit, aid me, while I fing
Our humble, our Almighty King.
Curfed pride man firft debafed,
And from fweet Eden chafed ;
Man proudly likenefs to great God defired.
And loft all God-like grace which God infpired.
Man all to God as creature owes.
And his entire dependence knows.
As finner he's God's hate.
And muft his doom await.
Sinner and proud, a contradidion feems,
Yet in fall'n man concentre both extremes.
Jefus the fovereign fin to quell.
Which men and devils fank to hell,
I
AFTER TRINITr. 3^5
Lowly and meek appear'd,
To God the more endear'd,
He taught how fweet humihty and height
In fouls would co-harmonioufly unite.
God fent an angel to proclaim
Both His Conception and His Name,
Yet a poor Maid He chofe,
Whofe womb fhould Him enclofe j
Our new-born King in a poor manger lay,
Which a bright ftar ennobled with its ray.
God-man, who deign'd to live below,
Endured all the infults of woe,
Reje6ted, fcorn'd, reviled,
And diabolic ftyled ;
Yet all the while wrought miracles divine,
And in the humble man made Godhead fhine.
When on the Crofs He tortured hung,
Blafphemed by every hell-fired tongue,
Twelve legions were at hand,
To fly at His command ;
The king of terrors, and the hellifh hoft,
Fled trembling foon as He gave up the Ghoft.
God-man would in His earthly ftate.
By condefcenfions, pride abate j
The King adored on high,
Would for His rebels die ;
3i6 TIVENTT-FIFTH SUNDAY
And now enthroned, benignly intercedes
For full fupplies to humble votaries' needs.
Defcending from His glorious fphere,
Our humble King began to rear
His mediatory realm,
And fet Himfelf at helm ;
His realm antardtic to all worldly aim,
Where none but humble fouls can entrance claim.
Pure felf-denial, and the Crofs,
To count all things for Jefus lofs,
Of faints the badges are.
Who live His royal care j
They in Heaven inchoate, have foretaftes fweet
Of joys above, which in full confluence meet.
God-man to Jews His realm reftrain'd.
Till He His heavenly Throne regain'd j
Now o'er the world He reigns,
Allots rewards and pains,
Gives laws, fupport, deliverance, flielter, aid.
To humble fouls by His kind fceptre fway'd.
The Lamb of God is King of kings.
He Death difarms of all its flings :
And when a tyrant raves.
The Lamb, the Shepherd faves ;
He the feven-headed,ten-horn'dbeaft o'erpowers,
Who all the world who worfhip him, devours.
AFTER TRINITY. %n
Angelic hofts the Lamb obey,
Kings at His Feet their fceptres lay,
The Lamb all Tophet awes,
Souls refcues from its jaws ;
When men, when devils, the Lamb's realm aflail,
Our mighty King, the Lamb, will ftill prevail.
Blefs'd faints, whom the meek Lamb of God
Rules with a gracious, gentle rod ;
I'll on the Lamb repofe.
Follow where'er He goes j
And when I flip, to the mild Lamb addi efs,
Ready to pardon, foon as I confefs.
Praife to the Lamb enthroned, whofe Love
Sent in His ftead the heavenly Dove j
O blefling paft compare.
In which the humble (hare !
They in fweet reft, joy, peace fecure abide,
Who have the Lamb their King, the Dove their
Guide.
But when the Lamb His realm lays down,
And God Triune refumes the Crown,
When faints abfolved from fin,
Eternal joys begin ;
May I with them adore the Godhead Trine,
And have my fill of all that is divine.
3i8 ST. ANDREirS DAT.
ST, ANDREW'S DAY.
BLESS'D Andrew ! in your call we trace
The condu6l of preventing grace,
While we recount the happy fteps you trod,
To be the favourite of Incarnate God.
You to hard toil and care inured,
A common fifher's life endured,
On Galilean waves, you night and day,
Expofed to cold, heat, ftorm and billows, lay.
Long had the Galilean name
Been reprobated and infame,
Till God convinced the Jews' contemptuous eyes.
That good might out of Galilee arife.
Heaven, which God-man's fore-runner fent
To move Judaea to repent.
With gracious force meek Andrew's heart dif-
pofed
To tafte the truths God's harbinger difclofed.
The awful tidings reach'd his ear.
Of God's blefs'd kingdom drawing near.
And he ambitious grew himfelf to mould.
That he might in that kingdom be enroll'd.
His fins he then with care furvey'd.
And every aggravation weigh'd,
ST. ANDREW'S DAY. 319
Oft with his tears he ballafted his boat,
As on Tiberian lake it was afloat.
While for his fins his heart would bleed,
He of a Saviour faw the need ;
And God, Who always tenders hearts contrite,
Took care to blefs him with his Saviour's fight.
One day, which Jefus well foreknew,
He pafs'd in John and Andrew's view,
And John cried out. Behold the Lamb of God,
Who finners faves from Heaven's avenging rod !
Meek Andrew, and his humble mate.
Wont on the Baptiit's lips to wait,
Joy'd at that dear difcovery, grew intent
To follow Jefus wherefoe'er He went.
Sweet longings in their hearts they felt,
To fee the fpot where Jefus dwelt.
And He vouchfafed the votaries to invite
To lodge in His blefs'd manfion all the night.
O favour not to be exprefs'd.
To be of God Incarnate guefl !
Their hearts were at each word with rapture fill'd.
While from His Lips falvific truths diitill'd.
Meek Andrew, by loved Jefus fired.
To copy Jefus' love afpired,
His brother Peter out with zeal he fought,
And to obtain like blifs to Jefus brought.
320 ST. ANDREW'S DAY.
Both then returning to their trade,
Heaven more their care than fifhing made j
Till Jefus gave them apoftolic call,
And both to follow^ Jefus, left their all.
From toil marine good Andrew freed,
To fifli for human fouls decreed,
Vaft Scythia vv'as his lot, vi^here 'twas his aim,
Men fierce as fiends they worfhipp'd, to reclaim.
Pains, labours, perfecutions dire.
All that could fright, torment, or tire.
He meekly bore from Pagan and from Jew,
As evangelic nets he o'er them threw.
In fpite of hell, he mighty fhoals
Caught in his net, of Scythian fouls j
O'er Grecia next, to pride and idols bred.
His ghoftly nets with like fuccefs he fpread.
He truth, with heavenly vigour taught,
Confirm'd by miracles he wrought ;
Ne'er ceafed his labours, till with age opprefs'd,
God faw it time to give him endlefs reft.
He traverfed the Achaian land.
At Patras made a ghoftly ftand,
Whofe altars yearly reek'd with virgin gore.
When they convened, Diana to adore.
Their idol-temples down he caft.
Forced oracles to breathe their laft ;
ST. ANDREJrS DAT. 3:1
Till Pagan zeal, with hellifh fury fumed,
The Saint to die upon a faltire doom'd.
With cords his hands and feet they tied,
That long he might in pain abide ;
Unnail'd he ftrength retain'd, and from their fpite
Advantage took to fhed celeftial light.
Two days he on the crofs, aloud
Preach'd Jefus to the liftening crowd,
Converfions numerous made, while thus he hung,
Till he in tranfport his own requiem fung.
All praife to God, who lifts on high
Souls who are lowlieft in His eye ;
Who humble Andrew for great things defign'd,
And firft to penitential tears inclined.
From penitent to faint he rofe ;
From faint he was apoftle chofe ;
The martyr's crown he, when apoftle, gain'd,
And ever fmce with blefled Jefus reign'd.
My God, may I with faith behold
The Lamb of God for fmners fold ;
In Holy writ, hymn, meditation, prayer,
And Eucharift may 1 His Prefence fhare.
When Jefus calls, with ready mind
May I leave all the world behind ;
May I, like Andrew, never once look back.
But forward tread in my Redeemer's track!
Y
322 ST. THOMAS
May I with Jefus fix my ftay,
And languifh when He goes away ;
Till, Andrew-like, I others fhall enflame.
Prepared to die a martyr for His Name.
ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE.
WHEN Jefus notice gave
Of Lazarus fleeping in his grave,
And that to wake His friend.
His courfe fhould towards Judaea tend,
His votaries to diffuade Him ftraight combined.
Since there the Jews His ftoning had defign'd.
Blefs'd Thomas, who well knew
The rage of the malicious Jew,
Who in like fate refolved
His votaries all fhould be involved ;
To run the danger with his Lord was bent,
Rather than hinder His benign intent.
This was his brave reply,
O let us go and with Him die ;
Him we for Mafter chofe.
And of our lives let Him difpofe;
The radiant gates of Heaven are open fet,
Thrice happy thofe that early entrance get.
rUE APOSTLE. 323
Blefs'd faint, by Jefus taught
Of things below to value nought,
With love, vi^hich cafts out fear,
To your Redeemer to adhere ;
May I, like you, the world and life defpife.
And live to God perpetual facrifice !
Our Lord, with melting Heart,
Had warn'd His friends He fhould depart
To Fontal God, and they
Were told, the Crofs fhould be the way ;
That when He made His re-afcent, He there
Celeftial manfions would for them prepare.
Blefs'd Thomas, deeply grieved
Of Jefus' fight to be bereaved,
Begg'd, that the way He went,
He would more clearly reprefent ;
He who before with Jefus would have died,
Would tread all paths where Jefus was the Guide.
Our Lord was pleafed to fay,
I am the Truth, the Life, the Way,
None can accepted be
With my dread Father, but by Me :
Me, Whom you know with God Paternal One,
The Father fhines in His co-equal Son.
May I, dear Lord, refign
My faith to all Thy Truth Divine ;
324 ST. THOMAS
Make it my daily aim,
Conform to Thine, my life to frame.
That I, with Thomas, may that realm obtain,
Where faints with Thee in manfions bright
remain.
When Jefus death fubdued,
And His defponding friends review'd,
The faint, then abfent, heard
That Jefus had to them appear'd,
Yet doubted of the thing he moft defired,
And free fenfation for his faith required.
Our Lord faw joy devout
At the good news, had caufed the doubt,
And His next view contrived.
When doubting Thomas was arrived.
He Who our human frailties deign'd to bear,
Of fouls fmcere, though weak, has tender care.
Our Lord the Saint enjoin'd
By fenfe to fatisfy his mind ;
With trembling he drew nigh.
Into his Saviour's Wounds to pry,
Search'd His gored Hands, and Feet, and gaping
Side,
And loud, my Lord, my God ! in rapture cried.
My Lord, Thy Love be praifed.
Thou by the doubt which Thomas raifed,
Our doubting didft prevent.
THE APOSTLE 325
We without fight give firm affent,
With joy Thy benediction we receive,
They blefled are, who fee not, yet believe.
All glory be to Thee,
Thou Who didft heretics forefee.
With lying ghofts would ftrive
Thee of Thy Godhead to deprive ;
Didft fix fuch faith on Thy Apoftle's breaft.
Which fhould to death Thy Deity atteft.
That faving-truth his zeal
To Gentiles labour'd to reveal ;
Round the vaft Parthian coaft
He vanquifti'd the infernal hoft ;
Preach'd i^thiopia and all India o'er.
And made them Jefus, his Lord God, adore.
The idols then enraged,
Their votaries in his fall engaged j
They on a crofs decreed
He, Jefus-like, {hould hang and bleed ;
And as he hung, they pierced him with a fpear,
And gave his foul to blifs a paflage clear.
When martyr's crown he gain'd,
Thy Love, my Lord, his foul fuftain'd ;
Thou 'midft his dying woe.
His Lord, his God, Thyfelf didft fhew ;
He Who, blefs'd Saint, was Lord and God to thee,
My Lord, my God, O may He ever be.
^26 CONVERSION OF
CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL.
OF all the conquefts which Thy grace
E'er gain'd, dear Lord, o'er Adam's race,
I none more glorious can recall
Than that of Saul.
He, reeking with blefs'd Stephen's gore,
Had ftill a raging thirft for more ;
His very temper feem.'d on fire
With hell-bred ire.
That ire, by Pharifaic pride.
Which cenfured, hated, fcorn'd, decried,
All but themfelves, more fiercely burn'd.
To madnefs turn'd.
He threaten'd, grieved, imprifon'd, bound,
And doom'd to death all faints he found,
Compell'd the timorous to blafpheme.
With rage extreme.
No tyrant 'gainft the Chriftian name
Could kindle more devouring flame j
He evangelic truth denied.
And Chrift defied.
Sent by the priefts to bring the faints
To Salem from remote reftrains ;
ST PAUL. 327
He ftrove to execute with fpeed
The ills decreed.
But gracious God ftopp'd his career ;
Light, than meridian beams more clear,
Round him, and all who with him join'd,
At mid-day fliined.
The light, which dazzled all their eyes.
Struck them to earth, with ftrange furprife ;
Saul heard plain words, while on the ground,
They, only found.
Why, Saul, fhould I thy fury feel ?
'Tis hard to kick 'gainft pointed fteel.
Who art Thou, Lord, foon as he cried,
The voice replied : —
I Jefus am, grieved with each woe.
Which My dear brethren undergo ;
Arife, I thee from embryo chofe.
Truth to difclofe.
He rifmg, the o'erpowering light.
By Heaven's appointment, damp'd his fight,
That to Damafcus led, he there
Might fix in prayer.
Three days he fafted, and was blind,
With an illuminated mind ;
On Jefus' Voice he only mufed.
With tears infufed.
3*8 CONFERSION OF
Sweet Jefus' wrongs his fpirit gored,
He them with bitter grief deplored ;
To caufe God-man, his Saviour, fmart,
Quite broke his heart.
He God's benignity admired,
'Midft all his outrages untired.
Love penitential at that thought
Was fweetly wrought.
His faith up to aflurance grew.
Since he by glad experience knew
God-man ; O none to that degree
Could love, but he.
To eafe His votary, well-nigh fpent,
God Ananias to him fent,
Sight by his bleffing was reftored j
Both God adored.
Then in the wave of his own tear
He was baptifed, his guilt to clear,
Renounced the name of raging Saul,
For milder Paul.
There with the faints awhile he ftay'd,
For the divine affiftance pray'd,
There God gave faith and love full height
By rapturous flight.
In vifion, or in foul he flew,
Of the third Heaven to take a view,
ST. PAUL. 329
And the fublimities heard there,
Durft not declare.
Left he thus rapt, with pride fhould fwell,
God loofed a tempter, who from hell
Temptations thorny with him brought,
Which weaknefs taught.
But prayer procured fufficient grace
To quell the fiend, and felf debafe ;
He feem'd improved by trial more.
Than flight before.
His faith and love, when thus refined,
In mutual actuations join'd,
Faith light imparted, and love heat,
In union fweet.
Of thofe bright graces when poflTefs'd,
He with apoftolate was blefs'd.
All climates round the folar courfe,
Soon felt their force.
Firm was his faith, and lively hope,
Yet charity had greateft icope ;
The laft, though lovely all appear'd.
Was moft endear'd.
No other knowledge he defired.
But what the Love of Jefus fired ;
All worldly things he counted lofs
For Jefus' Crofs.
330 CONVERSION OF
To the great God of Love he pray'd,
And never fail'd of gracious aid ;
He fweetly felt that Love conftrain
To love again.
He lived by faith, but more by love,
Had foretaftes of the blifs above,
Not to be thought by human mind.
For love defign'd.
The boundlefs length, breadth, depth and height
Of Jefus' Love, was his delight ;
In every track he ftrove to tread.
Where Jefus led.
He of paft fins kept humble fenfe,
A confcience void of all ofFence :
No wrongs his love, when ftorm'd by foes.
Could difcompofe.
He own'd himfelf of fmners chief;
Yet ignorance and unbelief,
When on God's gracious balance weigh'd.
His guilt allay'd.
He flefh fubdued by prayer, tear, faft,
Of votaries deem'd himfelf the laft ;
Though fupcr-effluently graced.
Was moft debafed.
Ills, when God's lovers here fuftain'd,
He knew were for their good ordain'd j
ST. PAUL. 331
Love which on him the Spirit flied,
Was void of dread.
He fingle feem'd a martyr'd hoft,
Could more than all apoftles boaft ;
Not in himfelf, but in the height
Of heavenly might.
Stripes, labours, prifons, ftonings, blows,
Deaths frequent, confluential woes.
Thieves, Pagans, the apoftate crew,
And fpiteful Jew.
Fatigues, and (hipwrecks on the deep.
Cold, nakednefs, and want of deep,
Thirft, hunger, all the grievous ills.
Which hell inftils.
All thefe, whofe number, crowd, and weight,
'Tis hard to their full pitch to rate.
For luftres feven the Saint endured.
To pains inured.
He of all churches bore the care.
In all faints' forrows felt a fhare ;
For lapfe of all who truth believed.
Was deeply grieved.
'Midft perpetuity of woe,
Joy would his heart co-overflow.
Hymns in the ftocks he would recite
In dead of night.
332 CONVERSION OF
To all the faints he hymns enjoin'd,
In fufFerings not to be declined,
Love to the Crofs his foul impulfed,
And griefs aduiced.^
A long fierce fight his love maintain'd
Againft the world, and conqueft gain'd,
And to hell-powers, which fouls invade.
This challenge made : —
Forge all the terrors which you can.
To damp my love of great God-man,
Your darts fhall unfuccefsful fall,
I'll ftand them all.
Should tribulation, or diftrefs,
Dire perfecution, nakednefs.
Sword, famine, peril, me aflail.
Love fhall prevail.
My Jefus, out of love to Thee,
I all day long would murder'd be,
Die deaths more than a numerous fold,
For flaughter fold.
My love fhall to a higher name
Than conqueror advance my aim,
I'll triumph, in God's love exult,
And hell infult.
' Adulced, foftened, fweetened.
ST. PAUL. 333
Nor death, life, tyrants, devils' might,
No depths of woe, no honour's height,
No prefent, nor no future ftate.
Shall love abate.
Oft thus he Jefus' Love revolved,
And fw^eetly long'd to be diflblved ;
Yet his fw^eet longings would refign
To Will Divine.
At laft the God of Love was pleafed
His aged lover ftiould be eafed ;
And nobler to atteft his creed.
At Rome fhould bleed.
By Nero doom'd, he loft that head
Which o'er the world falvation fpread ;
His foul had all he wifti'd before,
And long'd no more.
God gracious wonders by him wrought.
Whatever touch'd him, virtue caught,
To heal the fick, fiends difpoflefs.
And eafe diftrefs.
The world his diocefe was ftvled.
He conquer'd nations fierce and wild;
And ready was more worlds to crave,
Which he might fave.
All praife to God for blefled Paul,
For his grace, gifts, converfion, call,
334 PURIFICATION OF
Example, labours, wonders, pains,
Religious gains.
The Holy Spirit be adored,
Who him with revelations ftored.
That light to us he might tranfmit
In Sacred Writ.
May I from his own writings learn
His love, and faving truths difcern.
Till thirfting for the joys on high,
I long to die.
PURIFICATION OF ST. MARY THE VIRGIN.
OF all the folemn days.
Devoted to God's praife,
This day, methinks, the Church mifnamed,
It might have jufter title claim'd ;
No ear can well endure
Purification of a Mother pure.
The womb which Jefus chofe.
His Godhead to enclofe.
From wilful fin we guefs was free.
Fit for the God of purity ;
And might have rites declined.
Which for impure conceptions were defign'd.
Sr. MARY THE VIRGIN. 335
But her Great Infant few
Immaculate then knew,
She might the region fcandalize,
If judged law facred to defpife ;
And meekly {he thought fit
In charity and wifdom to fubmit.
She with like humble thought,
Her Babe to Temple brought,
The ftated ranfom down to lay.
Which Jews for their firft-born fhould pay.
The Mighty Child fhe knew,
To all God's laws would yield fubmifTion due.
The holy Virgin nought
But two young pigeons brought,
An offering of the meaneft rate.
To ftiow her humble, poor eftate ;
She the vain world denied.
She perfect contradiction lived to pride.
Herfelf and Son {he there
Devoted to God's care ;
She knew the dire predi61:ed woe
Her Son for man {hould undergo ;
And though to tear inclined.
All her foft yearnings to God's Will refign'd.
It was the Infant's aim
When He to Temple came,
336 PURIFICATION OF
To God Himfelf entire to give,
In conftant facrifice to live,
And on the Crofs to bleed,
To work that good His Father had decreed.
Saints to the houfe of prayer
Wont daily to repair.
The glory of God-man beheld
In fplendour which the ark excell'd ;
They faw the truth foretold,
The fecond Temple now out-lhined the old.
Simeon, devout and juft.
Purged from terreftrial guft,^
Had waited with a longing eye,
To fee Meflias from on high ;
And Heaven ere he expired
Had promifed him the blifs fo much defired.
The Spirit, ever blefs'd.
By force of Love imprefs'd.
Was to God's Houfe the lover's Guide,
Where God Incarnate he defcried,
At his firft heavenly view.
He Ifrael's wifh'd-for confolation knew.
The faint at that glad fight,
Raifed to ecftatic height,
' GuJI, tafte, appetite.
ST. MART THE FIRGIN. 337
With love the whole afTembly fired,
Embraced the Babe, to Heaven afpired,
Could earth no more endure,
And into hymn brake out, for Heaven mature.
God-man has blefs'd my eye,
In peace, Lord, let me die,
T the Redeemer now behold,
Whofe Love even Gentiles fhall enfold,
Be the world's glorious Light,
And fhed o'er Ifrael rays benign and bright
Next he the parents blefs'd.
And prophecy exprefs'd,
That when the Babe commenced His reign
Many {hould fall and rife again,
Many fhould be averfe.
And fword-like grief fhould the dear Mother pierce.
Then the Babe's blefline he
Imploring on his knee.
The Infant gave him his releafe.
And in fweet beam a kifs of peace,
His fpirit burft its clay,
And flew to hymn God-man in endlefs day.
Prophetic aged Anne
Came next to fee God-man,
Her life fhe in the Temple fpent.
On prayer and faft entirely bent,
z
338 PURIFICATION OF
She fang a fong of praife,
Soon as (he Jefus faw in gracious rays.
All who curfed fin bemoan'd,
And for a Saviour groan'd,
She warn'd on Jefus to rely,
And rapt at His endearing Eye,
Could life no more abide,
But in fweet, amorous liquefa6lion died.
Home went, when rites were done,
The parents with their Son ;
At Nazareth abode they made,
Lived in obfcure, and humble fliade,
From the vain world eftranged.
And loves with their fweet Infant interchanged.
O all ye worldlings, fee
How happy fouls may be
Without wealth, pomp, which you admire,
And madly to your bane defire ;
The happieft of mankind,
The humbleft are to Jefus' view confined.
Jefu, I Thee adore.
Who fmners to reftore,
Wouldft no humiliations fcorn,
Thou Godhead's co-immenfe Firft-born,
Wouldft have Thy ranfom paid,
WhowaftThvfelftheworld'sgreatRanfommade.
ST. MART THE VIRGIN. 339
May I in Thee delight,
Keep Thee in ghoftly fight ;
Like Thy blefs'd parents Thee enjoy,
On Thy fole Love myfelf employ ;
And from the world retired.
See nothing but Thyfelf to be defired.
May I in prayer and faft,
Still mindful of my laft.
Like Anna on Thy houfe attend,
All folemn hours devoutly fpend ;
There my dear Jefus meet,
And of Heaven's joys have prelibations fweet.
May I, in this lapfed ftate,
For Thy falvation w^ait,
By faith, like Simeon, Thee embrace,
Make my own heart Thy dwelling-place,
On Thy dear Love rely,
And fmg my own glad requiem when I die.
^y
ST. MATTHIAS'S DAY.
NEXT to the name of devil, none
Than Judas we more odious own,
It feems fong facred to pollute,
And beft may with invedtive fuit.
340 ST. MATTHIAS'S DAY.
But I, fince I Matthias fing.
And ftory little aid can bring,
In his curfed chara£l;er immerfe,
To draw the Saint by his reverfe.
The Gofpel which our paftors chofe
Seems the Saint's likenefs to enclofe,
And while my fong his draught defigns,
May furnifh fupplemental lines.
Both feem'd in grace alike to fhare,
Devoted to blefs'd Jefus' care.
And both that call propitious heard,
Which fouls to Jefus moft endear'd.
Come all who fink with load and toil,
I'll you from preflures difembroil ;
I'm meek and lowly, learn of Me,
Take My light yoke, 'twill fet you free.
To take Chrift's yoke they both profefs'd,
To him 'twas pain, to this 'twas reft.
He eyed the Man, and this the God,
Both in antariStic footfteps trod.
He Jefus' eafy yoke forfook.
And fins much heavier on him took ;
Without this yoke of his, ne'er ftept.
Which lighter grew, the longer kept.
He more retainer might be deem'd,
This a true votary efteem'd j
ST. MArrHUS'S DAY. 341
He fought to be enrich'd by ftealth,
This to renounce pomp, pleafure, wealth.
He of difciple had but paint,
This was fincere and real faint ;
He for great favours was ingrate,
This highly would the meaneft rate.
His call he to blefs'd Jefus owed,
On this God call by lot beftow'd j
Yet when we both their calls review,
His feems the happier of the two.
He was apoftle to the Light
While in the flefh, and lived by fight ;
This walk'd by Faith, and call obtain'd,
While Jefus abfent Heaven regain'd.
He truth drew from the Heavenly Source,
But clofed his heart againft its force ;
This from the rills in{lru6lion drew,
And prailifed all the truths he knew.
Both to height apoftolic reach'd,
Both myfteries evangelic preach'd j
He with a coldnefs, this with zeal.
Which feem'd the truths he taught, to feel.
Hell into him dire thoughts inftill'd.
His heart was with curfed Satan fill'd ;
Illapfes of the gracious Dove
Fill'd this with a victorious love.
3+2 ST. MATTHIAS'S DAT.
He Jefus with a kifs betray'd,
This faithful duty to Him pay'd ;
He thirfted Jefus' Blood to fhed.
While this for Jefus would have bled.
Both to repentances inclined,
His made him worfe, this grew refined ;
His drave him to a fierce defpair,
This pardon gain'd by tear and prayer.
He felt anticipated hell,
At laft the devil's martyr fell,
Was his own hangman, burft in twain,
By furies dragg'd to endlefs pain.
A life of love and joy this led,
And martyr's crown adorn'd his head ;
Had foretaftes of eternal blifs,
And gladly could his foul difmifs.
His crime predi61:ed was of old,
His name, in Book of Life enroll'd,
Was by blefs'd Jefus quite erafed,
And in infernal records placed.
This all his life, abroad when fent,
In charitable labours fpent ;
This wonders wrought, this hell controU'd,
This added flocks to Jefus' fold.
This with fierce Pagan lands converfed.
Salvation far and wide difperfed,
ST. MATTHIAS'S DAT. 343
Had his name wrote in beams, and fhines
Indelible in heavenly lines.
Soon as the Saint to Heaven took flight,
All the inhabitants of light
Gave him of peace the rapturous kifs,
And fung God's praifes for his blifs.
Soon as he had his glorious crown,
He on his radiant throne fat down,
AlTeflbr to God-man ordain'd.
When the twelve tribes fhall be arraign'd.
That throne for Judas once defign'd,
Ere from his duty he declined.
To blefs'd Matthias was enfured,
Reward for woes he had endured.
Curfed Judas at laft day fliall fee
Matthias, who his judge fhall be.
And hear his doom at that bright throne,
Which once he might have ftyled his own.
In hell, the heavenly throne and call
Eternallv his foul will gall ;
The greater grace he here received,
The more he will below be grieved.
With a feign'd faintfhip for awhile
Curfed traitors may the world beguile ;
But death will counterfeits expofe.
And damn to undiflembled woes.
344: ST. MATTHIAS'S DAT.
O Gracious God ! how apt are we
To prove like Judas falfe to Thee,
We call Thee Lord, but little mind
Obedience to Thy laws enjoin'd.
Falfe Judas, Lord, when Thee he fold,
Had thirty pieces to him told ;
His gain he but ten hours poflefs'd,
Difturb'd with horrors in his breaft.
We fell Thy favour every day
For trifles which foon fade away;
Which frefh vexations ftill create,
And which provoke Thy boundlefs hate.
The traitor grudged the ointment flied
By humble Mary on Thy Head ;
We on our lufts profufe, repine
To give Thee tenths of what is Thine.
If Judas, when apoftle made,
His Lord and his own foul betray'd.
We from our pronenefs to backflide.
Self-jealous, fhould in Thee confide.
All praife to Thee, Who didft aflume
Matthias in the traitor's room,
An envoy after God's own mind,
Whofe preference God Himfelf defign'd.
May I, Lord, like Matthias ^Irive,
From Thee my copy to derive ;
'WW
ST. MATTHIAS'S DAY. 345
O may the world me never fway,
My God, like Judas, to betray.
All praife to Thee, Who didft extract
Good from the traitor's fouleft: a6l,
His kifs Thy paffion introduced,
And all the joys of Heaven unfluiced.
ANNUNCIATION OF THE BLESSED
VIRGIN MARY.
WHEN God the radiant Gabriel choie,
His will to Zechary to difclofe,
The faints and angels all agreed
There was fome gracious thing decreed,
God, fuper-effluently bright,
Gave them additional delight.
But when fix moons were gone about,
And Gabriel was again cail'd out,
Tliey then beheld the glorious Trine
In brighter rays than ever, fhine,
Which with benignities immenfe
Caufed joys unfpeakably intenfe.
His robe was of a glory made,
Like that was on the ark difplay'd,
34-6 ANNUNCIATION OF THE
His wings of gradual beams were wove,
And as with them he ether clove,
Heaven flood in infinite amaze,
And overflow'd in fongs of praife.
The morning ftars in memory bore,
The rays God at creation wore,
When pleafed He all His works furvey'd,
And they in fong firft homage paid.
Thefe inconceivably excell'd
The fplendour which they then beheld.
Paternal God to blifsful fight
Appear'd in full propitious might.
The gracious Dove, with Wings outfpread,
Stood ready on the world to fhed
Of fweet enlivening influence more
Than e'er the chaos had before.
The angels by God Filial taught,
His chariot of falvation brought,
By horfes of falvation drawn,
Along the beatific lawn ;
Unlock'd was the celeftial gate,
That down He might defcend in ftate.
Meanwhile bright Gabriel fwiftly flew,
Till Nazareth open'd to his view,
He fmell'd of prayer the odorous fume,
And traced it to the homely room.
BLESSED FIRGIN MART. 3^7
Where he a Virgin had in Tight,
Who feem'd to blifs juft taking flight.
Such heavenly air he in her eyed,
Which with his own angelic vied,
Towards God fhe with fuch ardours foar'd,
With fuch devotion God adored,
That till he mark'd her well, he guefs'd
'Twas feraph in a female veft.
He then began, with afpe6l fweet.
What God enjoin'd him to repeat :
Hail, Mary, heft of mortal race !
Hail, highly favour'd, full of Grace !
The Lord will temple in thy heart,
Thou happieft of all women art.
The humble Maid was in furprife.
At the bright envoy in her eyes.
He mildly adds, Surprife forbear.
You in God's Love have greateft fharc.
You fhall conceive a wondrous Child,
Who fliall, when born, be Jefus ftyled.
He fhall be great, by all revered,
God's only Son, to God endear'd ;
God will His father David's throne
On Him beftow. He'll reign alone
O'er Ifrael, and a fceptre fway,
A kingdom which fhall ne'er decay.
3+8 ANNUNCIATION OF THE
How can this be, the Saint replied,
Since I a virgin will abide ?
The Holy Ghoft, he then rejoin'd,
Shall make illapfe upon thy mind,
God's gracious power on thee fhall ftream,
And crown thee with enamouring beam.
The Babe who in thy womb fhall lie,
Shall be the Son of God moft High,
When thrice the moon its courfe ftiall run,
Eliza old fhall have a fon.
Thought nothing can too hard conceive
For power unbounded to achieve.
God's handmaid, cried fhe, here behold.
May all fucceed thou hafl foretold.
Then humbly Gabriel bade adieu,
And while he to his hymns re-flew,
In Heaven below fhe acquiefced.
Benignly deluging her breafl:.
Her thought on dear Meflias dwelt.
To languor fhe began to melt,
While God from Heaven a vifit made ;
Fulfilling what His envoy faid.
The Father, Son, and Holy Dove,
DifFufed on her Triunal Love.
Down to the Virgin, Filial God
With chariots of falvation rode,
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. 349
Of her heart blood by Love enflamed,
He for Himfelf a temple framed ;
Debafement was His fole intent,
To Heaven His chariot empty w^ent.
Her foul to dear Meflias cleaved,
Iri a fvveet rapture fhe conceived,
Juft in the moment God defign'd.
To be in her pure u^omb enfhrined,
And as He entrance made, began
The union of great God with man.
While God was in her womb contain'd.
In conftant rapture fhe remain'd ;
Should all the denizens of light
Their joys and loves in one unite,
Of God inwomb'd one gracious ray
Would all their quinteffence outweigh.
Yet like her humble Son, that fhe
His Mother dear might humble be,
She lived in filence and retired.
Love blazed not, though by Godhead fired.
Her joys, her graces fhe conceal'd,
Till Gabriel them in part reveal'd.
He Mary God's high favourite named,
He full of grace her foul proclaim'd,
Heaven when fuch titles it beftows,
A fan6tity tranfcendent fhows ;
350 ANNUNCIATION OF THE
We know fhe had the full extent
Of all which by that ftyle is meant.
A love afpiring towards immenfe,
A charity to all propenfe ;
A foul from fenfual guft refined,
Benign, meek, lowly, and refign'd ;
A blifsful joy, a zeal devout,
All powers towards God ftill flowing out.
For thefe. Lord, and unnumber'd more.
With which Thou didft Thy Mother ftore ;
We offer up our hymn this day,
And beg that all our lives we may
Tread in Thy Mother's fteps divine.
As fhe devoutly trod in Thine.
The Virgin haftes the happy news
Into Eliza to infufe 3
Her joy fhe with the news impart?,
They mutually tranfpired their hearts,
The Holy Ghofl Eliza fill'd,
And gratulations fweet inflill'd.
O happy Virgin undefiled,
Blefs'd Mother of a BlefTed Child,
Who deigns to honour my poor cell.
Soon as your blifs I heard you tell.
Your Babe infpired my unborn boy.
Who danced within my womb for joy.
BLESSED FIRGIN MART. 351
Frefh joys the Virgin then pofTefs,
Such which hymn only could exprefs.
My foul God's praifes fhall recite,
And in my Saviour take delight,
Who on His handmaid deigns to reft,
And future times fhall call me Bleft.
The Mighty works for me great things,
His Holy Name my fpirit fings ;
His mercy on each age defcends,
Which Him with filial fear attends.
His fovereign Arm brings down the proud,
And diflipates their boaftings loud.
He finks to nought the worldly great,
Exalts the humble to their feat :
The hungry with good things fuftains,
And fends the rich away with empty veins ;
He to good Abraham's faithful race,
Shews to the full all promifed grace.
The Virgin then to Nazareth went,
Her ecftafies in hymn to vent ;
As in her womb God took repofe,
O may my heart my God enclofe.
In Heaven fhall centre my defire.
And in perpetual hymn afpire.
35* ST. MARK'S DAT.
ST. MARK'S DAY.
FOR your convcrfion, holy Mark,
Though ftory leaves us in the dark,
Yet humbly we conclude.
When Heaven your foul fubdued,
The light celeftial fhined
In full meridian fplendour on your mind.
You by Levitical defcent
Your age on legal fhadows fpent.
Priefts long to fhadows train'd,
Pure, folid truth difdain'd.
And when they faith profefs'd,
Were with convidlions fuper- effluent blefs'd.
God His apoftle Peter chofe,
Who fhould your heart to truth difpofe ;
His ghoftly net he threw.
And up your fpirit drew ;
God moved his hand, that he
From the tempeftuous world fhould fet you free.
He, when his Mafler he denied,
By Jefus was benignly eyed j
By that Attradlive dear
Was melted into tear.
Was taught your foul to treat
With zeal obhging, and compafTion fweet.
ST. MARK'S DAY. 353
Of all the converts which he gain'd
You moft his tender paffion drain'd ;
You his beloved child
Endearingly he ftyled,
You he companion made,
And coadjutor, w^here he truth difplay'd.
To Rome, you with your patron fteer'd,
That Jefus there might be revered ;
^Y your unwearied care
You reap'd glad harveft there.
Then fpread the truth divine
O'er all the wide Suburbicarian line.
By Roman converts you befought.
The heavenly truths which Peter taught,
And you from him imbibed,
You from your heart tranfcribed ;
Your gofpel he perufed.
And recognized the truth he had infufed.
When Rome with Profelytes was fiU'd,
Egyptian fields remain'd untill'd,
God there your zeal decreed.
Should fow fupernal feed.
And by your gracious toil.
You more than Nile foon fertilifed the foil.
You all great Alexandria o'er
Made infidels God-man adore ;
A A
354 ST. MARK'S DAY.
Your zeal no limits knew,
It o'er rude countries flew,
Marmorica it tamed,
And out of Lybian chaos churches framed.
You, men than favage beafts more wild,
Could fweeten to a temper mild ;
No monfters Afric bred.
No brutes which venom fhed,
No fcorching heats you fear'd.
Zeal to fave fouls, all you fuftain'd, endear'd.
Your miracles, example, zeal,
Salvific myfteries to reveal.
O'er multitudes prevail'd,
They all their fins bewail'd.
Abjured curfed Satan's reign,
When in the hallow'd laver born again.
Back to your Alexandrian feat
You from your travels made retreat,
Saints who with hymn o'erflow'd.
For aids on you beftow'd.
Your paftoral chair revered
Placed in the Mother-Church which there you
rear'd.
Of all the thrones for learning famed,
Your city the precedence claim'd.
All fcientific light
There rcach'd its utmoft height;
ST. MARK'S DAT. 355
Yet when your rays they felt,
They found they in Egyptian darknefs dwelt.
The joyful day when Jefus rofe,
Began its luftre to difclofe.
Saints rifing God adored,
Their rife from fin implored.
And with immortal bread
Were by your blefling at the Altar fed.
Curfed Satan made a fierce eflay,
To defecrate that facred day.
The Pagans he convened,
From hell the rabble glean'd ;
Serapis up they cried.
And you, high Heaven's ambaflador, defied.
The fpiteful fiend above the reft,
Who the foul idol long pofl'efs'd.
The infidels enraged.
And in your death engaged.
Left you fhould him expel,
And from his temple drive him back to hell.
Your body o'er the ftreets they dragg'd,
Where every flint your mufcles jagg'd,
Your confluential wound
With blood bedew'd the ground.
Till into prifon thrown,
To fpend the night in agonizing moan.
356 ST. MARTS DAT.
But gracious God foft pity took,
He never His dear Saint forfook,
He in that dolorous night,
Gave you of blifs a fight,
That fight your fpirit cheer'd,
And all the torment you fiiftain'd endear'd.
Their rage renew'd at morning dawn,
You o'er the ftreets again were drawn.
And praying for your foes,
Opprefs'd with numerous woes,
You fetch'd your dying groan,
By angels wafted to your heavenly throne.
Of life the furies you deprived,
Their madnefs yet your fate furvived ;
Your corpfe to flame they doom'd,
To afhes ftraight confumed.
Your afhes, though difperfed,
Omnifcience counts, till to their fites reverfed.
For you, blefs'd Saint, be God adored.
Who you with gifts and graces ftored j
May I your volume read.
My life like you to lead.
As of Incarnate God
You in the imitable footfteps trod.
ST. PHILIP AND ST. JAMES'S DAY. 357
ST. PHILIP AND ST. JAMES'S DAY.
WHEN Solomon the Temple rear'd,
Where 'twixt the cherubs God appear 'd,
At entrance he two pillars placed,
Which the fair porch upheld and graced,
Renown'd for their diameter and length,
Jachin and Boaz, ftablifhment and ftrength.
Thus Jefus, when His Church He form'd,
Which fhould by hell in vain be ftorm'd,
Two faints for facred pillars chofe,
Who hell's firft onfets fhould oppofe,
Philip and James, (lability and might,
With zeal to raife, and keep falvific light.
With apoftolic call firft blefs'd,
Philip gave pattern to the reft ;
James the firft bifliop they decreed.
The Heavenly Biftiop to fucceed.
With force endearing Philip truth difplay'd,
James fix'd the Church on fure foundations laid.
His heavenly might firft Philip tried
When to Nathaniel he was guide,
He faw the Ifraelite fincere,
To Jefus at firft view adhere ;
He gave to God for that great convert praife.
And in converfions vow'd to fpend his days.
3s8 ST. PHILIP AND
When Gentiles led by Jefus' fame,
To vifit Him at Salem came,
To Philip they themfelves addrefs'd,
To make to Jefus their requeft ;
His zeal for converts was illuftrious grown.
That all with him their Saviour'sLove mightown.
When Jefus of His Father fpake,
To Whom He an afcent would make,
Shew us the Father, Philip cried.
That Faith and Love may firm abide ;
Great God was 'twixt the cherubs wont to (hine,
Vouchfafe us of His Prefence now a fign.
Our Lord replied, In feeing Me,
You my co-glorious Father fee,
He with His co-eternal Son,
Is an Indivifible One ;
And Godhead brighter Ihines in flefli enclofed.
Than when the glory on the ark repofed.
Blefs'd Philip, when the gracious Dove
Rain'd down full fhowers of Light and Love,
In Phrygia fettled his abode,
Which he with feeds immortal fow'd.
There in fhort time he for the realm of peace
Of converts reap'd a thoufand-fold increafe.
When fpent with toil, by Heaven's decrees,
Hell ere aware procured his eafe,
ST. JAMES'S DAT. 359
Fiends which he from their temples drave,
Confpired to lodge him in the grave,
The Pagan ruler by their rage poflefs'd,
Sent the old martyr to his wifh'd-for reft.
As Philip, Pagans to convert.
Was wont his vigour to exert,
Blefs'd James, the brother of God-man,
Of Church eftablifti'd drew the plan
At Salem, when committed to his care.
He raifed his paftoral and ideal chair.
James on the Crofs faw Jefus dead.
And made a vow to tafte no bread
Till Jefus rifen he beheld,
And when our Lord death-fhades difpell'd,
To His difciple early He appear'd,
Diffolved his vow, and His fad votary cheer'd.
Blefs'd Peter, by an angel freed,
Difpatch'd a meflenger with fpeed
Who {hould to holy James relate
The opening of the iron gate ;
He to the Mother-Church due deference taught,
And the firft news was to the biftiop brought.
In the firft fynod James alone.
Who fat in the Archfhepherd's throne,
The laft decifive vote exprefs'd,
In which the faints all acquiefced.
36o ST. PHILIP AND
'Twasjefus' chair, not Peter's, which then fway'd,
And Peter to blefs'd James fubmiflion made.
You happy Saint in Jefus' chair,
Of Jefus' grace had liberal fhare ;
You from blefs'd Jefus borrow'd light,
And fhined in an example bright.
Even envious Jev^s your fandlity would own,
You by the name of James the Juft were known.
You every day took up your crofs,
Efteem'd this world but dung and drofs ;
From wine and flefli you ftill abftain'd,
You all your appetites reftrain'd ;
You on mere neceffaries taught to live,
And the fuperfluous to the poor to give.
You lived in a quotidian faft.
In lively profpe6l of your laft ;
Your flock had your paternal care.
Your bufmefs was perpetual prayer ;
Your forehead and your knees were callous grov/n
With long proftrations at the heavenly throne.
VVhen at the Pafchal feaft your eye
Could the whole Jewifti race defcry.
You on the Temple took your ftand,
You Jefus preach'd to all the land ;
Till, by a rude and hell-dire>-fl
' »
>•••■*»*•••