FEASTS OF MARTYRS AND OTHER HOLY DAYS.

" Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on 439 eternal life." THE SON of GOD goes forth to war, A Kingly crown to gain, His blood- red banner streams afar; Who follows in His train?

Who best can drink his cup of woe, Triumphant over pain,

Who patient bears his cross below, He follows in His train.

The Martyr first, whose eagle eye Could pierce beyond the grave, Who saw his Master in the sky, And called on Him to save. Like Him, with pardon on his tongue In midst of mortal pain, He prayed for them that did the Who follows in his train?[ wrong; A glorious band, the chosen few On whom the SPIRIT came, Twelve valiant Saints, their hope they

knew,

And mocked the cross and flame.

They met the tyrant's brandished steel, The lion's gory mane,

They bowed their necks, the death to feel;

Who follows in their train?

A noble army, men and boys, The matron and the maid, Around the Saviour's Throne rejoice In robes of light arrayed.

They climbed the steep ascent of heaven

Through peril, toil, and pain; O GOD, to us may grace be given To follow in their train. Amen.

They were stoned, they were sawn asun­der, were tempted, were slain with the sword; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; of whom the 440 world was not worthy." BLESSED feasts of blessèd Martyrs, Holy days of holy men, With affection's recollections Greet we your return again. Worthy deeds they wrought and wonders,

Worthy of the Name they bore; We with meetest praise and sweetest Honour them for evermore. Faith prevailing, hope unfailing, JESUS loved with single heart­Thus they glorious and victorious Bravely bore the Martyr's part. Racked with torture, haled to slaughter,

Fire, and axe, and murderous sword, Chains and prison, foes' derision They endured for CHRIST the LORD.

So they passed through pain and

sorrow,

Till they sank in death to rest; Earth's rejected, GOD's elected,

Gained a portion with the blest. By contempt of worldly pleasures, And by deeds of valour done, They have reached the land of Angels, And with them are knit in one. Made co- heirs with CHRIST in glory, His celestial bliss they share: May they now before Him bending Help us onward by their prayer; That, this weary life completed, And its fleeting trials past, We may win eternal glory

In our FATHER's home at last. Amen.

" Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake; for theirs is 441 the kingdom of heaven." LET our Choir new anthems raise, Wake the song of gladness; GOD Himself to joy and praise Turns the Martyrs' sadness: Bright the day that won their crown, Opened heaven's bright portal, As they laid the mortal down To put on the immortal. Never flinched they from the flame, From the torture never; Vain the foeman's sharpest aim, Satan's best endeavour:

For by faith they saw the land Decked in all its glory, Where triumphant now they stand With the victor's story.

Up and follow, Christian men! Press through toil and sorrow; Spurn the night of fear, and then, Oh, the glorious morrow! Who will venture on the strife? Blest who first begin it; Who will grasp the land of life? Warriors, up and win it! Amen.

" Blessed is the man that endureth tempta tion, for when he is tried he shall 442 receive the crown of life." O GOD, Thy soldiers' great Reward, Their Portion, Crown, and faithful LORD,

From all transgressions set us free Who sing Thy Martyr's victory. By wisdom taught he learned to know The vanity of all below,

The fleeting joys of earth disdained, And everlasting glory gained. Right manfully his cross he bore. And ran his race of torments sore For Thee he poured his life away, With Thee he lives in endless day.

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