FEASTS OF MARTYRS AND OTHER HOLY DAYS,
What though nor chains, nor scourges
sore,
Nor cruel beasts his members tore, Enough if perfect love arise To CHRIST a grateful sacrifice. LORD, grant us so to Thee to turn That we through life to die may learn, And thus, when life's brief day is o'er, May live with Thee for evermore.
O Fount of sanctity and love, O perfect Rest of Saints above, All praise, all glory be to Thee Both now and through eternity.
Amen.
" If a man desire the office of a bishop, he 452 desireth a good work."
FOR A BISHOP.
O THOU Whose all- redeeming might Crowns every Chief in faith's true On this commemoration day[ fight, Hear us, good JESU, while we pray. In faithful strife for Thy dear Name Thy servant earned the saintly fame, Which pious hearts with praise revere In constant memory year by year. Earth's fleeting joys he counted nought,
For higher, truer joys he sought, And now, with Angels round Thy Throne,
Unfading treasures are his own. O grant that we, most gracious GOD, May follow in the steps he trod; And, freed from every stain of sin, As he hath won may also win.
To Thee, O CHRIST, our loving King, All glory, praise, and thanks we bring; Whom with the FATHER we adore And HOLY GHOST for evermore.
Amen.
The memory of the just is blessed."
453
FOR A BISHOP.
O SHEPHERD of the sheep, High Priest of things to come, Who didst in grace Thy servant keep, And take him safely home;
Chief of Thy faithful band,
He held himself the least, Though Thy dread keys were in his hand,
Then rendered up to Thee
The charge Thy love had given, And passed away Thy Face to see Revealed in highest heaven, On all our Bishops pour The SPIRIT of Thy grace; That, as he won the palm of yore So they may run their race; That, when this life is done, They may with him adore The ever Blessèd THREE in ONE, In bliss for evermore. Amen.
" Thy Name is as ointment poured forth 455 therefore do the virgins love Thee." FOR A VIRGIN.
JESU, the Virgins' Crown, do Thou. Accept us as in prayer we bow, Born of that Virgin whom alone The Mother and the Maid we own. Amongst the lilies Thou dost feed, And thither choirs of Virgins lead;
Accept our song of praise
For all his holy care,
His zeal unquenched through length Adorning all Thy chosen brides
of days,
The trials that he bare.
With glorious gifts Thy love provides And whither, LORD, Thy footsteps wend,
O everlasting Priest.
So, trusting in Thy might,
He won a fair renown;
So, waxing valiant in the fight,
He trod the lion down.
" He gave some 454
... Pastors and Teachers."
FOR A DOCTOR. JESU, for the beacon- light
By Thy holy Doctors given, When the mists of error's night Gathered o'er the path to heaven, For the witness that they bare
To the truth they learned of Thee, For the glory that they share,
Let our praise accepted be. In Jerusalem below
They were workmen at Thy call, Each with one hand met the foe, With the other built the wall; Watchmen on the mountain set, Scribes instructed in Thy Word, Fishers with the Gospel net Drawing souls to Thee their LORD Like Thy learnèd sons of yore,
JESU, may Thy Pastors still Know and teach Thy sacred lore With brave heart and patient skill In these latter days of strife
Keep, O keep them true to Thee, Till beside the well of life
Light in Thine own Light they see. Amen.
The Virgins still with praise attend; For Thee they pour their sweetest song,
And after Thee rejoicing throng.
O gracious LORD, we Thee implore Thy grace on every sense to pour; From all pollution keep us free And make us pure in heart for Thee
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