FEASTS OF MARTYRS AND OTHER HOLY DAYS.
On Tabor, with the glory
Of sunniest light for vest, The excellence of beauty, In JESUS was expressed. All light created paled there, And did Him worship meet; The sun itself adored Him, And bowed before His feet; While Moses and Elias,
Upon the Holy Mount, The co- eternal glory
Of CHRIST our GoD recount. O holy, wondrous vision! But what when, this life past, The beauty of Mount Tabor
Shall end in heaven at last? But what when all the glory Of uncreated light Shall be the promised guerdon Of them that win the fight? Amen.
461" Lord, it is good for us to be here." TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD. FOR ever we would gaze on Thee, O LORD, upon the Mount; With Moses and Elias see
That light from Light's own Fount; For ever with the chosen three
Would stand upon that height, And in that blessèd company
Be plunged in pure delight. For eyer would we train the ear To that celestial Voice; In Thee, the SON of GOD, so near, For evermore rejoice.
Here would we pitch our constant For ever here abide;
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And dwell in peace and full content, Dear Master, at Thy side.
But no! not yet to man' tis given To rest upon that height; Tis but a passing glimpse of heaven; We must descend and fight. Beneath the Mount is toil and pain;
O CHRIST, Thy strength impart; Till we, transfigured foo, shall reign For ever where Thou art. Amen. And Herod sent and beheaded John in 462 the prison."
THE BEHEADING OF ST. JOHN BAPTIST.
HERALD, in the wilderness Breaking up the road, Sinking mountains, raising plains, For the path of GoD; Prophet, to the multitudes Calling to repent,
In the way of righteousness Unto Israel sent;
Messenger, GOD's chosen One Foremost to proclaim, Proffered titles passing by, Pointing to the LAMB.
Captive, for the word of truth Boldly witnessing;
Then in Herod's dungeon- cave Faint and languishing; Martyr, sacrificed to sin
At that feast of shame; As his life foreshewed the LORD, In his death the sameHoly JESUS, when He heard, Went apart to pray: Thus may we our lesson take From His Saint to- day. Amen.
Litany of the Four last Things.
463
GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON, GOD the SPIRIT, THREE in ONE, Hear us from Thy heavenly Throne. Spare us, Holy TRINITY. JESU, Life of those who die, Advocate with God on high, Hope of immortality,
Hear us, Holy JESU. Thou Whose Death to mortals gave Power to triumph o'er the grave, Living now from death to save, Hear us, Holy JESU.
Thou before Whose great white Throne All our doings must be shown, Pleading now for us Thine own, Hear us, Holy JESU.
Thou Whose Death was borne that we From the power of Satan free, Might not die eternally,
Hear us, Holy JESU. Thou Who dost a place prepare, That in heavenly mansions fair Sinners may Thy glory share, Hear us, Holy JESU.
DEATH.
We are dying day by day; Soon from earth we pass, away: LORD of life, to Thee we pray: Hear us, Holy JESU.
Ere we hear the Angel's call, And the shadows round us fall, Be our Saviour, be our All:
Hear us, Holy JESU. Wean our hearts from things below. Make us all Thy love to know, Guard us from our ghostly foe: Hear us, Holy JESU.
Shelter us with Angel's wing, To our souls Thy pardon bring; So shall death have lost its sting: Hear us, Holy JESU.
In the gloom Thy light provide; Safely through the valley guide; Thee we trust, for Thou hast died: Hear us, Holy JESU.
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