HOLY DAYS.

GENERAL ENDING. Apostles, prophets, martyrs, and all the sacred throng,

Who wear the spotless raiment, who raise the ceaseless song; For these, pass'd on before us, Saviour, we Thee adore,

And, walking in their footsteps, would serve Thee more and more. Then praise we God the Father, and praise we God the Son,

And God the Holy Spirit, eternal

Three in One;

Till all the ransom'd number fall down before the throne, And honour, power, and glory ascribe to God alone. Amen.

ST. ANDREW'S DAY.

404 JESUS calls us, o'er the tumult Of our life's wild restless sea, Day by day His sweet voice soundeth, Saying, Christian, follow Me.

As, of old, apostles heard it By the Galilean lake, Turn'd from home, and toil, and kin­[ dred, Leaving all for His dear sake. Jesus calls us from the worship Of the vain world's golden store, From each idol that would keep us- Saying," Christian, love Me more. In our joys and in our sorrows,

Days of toil and hours of ease, Still He calls, in cares and pleasures, " Christian, love Me more than these."

Jesus calls us. By Thy mercies, Saviour, make us hear Thy call, Give our hearts to Thy obedience, Serve and love Thee, best of all.

Amen.

ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE.

405 THE long descent is o'er:

The stair of light is won; Earth sunward climbs once more: We turn to Thee, our Sun ,­From downward steeps of doubt Saints once in anguish trod ,­Darkness within, without, To Thee, our Lord, our God. Earth's darkest day is o'er; Love conquers on Thy cross, And there and evermore Wins all by willing loss; The victory is won; Light has an open field, And slowly, one by one, The gates of hell shall vield. Light in Thy light we see, Self's shadow falls behind; Turning from all to Thee, All, all, with Thee we find.

Slow, slow, the upward way Where step by step we press Yet longer grows each day, And every night is less; Till eve embraces morn, Glowing from shore to shore, And day of night is born, And night shall be no more. Amen.

THE CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL.

406 ALL- MERCIF UL, Almighty

Lord,

We bless the love, its depth and height, [ word

Which made by Thy transforming Thy foe a burning shining light; A chosen messenger of God,

Eternity o'ershadowing time, Whose bleeding feet unwearied trod From shore to shore, from clime to clime;

Content to reckon all things loss, To live and die for Thy dear name: His only glory, Lord, Thy cross; His heart aglow with heavenly flame.

O Master, may we follow him Most humbly, Nor let the Gospel torch grow dim, he follow'd Thee; But quenchless flash o'er land and

sea.

Still from the warrior hosts, that crowd

The ramparts and the gates of hell, May strong heroic souls be bow'd

Beneath Thy feet, Emmanuel: Henceforth no more their own, but Thine; [ forgiven;

Much loved, much loving, much Apostles of the grace Divine

Which fashions thus the heirs of heaven. Amen.

THE PRESENTATION OF CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE.

407 UPON the virgin mother's

breast

The Holy Infant calmly lay, As fill d with awe His parents press'd Into the temple courts to pray. Sure never gifts of costlier price

Were offer'd at the throne of prayer, Since Abel's earliest sacrifice, there Than they that hour presented Now human love and love Divine Are seen to be for ever one; The Father's infinite design

Reveal'd in His Et ernal Son, Who there self- empti ed, self- abased, God everlasting was and is, And by the virgin's ar ms embraced Embraces heaven and earth in Hin.