HOLY DAYS.
Those whom Thy Spirit's dread voca[ quering host;
tion severs
To lead the vanguard of Thy con- O Whose toilsome years are spent in brave endeavours[ to coast; To bear Thy saving name from coast Those whose bright faith makes
stronger,
And sends fresh warriors to the great campaign,[ no longer, Bids the lone convert feel estranged And wins the sunder'd to be one again;
And all true helpers, patient, kind, Son of the living God, oh, call us
and skilful,
[ en'd earth, Who shed Thy light across our dark
Counsel the doubting, and restrain the wilful,
Once and again to follow Thee; And give us strength, whate'er befal Thy true disciples still to be.[ us When fears appal, and faith is failing, Make Thy voice heard o'er wind and wave,
Soothe the sick- bed, and share the children's mirth.
Such was Thy Levite, strong in self- And in Thy perfect love prevailing
oblation
[ feet; Put forth Thine hand to help and
Thus, Lord, Thy Barnabas in memory keeping, [" Comfort ye
Still be Thy church's watchword, Till in our Father's house shall end our weeping,
And all our wants be satisfied in Thee. Amen.
To cast his all at Thine apostles'
save.
He whose new name, through every And if our coward hearts deny Thes
Christian nation,
[ repeat.
From age to age our thankful strains
In inmost thought, in deed, or word Let not our hardness still defy Thee, But with a look subdue us, Lord. Oh, strengthen Thou our weak endeavour [ tend Thee in Thy sheep to serve and To give ourselves to Thee for ever, And find Thee with us to the end. Amez
ST. JOHN BAPTIST'S DAY.
413 Nor far from Jordan's ford
a
When lo, the voice reveals the Word Behold the Lamb of God. Oh true and living bread! Oh present Paschal feast! The One who liveth and was dead The Victim and the Priest. Upon the throne of thrones Where cherubim adore, And prostrate elders cast their crowns And worship evermore, Behold the Heavenly Lamb, As on the altar slain, There with the Infinite I AM, Is seen to rest and reign. Amid the white- robed choirs, Who with their waves of song
And melodies of golden lyres The steeps of Zion throng, The Shepherd King appears, Who gave His life for them: The Crucified is crown'd, and wears Love's peerless diadem.
What lies beyond no heart Of pilgrim can conceive: fart: Christ, we know Thee who Thou Heaven meets who heaven believe. Amen.
Hark the joy bells of home, Ringing eternal life!
The marriage of the Lamb is como: He claims His holy wife. 101
ST. PETER'S DAY.
414 0 Rock of ages, One Founds
tion,
On which the living church doth rest ,[ salvation
The church, whose walls are strong Whose gates are praise, Thy nams be bless'd.
ST. JAMES THE APOSTLE.
415
For ever ours,
The good and great of all the ages past;
last
The Father's children gather'd home Oh wealth, unutterable wealth of love All ours above.
For ever ours,
The noblest and the best of every lane Innumerable as the silver sand
Of ocean, or the dust of stars that gen Night's diadem.
For ever ours,
Pilgrims and patriarchs and king: and seers, [ mist of years Whose forms loom dimly through the Apostles, martyrs, and evangelists, All who are Christ's.
For ever ours,
[ have wor The lowliest who the purest crowns And sit the nearest Jesus on His throne, [ forgiven;
And love Him most for most has been The peers of heaven.
For ever ours,
[ caress'd;
The children by their angel guards And all the myriad myriads of the blest: [ delight,
Each heart a crystal well- spring of All clothed in white.