THE VIRGIN MARY AT THE CROSS.

What thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for thy breach is great, like the sea: who can heal thee?-ISAIAH XI.

"Illæsa te puerpera."

Nor a parent's stern control,
Not a mother's pang was thine,
O'er thy Holy Child Divine,
But a sword shall pierce thy soul.

When He gave, with dying brow,
Thee another son's to be,-
Gave another son to thee,-

'Tis that pang is on thee now.

But we see no rended hair,

And we hear no wailing cry,

All is silent agony,—

'Tis a mother's grief is there.

Praise to Thee, the Virgin-born,—
Three in One for evermore,—

To the Father of the poor,

And the Friend of them that mourn.

IN THE PASCHAL SEASON.

UNTIL THE ASCENSION.

AT MIDNIGHT.

The Lord is King, and hath put on glorious apparel; the Lord hath put on His apparel, and girded Himself with strength."Ps. xciii.

"Adeste, cœlitum chori."

ANGELS come, on joyous pinion,

Down the Heav'n's melodious stair

Triumphing o'er death's dominion,

Up to this our lower air,

Christ is rising,

And doth burst the sepulchre.

All in vain the posted station
Of the armed soldiery,-

All in vain the faithless nation

Sets the seal and watches nigh;

Ye need not fear,

;

None shall reach where He doth lie!

He Himself, from sleep awaking,

Who spontaneous bears the gloom, Through your seals, and without breaking, Shall come forth and leave the tomb; Death cannot hold

Him born of a Virgin's womb.

When His heart stern death was rending, They cried out, "Thy death-bed leave, "And from off Thy Cross descending, "We will upon Thee believe." To death resign'd,

He would suffer no reprieve.

No, He hath not thence descended,
ye would for ever grieve,

Or

But from death He hath ascended,
Will ye not in Him believe?

"Tis He alone

Can your chains of death relieve.

Lord, with Thee in daily dying

May we die, and with Thee rise;
And on earth, ourselves denying,
Have our hearts within the skies,

To sing our God,

Three in One, sole good and wise.

AT THE MATTINS.

The God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus (that great Shepherd of the sheep,) through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight.-HEB. xiii.

"Aurora lucis dum novæ."

THE new morn hath ris'n,

From the tomb's murky prison,

Go, sound the trumpet forth, and the immortal jubilee.

The Lamb, from the skies,

Hath made the sacrifice,

Rend

away

the temple veil, and ope

the sanctuary.

The seed laid on earth

Hath burst to glorious birth,

Amid her empty shrouds the widowed grave sits desolate.

A power hath shook the tomb,

Quickening earth's secret womb

God Himself hath burst the way, and oped the

massy gate.