Forth hath gone one awful sound, And the world is bound, With Saul laid suppliant on the ground. At morn went forth to slay The ravening wolf of Benjamin, But with the sheep, when eve comes in, He shall divide the prey. Through all climes His glory plant! As is and aye hath been! All worship, all dominion, To Him who all things holds in one, R ON THE PRESENTATION OF CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE; OR, THE PURIFICATION OF THE VIRGIN MARY. AT THE FIRST VESPERS. Behold, I will send My messenger, and He shall prepare the way before Me; and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the Covenant, whom ye delight in.-Behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts. -MAL. iii. "Templi sacratas, pande, Sion, fores." SION, Ope thy hallowed dome : Grace and Truth beam out to-day. Flocks and herds shall bleed no more,- Lo! He comes from Heaven above, Virgin pure, thy downcast eye Owns His hidden Godhead nigh; Heavenly musings, all unheard, Meetly hail the silent Word ; Whilst to Heaven Thy pious love Sire and sister, age and youth Glory be to Father, Son, And blest Spirit, Three in One. God Triune, to Thee we raise Faithful hearts in ceaseless praise. AT MIDNIGHT. Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning, and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord.-LUKE xii. "Fumant sabæis templa vaporibus." SWEET incense breathes around, Arise ye then, ye wakeful quires, And early light your altar-fires. Let Faith, with glistening eye, Breathe out her glowing light : Why love to linger here These guilty days prolong ?- Be ours his parting song! And He, whom here by faith we see, To God, the Father, Son, And Spirit, glory be ; To the eternal Three in One, To all eternity! Blest Trinity, to Thee we raise AT THE MATTINS. The mystery, which hath been hid from ages and from generations, now is made manifest to His saints, to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery.-COLOSs. i. "Qui sacris hodie sistitur aris." WHO now in helpless infancy Descended from the skies. The glory He of Israel's line, Of all the world the light divine! |