Again Thou dost Thy form resume, And thence descend In lowliness ineffable, Thy Father's mandate to fulfil, O Christ, who now Thyself dost hide, That when these fleshly vessels break, And with an undefiled tongue Through Heav'n's long days, Sing Thee, whose voice was heard aloud, Sing Thee, who wast beneath the cloud, In endless praise. AT THE MATTINS. See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused Him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him who speaketh from Heaven.-HEB. XII. "Jesu dulcedo cordium." JESU, the heart's own sweetness, and true light, In whom each anxious longing finds repose. Stay with us, Lord, and with Thy kindly ray And sweetness shall revive the drooping earth. When Thou the heart dost visit, all things seem Good Jesus, while time's scroll I still unfold, He whom Thy love makes glad as with new wine, He knows that knowledge which is from above; Full blest is he; that fulness is Divine, And there is nothing else that he can love. Thou art the Fount of pity; as it flows All drink of Thine abundance infinite: Thou art the only Sun Thy country knows ; Scatter the clouds, and show us Thy true light. ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST BEHEADED IN PRISON. AT THE FIRST VESPERS. I will speak of Thy testimonies also even before kings, and will not be ashamed.-PSALM CXIX "Quis ille sylvis e penetralibus." WHO hither comes from shrines of the dark wood, His is no brow that swells with fancied woes, For thrice-ten years in desert haunts profound And the deep wild now hears again the sound Who with his spirit bold and might endued And now admitted to the kingly hall Unto the subtle tyrant he draws near; To Thee, O God, the Father, Spirit, Son, All love, all might, all glory be to Thee, Make Thou them meet to sing Thine endless praise. |