The fountain long foretold is open free,

From guilty spot to wash the heart unseen; O miracle of wondrous potency,

The flesh is washed-the sin-stain'd soul is clean!

"Tis thus, immersed within the sacred flood, The royal purple of the King of Woe

Hath turn'd the natural wave to mystic blood, Making robes wash'd therein all white as snow.

The Holy Spirit on a virgin came,

Thence God to us is born in wondrous love;
Upon the hallowed water came the same,
And we therein are born to God above.

To Thee, who washest the lost world with blood,
All glory be as hath been heretofore;
With Father, and with Spirit, only good,

As hath been, is, and shall be evermore.

AT THE MATTINS.

Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.-EZEK. Xxxvi.

"Emergit undis, et Deo."

HE rises from the wave, and now
To God on high, God-Man below,
prays-that prayer is said;

He

The Courts of Heav'n afar extending,
And Holy Ghost is seen descending
Upon that sacred Head,

E'en like a hovering dove: the Word
Of God, the Father, now is heard-
"This is My Son beloved!"
Around, afar, above, and under,

Like to mysterious, holiest thunder,
The deepening echoes moved.

Lo, washed within that hallowing tide,
By Jesus' body sanctified,

A people newly born!

And to their prayers the opening heaven, To them to be God's sons is given,

And walk in endless morn!

Emblem of unstain'd purity,

And sacred, mild simplicity,
Descends the mystic Dove;
And on their hearts divinely reigning,
Protecting, cherishing, sustaining,
Prepares for God above.

We have been wash'd within the fountain
Flowing from out Thy sacred mountain!
For aye with us remain ;—

O Saviour, who hast shed Thy blood
To wash our souls and make us good,
Keep us from sinful stain.

And we, through all our earthly days,
Would sing in Thee our Maker's praise,
For Thou hast made us meet;

Let creatures all, of earth and sky,
The Son and Father glorify,

And Holy Paraclete.

ON THE SUNDAYS FROM THE OCTAVE OF THE EPIPHANY.

AT THE FIRST VESPERS.

With a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The Lord hath redeemed His servant Jacob.-ISAIAH xlviii.

"Verbum quod ante sæcula."

WORD of Life, the eternal Son,
Ere the march of time begun,
Now as man He deigns to come,
Offspring of the Virgin's womb,
From our limbs to burst in twain
Fallen Adam's fatal chain;
All we lost in Thee returns,
And our hope reviving burns.

Thou dost bear the ills e'en now
Such as guilt doth undergo;
Cries that from Thy cradle rose
Presage now Thy dying woes.

Thou art poor, that we may be
Rich in Thy deep poverty.

Thou dost weep, and by Thy woe
Washest all things here below.

Thou art wrapp'd in garments mean,
Lying in a cave unclean :
Man is proud; yet Deity
In so mean a hut doth lie.
Jesu, by the Father sent
To bear our due punishment,
Leave us not to be undone
By such deep abasement won.

Endless praise to Thee be paid,
Jesu, born of mother maid;
Thee, with Father evermore,
And with Spirit we adore.