But soon the calm was broken, and the sound
Of strains all sweet and plaintive filled the air;
And deep-toned voices, echoing all around,
Made music everywhere.

The holy rite is o'er; the blessed sign

Is given to cheer us in this earthly strife;
The bread is broken, and outpoured the wine,
Symbol of better life.

The bitter cup of wrath before him lies;
And yet, as up the steep they pass along,
The mighty Victim to the sacrifice,

They cheer the way with song.

We ne'er can know such sorrow as that night Pierced to the heart the suffering Son of God; And every earthly sadness is but light

To that dark path he trod!

And yet how faint and feeble rise our songs;
How oft we linger 'mid the shadows dim;
Nor give the glory that to him belongs,
In Eucharistic hymn!

Oh for an echo of that chant of praise;
Oh for a voice to sing his mighty love;
Oh for a refrain of the hymns they raise
In the bright home above!

Touch thou our wayward hearts, and let them be
In stronger faith to thy glad service given,
Till, o'er the margin of time's surging sea,
We sing the song of heaven!

1863.

R. H. BAYNES.

And blest is he whose loins are girt, whose lamp is burning bright;

But woe to that dull servant whom the Master shall

surprise

With lamp untrimmed, unburning, and with slumber. in his eyes!

Do thou, my soul, beware, beware, lest thou in sleep sink down,

Lest thou be given o'er to death and lose the golden

crown;

But see that thou be sober, with watchful eyes, and thus Cry, "Holy, holy, holy God, have mercy upon us!"

That day, the day of fear, shall come: my soul, slack not thy toil,

But light thy lamp, and feed it well, and make it bright with oil;

Who knowest not how soon may sound the cry at eventide,

"Behold, the Bridegroom comes! Arise! go forth to meet the Bride.”

Beware, my soul! beware, beware, lest thou in slumber

lie,

And, like the five, remain without, and knock, and vainly cry;

But watch, and bear thy lamp undimmed, and Christ shall gird thee on

His own bright wedding robe of light, the glory of the Son.

TRANS. BY G. MOULTRIE.

THE DAWNING.

AH! what time wilt thou come? when shall that cry,

"The Bridegroom's coming!" fill the sky?

Shall it in the evening run,

When our works and words are done?

Or will thy all-surprising light

Break at midnight,

When either sleep or some dark pleasure
Possesseth mad man without measure?

Or shall these early, fragrant hours.
Unlock thy bowers,

And with their blush of light descry
Thy locks crowned with eternity?
Indeed, it is the only time

That with thy glory doth best chime:

All now are stirring; every field
Full hymns doth yield;

The whole creation shakes off night,
And for thy shadow looks the light.

Oh, at what time soever, thou

1654.

Unknown to us, the heavens wilt bow,
And, with thy angels in the van,
Descend to judge poor careless man,
Grant I may not like puddle lie
In a corrupt security,

Where, if a traveller water crave,
He finds it dead, and in a grave;
But as this restless, vocal spring
All day and night doth run and sing,
And though here born, yet is acquainted
Elsewhere, and flowing keeps untainted,
So let me all my busy age

In thy free services engage;

And though, while here, of force I must
Have commerce sometimes with poor dust,
And in my flesh, though vile and low,
As this doth in her channel flow,
Yet let my course, my aim, my love,
And chief acquaintance be above.

So when that day and hour shall come,
In which thyself will be the Sun,
Thou'lt find me drest, and on my way,
Watching the break of thy great day.

HENRY VAUGHAN,

ΤΟ

GOD COMES! AND WHO SHALL STAND
BEFORE HIS FEAR?

(Ο Κύριος έρχεται.)

OD comes! and who shall stand before his fear?

GOD

Who bide his presence, when he draweth near?
My soul, my soul, prepare

To kneel before him there!

Haste! weep! be reconciled to him before
The fearful judgment knocketh at the door:
Where, in the Judge's eyes,

All bare and naked lies.

Have mercy, Lord! have mercy, Lord! I cry, When with thine angels thou appear'st on high; And each shall doom inherit,

According to his merit.

How can I bear thy fearful anger, Lord?
I, that so often have transgressed thy word?
But put my sins away,

And spare me in that day!

O miserable soul, return, lament,

Ere earthly converse end, and life be spent.
Ere, time for sorrow o'er,

The Bridegroom close the door!

Yea, I have sinned, as no man sinned beside:
With more than human guilt my soul is dyed;
But spare and save me here,

Before that Day appear!