And are there not mysterious words, which tell
That dying He the lord of death destroy'd ;
And stripp'd the spoils from vanquish'd powers of
hell,

Before He pass'd to Hades' awful void ?

And how, when foughten was and won that strife,
He, quicken'd in His human spirit, trod
The prison of that under-world of life,

And there proclaim'd the victory of God?

Was not that Jesus? Wherefore read we then
That they laid Jesus in the sepulchre ?

O speak the words again and yet again

To one who loves like Mary, weeps like her.

This body in the tomb is Jesus too;

Those eyes now closed in death are Jesus' eyes; Those hands were wont His gracious works to do; Those lips now seal'd have bidden dead men rise.

Are not those blessèd feet, dear Master, Thine, So often wearied in the rough world's ways? Throbb'd not that human heart with love Divine For wanderers lost in sin's entangling maze?

And is that holy body now the spoil

Of Satan and the prey of death and hell? Let not the wrongful thought our faith assoil : It is the body of Emmanuel.

So we may cherish all the thoughts that cling
Around the sacred dust of those we love :
The ruin'd temple is a holy thing

And shall be built anew in heaven above.

EASTER DAY.

Lessons: Exod. xii. 1—29, xii. 29 and xiv. ; Rev. i. 10-19; St. John xx. 11-19; Rev. v. Epistle Col. iii. 1-8. Gospel : St. John xx. I-10.

THE COLLECT.

ALMIGHTY God, who through Thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life; We humbly beseech Thee, that, as by Thy special grace preventing us Thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by Thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.

MORNING PRAYER.

Amen.

"Jesus Christ,. . . the first-begotten of the dead."
Rev. i. 5.

Welcome, earliest Eastern ray;
Welcome, golden dawn of day;
Welcome, cloudless sun, to say,
Alleluia, Christ is risen.

Welcome, warblers of the spring;
Welcome, every glancing wing,
Welcome, as ye soar and sing,
Alleluia, Christ is risen.

Welcome, wreaths of leaves and flowers
Gather'd from earth's choicest bowers;
Bloom that breathes a few brief hours,
Alleluia, Christ is risen.

66

Earthly suns must sink to rest;
Birds must seek their evening nest;
Flowers must droop when most caress'd :
Alleluia, Christ is risen.

He is risen, no more to die:

Songs shall fill eternity :

Sharon's Rose shall bloom for aye :
Alleluia, Christ is risen.

EVENING PRAYER.

Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward."
Exod. xiv. 15.

Hark, brothers, hark, “Go forward,”
The silver trumpets sound!
The camp of Israel hears it,

Tents are struck around.
What laggard heart refuses
By doubt or fear oppress'd?
My Presence shall go with thee:
I will give thee rest."

66

Forward into the desert!

Let no man's heart despond.
That desert waste and howling,
Canaan lies beyond.

Forward, and lean when weary
Upon His sheltering breast.
"My Presence shall go with thee:
I will give thee rest."

Forward, although the pathway
Be hitherto untrod!

That rugged journey leads thee
To the home of God.

Forward, within His palace
To be a welcome guest!
"My Presence shall go with thee:
I will give thee rest."

Forward, although the waters
Of Jordan roll between,
And mists hang round the confines
Of the things unseen!
Himself hath won by dying
That kingdom of the blest.
"My Presence shall go with thee :
I will give thee rest."

MONDAY IN EASTER WEEK.

Lessons Exod. xv. 1-22; Cant. ii. 10; St. Luke xxiv. 1-13; St. Matt. xxviii. 1—10.

Epistle: Acts x. 34-44. Gospel: St. Luke xxiv. 13-36.

THE COLLECT.

ALMIGHTY God, who through Thy only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life; We humbly beseech Thee, that, as by Thy special grace preventing us Thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by Thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

"And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus."-St. Luke xxiv. 13.

Slowly along the rugged pathway walk'd
Two sadden'd wayfarers, bent on one quest;
With them Another who had ask'd to share
Their travel, since they left the city walls;
Their converse too intent for speed; and oft,
Where linger'd on the rocks the sunset tints,
They check'd their footsteps, careless of the hour
And waning light and heavy falling dews.

For from the Stranger's lips came words, that burn'd

And lit the altar fuel on their hearts,

Consuming fear, and quickening faith at once.
God's oracles grew luminous as He spake ;
And all along the ages Good from Ill

And light from darkness sprang, as day from night.