Saint John Baptist's Day.
GOD reigns in his eternal rest
Array'd in robes of light;
He hath put on his royal vest,
And girt himself with might.
The universe He made secure,
And bound its mass so fast,
That without harm it shall endure
As long as time shall last.
If to remotest time we go,
Thy years beyond extend:
Thou never didst beginning know,
Nor shalt Thou know an end.
The floods are mingling with the sky,
The tempest howls and raves;
But yet the Lord, who dwells on high,
Is mightier than the waves.
Lord of thy goodness and thy pow'r
Such varied proofs are given,
That men should praise Thee every hour,
And live like saints in heaven.
WHEN, within sight of danger's hour,
We boast of self-possessing power,
Teach us, O Lord, betimes to know
How weak are we, how strong the foe.
And when, beset by snares around,
Faithless to Thee our hearts are found,
Look Thou upon us, and renew
Our wandering thoughts, our vows untrue.
Then though Thou doubt us, and our love
By question and temptation prove;
Faithful to Thee we shall abide,
In honour, as in weakness tried.
St. Mark's Day.
HYMN LXXXIII.
O WHO shall dare in this frail scene,
On holiest, happiest thoughts to lean,
On friendship, kindred, or on love;
Since not apostles' hands can clasp
Each other in so firm a grasp,
But they shall change, and variance prove?
O then the glory and the bliss
When all that pain'd, or seem'd amiss,
Shall melt with earth and sin away :
When saints beneath their Saviour's eye,
Fill'd with each other's company,
Shall spend in love th' eternal day!
Lo, round the throne at God's right hand,
The saints in countless myriads stand:
Of every tongue, redeemed to God,
Arrayed in garments washed in blood.
Through tribulation great they came;
They bore the cross, despised the shame :
From all their labours now they rest,
In God's eternal glory blest.
Hunger and thirst they feel no more;
Nor sin, nor pain, nor death deplore;
The tears are wiped from every eye,
And sorrow yields to endless joy.
They see their Saviour face to face,
And sing the triumphs of his grace;
Him day and night they ceaseless praise;
To Him their loud hosannas raise.
Saint Bartholomew the Apostle.
PSALM XV.-Ver. 1, 2, 3, 4.
WITHIN thy tabernacle, Lord,
Who shall inhabit still?
Or whom wilt Thou receive to dwell
In thy most holy hill?
The man whose life is incorrupt,
Whose works are just and straight,
Whose heart doth think the very truth,
And tongue speaks no deceit :
That to his neighbour doth no ill,
In body, goods, or name:
Nor willingly doth slanders raise
Which might impair the same.
That in his heart regardeth not
Malicious wicked men ;
But those that love and fear the Lord,
He maketh much of them.
Saint Matthew the Apostle.
HYMN LXXXVII.
YE servants of God,
Your Master proclaim;
And publish abroad
His wonderful name;
The name all victorious
Of Jesus extol;
His kingdom is glorious,
And rules over all.
God ruleth on high,
Almighty to save ;
And still He is nigh,
His presence we have:
The great congregation
His triumph shall sing,
Ascribing salvation
To Jesus our King.
Then let us adore,
And give Him his right;
All glory and power,
And wisdom and might;
All honour and blessing,
With angels above;
And thanks never ceasing,
And infinite love.
Saint Michael and all Angels.
HYMN LXXXVIII.
COME let us join our cheerful songs
With angels round the throne;
Ten thousand thousand are their tongues,
But all their joys are one.
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