They met the tyrant's brandish'd steel, The lion's gory mane : They bow'd their necks the death to feel ! Who follows in their train ? A noble army-men and boys, The matron and the maid, Around the Saviour's throne rejoice, In robes of light array'd. They climb'd the steep ascent of Heaven, Through peril, toil, and pain! To follow in their train ! ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST'S DAY. R. H. 011 God! who gav'st Thy servant grace, Amid the storms of life distrest, To look on Thine incarnate face, And lean on Thy protecting breast : To see the light that dimly shone, Eclips'd for us in sorrow pale, Pure image of the Eternal One ! Through shadows of Thy mortal veil ! Be ours, oh King of Mercy! still To feel Thy presence from above, And in Thy word, and in Thy will, To hear Thy voice, and know Thy love : And when the toils of life are done, And nature waits Thy dread decree, To find our rest beneath Thy throne, And look, in humble hope, to Thee ! INNOCENTS' DAY. R. H. Oh weep not o'er thy children's tomb, Oh Rachel, weep not so ! The flower in heaven shall blow ! Firstlings of faith! the murderer's knife Has miss'd its deadliest aim : The God for whom they gave their life For them to suffer came ! Though feeble were their days and few, Baptized in blood and pain, He knows them, whom they never knew, And they shall live again. Then weep not o'er thy children's tomb, Oh Rachel, weep no so! The flower in heaven shall blow! LORD of mercy and of might! Jesus! hear and save! Who, when sin's tremendous doom Jesus ! hear and save! Mighty monarch! Saviour mild ! Jesus! hear and save ! Throned above celestial things, Jesus! hear and save! Who shalt yet return from high, Jesus ! hear and save! EPIPHANY. No. I. ANON. Sons of men, behold from far, Mild it shines on all beneath, Nations all, remote and near, God appear ; Haste, for Him your hearts prepare, Meet Him manifested there! There behold the day-spring rise, away, Shining to the perfect day! Sing, ye morning stars, again! |