Thou of Virgin-mother born, ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST'S DAY. AT MIDNIGHT. The Lord Himself is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: Thou maintainest my lot.-PSALM Xvi. "Tu quem præ reliquis Christus amaverat.' THOU, whom before the rest, The love of Jesus bless'd; Thou darling of the Incarnate Deity, Friend of His dying throes, Too favour'd thou of Heav'n, Oh thou, to whom 'twas given With mortal ear and eye To hear and see him nigh, And hold high converse with th' eternal Word. How mighty was the boon, When oft to thee alone Thy Lord in love His secret soul display'd,- When on His mountain-throne To thee reveal'd He shone, Full God, full man in Deity array'd. Thou, as on Jesus' breast All peaceful thou dost rest, Drink'st of the living streams of Deity. Whilst on thy cleansed sense With silent influence More closely steals His dread Divinity. Oh cup too full, too high, For poor mortality! Thy raptur'd spirit fled its laggard clay. Say,-when in calm repose Thy tranced eye-lids close, To what bright dreams of Heav'n they waken, say. Oh access dread, oh bliss Of mutual love, ere this When such the altar-fire, That lights thy pure desire, What countless rays it scatters from its throne! Hence art thou ever prov'd Loving, and ever lov'd; Hence thy bright brow, and virgin modesty; That Angels might beseem, Hence o'er and o'er again Thy thrice-repeated strain, Whate'er thou say'st, "'tis love, 'tis love requires." Scarce doth the struggling soul Her ecstasy control, But bursts her bonds, and vents her holy fires. Glory on high to Thee, Holy, eternal Three, Father and Son and Holy Spirit blest! Lo, this the stedfast law, The stedfast faith we draw, From out Thy sacred fount by Heaven's own hand express'd. AT THE MATTINS. And I saw another angel fly in the midst of Heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him.— REV. xiv. "Quem nox et tenebræ, densaque nubila." Он, may my God, whom shade, and night, In viewless brightness rob'd, enshroud, Nor whelm His servant's trembling sight! Belov'd of God, to thee 'twas given The blaze of present Deity; To see the veil in sunder riven, And search the inmost court of Heaven. Born as on eagle-wings away Through ether far, Thy soul outstrips the utmost star, Thy spirit from its God can stay. |