LIB IMRY OF CONGRESS 
 
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 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA \ 
 
The Year of Christ 
 
 IN SONG. 
 
 ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS-TIDE. 
 
 OSGOOD E. FULLER, A. M., 
 
 HECTOR OF THE CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH, LINDEN, 
 AND LATE MASTER OF LATIMER HALL, FENTON. 
 
 FIR S r T H O USA N D. 
 
 8^ ' h y^'^t^rf' 
 
 I ) E r R ( ) I T : 
 
 FRED.G. GIBBS 
 
 i8i Woodward Avenue. 
 1876. 
 

 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the Year 1875, by 
 OSGOOD E. FULLER, 
 
 In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. 
 
 EMIL SCHOBEK, PHINTF.R, E. B. SMITH i CO., BINDEKS, 
 
 DETROIT, DKTEOrx. 
 
Preface 
 
 The Church has in every age furnished Poets, Sculptors 
 and Painters with their sublimest subjects. And, like Nature, 
 Catholic and prodigal in ail her hidden stores, she still pos- 
 sesses inexhaustable veins of Poesy and Art, that have hardly 
 been touched. Yet the taste of the age discourages those who 
 have a heart to work them, by either hugging the delusion that 
 the best of God's precious ores have all been mined, or show- 
 ing an almost exclusive fondness for ephemeral themes. This 
 book tries to breast the current. 
 
 None of the Poems contained in this volume have been 
 written from a purely literary stand - point ; and very few of 
 them, for the place they here occupy. They are, for the most 
 part, the natural out-growth of a pastoral and educational work 
 extending through a considerable number of years. The Author 
 
THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 has endeavored to project into them all something of Christian 
 experience — an experience in which he recognized the fashion- 
 ing Hand of Providence as well in the clond as in the sun- 
 shine of life. For all this he believes they will prove the 
 more profitable to the thoughtful reader. 
 
 The Ye.\k (ik Christ, like the firmament, is set with 
 many lights, one, indeed, exceeding another in glory, but all of 
 unspeakable value to the pilgrim who is seeking the Celestial 
 Country. It has been the Author's aim not only to offer here 
 and there a spiritual song, suggested by the splendor of the 
 way, but often to present a poem of greater length, as the 
 sublimity of the season, or the things of his own life, inspired. 
 
 The second poem, " The Light of the Virgin, or. Pursuit 
 of the Ideal," was composed just before the writer was for- 
 mally enrolled with the people of God. He thinks it is 
 rightly placed on the threshold of the Christian Year 
 
 Advent, 1875. 
 
Contents 
 
 Fase 
 
 The Year of Christ 7 
 
 Lux ViRGiNis, OR Pursuit of the Idem 21 
 
 The Kingdom of God 27 
 
 Into His Chambers 30 
 
 The Beautiful Plant 33 
 
 Eureka 37 
 
 The Triumi'hal En iry 48 
 
 The Eternal Song 49 
 
 Signs 57 
 
 Ordination Hymns 58 
 
 The Day (F God 60 
 
 Angels of Life and Death 61 
 
 The Doubters' Hymn 67 
 
 A Legend of St. Thomas 68 
 
vi THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 Page 
 
 Epithalamium 72 
 
 Advent Longing 84 
 
 The Nativity '. 85 
 
 The Christmas Service 89 
 
 A Christmas Carol, with Music 98 
 
 The Death of St. Stephen, wnii Masic 102 
 
 A Legend ok St. John 106 
 
 The Holy Innocents 113 
 
 Ecclesia 119 
 
 Engagement Song 121 
 
 The Marriage Garment 122 
 
 The Traveler 124 
 
 New Year Day 130 
 
The Year of Christ. 
 
 Prologue. 
 
 " How beautiful upon the mountains." 
 
 Tune, Jl'ir PJlugen. See page 102. 
 I. 
 
 How fair upon the mountains 
 Where beauty shall not cease, 
 The feet that bring good tidings, 
 The lips that publish peace ! 
 In all the dreams of boyhood 
 That beauty had control, 
 And now those years have vanished, 
 It has not left my soul. 
 
THE YEAR OF' CHRIST. 
 
 For when I hear the Gospel 
 From some great heart out told, 
 With tharks for those good tidings 
 That will not aye grow old, 
 The beauty on the mountains. 
 Whose vision shall not cease. 
 Within my heart upflashes 
 With all the olden peace. 
 
 II. 
 
 On mountains in the circle 
 Of many a year of Christ, 
 I tracked His life undying. 
 And felt a joy unpriced — 
 The joy that is forever 
 To one dear purpose born. 
 As morning unto evening. 
 And evening unto morn. 
 
PROLOG U E . 
 
 And in the hope of heaven 
 Whose beauty bends to earth, 
 I sought, as unto sunshine, 
 To grow toward His worth, 
 What time in grace that cometh 
 From one eternal source, 
 I drank the cup of nurture 
 And held me on my course. 
 
 It was His love undying 
 
 In which alone I stood, 
 
 And here and there accomplished 
 
 The little that I could 
 
 And unto Christ be glory, 
 
 If, with His sandals shod, 
 
 I rescue from the desert 
 
 Another child of God. 
 
THE YEAR OP CHRIST. 
 
 III. 
 
 Not all of earth is earthy, 
 Nor all beyond sublime : 
 Eternity hath sorrow, 
 And joy is found in time. 
 And joy is everlasting, 
 A thing heroic, born 
 Of doing and pursuing 
 In regions of the morn, 
 
 Whate'er the Spirit willeth, 
 Which hath of souls the cure, 
 Whate'er a soul becometh 
 That must for aye endure; 
 Through evil fame and happy. 
 Until the setting sun 
 Proclaims in dying beauty 
 The race of earth is run. 
 
r R L G U E . 
 
 And what if darkness gathers, 
 Which is not darkness all ? 
 And what if sorrows thicken, 
 Which cannot hold in thrall ? 
 Oh think ye not of darkness 
 Where blessed light abides. 
 Oh think ye not of sorrow 
 Where deathless joy resides. 
 
 The days so few and evil, 
 That dawn on mortal eyes, 
 Reveal the blessed mountains 
 Whose beauty never dies ; 
 The dear and blessed mountains 
 Which longing eyes behold, 
 Begirt with all that lureth 
 The eager heart and bold. 
 
 Oh who would not ascend them 
 And cool the fever heat. 
 The burning pain and ceasless, 
 Which in his being meet. 
 
T 11 E y EAR F- C II R I S T. 
 
 And all the sweet pulsation 
 Of manly triumph feel, 
 As ever upward pressing 
 With pilgrim faith and zeal ? 
 
 In grand and twilight glory 
 Like hoary priests they stand 
 And drop their benedictions 
 Upon a toiling land ; 
 What time they seem to beckon 
 To those who dwell below, 
 Revealing and concealing 
 What mortals pine to know : 
 
 Concealing what of knowledge 
 Might quench and satisfy 
 The mighty thirst and hunger 
 Which bridge the earth and sky 
 Revealing as in mercy 
 A prospect here and there, 
 Majestically real 
 And infinitely fair ; 
 
P H L O G U E . 
 
 13 
 
 And flaming down the watchword 
 
 Ot all the good to be, 
 
 On those who look above them 
 
 With eager eyes to see, 
 
 Which, writ upon their banner 
 
 In characters of fire. 
 
 Out shines the blaze of passion 
 
 And every low desire ; 
 
 Until, like him who scenteth 
 Some far oft' golden shore. 
 And girdeth for the journey, 
 Not counting dangers o'er, 
 New purposed, bold and eager, 
 They put their armor on. 
 Intent those heights in reaching; 
 From whence the light has shone : 
 
 While ever, as ascending, 
 They feed the flame of life 
 And nurse a nobler purpose 
 And nerve for bolder strife. 
 
14 ^ // '-■ y K A R OF V H R I S T. 
 
 Till on the blessed mouutains 
 They raise the victor's cry, 
 And rest, begirt with glory 
 Which cannot fade or die 
 
 And rest ? There is no resting. 
 No one abiding place 
 For mortals or immortals 
 In life 's unending race : 
 The grave it doth not limit 
 The strong heroic will : 
 Fair fields and everlasting 
 Invite endeavor still. 
 
 For joy goes on, forever 
 
 To one dear purpose born, 
 
 As morning unto evening 
 
 And evening unto morn. 
 
 And mountains rise on mountains 
 
 Which touch remoter skies. 
 
 And bless with larger blessing 
 
 The soul that never dies. 
 
PROLOGUE. 
 
 Oh who would not ascend them, 
 
 The table lands of God, 
 
 By earth and heaven's heroes 
 
 Victoriously trod ; 
 
 Where rest is found in action, 
 
 And joy in ceaseless love, 
 
 Which hath below beginning 
 
 And waxeth strong above ! 
 
 IS 
 
 IV. 
 
 What time an eager pilgrim 
 For many a year was I, 
 The beauty on the mountains 
 Did fill my wistful eye ; 
 For all within the circle 
 Of each new year of Christ, 
 I tracked His life undying 
 And felt a joy unpriced. 
 
l6 THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 Sometimes a form of beauty, 
 Sometimes a hidden law, 
 One vision went before me 
 And held the mind in awe 
 And oh, I could not linger, 
 Though sunk in half despair ; 
 For what I ever followed, 
 Did ever grow more fair. 
 
 Forever some new glory, 
 Behind the clouds in part. 
 Did wrap the soul in wonder 
 And feed the hungry heart. 
 The light relieved the darkness, 
 The darkness dimmed the light, 
 And half in light and shadow 
 I went from height to height. 
 
 Sometimes I rose in falling. 
 Sometimes in rising fell, 
 And all the sweet and bitter 
 I cannot pause to tell. 
 
PROLOGUE. 
 
 17 
 
 But conquest came forever, 
 
 As gladness after pain ; 
 
 And who would scorn the anguish. 
 
 To follow in her train ? 
 
 For all within the circle 
 Of many a year of Christ, 
 I tracked His life undying 
 And felt a joy unpriced, — 
 The joy that is forever 
 To one dear purpose born, 
 As morning unto evening 
 And evening unto morn. 
 
 And all I gained and gathered 
 I hid within my heart. 
 Where year by year it groweth 
 Of this poor life a part; 
 Till now my only purpose 
 Is how I best may guide 
 Some weary, toiling brother 
 Far up the mountain side. 
 
l8 THE TEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 Oh, if I aught have garnered 
 Of life's bright, golden grain, 
 It is my dear ambition 
 To sow it all again. 
 And God I know will help me 
 And give me inward peace, 
 And thus for all my sowing 
 My little store increase. 
 
Advent 
 
 AND, 
 
 Christmas-tide. 
 
 (FIRST SERIES.) 
 
HENRY P. TAPPAN, D.D., LL. D.,. 
 
 THE CHIEF ORGANIZER 
 
 OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, 
 
 THE GREAT CHANCELLOR OF THE SAME 
 
 FOR TWELVE YEARS, 
 
 WHOSE HOME IS NOW IN A FOREIGN LAND, 
 
 TO WHOM THE AUTHOR IS LARGELY INDEBTED 
 
 FOR WHATEVER DEVOTION HE HAS SHOWN 
 
 TO A BEAUTIFUL AND LOFTY IDEAL, 
 
 THE INITIAL POEM 
 
 OF THIS ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS-TIDE SERIES 
 
 IS, WITHOUT HIS KNOWLEDGE, 
 
 AFFECTIONATELY AND REVERENTLY 
 
 INSCRIBED 
 
 BY HIS GRATEFUL 
 
 PUPIL. 
 
Lux ViRGINIS 
 
 PURSUIT OF THE IDEAL 
 
 ' Fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners 
 
 I ADORE an airy maiden, 
 
 And I bless her night and day : 
 
 Night and day where'er I wander, 
 She is ever on my way. 
 
 Tender maiden, watchful maiden, 
 
 Friend to me she is alway, 
 And with countenance angelic 
 
 All my baser thoughts doth fray. 
 
 INow she chides me and she guides me. 
 
 If by chance I go astray : 
 Then she scorns me and she warns me. 
 
 If to rest my head I lay. 
 
THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 Purer than the virgin dew-drops, 
 And more beautiful than they, 
 
 "Clothed she is in lily-meekness 
 And a youth forever May. 
 
 Who would not rejoice to woo her,. 
 
 Who is clad in such array ? 
 Who would not rejoice to win her, 
 
 Who may never know decay ? 
 
 Fairer maiden, rarer maiden, 
 
 Poet never may portray ; 
 Purer maiden, truer maiden. 
 
 Never dwelt in mortal clay. 
 
 And such charms she always weareth,. 
 
 And so modest to display ! 
 Oh my airy, fairy maiden 
 
 Over me hath perfect sway ! 
 
 Should King Oberon, the Fairy, 
 Haply from his kingdom stray, 
 
 And be questioned if he love her. 
 He could never answer nay ; 
 
L U X r I R G I X I s . 
 
 23 
 
 Such his eager heart to woo her, 
 And her to his realm convey, 
 
 Where her beauty would enthrone her 
 Queen of every elf and fay. 
 
 Oh, her smile to me is better 
 Than the vintage of Tokay ; 
 
 Better hours when I behold her 
 Than are ages of Cathay. 
 
 But, ah me ! she e'er so coy is — 
 And I always hate delay — 
 
 Oft my heart grows dark within me, 
 Void of hope's celestial ray. 
 
 For when I would fain embrace her, 
 
 Blushingly she flits away, 
 Darting, glancing like a sunbeam, 
 
 As if mocking my dismay ; 
 
 Leaving me, and then returning, 
 Like the sunlight in the spray ; 
 
 And my soul is half distracted 
 With such Tantalus-survey. 
 
24 
 
 THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 Why will not the cruel maiden 
 Once my beauty-thirst allay ? 
 
 Doth she stoop at last to vengeance,. 
 Dooming" me a castaway ? 
 
 Airy maiden, fairy maiden, 
 
 Do not keep me thus at bay ; 
 
 Linger yet a little, maiden ; 
 Maiden, yet a little stay. 
 
 Ah, she will not deign to listen, 
 Though I sue and I inveigh ; 
 
 Ah, she will not deign to listen. 
 Doth she then my love repay ? 
 
 If I ask her if she love me, 
 Blushing she will nothing say. 
 
 Nothing answer to convince me. 
 Nothing, neither nay nor yea. 
 
 But retreating, softly fleeting, 
 Like a rainbow heavenly gay, 
 
 She doth call me, she doth call me,. 
 And I cannot but obey. 
 
L UJT Y 1 R G I ^ I S. 
 
 25 
 
 And as bold and eager-hearted 
 As a school-boy who at play, 
 
 Bright-hued butterflies in chasing 
 O'er the fragrant, new mown hay, 
 
 Vexed, successless, yet determined 
 On the capture of his prey, 
 
 Which allures him and eludes him, 
 Follow softly as he may; 
 
 I pursue my airy maiden 
 
 From the morning twilight grey, 
 
 Till the mists of evening gather, 
 And no conquest doth defray 
 
 All my yearnings and my heart-beats. 
 For she every art doth slay. 
 
 Yet with new and light endeavor, 
 To allure her I essay, 
 
 Purposing no base inaction 
 And no sluggard's welaway. 
 
 Till I touch the happy altar. 
 
 Crowned on with the fadeless bay. 
 2 
 
26 THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 And I think my heart grows better, 
 And I count not what I pay 
 
 For the airy chase and earthly, 
 Where she seemeth to betray ; 
 
 For I feel if here I never 
 Win my maiden, as I pray, 
 
 I shall in yon sphere eternal 
 Fold her in my arms for aye ; 
 
 Where the splendor of the virgin 
 Satisfies the heart straightway. 
 
 And the rhyme that never changes, 
 Fringes the Celestial Lay. 
 
The Kingdom of God. 
 
 Awake, O dreamers, rejoice, rejoice ! 
 
 P^or the Kingdom of God is at hand, 
 And the call of the beautiful maiden's voice 
 
 Is blending with manhood's command. 
 
 The vision of fair and holy things 
 
 Will never conquer the world, 
 Without the fairh which to heaven flings 
 
 The banner too brave to be furled. 
 
 In the shadowy field, where the battle is set, 
 
 Put on the armor of light, 
 And know ye the foes, who with valor are met, 
 
 Shall vanish with the niirht. 
 
28 THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 The day is at hand, and the wilderness 
 
 Echoes, Repent ! repent ! 
 And show ye the beauty of hoHness 
 
 In doing the Lord's intent. 
 
 And the manly voice of the hermit. John, 
 Is the voice of Christ in the land : 
 
 Repent ! — all ages shall bear it on — 
 For the Kingdom of God is at hand 
 
 II 
 
 The years are big with the things of fate, 
 
 The ages are piled with gold — 
 For the gold of God is it too late, 
 
 The world is so very old .'' 
 
 And men are starving, though bountiful store 
 
 Is offered through all the land. 
 Not heeding the cry for evermore, 
 
 The Kingdom of God is at hand. 
 
THE K I X G D O M OF O D . 
 
 29 
 
 The bread of Cjod is just as sweet 
 
 As it was in Itie olden time, 
 And the hungry hearts, that freely eat, 
 
 Shall grow to a life sublime. 
 
 Alas, that Famine and Hate are abroad 
 And Wrong is a king with men, 
 
 When day and night are prayers to the Lord 
 For Mercy and Right again ! 
 
 But men must sufler, and men must pray, 
 And the valiant saints strike home. 
 
 Until the cry of the Advent Day, 
 The Kiuiidom of God is come. 
 
Into His Chambers. 
 
 " Thy love is better than wine." 
 
 I APPROACHED the lordlv chambers, 
 Which arose at God's command, 
 
 More majestic than all temples, 
 Poets find in fairy land. 
 
 I approached the lofty chambers, 
 
 Which for man are filled with good, 
 
 And with awe and fear upon me 
 At the sacred threshold stood. 
 
 " Oh for strength ! and oh for courage ! " 
 Was my spirit's silent prayer, 
 
 While the shifting light and darkness 
 Saw me standing lonely there ; 
 
INTO HIS CHAMBERS. 
 
 31 
 
 Saw me standing, saw me waiting, 
 In the awful shadow there, 
 
 Till, as clouds, my fears departing, 
 Faded in the viewless air. 
 
 Then it was no longer doubting, 
 That I sealed the happy choice ; 
 
 And a coward tongue unloosing, 
 P>choed then a fearless voice : 
 
 I will pass the golden portals 
 And explore each secret part, 
 
 For I long to find a solace 
 For iiiy yearning, aching heart. 
 
 Then I issued from the darkness, 
 
 I so long a plodding fool, 
 
 And the King in mercy led me 
 
 Through the open vestibule ; 
 
 And I passed the golden portals 
 Which I ne'er had passed before, 
 
 Entered then the lofty chambers 
 Where is love forever more. 
 
32 
 
 THE YEAR OF CHMIST. 
 
 And the music of low voices, 
 
 Floating cheerily to me, 
 Added knowledge unto knowledge 
 
 Touching immortality. 
 
 And I felt my spirit glowing, 
 Joyous in its new-born power, 
 
 As a bud which in its blowing 
 Feels itself at last a flower. 
 
 Lord, defend Thou me, Thy servant, 
 With Thine everlasting grace. 
 
 Till I in Thy chambers yonder, 
 Hail the brightness of Thy face. 
 
 Thine be all the praise and glory 
 
 Which through Christ I bring to men I 
 
 Mine be but to tell His story. 
 Till I breathe my last Amen ! 
 
The Beautiful Plant. 
 
 " 'I he rose of Sharon and the lily of the valley." 
 
 Of all the wonderful plants that grow- 
 On mountain, in forest and field, 
 
 There are verily none of which I know 
 Whose generous blossoms yield 
 
 One -half the fragrance, one-half so sweet, 
 
 As the Beautiful Plant that I daily meet. 
 
 It blooms the first in the vernal time, 
 
 And gay at the coming of June ; 
 It ever outlives the Summer's prime : 
 
 And when the Autumn-winds tune 
 Their organs to play the dirge of death. 
 It scorneth and shunneth their blastins: breath. 
 
34 
 
 THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 When Nature at length is in burial array, 
 Her children all gone to the tomb, 
 
 Will it ever know that wickedest day 
 When it shall be out of its bloom ? 
 
 Oh, no; for every to-morrow doth bring 
 
 To my Beautiful Plant the return of Spring. 
 
 It drinketh the wine from the cup of morn. 
 
 And trembles with rare delight ; 
 And the loving stars at even born 
 
 Look down from their homes of light, 
 And unto my heart forever say, 
 Thou hast the beauty that lives for aye. 
 
 And when I go forth to the strife of the world. 
 
 And join the hurry and din, 
 With banners of light in my soul unfurled, 
 
 I forget not that men are kin, 
 Throughout the one great household of God, 
 Awake on earth or asleep in the sod. 
 
THE BEAUTIFUL PLANT. 
 
 35 
 
 The present, the past, and the future are mine, 
 
 And I am no longer my own : 
 All things I behold in the light divine, 
 
 Where nothing is ever alone, 
 And beauty flows forth unto eager eyes 
 Surveying the earth or piercing the skies. 
 
 I cannot in isolation move. 
 
 When I catch the glory of all 
 That is meant by Universal Love, 
 
 To push from the heart the wall 
 Which is builded of hate and fear and doubt, 
 And fences immortal companions out. 
 
 My Beautiful Plant, athrough my heart 
 
 Diffuses such glory and cheer, 
 I would never more from the garden depart 
 
 Where it blossoms through all the year. 
 And daily, I think, becomes more fair, 
 Receivmg the kisses of purer air. 
 
36 
 
 THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 Oh who does not nourish so holy a thing" 
 
 Is the poorest and vilest of all ! 
 Though he live unchallenged a very king, 
 
 And a world respond to his call. 
 Ah, such, I fear, when the earth is behind^ 
 The garden immortal will never find ; 
 
 For this plant is akin to the Tree of Life, 
 
 Blossoming under its shade. 
 And serving to sweeten the toil and strife 
 
 Which the Tempter for us has made, 
 Until at last we climb by its power 
 So high as to pluck the heavenly dower. 
 
 And then in truth of such wondrous worth, ' 
 
 Its roots so deep in the soul, 
 That when we are weary and done with the earth. 
 
 It will go with us over the goal ; 
 And there at length in its native clime, 
 It will reach with its kindred a growth sublime. 
 
Eureka. 
 
 (For St. Andrew's Day, Nov. 30.) 
 
 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found 
 the Messias." 
 
 St. Andrew and ten thousand others 
 Have told my secret to their brothers ; 
 Yet there may be some Httle gain, 
 If now I tell it o'er again. 
 
 Though all my telling will not make 
 The hearer of the love partake, 
 Which is the sunshine of my story, 
 Its chief and everlasting glory. 
 
 It comes through strong, courageous years, 
 And hopes victorious over fears. 
 Through ceaseless toil by day and night, 
 Until the flashes of the light 
 
38 
 
 THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 Drive from the yearning soul afar 
 The things that of our selfhood are, 
 And fill its waiting chambers full 
 Of God, the one thing beautiful. 
 
 This secret of the world of spirit 
 God does not give for any merit 
 Which in His children He discovers. 
 He hails the truest of his lovers, 
 
 And unto them vouchsafes the grace 
 His truth eternal to embrace, 
 And clasp within an eager soul, 
 The secret which they aye control. 
 
 Eureka! cries Archimedes, 
 What time his secret fair he sees ; 
 And forth he runs to publish it, 
 His face with glorious triumph lit. 
 
 Copernicus for many years 
 Sought for the secret of the spheres : 
 Through forty circles of the earth 
 Was it in coming to its birth. 
 
EUREKA. 
 
 And when at last the old man died 
 At anchor in the Crucified, 
 The fruit of all his toil became 
 The glory of a deathless name. 
 
 Newton and Kepler both baptized 
 
 In prayer the truths which they so prized 
 
 Thanksgiving unto God arose, 
 
 Who His arcana did disclose. 
 
 Oh, with what joy they told abroad 
 The long sought secrets of the Lord, 
 Apostles of science, Christian men, 
 Using the gifts of tongue and pen ! 
 
 And shall the greater secret far 
 Than any truths of science are. 
 Remain a hidden, untold thing 
 With never wafting power of wing .-• 
 
 How did Saint Andrew finding Christ 
 The secret of his joy unpriced, 
 Straightway rehearse unto another, 
 Sharing his gladness with his brother! 
 
 39 
 
40 
 
 THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 How did Apostles tell it forth - 
 Unto the P>ast and West, the North 
 And South, wherever souls were found, 
 And clouds and darkness did abound ! 
 
 Christ ! Christ ! did they alone rehearse, 
 The centre of the universe. 
 Round which humanity revolves, 
 What time it climbs in high resolves. 
 
 Christ ! Christ ! and Him once crucified. 
 Who for a world of sinners died. 
 Christ ! Christ ! who tasted death for all 
 Whom sin and evil here enthrall. 
 
 Henceforth all men to me are brothers. 
 I must tell Christ in me to others. 
 The fruit of all my long, long search 
 I must tell forth unto the Church. 
 
 And not the Church alone. The world 
 Must neyer see my banner furled. 
 One love, one work, until I die ; 
 One only prize to fill mine eye. 
 
EUREKA 
 
 41 
 
 O One exceeding great Reward ! 
 Help me my secret tell abroad ; 
 Help me one purpose to lulfiU 
 What time on earth I do Thy will. 
 
 Through good report and evil I 
 
 Pursue whate'er in Christ is high, 
 
 And with the blessed Gospel shod 
 
 Range thiough the world-wide Church of God. 
 
 One only lofty vision I 
 
 Through all the earth and heavens descry : 
 
 One only fair ideal hold 
 
 Before my eager heart and bold. 
 
 One only song and prayer is mine 
 That I may show what is divine 
 Unto some yearning hearts of men 
 Groping for Paradise again. 
 
 And as the sovereign way for this 
 Return to paradisal bliss, 
 What is there, things of earth among, 
 Like breath of God upon the young .-' 
 
42 
 
 THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 Until they come at length to see 
 The beauty of the Deity, 
 Alike in Nature as in Grace, 
 Flashing from every form and place, 
 
 A guide to lead them on and on, 
 As love led the Apostle, John, 
 Till they begin to tell abroad 
 God, their exceeding great reward. 
 
 Dear Christ ! all men to me are brothers. 
 Henceforth my secret is for others : 
 One only prize to hold mine eye. 
 One love, one work, until I die. 
 
 II 
 
 Yes, I have found the work at last. 
 Which Providence alone forecast; 
 And nevermore for me in rest. 
 Save when I labor at my best. 
 
EUREKA, 43 
 
 Dear younger brother, wouldst thou know 
 The way the Master loves to show 
 His will and wish ? The search is vain, 
 Unless it be through toil and pain. 
 
 There is no easy lesson here 
 Where wisdom lingers many a year. 
 Most their vocation never know, 
 Since wisdom comes so slow, so slow ! 
 
 Discerning not the will of God, 
 They walk the way the fathers trod 
 And He who marks the sparrow's fall, 
 Observes his lowly children all. 
 
 But thou of hunger hast the smart 
 Pent up within a conscious heart. 
 God's providence is speaking there, 
 Telling what thou shouldst do and dare. 
 
 Be bold to heed the silent voice 
 And crucify each meaner choice ; 
 Or else forever lose the place 
 Assigned thee in the realm of Grace 
 
44 THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 God speaks not many times to those 
 To whom His will He would disclose. 
 Have they, alas, no ears to hear, 
 No more, no more He draweth near. 
 
 He needs thee not against thy will. 
 Thy little place His hand can fill. 
 From stones can He, of old I AM, 
 Raise children unto Abraham. 
 
 So thou, thy work to know and do. 
 Must unto Providence be true, 
 And heed the signals and the signs. 
 Although the light but dimly shines. 
 
 What though the signs arc not so plaiiT 
 As to shut out all doubt and pain .'' 
 The doubt and pain will not grow less,. 
 While thou remain'st in idleness. 
 
 What if the signals be but faint 
 And in thy heart there is complaint ^ 
 Ah, they will all the fainter be 
 During thine inactivity 
 
EUREKA 
 
 When once the signal voice is heard, 
 And the unfathomed heart is stirred 
 To action, we have found the way 
 Where Hfe is greater than to-day, 
 
 (However vast its treasures be) 
 
 And boldly claims eternity. 
 
 Henceforth we no more reckon worth 
 
 By the arithmetic of earth. 
 
 The great is small, the small is great, 
 Often in af'.er estimate, 
 And nobler aims and visions rise 
 What time we see with other eyes. 
 
 Hast thou despised the little things } 
 Know thou the smallest duty brings 
 A prophecy of coming time, 
 For thee ignoble or sublime. 
 
 The gifts of God thou dost not use, 
 Little or great, thou dost abuse 
 What if — the forfeit comes at last — 
 From thee be taken what thou hast .'* 
 
 45 
 
46 THE TEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 Thy sacred trusts each day increase : 
 Evening shall bring a psalm of peace. 
 And in a broader circle shine 
 The lantern of the Word Divine. 
 
 The blessed things of God no more 
 Shall be like shadow, as before, 
 But real, precious and sublime, 
 To grow more fair by use and time 
 
 Stand still, the darkness on thy track 
 Pushes no more its column back. 
 Halt not, the light gleams wide and far, 
 And thine is an unsetting star. 
 
 There always will be clouds. Thy mark 
 May sometimes vanish in the dark. 
 What then } Wilt thou at this despair ? 
 It is thy trial — oh, beware ! 
 
 Renew thy faltering zeal and trust 
 The Lord, O creature of the dust. 
 Young faith will perish in the night. 
 If thou dost only walk by sight 
 
EUREKA 
 
 47 
 
 Without the sun, the air, the earth, 
 The seed conies not unto its birth: 
 Its hidden power of life will die, 
 Or dormant in its prison lie. 
 
 Without the word and deed, the thought 
 Is to no blessed uses brought. 
 But quickly withers from the soul. 
 Evanishing beyond control. 
 
 Act to the purpose of thy heart, 
 And Providence, with wondrous art, 
 Shall fashion it to beauty there. 
 Transmuting all thy work and prayer, 
 
 Till it shall come to be thy life 
 Grown strong in every manly strife, 
 And, when the time is ripe, approve 
 Thee for the Master's work of love. 
 
48 THE YEAR Of CHRIST. 
 
 The Triumphal Entry. 
 
 (Gospel for Advent Sunday. Tune, A^eiv Jersey, Number 433 
 Goodrich & Gilbert's Hymnal.} 
 
 Who is this in triumph riding, 
 'Mid the branches of the palm, 
 
 While, on either side dividing, 
 
 Lifts the throng their greeting psalm ? 
 
 Prophet, Priest, and King and Saviour, 
 He who left the throne on high, 
 
 Now, by His divine behavior, 
 Drawing forth the people's cry. 
 
 He it is who comes in meekness, 
 Though the Chief and Lord of all ; 
 
 He it is who, strong in weakness. 
 Frees His people from their thrall. 
 
 O my soul ! go forth to meet Him 
 
 Coming on His weary way ; 
 Open wide thy gates and greet Him 
 
 Sovereign of thy courts for aye. 
 
Angels of Life and Death. 
 
 "Are they not all ministering spirits?" 
 
 Our earth by two angels is trod, 
 
 Who bear the commissions of God, 
 
 All written in letters of light 
 
 To those who can read them aright. 
 
 One radiant, beautiful is, 
 
 Who comes with the message of bliss, 
 
 And sweet benediction to them 
 
 Who touch but his garments' bright hem. 
 
 He came when Elizabeth knew 
 The joy that so tenderly grew, 
 Until her reproach among men 
 Had passed to the things that had been : 
 
^2 THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 When Mary, the Mother of One 
 Of Earth and of Heaven the Son, 
 Rejoiced in her God and her Saviour 
 With meek and with lowly behaviour. 
 
 We know his commission, and all 
 Are happier when his foot-fall 
 Is heard at the door of our mansion ; 
 And greeting him, feel we expansion 
 
 Of joy that is blessed forever 
 What time it is crowned in endeavor 
 And tenderest love for the grace 
 That comes to our trembling embrace. 
 
 O beautiful angel ! we know 
 
 Of nothing more pure than the glow 
 
 Of bosoms whose promises are 
 
 No longer, no longer afar. 
 
 No longer .'* The Angel of Life 
 
 Who quiets the bosom's first strife, 
 
 But wakens another far stronger 
 
 And fiercer and wilder and longer. 
 
ANGELS OF LIFE AND DEATH. 
 
 63 
 
 O father forecasting the joy 
 That dawns in a beautiful boy, 
 Until the far years of his prime 
 Are crowned with a manhood sublime ! 
 
 O mother that dotest on one 
 As dear as the light of the sun. 
 And dreamest of him till his name 
 Is writ on the star-line of fame ! 
 
 The rainbow so wondrously fair, 
 
 The painting of God in the air. 
 
 One moment entrances the eye, 
 
 The next, it is gone from the sky. 
 
 The flowers that spring at our feet, 
 All beautiful things that we meet, 
 Endure for an hour or a day 
 And yield to the touch of decay. 
 
 Alas and alas for the joy 
 That dawns in a beautiful boy, 
 Of all the dear joys of the breast 
 The purest and sweetest and best ! 
 
64 
 
 THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 The radiant Angel of Light 
 May suddenly pass from the sight 
 And beckon the Angel of Gloom 
 To enter the dim, silent room ; 
 
 Whose way is a way in the dark. 
 Oh, who can discover his mark ? 
 For one shall be taken, one left ; 
 One keepeth, and one is bereft. 
 
 Death comes at all seasons and places. 
 He stays not for fortune or graces : 
 His will is the will of the Lord. 
 Who would not submission accord .'' 
 
 Short joy is our heritage here ; 
 With imperfect love there is fear, 
 Which troubles the stoutest heart long 
 With fitful and feverish song. 
 
 The bliss of a sweetness it knows. 
 The cup which with bitterness flows ; 
 For Death is an Angel of Light, 
 Though robed in the garments of night. 
 
ANGELS OF LIFE AND DEATH. 65 
 
 Who comes for the young and the old, 
 To gather them all to the fold 
 Where greets the Good Shepherd His own, 
 And sorrow and tears are unknown. 
 
 All angels are angels of love. 
 Of God are both raven and dove : 
 One serveth the Ark in the Flood ; 
 One bringeth the prophet his food. 
 
 All things of both heaven and earth 
 Are waiting an infinite birth. 
 The flush of a joy that has been, 
 Some day we shall know it again. 
 
 As yonder bright bow fades away. 
 As violets yield to decay. 
 And flowers yet again we may see, 
 And rainbows as fair there may be ; 
 
 As day unto night must give way. 
 And night in its turns unto day, 
 Till dawns the perennial light 
 When there shall no longer be night ; 
 
66 TllK YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 So sorrow and joy — the two poles 
 Belonging on earth to all souls — 
 Until they are merged into one 
 When conflicts forever are done, 
 
 And saints all rejoice that they know 
 
 The better for trials the glow 
 
 Of bosoms .whose promises are 
 
 No longer, no longer afar. 
 
The DOUBTERS' Hymn. 
 
 (For St. Thomas' Day. Tune, Gemer, page 31, Greatore.x Collection.) 
 
 Great Searcher of the troubled heart, 
 
 We bow before Thy Throne 
 And pray Thee make our doubts depart, 
 
 Till we are all Thine own. 
 
 Explore the chambers of our souls, 
 
 Bring from the night the day, 
 Until, like clouds, the darkness rolls 
 
 Forevermore away. 
 
 O Thou, in whom we trust, believe, 
 
 Who are of sinners chief, 
 Our hearts' strong, wrestling prayer receive, 
 
 And help our unbelief. 
 
 The blindness which for Thomas' sake. 
 
 Thou didst of old remove. 
 From all our hearts in mercy take. 
 
 And we our faith shall prove. 
 
68 THE TEAR OP CHRIST. 
 
 A Legend of St. Tho'mas. 
 
 Saint Thomas the day of his Festival, 
 
 The briefest of the year, 
 Was looking down from Paradise 
 
 Through the frosty air and clear. 
 
 His eye, the eye of heaven that morn. 
 
 Was of worshipers in quest, 
 And traveled afar through all the North 
 
 And South and East and West. 
 
 At length his ear he bended low, 
 To catch the sounds that came 
 
 From a beautiful and lofty church 
 Which bore his very name. 
 
A LEGEND OF SAIXT THOMAS. 
 
 69 
 
 It was no organ peal he heard, 
 
 No voice of praise or prayer ; 
 Nor was it the blessed Word of God 
 
 Which rung through the arches there. 
 
 There was no low-bowed priest within, 
 
 There was no reverence ; 
 And the holy angels there had said 
 
 " Arise, let us go hence." 
 
 The hearts of the angels who came to see 
 What honor Saint Thomas had, 
 
 And gather the odors of prayer and praise, 
 Were heavy, that day, and sad. 
 
 They only beheld a noisy throng 
 Who were binding wreaths to grace 
 
 The house of God for Christmas-tide, 
 At a sacred time and place : 
 
 As if they honored the Holy Child 
 
 By what was another's loss ! 
 As if it absolved from irreverence. 
 
 The makins: of garland and cross ! 
 
70 
 
 THE TEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 Then quickly the Saint from Paradise 
 
 Came down the wintry sky, 
 And his form which in the window stood 
 
 Was a glory to every eye. 
 
 His face was a heavenly beauty there 
 
 Of which the artist dreamed, 
 That' never before until that day 
 
 Had more than mortal seemed. 
 
 The gazers ceased their nimble work, 
 
 The hum of voices died ; 
 All wondered what was shining there 
 
 Which the place so glorified. 
 
 And more and more the wonder grew 
 
 Until Saint Thomas saw 
 Fast creeping on from face to face 
 
 A shadow of breathless awe. 
 
 They knew not the Saint was looking in 
 Through the beautiful window there ; 
 
 But something whispered from heart to heart, 
 " My house is a house of prayer." 
 
A LEGEAD OF SAIAT THOMAS. 
 
 71 
 
 And something guided many a hand 
 
 Until from the church they bore 
 All that unhallowed the sacred place, 
 
 And order reigned once more. 
 
 And lo ! the angels all came back, 
 And their hearts at length were glad, 
 
 When they gathered the odors of prayer and saw 
 What honor Saint Thomas had. 
 
72 
 
 THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 Epithalamium. 
 
 "Thy lips, O my spouse, drop honey as the honey-comb. 
 
 (Tune, IVir PJltigcn, page 102.) 
 
 What time I send my greeting, 
 
 friends to me so dear, 
 And pray your happy nuptials 
 May gladden many a year ; 
 
 What time I see the honey 
 So sweet upon the lips, 
 My heart — I cannot hold it — 
 Into the future dips. 
 
 1 see the Bride and Bridegroom, 
 My yearning soul before. 
 
 To me a calling, calling ; 
 I cannot linsfer more. 
 
The Eternal Song. 
 
 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the 
 Lamb, saying great and marvelous are thy works. Lord God Almighty; 
 just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints." 
 
 Cometh soon the day desired long, 
 Cometh soon the triumph over wrong, 
 When we sing the one eternal song. 
 
 Lo ! when heaven and earth shall both remove, 
 Cometh then Jerusalem above 
 Where the banner over all is love. 
 
 Oh the heights to which the saints shall climb ! 
 Oh the wonders of that coming time, 
 Wonders for our telling too sublime ! 
 3 
 
5° 
 
 THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 Heaven and earlh renewed, itom crowns as bright 
 As is God's all-flaming, endless light, 
 Flash their beauty in the face of Night, 
 
 Till she from the universe away 
 Hastes to hide herself in that decay 
 Which shall have no resurrection day. 
 
 Soul ! arise and see the splendor come ! 
 For the painting of that fadeless home. 
 Voice and heart without the Lord are dumb. 
 
 John in Patmos saw the blessed sight, 
 
 An immortal and divine delight. 
 
 For unhallowed eyes too pure and bright, 
 
 New Jerusalem, a coming down, 
 City matchless in her far renown, 
 Bringing for each valiant saint a crown. 
 
 What is that great voice which followed then ^ 
 Lo! God's tabernacle is with men. 
 Former things shall be no more again ; 
 
THE ETERNAL SONG. 
 
 51 
 
 No more weeping — pain and death are done, 
 Who hath overcome hath all things won, 
 And shall ever be to God a son. 
 
 O my soul, hear thou that other voice, 
 And remember what hath been thy choice. 
 Ere thou lift a heart that may rejoice ! 
 
 Lo ! the fearful, unbelievers all. 
 
 Liars, they who down to idols fall, 
 
 Know the death whence there is no recall ! — 
 
 Know the second death, which is the fire 
 Of a vanished season to aspire. 
 Burning, burning, in a vain desire. 
 
 Oh the terrors, when they vainly call 
 On the mountains and the rocks to fall 
 On them as annihilation's pall ! 
 
 Help me, God, to shun that second death ! 
 Help me while on earth I draw my breath ! 
 Help me learn and do what Jesu saith ! 
 
52 THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 Hast thou chosen that eternal part, 
 Then at length is thine, O valiant heart, 
 Joy that shall not ever more depart. 
 
 Lift thine eyes and feast them on the grace. 
 
 Honor, riches in that radiant place. 
 
 Thine, when thou hast ended here thy race. 
 
 Get thee to a mountain great and high. 
 Get thee, O my soul, where best thine eye 
 Tracks the glory flaming down the sky. 
 
 City after an eternal plan ; 
 
 City which the Lord's dear mercies span. 
 
 Bow, my heart, before this love to man ! 
 
 Gates look North and South and East and West, 
 All unfolding what is fairest, best, 
 Light and truth and everlasting rest. 
 
 Jasper walls are there, and golden pave. 
 Of the sun and moon no need they have ; 
 All the Lamb and God with glory lave. ' 
 
THE ETERNAL SONG. 
 
 53 
 
 Hark ! hark ! hear that mighty rush of song, 
 From all souls that love has made so strong ; 
 Hark, and learn the notes which they prolong! 
 
 Song of Moses and the Lamb they raise, 
 Pouring forth to God eternal praise. 
 Who is just and true in all His ways. 
 
 Moses and the Lamb with never taints ! 
 Theirs the chant they lift without complaints : 
 Just and true Thy ways are, King of saints. 
 
 Moses ! servant unto God below, 
 
 Mercies in His judgments thou did'st know, 
 
 Fountain whence eternal praises How. 
 
 Lamb ! who suffered'st here upon the cross, 
 And did'st purge away our sin and dross, 
 God in Thee did show the gain of loss. 
 
 Hear their voices who His Kingdom trod, 
 With the preparation of the Gospel shod : 
 Great and marvellous thy works, O God ! 
 
54 
 
 THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 See them cast their crowns before the Throne, 
 Service which by them on earth was shown, 
 There at length unto perfection grown ! 
 
 Looking back from new Jerusalem, 
 Know they with the Lord their diadem, 
 Tribulation was but love to them. 
 
 Oh the beauty love in mercy paints 
 
 When she chants the death of all complaints : 
 
 Just and true Thy ways are. King of saints ! 
 
 Soul ! arise and gird thine armor on. 
 Has the light of God within thee shone, 
 Linger not the rugged ways upon. 
 
 Thorns and crags and dangers, what are they 
 
 But prophetic of the fadeless bay, 
 
 Which the eager brow would wear for aye ! 
 
 God through love shall make the mountains low ; 
 God through love shall cause the depths to grow 
 Heights which everlasting sunshine know. 
 
THE ETERNAL SONG. 55 
 
 Hast thou gained some triumph in the Lord, 
 Thinking more of coveted reward 
 Than of faithfulness unto His Word ? 
 
 Hast thou ever drunk the cup of bitterness, 
 
 Flowing with the gall of deep distress, 
 
 When thou seemd'st to sink from less to less ? 
 
 Tell me, thou with Christ within thy heart, 
 What thou thinkest of that olden smart. 
 And the triumph where thou hadst a part ? 
 
 Rose I in my joy, and rising fell. 
 From my grief I rose too high to tell ! 
 God be praised who doeth all things well. 
 
 Oh the beauty love in mercy paints, 
 
 When she chants the death of all complaints : 
 
 Just and true thy ways are. King of saints ! 
 
 Girded in the armor of His light, 
 Take, my soul, thy rank amid the fight. 
 Counting on the triumph of the right. 
 
56 
 
 THE TEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 What though clouds shall clasp thee in their bath ? 
 What though night shall gloom along the path, 
 Where the Lord's the only guide one hath ? 
 
 Fling thy splendor on the darkness here, 
 Till the ways of God becoming clear. 
 Banish from thy bosom every fear. 
 
 W^hat though cruel things upon thee press, 
 
 Resting as a burden of distress, 
 
 Till thou cry, alas ! for righteousness ? 
 
 Recognize the long extended hand, 
 Moulding thee as for a purpose grand ; 
 Fail not thou to do the Lord's command, 
 
 Knowing as thou lookest forth afar. 
 Life and death and all things glory are, 
 God's and His who flames the Morning Star. 
 
 Oh the beauty love in mercy paints, 
 
 When she chants the death of all complaints : 
 
 Just and true Thy ways are. King of saints ! 
 
Signs 
 
 (Gospel for Second Sunday in Advent. Tunes, Boylston, or Oiven, 
 page 73, Hymnal for Social and Public Worship.) 
 
 The time is drawing nigh 
 
 When He who came of old, 
 Shall leave again the courts on high, 
 
 And visit here His fold. 
 
 And what if signs there be 
 
 In all the world around, 
 That, calling to eternity, 
 
 The trumpet soon will sound ? 
 
 O comrade ! look within, 
 
 And see what signs are there, 
 
 What freedom from defiling sin, 
 And for that day prepare. 
 
 And then, whate'er the watch 
 
 In which the Lord appears, 
 His saving strength shall more than match 
 
 A phantom host of fears. 
 
58 THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 Ordination Hymns. 
 
 (For the Winter Ember Days. Tunes, Benez'olence and Hursley, 
 Numbers 437 and 336, Goodrich & Gilbert's Hymnal.) 
 
 I. 
 
 To THOSE, O Lord, whom Thou dost call, 
 And set to watch on Zion's wall. 
 Give eagle eyes that they may see 
 All lurking foes of Thine and Thee ; 
 
 Give words of power to warn Thy flock. 
 And save from every hostile shock; 
 Give strength to guard that heritage, 
 Which Thou hast loved from age to age. 
 
 Do Thou their shield and helmet be 
 In conflict with that enemy 
 Who works without, and works within. 
 To turn aside and lure to sin. 
 
 And while our prayers their hands uphold, 
 Bless Thou their work to Thy dear Fold, 
 Till eager throngs of sinners come 
 And find a refuse and a home. 
 
O R D I N A TI N II Y M N S. 
 
 59 
 
 II- 
 
 My Saviour, when I think of Thee, 
 And all Thou didst for love of me, 
 I cry for grace that I may know 
 How I Thy love may others show. 
 
 For this, O Lord, is mine to do, 
 And to my work I would be true, 
 To lead Thine erring ones to see 
 Thou lovest them as well as me. 
 
 Do Thou in this my efforts aid. 
 And with Thy love my soul pervade. 
 Until a guiding flame it burn 
 And wandering ones to Thee return. 
 
 Do Thou in this my labor bless. 
 And many unto righteousness 
 Shall' I at length, O Lord, incline. 
 And as the stars forever shine. 
 
6o THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 The Day of God. 
 
 (Collect for Third Sunday in Advent. Tune, Quaiffe, not published.) 
 
 Are ye with the preparation 
 
 Of the Gospel shod, 
 Fear ye not the tribulation 
 
 Of the day of God! 
 He will come in all the glory 
 
 Of a smiling face, 
 And rehearse the happy story 
 
 Of a day of grace. 
 
 Are ye with no preparation 
 
 Of the Gospel shod, 
 Then, alas! the tribulation 
 
 Of the day of God! 
 He will come, but in the glory 
 
 Of a frowning face, 
 And recall the fearful story 
 
 Of His wasted srace. 
 
E P 1 T H A L A M I U M . 
 
 It is the Great Espousal 
 To last Ibrevermore, 
 The joy we have a taste of 
 Upon this earthly shore. 
 
 It is the Marriage Supper ; 
 The Bridegroom and the Bride, 
 Within the waiting mansions 
 Are standing side by side. 
 
 He is the King of Glory, 
 He is the Prhice of Peace ; 
 His triumphs are recorded, 
 The joy shall never cease. 
 
 He stands as one victorious. 
 And looketh on the Bride, 
 Who there is all as glorious 
 A standing by his side. 
 
 The daughter she of Zion, 
 Who here was dark and low : 
 When lifted by the Lion, 
 What beauty did she show ? 
 
 73 
 
74 
 
 r II E YEAR OF CHRIST 
 
 The garments of His beauty, 
 She wore through all the earth, 
 And showed to all her children 
 The splendor of His wortn. 
 
 Her lips they dropped with honey, 
 Her garments smelt of myrrh ; 
 Better than wine or money 
 The love He showed to her. 
 
 What time I see the honey 
 So sweet upon the lips, 
 My heart — I cannot hold it — 
 Into the future dips. 
 
 It is the Marriage Supper ; 
 The Bridegroom and the Bride, 
 Within the Father's mansions 
 Are standing side by side. 
 
 Long since the invitations 
 Went forth through all the world, 
 And flashed from oft' the banners 
 Which never here are furled. 
 
K P 1 T B A L A At I U M . 75 
 
 The children of the Kingdom 
 
 Are coming from afar ; 
 
 From Greece and Rome and England, 
 
 Wherever altars are. 
 
 And Wesley's lowly chapel 
 Is not without its roll ; 
 Geneva comes and yieldeth 
 The fruit of many a soul. 
 
 I see among them Luther 
 Full many a column bring ; 
 An everlasting castle 
 '"sft iiiiKr Wott, they sing. 
 
 Jerusalem, the olden, 
 Sends many children there : 
 Jerusalem, the Golden, 
 Receiveth all the fair. 
 
 They seek the Father's mansions, 
 A great unnumbered throng, 
 Who in their tribulation 
 Have trampled sin and wrong. 
 
76 
 
 T II K YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 The Bride and Bridegroom greet them ; 
 They are the chosen guests, 
 The children of the Kingdom, 
 Who did the Lord's behests. 
 
 They greet the Bride and Bridegroom ; 
 Both His and hers they are, 
 The fruit of all her travail, 
 Her children from afar. 
 
 Their lips they drop with honey, 
 Their garments smell of myrrh ; 
 Better than wine or money, 
 The love from Him and her. 
 
 The Bridegroom looketh over 
 The blessed throng' so vast ; 
 His eye, the jealous Lover's, 
 Upon them all is cast. 
 
 What time each face He greeteth. 
 As one to Him well known, 
 He sees they all to whiteness 
 And purity have grown. 
 
EPITHALAMIUM. 77 
 
 His blood alone redeemed them, 
 And made them pure and fair : 
 His righteousness still clothes them, 
 They yet receive His care. 
 
 But hark ! a cry ariseth, 
 That does not all rejoice. 
 Oh, hark ! a voice ascendeth, 
 It is the Bridegroom's voice : 
 
 "O children of the Kingdom 
 Why are ye not all here ? 
 Where are unnumbered iaces 
 That were to me so dear .? " 
 
 It is the cry that ranges 
 Through all the Universe, 
 The cry that never changes— 
 Who can its woe rehearse ? 
 
 "O children of the Kingdo.m, 
 Who did in darkness stay, 
 There is an outer darkness 
 That doth not roll away. " 
 
y8 THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 " O children of the Kingdom, 
 Who wallowed in the mire, 
 There is a Day Eternal, 
 There is a quenchless fire." 
 
 " O children of the Kingdom, 
 Who did not My command, 
 Ye cannot in My presence 
 Like these, in gladness stand," 
 
 " O children of the Kingdom, 
 To whom My love was shown. 
 Your souls are full of darkness. 
 Ye only have your own." 
 
 God ! God ! The gall that drippeth, 
 So bitter to my taste. 
 What time I feel their blindness, 
 Who grace so precious waste ! 
 
 The cry ! the cry that ranges 
 Through all the Universe, 
 The cry that never changes — 
 Who can its woe rehearse ? 
 
E P I T H A L A M I U M. 
 
 79 
 
 " O children of the Kingdom, 
 To whom God's love was shown, 
 Your souls are filled with darkness, 
 Ye only have your own ! " 
 
 I turn and see the mansions, 
 
 The Father's House within. 
 
 The guests, the Bride, and Bridegroom, 
 
 Who washed away their sin. 
 
 He is the King of Glory, 
 He is the Prince of Peace ; 
 His triumphs are God's story, 
 The joy shall never cease. 
 
 He stands as one victorious. 
 And looketh on the Bride, 
 Who there is all as glorious, 
 A standing by His side. 
 
 What time I see the honey 
 So sweet upon the lips. 
 My heart — I cannot hold it — 
 Into the future dips. 
 
go THE TEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 While children of the Kingdom, 
 Without in darkness grope, 
 I see them coming, coming ! 
 All in the blessed hope ; 
 
 From out the East a coming, 
 The land of far renown ; 
 From out the West a coming, 
 And bearing many a crown ; 
 
 From out the North a coming, 
 From wild barbarian lands ; 
 From out the South a coming, 
 Where Sheba's queen commands; 
 
 They seek the Father's mansions. 
 Where Abraham is found 
 With Isaac too and Jacob, 
 Where joys untold abound. 
 
 Behold the Bride and Bridegroom 
 Are standing at the door, 
 And give them all the greeting 
 Of love forevermore. 
 
EPI'lHALAMIUM. 
 
 Their lips they drop with honey, 
 Their garments smell of myrrh ; 
 Better than wine or money, 
 The love from Him and her. 
 
 And who is he that standeth, 
 Clothed in immortal youth ? 
 Is it the one who taught me 
 To climb in search of truth ? 
 
 And who is this who gazeth 
 The myriad throng upon ? 
 Is it the one whose thunder 
 Reached him of Macedon ? 
 
 And who is this that looketh 
 With such abounding peace ? 
 Is it old Cincinnatus 
 Whose rest shall never cease ? 
 
 I cannot count the faces 
 Which glow with olden grace. 
 Perhaps, when earth shall vanish, 
 With them will be my place. 
 
82 THE TEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 The children of the Kingdom 
 And ahens are there : 
 Jerusalem, the Golden, 
 Receiveth all the fair. 
 
 The wedding now is furnished, 
 The Marriage Supper come ; 
 And there is song aud feasting 
 In that Eternal Home. 
 
 Behold the Great Espousal 
 To last forevermore, 
 The joy we have a taste of 
 Upon this earthly shore. 
 
 He is the King of Glory, 
 He is the Prince of Peace ; 
 The Daughter she of Zion, 
 The joy shall never cease. 
 
 He stands as one victorious 
 And looketh on the Bride, 
 Who there is all as glorious, 
 A standing by His side. 
 
E P I T H A L A M I V M . 8j 
 
 The Lamb is life and glory, 
 The Church is at her rest, 
 An everlasting service. 
 The fairest and the best. 
 
 As heart to heart then answers. 
 In Bridegroom and the Bride, 
 So all are one forever 
 And with the Lord abide. 
 
§4 THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 Advent Longing. 
 
 (First Evening Lesson, Fourth Sunday in Advent. Tune, Stveei Hoine 
 without the chorus.) 
 
 Who, who does not yearn for the Kingdom of God, 
 The realm which the wise of all ages have trod, 
 When striving with sin and combatting with sense* 
 Jehovah the helmet and shield of defense. 
 
 O, who does not yearn for the Kingdom of God, 
 The realm which the meek of all ages have trod, 
 Where Christ, the Good Shepherd, so true to His 
 
 charge. 
 Keeps watch on the weary, their strength to enlarge. 
 
 O, who does not yearn for the Kingdom of God, 
 The realm where the brave ot all ages have trod. 
 And labored in faith, and been victors in love 
 Through the might of their heirship to glory above. 
 
 Who, who does not yearn for the Kingdom of God, 
 The realm which the Saints of all ages have trod, 
 Who now in their triumph are crowned with their 
 
 Lord, 
 And rest in the truth of His glorious Word. 
 
The Nativity. 
 
 I. 
 
 O SHEPHERDS watching flocks by night. 
 How bursts upon your startled sight, 
 The glory of the heavenly light ! 
 
 Ye see the splendor of the sky 
 Down streaming into mortal eye, 
 And every heart doth wonder why. 
 
 But hark! what voice is that ye hear. 
 Than mortal accents far more clear, 
 Like strange, sweet music to the ear.? 
 
 Fear not ! It is an angel's voice : 
 He speaks to make the world rejoice. 
 And ye of heralds are his choice. 
 
 Good tidings of great joy brings he, 
 
 Which shall unto all people be 
 
 Till they from sin and death be free; 
 
^5 THE TEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 For unto you this winter morn 
 
 A Saviour, Christ, the Lord, is born, 
 
 Who Satan of his realm hath shorn. 
 
 And Bethlehem doth now behold 
 The Babe the prophets saw of old 
 Before the ages were unrolled 
 
 I I. 
 
 O all ye angels, worship Him ! 
 O ever flaming Cherubim, 
 Bow low ! and ye, O Seraphim. 
 
 The time that Wisdom chose is come, 
 When joy gives voice to even the dumb, 
 And Jesu leaves the Father's home. 
 
 The season long desired is ripe, 
 
 Foretold in prophecy and type. 
 
 And from all eyes the tears to wipe 
 
 He comes. Lo ! Angels throng the sky 
 Where voice to voice doth make reply, 
 " Be glory now to God on high." 
 
THE N A T 1 V I rr. 
 
 87 
 
 And dear words than tongue or pen 
 
 May ever speak or write again, 
 
 "Peace! peace on earth, good will to men,"' 
 
 III. 
 
 As soon as e'er the sky is grey 
 
 With tokens of the coming da)'*; 
 
 The wondering shepherds go their way 
 
 In silence and with one accord, 
 
 To seek their Saviour and their Lord, 
 
 According to the Angel's word. 
 
 Behold, all in the lowly place 
 
 They find the more than mortal Grace 
 
 And look upon His radiant face. 
 
 The tribute of meek hearts they bring, 
 
 The first to fall a worshipping 
 
 In presence of the new-born King. 
 
 And finding such divine reward. 
 The wonder of the infant Lord 
 They carry hence and spread abroad. 
 
THE TEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 IV. 
 
 O hearts that beat in latter days 
 And Hft no voice of prayer or praise, 
 Heed ye what now God's angel says. 
 
 He bringeth every lowly heart 
 
 Good tidings of the better part. 
 
 Oh, straightway from your sins depart! 
 
 Approach, approach the Saviour's shrine 
 Where more than mortal glories shine. 
 And henceforth know the light divine. 
 
 And when your grateful souls are full 
 Of all that is most beautiful. 
 How quick will they grow dutiful, 
 
 And in among the ranks of men 
 In burning words of tongue or pen, 
 Sow all their harvest store again ! 
 
The Christmas Service, 
 
 WITH INFANT BAPTISM. 
 
 I. 
 
 PROCESSIONAL. 
 
 (Tune, Tabor, No. 339, Goodrich & Gilbert's Hymnal.) 
 
 The banners of light are unfurled, 
 The darkness is sovereign no more, 
 
 And tidings of joy to the world 
 
 Are speeding from shore unto shore. 
 
 For Bethlehem's plains have beheld 
 A wonderful, beautiful sight, 
 
 Which prophets foreshadowed of eld, 
 A new and immortal delight. 
 
 Divinity clothed in the flesh 
 
 Now hallows the long waiting earth, 
 And nations, all starting afresh, 
 
 Shall go on from worth unto worth. 
 
go 
 
 THE TEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 The Babe in a manger is laid, 
 
 For such was the cradle, dear Lord, 
 
 And shepherds, their charge now obeyed, 
 Are spreading their wonder abroad. 
 
 O spread it abroad till the day 
 
 The Christ shall be born in all hearts. 
 
 And humility rise to the sway 
 
 Where pride with its folly departs. 
 
 II. 
 
 THE SERVICE. 
 
 The greeting processional song, 
 By voices of youth borne along. 
 
 Flowed chancel and transept and nave 
 All through with its musical wave : 
 
 When lo, from his place in the east 
 Was heard the clear voice of the priest, 
 
 With humble confession from all, 
 The low-kneeling penitents' call ; 
 
 And then absolution and prayer 
 Were borne by His messengers there. 
 
THE CHRISTMAS SERVICE. 91 
 
 The angels who wait on His word, 
 Above to the answering Lord. 
 
 The wonderful Psalms for the day 
 Divinity took our array ; 
 
 The Prophet forecasting the time, 
 All glowing with vision sublime : 
 
 Te Deum Laudamus, which bears 
 The incense of praises and prayers : 
 
 Saint Luke, as with magical pen, 
 Describing the advent to men 
 
 Of Him the dear Saviour of all. 
 Who came as at mercy's meek call ; 
 
 All these in their order were heard, 
 And was there a bosom not stirred ? — 
 
 A heart of the young or the hoary, 
 Not lighted anew with the glory 
 
 That shone on that wonderful day 
 Divinity stooped to array 
 
92 
 
 THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 Itself in humanity's dress, 
 Our nature forever to bless ? 
 
 And now in the hush and the pause 
 That followed the thought of the Cause 
 
 Of tidings of joy to the world, 
 Whose banners of light are unfurled, 
 
 One under those banners was made 
 A soldier of Christ, and arrayed 
 
 In armor divine for the strife 
 And all the temptations of life. 
 
 The baptismal water was there 
 
 All hallowed and blest as by prayer, 
 
 Through him the meek priest of the Lord, 
 Appointed as erst by His word. 
 
 And poured on our infant's fair brow, 
 What time were the promise and vow 
 
 Of parents and sponsors received 
 On high, as of those who believed, 
 
THE CHRISTMAS SERVICE. 
 
 93 
 
 Rejoicing that merciful Heaven 
 Had promises lovingly given 
 
 To them and their children and all 
 Far off whom the Saviour should call, 
 
 O Christ ! 'twas a beautiful sight, 
 And more than a mortal delight, 
 
 The seeing one brought to Thy fold, 
 And under Thy banner enrolled, 
 
 A child of the Lord on the morn 
 That Thou of a Virgin wast born ! 
 
 Now grand was the service in store, 
 Companion of what went before : 
 
 The out-burst of blessing and praise 
 Which many a heart did upraise ; 
 
 The naming of faith we all hold, 
 Delivered to Saints once of old ; ■ 
 
 The blessed communion of prayer 
 Ascending through angel-thronged air 
 
94 
 
 THE TEAR OF CHRIST 
 
 To Him who omnipotent there 
 Doth heed what our htanies bear ; 
 
 A sweet song of David who sung 
 As if to a harp that was strung 
 
 By angels, and then (to preUide 
 The feast of the Body and Blood 
 
 All broken and poured out for thee, 
 The chief est of sinners like me) 
 
 The tables, which given of old. 
 
 Have brightened with years that have rolled ; 
 
 The Collect for daily renewal 
 
 Of natures which sin has made dual ; 
 
 Epistle and Gospel which raise 
 
 The thoughts to the Ancient of Days ; 
 
 A song of rejoicing once more 
 Which reverent voices upbore ; 
 
 Meek words of salvation which came 
 From lips that were touched as by flame 
 
THE CHRISTMAS SERVICE. 
 
 9S 
 
 From Christ's clear altar of love ; 
 And then, last of all, all above 
 
 In joyful, glorious might, 
 
 The Eucharist-feast of delight ! 
 
 Oh, such was the service that day 
 Divinity took our array, 
 
 While angels of praise and of prayer 
 Did hover more lovingly there. 
 
 Because of that dear little child 
 Not yet by temptation beguiled, 
 
 That, set in the midst, was a type 
 
 For those who in years were more ripe. 
 
 With such aspirations abounding, 
 W^as not it a fitting surrounding 
 
 For that consecration to One, 
 
 As then, born a pure Virgin's Son 
 
 Who dowered, that glorious time, 
 A child for a mission sublime ? 
 
THE YEAR OF C H H I S T . 
 
 III. 
 
 RECESSIONAL. 
 
 (Tune, For thee, O dear, dear Country, No. 492, Goodrich 
 & Gilbert's Hymnal.) 
 
 O Christ ! the Child forever, 
 
 Receive our child-Hke song ; 
 For we Thy praises never 
 
 Would cease to bear along 
 Through fair or stormy weather, 
 
 Where'er our path may be, 
 Till Thou at length shall gather 
 
 Thy little ones to Thee. 
 
 O Christ ! the Man forever, 
 
 Receive our humble prayer, 
 And crown our strong endeavor 
 
 To cast aside despair. 
 And work as Thou desirest 
 
 In love of Thee and Thine, 
 Till Thou our all requirest 
 
 Before the upper shrine. 
 
THE CHRISTMAS SERVICE. 
 
 97 
 
 O Christ ! the Priest forever, 
 
 Receive our sacrifice, 
 Its good from evil sever 
 
 And bear it to the skies ; 
 Through trials and temptation, 
 
 O bring us in Thy love, 
 And keep us for the nation 
 
 Of all the blest above. 
 
 O Christ ! our God forever, 
 
 We all Thy word embrace, 
 And as by faith's strong lever, 
 
 Would rise from grace to grace ; 
 Rain Thou on us Thy manna, 
 
 What time we here remain. 
 And ours shall be, Hosanna, 
 
 When Thou shalt come again. 
 
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A ChkistiMas Carol. 
 
 I. 
 
 This is the winter morn, 
 
 Our Saviour, Christ, was born, 
 Who left the realms of endless day, 
 
 To take our sins away. 
 Have ye no Carol for the Lord, 
 
 To spread His love abroad ? 
 Hosanna ! from all our hearts we raise, 
 
 Hosanna ! Hosanna ! 
 
 And make our lives His praise. 
 
 II. 
 
 Ring, ring, O happy bells ! 
 
 A blessed angel tells 
 The story of His humble birth, 
 
 Who came this day to earth. 
 Have ye no praises for the Lord 
 
 To spread His love abroad? 
 Hosanna ! from all our hearts we pour, 
 
 Hosanna ! Hosanna ! 
 
 And bless Him evermore. 
 
T B E YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 III. 
 
 The shepherds vigils keep 
 
 And watch by night their sheep : 
 Upon the plains of Bethlehem 
 
 What glory comes to them ! 
 Have ye from heaven no glory felt, 
 
 Who all in prayer have knelt ? 
 Hosanna ! in all our hearts is light, 
 
 Hosanna ! Hosanna ! 
 
 God's w^orship is delight. 
 
 IV. 
 
 A clear, angelic voice, 
 
 To make the world rejoice, 
 Brings men good tidings of great joyj 
 
 Which shall all hearts employ. 
 Have ye no precious word to bear, 
 
 To make the world more fair .-' 
 Hosanna ! from all our hearts shall flow, 
 
 Hosanna ! Hosanna ! 
 
 Where'er on earth we go. 
 
 V. 
 
 The trembling shepherds hear, 
 An angel calms their fear ; 
 Lo ! Christ in swaddling bands arrayed, 
 Is in a manger laid. 
 
CH nisi MAS CAROL. 
 
 Have ye no word of great delight, 
 To bring the day from night ? 
 
 Hosanna ! in all our hearts shall be, 
 Hosanna ! Hosanna ! 
 Through all eternity. 
 
 VI. 
 
 All in the lowly place 
 
 They find the Royal Grace, 
 And lo ! they fall a worshipping 
 
 Before the new-born King. 
 Have ye no worship for the Lord, 
 
 To give with one accord ? 
 Hosanna ! in all our hearts we bring, 
 
 Hosanna! Hosanna! 
 
 Our lives our offering. 
 
 VII. 
 
 Their grateful hearts are full 
 
 Of things most beautiful ; 
 And lo ! the wonder of the Lord 
 
 They straightway spread abroad. 
 Have ye no beauty of the Christ 
 
 Whose love has long sufficed .■' 
 Hosanna ! from all our hearts we raise, 
 
 Hosanna ! Hosanna ! 
 
 And carry hence His praise. 
 
THE TEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 The Death of St. Stephen. 
 
 ( W-'fr Pfliigeit, the music for this Carol, was found by Mr. Thomas in an old 
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THE DEATH OF SAINT STEPHEJT. 
 
 103 
 
 Praise God for that dear Martyr, 
 
 The first of all the host 
 Who earth for heaven barter, 
 
 To love the Master most ; 
 And chief of sons and daughters 
 
 Triumphant over pain, 
 Who cast upon the waters 
 
 The bread that comes again. 
 
 II. 
 
 The nearest to the Saviour 
 
 Who poured His blood for all, 
 And like Him in behaviour, 
 
 We keep his festival. 
 In love of His devotion 
 
 To Him who went before. 
 Through Who-m we seek the portion 
 
 For all the saints in store. 
 
 III. 
 
 We all in joy remember 
 
 The valor of his life. 
 Which kindling every ember, 
 
 Gives ardor to the strife, 
 In which of old the Master 
 
 Dropped victory on one 
 
I04 THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 Who through the world's disaster 
 Now shineth as the sun. 
 
 IV. ■ 
 There was not one divining, 
 
 When Stephen's face so fair 
 Was Hke an angel's shining, 
 
 Whom he saw standing there 
 In that high place of glory, 
 
 All at the Father's side, 
 Above heroic story, 
 
 In that for foes he died. 
 
 V. 
 O strong young man, and burning 
 
 For slaughter of the saints, 
 To that brave martyr turning 
 
 Thou didst not hear complaints ; 
 But grace to him way given 
 
 To gain thy pardon there. 
 What time he went to heaven 
 
 Upon the wings of prayer. 
 
 VI. 
 
 O Paul once filled with loathing 
 
 At that bold Nazarene, 
 When at thy feet his clothing 
 
 Was laid, what did that mean .''- 
 
THE DEATH OF SAINT STEPHEN. 
 
 105 
 
 But that on thee his spirit 
 Would Hke a mantle fall, 
 
 Who through the Saviour's merit 
 Wast soon the chief of all ? 
 
 VII. 
 
 The saint is yet a mountain 
 
 Against the wrath of foes. 
 His heart is still a fountain 
 
 From whence devotion flows. 
 His blood has many a harvest 
 
 In all the ages brought. 
 O foolish one that starvest, 
 
 He did not live for nought. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Thank God for that dear Martyr, 
 
 The first of all the host 
 Who earth for heaven barter, 
 
 To love the Saviour most ; 
 And chief of sons and daughters 
 
 Triumphant over pain, 
 Who cast upon the waters 
 
 The bread that comes again. 
 
Io6 THE TEAR OF' CHRIST 
 
 A Legend of St. John. 
 
 (For his Festival, Dec. 27.) 
 
 There is a beautiful legend 
 Come down from ancient time, 
 
 Of John, the beloved disciple, 
 
 With the marks of his life sublime. 
 
 Eusebius has the story 
 
 On his quaint, suggestive page ; 
 And God in the hearts of His people 
 
 Has preserved it from age to age. . 
 
 It was after the vision in Patmos, 
 
 After the sanctified love 
 Which flowed to the Seven Churches, 
 
 Glowing with light from above : 
 
 When his years had outrun the measure 
 Allotted to men at the best, 
 
 And Peter and James and the others 
 Had followed the Master to rest : 
 
A LEGEND OP SAINT JOHN. 
 
 107 
 
 At Ephesus came a message 
 Where he was still at his post, 
 
 Which unto the aged Apostle 
 
 Was the voice of the Holy Ghost. 
 
 Into the country he hastened 
 
 With all the ardor of youth, 
 Shod with the preparation 
 
 Of the Gospel of peace and truth. 
 
 His mission was one of mercy 
 
 To the sheep that were scattered abroad, 
 And abundant consolation, 
 
 Which flowed through him from the Lord. 
 
 Oh, would my art could paint him. 
 
 The venerable man of God, 
 So lovingly showing and treading 
 
 The way the Master had trod. 
 
 At length when the service was ended 
 
 His eye on a young man fell. 
 Of beautiful form and feature 
 
 And grace we love so well. 
 
Io8 THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 At once he turned to the bishop, 
 And said with a love unpriced, 
 
 " To thee, to thee I commit him 
 Before the Church and Christ." 
 
 He then returned to the city, 
 
 The beloved disciple, John, 
 Where the strong unceasing current 
 
 Of his deathless love flowed on. 
 
 The bishop discharged his duty 
 
 To the youth so graceful and fair ; 
 
 With restraining hand he held him, 
 And trained him with loving care. 
 
 At last, when his preparation 
 Was made for the holy rite, 
 
 He was cleansed in the sanctified water 
 And pronounced a child of light. 
 
 For a time he adorned the doctrine 
 Which Christ in the Church has set. 
 
 But, alas, for a passionate nature 
 When Satan has spread his net ! 
 
,1 LEGEND OF SAIXT JOHN. 
 
 109 
 
 Through comrades base and abandoned 
 He was hired from day to day, 
 
 Until, Hke a steed unbridled, 
 
 He struck from the rightful way : 
 
 And a wild, consuming passion 
 
 Raised him unto the head 
 Of a mighty band of robbers, 
 
 Of all the country the dread. 
 
 Time passed. Again a message 
 
 Unto the Apostle was sent, 
 To set their affairs in order 
 
 And tell them the Lord's intent. 
 
 And when he had come and attended 
 
 To all that needed his care, 
 He turned him and said, " Come, Bishop, 
 
 Give back my deposit so rare." 
 
 " What deposit .-* " was the answer 
 Which could not confusion hide. 
 
 " I demand the soul of a brother," 
 Plainly the Apostle replied, 
 
THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 " Which Christ and I committed 
 
 Before the Church to thee." 
 TrembUng and even weeping, 
 
 " The young man is dead," groaned he. 
 
 " How dead ? what death" John demanded. 
 
 " He the way of the tempter trod, 
 Forgetting the Master's weapon, 
 
 And now he is dead unto God, 
 
 Yonder he roves a robber." 
 
 " A fine keeper," said John, " mdeed 
 Of a brother's soul. Get ready 
 
 A guide and a saddled steed." 
 
 And all as he was an Apostle 
 
 Into the region rode 
 Where the robber youth and captain 
 
 Had fixed his strong abode. 
 
 When hardly over the border. 
 
 He a prisoner was made, 
 And into their leader's presence, 
 
 Demanded to be conveyed. 
 
A LEGEAD OF SAIXT STEPHEN. 
 
 And he who could brave a thousand 
 
 When each was an enemy, 
 Beholding John approaching, 
 
 Turned him in shame to flee. 
 
 But John of his age forgetful, 
 Pursued him with all his might. 
 
 "Why from thy defenceless father" 
 
 He cried, " dost thou turn in flight ? " 
 
 " Fear not : there is hope and a refuge. 
 
 And life shall yet be thine. 
 I will intercede with the Master 
 
 And task His love divine." 
 
 Subdued by love that is stronger 
 Than was ever an armed band. 
 
 He became once more to the Father 
 A child to feel for His hand. 
 
 Subdued by love that is stronger 
 
 .Than a world full of terrors and fears, 
 He returned to the House of the Father 
 Athrough the baptism of tears. 
 
THE TEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 Such is the beautiful legend, 
 Come down from ancient days, 
 
 Of love that is young forever, 
 And is he not blind who says. 
 
 That charity ever faileth. 
 
 Or doth for a moment despair. 
 
 Or that there is any danger 
 Too great for her to dare ; 
 
 When John, the beloved disciple, 
 With the faith of the Gospel shod, 
 
 Went forth in pursuit of the robber 
 And brought him back to God ? 
 
The Holy Innocents. 
 
 December 28. 
 
 Rachel, weeping for her children and wouid not be comforted, because they 
 were not " 
 
 I HAVE heard the voice in Ramah, 
 And with sorrow we are not done ; 
 
 For thine is the bitterest mourning, 
 Mourning for an only son ! 
 
 And what shall I utter to comfort 
 The heart that is dearest of all ? 
 
 Too young for the losses and crosses ? 
 Too young for the rise and the fall ? 
 
 Oh, yes ; we own it, we own it ; 
 
 But not too young for the grace 
 That was so nameless and blameless, 
 
 For the yearning and tender embrace ! 
 
114 
 
 THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 He hung, he hung on thy bosom 
 In that happiest weariest hour, 
 
 A dear Httle bird to its blossom, 
 The beautiful dutiful flower. 
 
 And thus he grew by its sweetness, 
 He grew by its sweetness so 
 
 That smile unto smile responded — 
 But a little while ago ! 
 
 And you--and I ? — were happy 
 
 In many a vision fair 
 Of a ripe and glorious manhood 
 
 Which the world and we should share. 
 
 In a little while the patter 
 Of two little feet was heard ; 
 
 And many a look it cheered us, 
 
 A look that was more than a word. 
 
 In a little while he uttered 
 
 The words we longed to hear ; 
 
 And mama and papa blessed him 
 With a blessing of hope and fear. 
 
THE HOLT INNOCENTS. 
 
 "S 
 
 In a little while he budded, 
 A bud of the promising spring, 
 
 And oh for the beautiful blossom. 
 And oh for the fruit it will bring ! 
 
 Oh the joy they never may know it 
 Who never have parents been. 
 
 The joy of a swelling bosom 
 With a growing light within : 
 
 A light that is soft and tender 
 And growing in strength and grace, 
 
 Which wreathes a form that is slender 
 And glows in a dear little face ! 
 
 But life it knoweth the shadow, 
 The shadow as well as the shine ; 
 
 For the one it follows the other, 
 And both together are thine 
 
 For the bud it never unfolded, 
 
 The light it flickered away, 
 And whose is the power to utter 
 
 The grief of that bitterest day ? 
 
Il6 THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 His form is yet before me 
 
 With the fair and lofty brow, 
 And the day since last we kissed it — 
 
 Is it long since then and now ? 
 
 Dearest, it seems but a minute, 
 
 Though winter has twice spread the snow, 
 Meek purity's mantle to cover 
 
 The one that is resting below. 
 
 In the acre of God that is yonder 
 
 And unto the west his head, 
 He sleepeth the sleep untroubled, 
 
 With one to watch at his bed. 
 
 For the bright and guardian angel 
 Who beholdeth the Father's face. 
 
 Doth stand as a sentinel watching 
 O'er the dear one's resting place ; 
 
 Doth stand as a sentinel guarding 
 The dust of the precious dead, 
 
 Till at length the trumpet soundeth 
 
 When the years of the world are sped ; 
 
THE HOLY INNOCEXTS. j,- 
 
 And the throng which cannot be numbered 
 Put on their garments of white, 
 
 And gird themselves for the glory 
 Of a realm that hath no night. 
 
 And so is gone, the darling, 
 
 And the dream so fair and vain, 
 
 Whose light has faded to darkness, 
 We shall never dream again ! 
 
 Never ? Is the earth the limit 
 
 To bright and beautiful hope ? 
 If the world brings not fruition, 
 
 Must we in darkness grope ? 
 
 Oh no ! There is expectation 
 Which the grave cannot control ; 
 
 There is boundless infinite promise 
 For the living and deathless soul. 
 
 And the darling who left us early, 
 
 May yonder grow a man ; 
 And in deeds of the great Hereafter 
 
 May take his place in the van. 
 
Il8 THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 Oh, if thine is the bitterest mourning. 
 
 Mourning for an only son, 
 Believe that in God, the Giver, 
 
 Thy darling his course begun ; 
 
 Believe that in God, the Taker, 
 His course forever will be ; 
 
 For this is the blessed comfort. 
 The comfort for thee and me. 
 
ECCLESIA. 
 
 (For the Sunday after Christmas.) 
 
 Behold the handmaid of the Lord. 
 
 My place is among the lilies, 
 Where He my beloved feeds ; 
 
 I seek only where His will is, 
 To satisfy all my needs. 
 
 His purity is the garment 
 Which only I wish to wear ; 
 
 A Bride for the Morning Star meant, 
 I seek to be pure and fair. 
 
 I wonder, with all the order 
 
 Of Him who doth yonder stand, 
 
 He looketh on my disorder 
 And leadeth me by the hand, 
 
THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 What time I desire the splendor 
 Which glows ill His blessed face, 
 
 And seek unto Him to render 
 A service for all His grace ! 
 
 Oh have ye not known a lover 
 With tenderest care aglow, 
 
 What I in my love discover 
 Ye certainly cannot know. 
 
 With love and with beauty laden, 
 All which unto Him I owe, 
 
 I am in His sight a maiden 
 Wherever on earth I go. 
 
 But when at the last in Heaven 
 I stand at the Bridegroom's side, 
 
 To me will the joy be given. 
 Forever to be His Bride. 
 
Engagement Song. 
 
 Remember that happiest day 
 When I from myself turned away, 
 And sought my devotion to prove 
 In acts of adorable love ? 
 
 Oh, yes ; I remember it well ; 
 How could I forget it, the spell 
 That lifted me up from my fall, 
 And sang in my bosom the call, 
 
 To enter the long whitened field 
 That harvests for heaven doth yield, 
 And bind up the bright golden sheaves 
 Which God to a coronet weaves ? 
 
 fairest of all to my heart, 
 
 My love for thee will not depart. 
 Till yonder in bowing me down, 
 
 1 cast at the foot-stool my crown. 
 
THE YEAH OF CHRIS T. 
 
 THE Marriage Garment. 
 
 For the First Sunday in the Month. 
 
 (Tune, Humility, Oliver Collection.) 
 
 The marriage garment God requires, 
 
 Is one I cannot all describe : 
 It is the heart with true desires 
 
 That will not take the Tempter's bribe ; 
 
 It is the thought of all we are, 
 
 The wrestling prayer that sin may be 
 
 To-morrow less a frowning bar 
 Between us and His purity ; 
 
 It is the heart that doth forgive 
 Whate'er our brother meant for ill, 
 
 The wish as in God's sight to live 
 And evermore to do His will ; 
 
THE MARRIAGE GARMENT. 
 
 It is the strong and far resolve 
 
 Which flames the toil of each to-day, 
 
 The hopes that higher still revolve 
 What time the seasons pass away; 
 
 It is the love w^hich reaches men 
 Whatever be their place of birth, 
 
 The deed that seeks to make again 
 A very paradise of earth. 
 
 Do I the marriage garment wear, 
 
 And seek, O Lord, through Thy control. 
 
 That this vile heart may grow more fair, 
 The Bread and Wine shall feast my soul. 
 
124 
 
 THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 The Traveler. 
 
 For the Circumcision and New Year Day. 
 
 Oh did you not see him that over the snow 
 Came on with a pace so cautious and slow ? — 
 
 That measured his step to a pendulum-tick 
 Arriving in town when the darkness was thick ? 
 
 I saw him last night with locks so gray 
 A little way off as the light died away. 
 
 And I knew him at once so often before 
 Had he silently, mourr fully passed at my door. 
 
 He must be cold and weary, I said. 
 Coming so far with that measured tread. 
 
 I will urge him to linger awhile with me 
 Till his withering chill and weariness flee. 
 
THE T R A VEL E Ji. 
 
 125 
 
 A story — who knows ? — he may deign to rehearse, 
 And when he is gone I will put it in verse. 
 
 I turned to prepare for the coming guest, 
 With curious troublous thoughts oppressed. 
 
 The window I cheered with the taper's glow 
 Which glimmered afar o'er the spectral snow. 
 
 My anxious care the hearth-stone knew 
 
 And the red flames leaped and beckoned anew. 
 
 But chiefly myself with singular care 
 Did I for the hoary presence prepare 
 
 Yet with little success as I paced the room 
 Did I labor to banish a sense of gloom 
 
 My thoughts were going and coming like bees, 
 With store from the year's wide-stretching leas, 
 
 Some laden with honey, some laden with gall. 
 And into my heart they dropped it all ! 
 
 O miserable heart ! at once overrun 
 
 With the honey and gall thou can'st not shun. 
 
126 THE TEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 wretched heart ! in sadness I cried, 
 Where is thy trust in the Crucified ? 
 
 And in wrestUng prayer did I labor long 
 That the Mighty One would make me strong. 
 
 That prayer was more than a useless breath : 
 It brought to my soul God's saving health. 
 
 When the hours went by on their sluggish flight, 
 And came the middle watch of the night ; 
 
 In part unmanned in spite of my care, 
 
 1 beheld my guest in the taper's glare, 
 
 A wall of darkness around him thick, 
 As onward he came to a pendulum-tick. 
 
 Then quickly I opened wide the door 
 And bade him pass my threshold o'er, 
 
 And linger awhile away from the cold, 
 And repeat some story or ballad old, — ■ 
 
 His weary limbs to strengthen with rest, 
 For his course to the ever recedino^ west. 
 
THE TRAVELER. 
 
 127 
 
 Through the vacant door in wonder I glanced 
 And stood — was it long ? — as one entranced. 
 
 Silence so aweful did fill the room 
 
 That tick of the clock was a cannon's boom. 
 
 And my heart it sank to its lowest retreat 
 And in whelming awe did muffle its beat. 
 
 For now I beheld as never before 
 And heard to forget, ah, nevermore ! 
 
 For with outstretched hand, with sythe glass, 
 With naught of a pause did the traveler pass. 
 
 And with upturned face he the silence broke 
 And thus as be went he measur'dly spoke : 
 
 My journey is long, but my limbs are strong : 
 And I stay not for rest, for story, or song. 
 
 It is only a dirge, that ever I sing ; 
 
 It is only of death the tale that I bring : 
 
 Of death that is life as i't cometh to pass ; 
 Of death that is death, alas ! alas ! 
 
128 THE TEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 And these I chant as I go on my way, 
 As I go on my way forever and aye. 
 
 Call not thyself wretched, though bitter and sweet 
 In thy cup at this hour intermingle and meet. 
 
 Some cloud with the sunshine must ever appear, 
 And darkness prevails till morning is near. 
 
 But who doth remember the gloom of the night. 
 When the sky is aglow with the beautiful light .■* 
 
 Oh alas ! if thou drinkest the bitter alone, 
 Nor heaven nor earth may stifle thy moan ! 
 
 Thy moan ! — and the echo died away, 
 Thy moan ! thy moan forever and aye ! 
 
 His measured voice I heard no more. 
 But not till I stand on eternity's shore. 
 
 And the things of time be forgotten all. 
 Shall I cease that traveler's words to recall. 
 
 As onward he moved to a pendulum-tick 
 
 The gloom and the darkness around him thick, 
 
THE T R A V E L E R . 
 
 129 
 
 I fell on my knees and breathed a prayer ; 
 And it rose I ween through the midnight air 
 
 To a God who knoweth the wants and all 
 The evil and good of this earthly thrall : 
 
 To One who suffered as on this day 
 And began our sins to purge away : 
 
 To Him who hath promised to heed our cry 
 And a troubled heart to purify. 
 
 And I feel that the gall will ever grow less 
 Till I see His face in righteousness. 
 
 And now my soul is filled with cheer 
 
 For the march of a bright and Happy New Year. 
 
 As years roll on, whether sun doth shine 
 Or clouds overcast, I will never repine ; 
 
 For I know, when the race of time is run 
 I shall enter a realm of Eternal Sun. 
 
13° 
 
 r II t: y k a n o f c // /.• / .s- r. 
 
 New Year Day. 
 
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N E \F y h- A R DA r 
 
 Year by year the world grows older, 
 
 Year by year the end draws nigh 
 Will the hearts of men be colder 
 
 When the Lord descends the sky ? 
 Soon the days will fill their number, 
 
 Soon be here the time for rest ; 
 Rouse ye, rouse ye tVom your slumber, 
 
 Do the work that is the best : 
 
 Chorus. Kver as with meek behaviour. 
 
 Looking for the Lord and Saviour, 
 In the brightness of His favour 
 Finding Him reward and rest. 
 
 Year by year the day approaches 
 
 When the Saviour will return. 
 See ye that no sin encroaches, 
 
 Yc that for His coming yearn. 
 Have ye aught to do for neighbor, 
 
 Do it ere the time for rest ; 
 Going forth to toil and labor, 
 
 Do the work that is the best : 
 
 Chorus. 
 
 i3» 
 
132 THE YEAR OF CHRIST. 
 
 Help ye, help ye, one another, 
 
 If ye seek the Golden Year ; 
 Greet in every man a brother, 
 
 Oh, how soon will it be here ! 
 Journeying a little longer, 
 
 Doing that which is the best, 
 We shall all be growing stronger 
 
 Till we enter into rest : 
 
 Chorus. 
 
 What ! and will ye idly linger 
 
 In this strange and hostile land ? 
 At the road side see the Finger 
 
 Pointing to the Golden Strand 
 Rich in all eternal treasures. 
 
 Purest, fairest, and the best. 
 Radiant with those endless pleasures 
 
 Which are joy, reward and rest : 
 
 Chorus.