He first the promised Saviour sought
Within his low abode;
And whom he found, to others taught,
The Christ and Lamb of God.

And he, among the first, the call
To tend his Lord obeyed;
Forsook his ship, his home, his all;
And followed where he led.

"Fisher of men," by night, by day,
His ready toils he set ;

Intent to close his captive prey
Within the Gospel net.

Nor scrupled he to yield his breath,
By many a labor tried,

And die, with willing mind, the death
By which his Master died.

And now his name with service meet,
Leads on the sacred year,
And bids the Church prepare to greet
The Saviour's Advent near.

BP. MANT.

SAINT THOMAS'S DAY.

DECEMBER 21.

COLLECT. Almighty and everlasting God, who for the more confirmation of the faith didst suffer thy holy apostle Thomas to be doubtful in thy Son's resurrection; grant us so perfectly, and without all doubt to believe in thy Son Jesus Christ, that our faith in thy sight may never be reproved. Hear us, O Lord, through the same Jesus Christ, in whose name we ascribe unto thee all honor and glory, now and for evermore. Amen.

HYMN.

I hear the glorious Sufferer tell,
How on his cross he vanquished hell,
And all the powers beneath;
'Transported and inspired, my tongue
Attempts his triumphs in a song;

"How has the serpent lost his sting, and where 's thy victory, death?”

But when he shows his hands and heart,
With those dear prints of dying smart,
He sets my soul on fire;

Not the beloved John could rest

With more delight upon that breast, Nor THOMAS pry into those wounds with more intense desire.

Kindly he opens me his ear,

And bids me pour my sorrow there,
And tell him all my pains.

Thus while I ease my burdened heart,
In every woe he bears a part,

His arms embrace me, and his hand my drooping head sustains,

WATTS.

SAINT JOHN THE EVANGELIST'S DAY.

DECEMBER 27.

COLLECT. Merciful Lord, we beseech thee to cast thy bright beams of light upon thy church, that it, being enlightened by the doctrine of thy blessed apostle and evangelist Saint John, may so walk in the light of thy truth, that it may at length attain to the light of everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

HYMN.

Among the planets heavenly bright,
Which round the Sun of glory shine;
No orb emits a purer light,

A holier radiance, JOHN, than thine.

Apostle thou of Christ the Lord;

Prophet of scenes to come decreed;
Historian of the incarnate Word;
Martyr in will, if not in deed.

Yet by another name we deem
Thy claim to high renown approved,
A name, of equal praise the theme,
"Disciple, by thy Master loved."

P

Be ours to mark His portrait fair
Whom thy recording pencil drew;
Be ours to mark thy faithful care,

To his divine commandments true;

To note thy life; to see thee fling

The beams of sacred truth abroad;
And soar with thee on eagle wing,

And view unblamed the throne of God.

And may our faith, blest Saint, like thine
By love to God and man be proved;
That we in our degree may shine,

66

Disciples by our Master loved.”

ANOTHER.

BP. MANT.

Peter, seeing him, saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. John xxi. 21, 22.

"Lord, and what shall this man do?”.

Ask'st thou, Christian, for thy friend?
If his love for Christ be true,

Christ hath told thee of his end.
This is he whom God approves ;
This is he whom Jesus loves.