And they, the guests assembled round, O holy Jesus, and are these "Not to the righteous was I sent; I call the sinner to repent; "For them my glory I resigned; Shepherd of Israel, Saviour dear! Repentant, lo! to thee we turn, Give us what thou reveal'st to learn, And what thou bidd'st obey. BP. MANT. ANOTHER. YE hermits blest, ye holy maids, Who talk with God in shadowy glades, The moral of each fleeting cloud and gale, The whispers from above, that haunt the twilight vale; Were Say, when in pity ye have gazed On the wreathed smoke afar, That o'er some town, like mist upraised, Hung, hiding sun and star, Then as you turned your weary eye To the green earth and open sky, ye not fain to doubt how Faith could dwell Amid that dreary glare, in this world's citadel? Then be sure that Love can bless Even in this crowded wilderness, Where ever-moving myriads seem to say, Go-thou art naught to us, nor we to thee-away! There are in this loud stirring tide Of human care and crime, With whom the melodies abide Of the everlasting chime; Who carry music in their heart Through dusky lane and wrangling mart, Plying their daily task with busier feet Because their secret souls a holy strain repeat. How sweet to them, in such brief rest Spake, and was heard by fell disease, – But not in vain, beside yon breezy lake, At once he rose, and left his gold; Earth and her idols part; While he beside his endless store Shall sit, and floods unceasing pour Of Christ's true riches o'er all time and space, Nor can ye not delight to think Where he vouchsafed to eat, What worldly hearts and hearts impure Went with him through the rich man's door; That we might learn of him lost souls to love, And view his least and worst with hope to meet above. These gracious lines shed Gospel light On Mammon's gloomiest cells, As on some city's cheerless night The tide of sunrise swells, Till tower, and dome, and bridge-way proud Are mantled with a golden cloud, And to wise hearts this certain hope is given, "No mist that man may raise shall hide the eye of Heaven." To look on clearer heavens and scan The work of God untouched by man? KEBLE. SAINT SIMON AND SAINT JUDE'S DAY. OCTOBER 28. COLLECT. O Almighty God, who hast built thy Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the head corner-stone, grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their doctrine, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable unto thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. HYMN. As at the first, by two and two So evermore he deems his name Best honored and his way prepared, He loves when age and youth are met, Their high and low in concord set For sacred song, joy's golden mean. |