He dearly loves and not alone: For his winged thoughts are soaring high Where never yet frail heart was known To breathe in vain affection's sigh. He loves and weeps,- but more than tears Crosses and wrongs where'er he rove: That gracious chiding look, thy call Even through the veil of sleep it shines, The Angel watching by divines And spares awhile his blissful trance. Or haply to his native lake His vision wafts him back, to talk With JESUS, ere his flight he take, As in that solemn evening walk, When to the bosom of his friend, The Shepherd, he whose name is Good, Did his dear lambs and sheep commend, Both bought and nourished with his blood: Then laid on him the inverted tree, Which, firm embraced with heart and arm, Might cast o'er hope and memory, O'er life and death, its awful charm. With brightening heart he bears it on, His passport through the eternal gates, so nearly won, To his sweet home, He seems, as by the door he waits, The unexpressive notes to hear Of angel song and angel motion, Rising and falling on the ear Like waves in Joy's unbounded ocean. His dream is changed, - the Tyrant's voice Calls to that last of glorious deeds, — But as he rises to rejoice, Not Herod but an Angel leads. The flame that in a few short years Touched he upstarts, his chains unbind, Through darksome vault, up massy stair, His dizzy, doubting footsteps wind To freedom and cool moonlight air. Then all himself, all joy and calm, The pastoral staff, the keys of heaven, And follow JESUS out of sight. KEBLE. SAINT JAMES'S DAY. JULY 26. COLLECT. Grant, O merciful God, that as thine holy Apostle Saint James, leaving his father and all that he had, without delay was obedient unto the calling of thy Son Jesus Christ, and followed. him; so we, forsaking all worldly and carnal affections, may be evermore ready to follow thy holy commandments, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. HYMN. AND couldst thou, JAMES, to win the meed Thy Saviour's cup of sorrow taste? : Thou couldst such aid his Spirit lent! The scornful look, the taunting word, The angry council's stern decree, And last the fatal sword: *The Greater. These came in turn; and then thy death! The first of all thy brotherhood! We dare not rend the veil aside Should seem that thou wert there to see, And he, the favored of your Lord, For not in vain his word was given Nor vain the word, that whosoe❜er To houses, parents, children, wife, BP. MANT. |