Might mortal thought presume
To guess an angel's lay,

Such are the notes that echo through
The courts of heaven to-day.

Such the triumphal hymns
On Sion's Prince that wait,
In high procession passing on
Towards His temple-gate.

Give ear, ye kings-bow down,
Ye rulers of the earth-

This, this is He; your Priest by grace,
Your God and King by birth.

No pomp of earthly guards Attends with sword and spear, And all-defying, dauntless look, Their monarch's way to clear:

Yet are there more with him
Than all that are with you-
The armies of the highest heaven,
All righteous, good, and true.

Spotless their robes and pure,
Dipp'd in the sea of light,

That hides the unapproached shrine
From men's and angels' sight.

His throne, thy bosom blest,
O Mother undefil'd-

That throne, if aught beneath the skies,
Beseems the sinless child.

Lost in high thoughts," whose son
The wondrous Babe might prove,"

*

Her guileless husband walks beside,
Bearing the hallow'd dove;*

Meet emblem of His vow,
Who, on this happy day,
His dove like soul-best sacrifice-
Did on God's altar lay.

But who is he, by years t
Bow'd, but erect in heart,

Whose prayers are struggling with his tears?
Lord, let me now depart.

66

Now hath thy servant seen
Thy saving health, O Lord:
'Tis time that I depart in peace,
According to thy word."

Yet swells the pomp: one more
Comes forth to bless her God:
Full fourscore years, meek widow, she‡
Her heavenward way hath trod.

She who to earthly joys

So long had given farewell,

Now sees, unlook'd for, heaven on earth,

Christ in His Israel.

Wide open from that hour

The temple-gates are set,

[This was the offering permitted by the law to the poor. "And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtle-doves." Leviticus xii. 8. So did he, who was rich, for our sakes become poor.]

[Simeon, a man just and devout, who waited for the consolation of Israel.]

[Anna, a prophetess, a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. Such as these two devout and holy persons are they to whom, in all ages, the Lord's Christ has been revealed.]

And still the saints rejoicing there
The holy Child have met.

Now count his train to-day,

And who may meet him, learn:
Him child-like sires, meek maidens find,
Where pride can nought discern.

Still to the lowly soul

He doth himself impart,

And for His cradle and His throne
Chooseth the pure in heart.*

ST. MATTHIAS' DAY.t

[FEBRUARY 24.]

Wherefore of these men, which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us; beginning from the baptism of John, until that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. Acts i. 21, 22. [Scripture for the Epistle.]

[O Almighty God, who into the place of the traitor Judas didst choose thy faithful servant Matthias, to be of the number of the twelve apostles; grant that thy Church, being always preserved from false apostles, may be ordered and guided by faithful and true Pastors, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

WHO is God's chosen priest?

He, who on Christ stands waiting day and night,

*[There are more senses than one in which the blessedness of seeing God belongs to the pure in heart. To them it is given to understand his will here, as hereafter to know even as they are known]

66

St. Matthias, probably of the seventy, was chosen under the divine direction, to supply the vacant apostleship of Judas, who, by transgression, fell." It is remarkable that this event, as St. Peter plainly showed (Acts i. 20,) was the subject of express prophecy.]

Who trac'd His holy steps, nor ever ceas'd
From Jordan banks to Bethphage height:

Who hath learned lowliness

From his Lord's cradle, patience from his cross: Whom poor men's eyes and hearts consent to bless; To whom, for Christ, the world is loss;

Who both in agony

Hath seen Him and in glory; and in both
Own'd Him divine, and yielded, nothing loath,
Body and soul, to live and die,

In witness of his Lord,

In humble following of his Saviour dear:
This is the man to wield th' unearthly sword,
Warring unharm'd with sin and fear.

But who can e'er suffice*—

What mortal-for this more than angel's task,
Winning or losing souls, Thy life-blood's price?
The gift were too divine to ask,

But Thou hast made it sure

By Thy dear promise to Thy Church and Bride,
That Thou, on earth, would'st aye with her endure,
Till earth to heaven be purified.†

Thou art her only spouse,

Whose arm supports her, on whose faithful breast
Her persecuted head she meekly bows,
Sure pledge of her eternal rest.

Thou, her unerring guide,

Stayest her fainting steps along the wild;

*

[Who is sufficient for these things? 2 Corinthians ii. 16.] [Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world, St. Matthew xxviii. 20.]

Thy mark is on the bowers of lust and pride,
That she may pass them undefil'd.

Who then, uncall'd by Thee,

Dare touch thy spouse, thy very self below?
Or who dare count him summon'd worthily,
Except thine hand and seal he show?

Where can thy seal be found,

But on the chosen seed, from age to age
By thine anointed heralds duly crown'd,
As kings and priests thy war to wage?*

Then fearless walk we forth,
→ Yet full of trembling, Messengers of God:
Our warrant sure, but doubting of our worth,
By our own shame alike and glory awed.

Dread Searcher of the hearts,

Thou who didst seal by thy descending Dove.
Thy servant's choice, O help us in our parts,

Else helpless found, to learn and teach thy love.

* [This is a pregnant question. The ministers of Christ either represent him, or act in their own name. If the latter, what authority have they more than other men? If the former, where is the evidence of their authority to represent Christ? That he sent the apostles in his own name is evident. That they in like manner sent others is evident. That from the apostles' times the sacred chain has never yet been broken is evident. Where shall the seal be looked for then, but among them who, from age to age, have still been, sent by those whom Christ sent, as the Father first sent him? What warrant surer need there be, than theirs, which, issued at the first by Christ himself, has since been handed down, from hand to hand, as duly and as certainly as the inspired record of our faith?]