O happy spirits, mark'd by God and man What though long since in heaven your brows began Ye banquet there above, Yet in your sympathetic heart We and our earthly griefs may ask and hopé a part. Comfort's true sons! amid the thoughts of down Sure, "tis one joy to muse, how ye unknown Where'er the Cross is borne with smiles, They have but left our weary ways To live in memory here, in heaven by love and praise. * Acts xi. 22; xiii. 2. ST. JOHN BAPTIST'S DAY.* [JUNE 24.] Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet, before the great and terrible day of the Lord: and he shall turn the heart of the fathers unto the children, and the heart of the children to the fathers. Malachi iv. 5, 6. [First Evening Lesson.] [Almighty God, by whose providence thy servant John Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of thy Son our Saviour, by preaching repentance; make us so to follow his doctrine and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching; and after his example constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth's sake through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.] TWICE in her season of decay The fallen Church hath felt Elijah's eye Whose touch afar Shadows and boding night-birds fly. Methinks we need him once again, That favour'd seer-but where shall he be found? * [John the Baptist was the predicted forerunner of Jesus, and his mission forms the connecting link between the Old and New Testaments. He was the son of Zacharias and Elizabeth, and took the name, which distinguishes him from John the Apostle and Evangelist, from his administration of the rite of baptism to the multitudes of Judea, and to our blessed Lord. In the case of all the other saints, except St. Paul, their martyrdom is celebrated: in his, his nativity; thus literally fulfilling the prediction of the angel, that many should "rejoice in his birth."] By Cherith's side we seek in vain, From Sinai soar, On his celestial errands bound. But wafted to her glorious place Her likeness true, And trace, in thine, her own deep tones. Deathless himself, he joys with thee He would behold thy wounds with envious eyes, Who yet unborn* Didst guide our hope, where Christ should rise. Now resting from your jealous care 1 For sinners, such as Eden cannot know," From you to shroud Rebellion's mystery here below. And since we see, and not afar, Stoop from the clouds? Why sleep ye? rise and pray, * St. Luke i. 44. The Babe leaped in her womb for joy. Ye heralds seal'd In camp or field Your Saviour's banner to display. Where is the lore the Baptist taught, His light should wane, So the whole world to Jesus throng? Thou Spirit who the Church didst lend To guide aright Our weary souls, by earth beguil'd. So glorious let thy Pastors shine, That by their speaking lives the world may learn That sons to parents, all to Thee may turn; In fires of love, At sight of Thee, for aye to burn. [After his example, says the Church, in the collect for this day, "constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth's sake."] t St. John iii. 30. He must increase, but I must decrease. Revelation xii. 14. § Malachi iv. 6. He shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to the fathers. St. Luke i. 17. To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. ST. PETER'S DAY.* [JUNE 29.] When Herod would have brought him out, the same night Peter was sleeping. Acts xii. 6. [Scripture for the Epistle.] [O Almighty God, who, by thy Son Jesus Christ, didst give to thy Apostle Saint Peter many excellent gifts, and commandest him earnestly to feed thy flock; make, we beseech thee, all Bishops and Pastors diligently to preach thy holy Word, and the people obediently to follow the same, that they may receive the crown of everlasting glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.] * THOU thrice denied, yet thrice belov'd,t In sharpest perils faithful prov'd, Let his soul love thee to the end. The prayer is heard-else why so deep As one who drew celestial breath? [Peter, a native and fisherman of Bethsaida, was the brother of Andrew, and resided in Capernaum. He was among the first followers of Jesus, and one of the twelve Apostles. To his name Simon, Jesus added that of Peter, (or Cephas,) the one Greek, and the other the Hebrew name, for rock. He, with James the greater and John, was the most favoured of the Apostles. He was illustrious for his zeal and activity, as also for his denial of his Lord, and subsequent repentance. He was more especially the Apostle of the Jews, as Paul was of the Gentiles. His labours in planting the Gospel were great and successful. He has left two general Epistles.] ↑ St. John xxi. 15-17. [His being found sleeping, beautifully illustrates his Christian calmness and composure.] |