The lowliest poverty he bears, That we may be with wealth supplied; He weeps, and by his precious tears A guilty world is purified. A simple dress, a mean abode, A life obscure, his glory hide; Proud man! behold thy lowly God, And let the sight destroy thy pride. O Thou who camest from the sky To be the Lamb for sinners slain, The Father's name we loudly raise, Amen. MATINS. (Divine crescebas puer. No. 51.) In stature grows the heavenly Child A Lamb unblemished, meek and mild, The Son of God his glory hides With parents mean and poor: And He who made the heaven abides In dwelling-place obscure. Those mighty hands that stay the sky No earthly toil refuse, And He who set the stars on high, He before whom the angels stand, At whose behest they fly, Now yields himself to man's command, The Father's name we loudly raise, The Son we all adore, The Holy Ghost, one God, we praise Both now and evermore. Amen. EVENSONG. (Christus tenebris obsitam. No. 52.) THROUGH Judah's land the Saviour walks, The word of life to teach : His own he seeks, his own refuse To hearken to His speech. And yet the miracles He works The Son of God proclaim : The deaf can hear, the dumb pronounce The great Messiah's name. But no! they turn their ears away, His doctrine they repel : They hate the Sun, for ah! they love Their night of sin too well. But we, O God, thy light desire, That shines so bright, so fair: Oh! search our hearts, and thou shalt find Oh, ever on thy chosen saints To God the Father, God the Son, Be glory from the saints on earth, Amen. EPIPHANY. (Quæ Stella sole pulchrior. No. 53.) WHAT star is this, with beams so bright, Which shame the sun's less radiant light? 'Tis sent to announce a new-born King,— Glad tidings of our God to bring. 'Tis now fulfilled what God decreed,― To read in heaven the Lord's command. True love can brook no dull delay,- Oh, while the star of heavenly grace Or quench that light, which shines so well! To God the Father, God the Son SUNDAYS AFTER THE EPIPHANY. MATINS. (Clamantis ecce vox sonans. No. 54.) THE Voice of him who cries aloud And see, as they assemble thus, The Lamb, who gave himself for us, John's mind, with heav'nly light supplied, The Source of light could see: "I need thy washing, Lord," he cried; But e'en though thus self-humbled, still The law himself hath made. Herald of Christ, at length thine eyes The Mightier one have seen: "Tis thine with water to baptize, 'Tis his with fire to clean. Praise to the Son, through whom alone EVENSONG. (Emergit undis, et Deo. No. 55.) Now Jesus lifts his prayer on high, Swift moving, like a beauteous dove, 66 It rests on Him alone: 'This," saith the voice of God above, 66 Is my beloved Son." |