Those mighty hands that stay the sky

No earthly toil refuse,

And He who set the stars on high,
An humble trade pursues.

He before whom the angels stand,
At whose behest they fly,

Now yields himself to man's command,
And lays his glory by.

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
No love of darkness there.

Oh, ever on thy chosen saints
Such blessings, Lord, bestow!
Oh, may thy truth for ever shine,
Thy love for ever glow!

To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Holy Ghost,
Be glory from the saints on earth,
And from the heavenly host.

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,-
"From Jacob shall a star proceed:"
And lo! the Eastern sages stand,

To read in heaven the Lord's command.
While outward signs the star displays,
An inward light the Lord conveys,
And urges them, with force benign,
To seek the Giver of the sign.

True love can brook no dull delay,-
Through toils and dangers lies their way:
And yet their home, their friends, their all,
They leave at once, at God's high call.

Oh, while the star of heavenly grace
Invites us, Lord, to seek thy face,
May we no more that grace repel,
Or quench that light, which shines so well!

To God the Father, God the Son
And Holy Spirit, Three in One,
May every tongue and nation raise
An endless song of thankful praise!

SUNDAYS AFTER THE EPIPHANY.

MATINS.

(Clamantis ecce vox sonans,

No. 54.)

THE Voice of him who cries aloud
Is heard on Judah's waste:
And soon a sinful sorrowing crowd
Around the Baptist haste.

And see, as they assemble thus,
The spotless Lamb draws nigh:

The Lamb, who gave himself for us,
To suffer and to die.

John's mind, with heav'nly light supplied, The Source of light could see :

"I need thy washing, Lord," he cried;
"And comest thou to me?"

But e'en though thus self-humbled, still
His word must be obeyed:
He must in every point fulfil

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
Our stains of guilt are lost;
Like praise be to the Father done,
And to the Holy Ghost.

EVENSONG.

(Emergit undis, et Deo. No. 55.)

Now Jesus lifts his prayer on high,
Emerging from the stream:
And, lo! descending from the sky,
The Spirit's radiant beam.

Swift moving, like a beauteous dove,
It rests on Him alone:

"This," saith the voice of God above,
"Is my beloved Son."

So those on whom is duly poured
The blessed baptismal wave,
They too are children of the Lord,
They too may ask and have.

Theirs is the holy purity

And meekness of the dove: To them the Holy Ghost is nigh, To fill their souls with love.

Lord, if thou hast removed our stain

In that most holy flood,

May no fresh sin destroy again

The cleansing of Thy blood!

Praise to the Son, through whom alone
Our stains of guilt are lost:
Like praise be to the Father done,
And to the Holy Ghost.

SEPTUAGESIMA.

(Te læta mundi conditor. No. 56.)

THOU, great Creator, art possessed,

And Thou alone, of endless rest :
To angels only it belongs

To lift to Thee their ceaseless songs.

But we must toil and toil again,
With ceaseless woe and endless pain:
How then can we, in exile drear,
Lift the glad song of glory here?