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So Famine waits, and War with greedy eyes, Till some repenting heart be ready for the skies.

Think ye the spires that glow so bright
In front of yonder setting sun,
Stand by their own unshaken might?

No-where th' upholding grace is won,
We dare not ask, nor Heaven would tell,
But sure from many a hidden dell,

From many a rural nook unthought of there, Rises for that proud world the saints' prevailing prayer.

On champions blest, in Jesus' name,

Short be your strife, your triumph full,
Till every heart have caught your flame,
And lighten'd of the world's misrule
Ye soar those elder saints to meet,
Gather'd long since at Jesus' feet,

No world of passions to destroy,

Your prayers and struggles o'er, your task all praise and joy.

HOLY COMMUNION.

O GOD of Mercy, God of Might,
How should pale sinners bear the sight,
If, as Thy power is surely here,
Thine open glory should appear?

For now thy people are allow'd
To scale the mount and pierce the cloud,
And Faith may feed her eager view
With wonders Sinai never knew.

Fresh from th' atoning sacrifice

The world's Creator bleeding lies,
That man, his foe, by whom He bled,

May take him for his daily bread.

O agony of wavering thought

When sinners first so near are brought!

"It is my Maker-dare I stay?

"My Saviour-dare I turn away ?"

Thus while the storm is high within
'Twixt love of Christ and fear of sin,
Who can express the soothing charm,
To feel thy kind upholding arm,

My mother Church? and hear thee tell
Of a world lost, yet lov'd so well,
That He, by whom the angels live,
His only Son for her would give ".

And doubt we yet? thou call'st again;
A lower still, a sweeter strain ;
A voice from Mercy's inmost shrine,
The very breath of Love divine.

Whispering it says to each apart,
"Come unto me, thou trembling heart';"
And we must hope, so sweet the tone,
The precious words are all our own.

h" God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son." See the sentences in the Communion Service, after the Confession.

i Come unto me, all ye that travail, and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you.

Hear them, kind Saviour-hear thy spouse
Low at thy feet renew her vows;

Thine own dear promise she would plead

For us her true though fallen seed.

She pleads by all thy mercies, told
Thy chosen witnesses of old,

Love's heralds sent to man forgiven,

One from the Cross, and one from heaven *.

This, of true Penitents the chief,
To the lost spirit brings relief,

Lifting on high th' adored name :—

"Sinners to save, Christ Jesus came'."

That, dearest of thy bosom Friends,

Into the wavering heart descends :

"What? fall'n again? yet cheerful rise ",

"Thine Intercessor never dies."

k St. Paul and St. John.

1 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all men to be received, That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

m If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

The eye of Faith, that waxes bright
Each moment by thine altar's light,
Sees them e'en now: they still abide
In mystery kneeling at our side;

And with them every spirit blest,
From realms of triumph or of rest,
From Him who saw creation's morn,
Of all thine angels eldest born,

To the poor babe, who died to-day, Take part in our thanksgiving lay, Watching the tearful joy and calm, While sinners taste thine heavenly balm.

Sweet awful hour! the only sound
One gentle footstep gliding round,
Offering by turns on Jesus' part
The Cross to every hand and heart.

Refresh us, Lord, to hold it fast;
And when thy veil is drawn at last,
Let us depart where shadows cease,
With words of blessing and of peace.

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