But would one Church Christ's awful lore obey, Like Saints of old,-one household, one true heart, Such sacrifice might open the dread way For the Old Signs, for Paul's or Moses' art. Darkness and mist, at one stern word of thine, Thy locusts spoil them, and thy lions rend. Haunt us, dire thought! where'er we walk in sin So when the storm is rife among the hills, To every flash that through the dim air thrills "There is a story Note from the Life of Sir Walter Scott, i. 83. of his having been forgotten one day among the knolls when a thunderstorm came on; and his aunt, suddenly recollecting his situation, and running out to bring him home, is said to have found him lying on his back, clapping his hands at the lightning, and crying out, Bonny, bonny,' at every flash." Holy Places and Things. 297 14. DISUSE OF INFANT COMMUNION. “There shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him." O LORD, behold these babes are Thine, We have sought counsel at Thy shrine : Within the chosen City's round, Trace Him along the hallowed street, And where He guides, be duteous found. "Where glorious Sion rests on high Amid the hills that on her wait, Him faithful following, ye shall spy A wicket in a lowly gate : There early knock, there linger late, There in Christ's Name the room require, Where the Great Lord in royal state Shall eat the Bread of His desire. "Then to the spacious upper room The handmaid Penance hath been there, Haste, and with loyal hands prepare For Me and Mine the Feast of Grace." Thou spak'st, and we Thine infants bore, Where Thou, O Lord, delight'st to dwell: And prayed, that through the world's hot day Dews from that hour, a balmy spell, Might gently freshen all their way. Now, trembling still as they advance Where gleaming from its heavenly cave,— Disuse of Infant Communion. The Saviour's side, the healing wave Falls in the fount of their new birth. The ears that hear its murmuring, crave No tinsel melodies of earth. 299 When to the Chancel arch they come, If worn and faint, by many a tear “Then to the inner shrine make haste, Fall prostrate with anointed brows, Adore, and of the Adored taste. Such bliss the Love untold allows." Of old, we read, the intrusted Spouse Her infants to the Anointing led Straight from the Laver and the vows ;— Yea, Christ was then the children's bread. But now some mournful instinct chills Our Mother's joy, and mars our spring : She, as of old, to the bright hills Her eaglets' speed at once would wing: Now far and wide earth's vapours fling Their tainting dews; and she perchance Shrinks from the fall such flight may bring, Fears the debasing, downward glance. Then in low place with lowly heart As she whose laws are sealed on high : Yet may we hope, Faith's virgin sigh The purer mounts, to meet Heaven's fire. |