11. WHITE APPAREL. VIII. WHITE UPON THE ALTAR. "He bought fine linen, and took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen." O LORD, give gracious humbleness of heart, 11. WHITE APPAREL. IX. THE WINDING SHEET. "Not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon." PURE is the glory of the Chrisom vest ; Joyous the Sunday-robe; all hope and might The heavenly gleam, when dovelike wings alight On the twice-sealed brow; benignly rest The smiles of Angels on the mitred crest And flowing skirt of Priests, whose stainless white If with the cold pale shroud the Font's pure beam 12. REDBREAST IN CHURCH. "The creature itself shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God." WHAT is this sudden thrill Of notes so sweet and keen? The organ's waves of sound are still Within the awful screen. In prayer are bowed both head and knee, A chant from one unseen. A winged chorister From his arched nook on high Makes in the calm a gladsome stir, His proper melody: A Redbreast blithe, his evening hymn Attracts both ear and eye. Nor time nor tune are there, Yet sounds the unruly joy Meet for the hour, nor spoils the prayer Even of the gazing boy. It seems to say, Not man alone Lives in the shade of JESUS' Throne, And shares the Saints' employ. The Angels out of sight Worship with us, we know ; And who can say what pure warm light The unreasoning tribes below May by their kindly wafting feel? What gleams to guide, what balms to heal From Christ on earth may flow? Bird, beast, and insect hail Warm sun and fragrant shower. The sheep in Bethlehem's thymy dale, In Blessed Mary's bower The ox and ass-to them was given To see our Lord: the Light of Heaven Fell on them in that hour. And since our Lord she bare In triumph to His place, One patient beast hath seemed to wear His token to dumb creatures, freed From cruel tasks and base : Freed by the mighty Cross, And pure. O mark it, all Who bear that sign! O fear and loss, To woe and wrong His creatures, sealed As ere our father's fall! |