O loving Spirit, gently lay Thine arm on ours when we would stray! Prepare us with Thy warnings sweet, Us and our little ones, to greet Thy visitations dread and dear! Grant us, when holy times are near, In twilight or of morn or eve, Thy dove-like whisperings to receive, And own them kindlier for the plaintive mood, That breathes of contrite Love, mild Hope, and Joy subdued. 10. WHITSUNDAY. "The Promise is unto you and to your children' 5. ONE the descending Flame, But many were the tongues of fire; To rest on each anointed head. There as yon stars in clearest deep of night, The glory-crowns shone out in many-coloured light. One the dread rushing Wind, But many were the tones of praise, His way in Music's awful maze. Many the tongues, the theme was one, The glory of th' Incarnate Son, How He was born, how died, how reigns in Heaven, Joined in that choral cry Were all estates, all tribes of earth: Only sweet Infancy Seemed silent in the adoring mirth. Mothers and maidens there behold The Maiden Mother: young and old On Apostolic thrones with joy discern Both fresh and faded forms, skill'd for all hearts to yearn. Widows from Galilee, Levites are there, and elders sage But nought we read of that sweet age And sealed it safe, by word and look, From Earth's foul dews, and withering airs of Hell: The Pentecostal chant on infant warblings swell. Nay, but she worships here, Whom still the Church in memory sees Before her Babe on bended knees, Or rapt, with fond adoring eye, In her sweet nursing ministry. How in Christ's Anthem fails the children's part Hear too that Shepherd's voice, Whom o'er His lambs the Saviour set When on the shore His Saints He met. And speaks the grace to infants given: Whom from all lands afar the Lord our God shall call." 11. OCTAVES OF FESTIVALS. "Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound. EVEN as the close of some grave melody, Hovering and lingering in the moon's still ray, Breathes o'er and o'er, reviving ere they die, The notes that are the soul of the sweet lay, And hearts that own the music, loitering near, Drink the loved cadence with enchanted ear; So the bright holy days, as one by one |