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LXXI.

HAIL the day that sees him rise,
Ravish'd from our wishful eyes:
Christ awhile to mortals given,
Re-ascends his native Heaven,
There the mighty hero waits,
"Lift your heads eternal gates,
"Wide unfold the radiant scene,
"Take the King of Glory in."

Circled round with angel-powers,
Their triumphant Lord and ours,
Conqueror o'er death, hell, and sin,
Take the King of Glory in :

Him though highest Heaven receives,
Still he loves the earth he leaves;
Though returned to his throne,
Still he calls mankind his own.

See, he lifts his hands above;
See, he shews the prints of love;
Hark! his gracious lips bestow
Blessings on his church below:
Still for us he intercedes,
Prevalent his death he pleads;
Next himself prepares our place,
Saviour of the human race.

Master (may we ever say)
Taken from our head to-day
See thy faithful servants, see!
Ever gazing up to thee!

Grant, though parted from our sight,
High above yon azure height,
Grant our hearts may thither rise,
Seeking thee beyond the skies.

Ever upward may we move,
Wafted on the wings of love:
Looking when our Lord shall come,
Longing, gasping after home!
There may we with thee remain,
Partners of thine endless reign;
There thy face unclouded see,

Find our Heaven of Heavens in thee!

MARRIOTT.

LXXII.

A SAINT! Oh would that I could claim
The privileged, the honoured name,
And confidently take my stand,
Though lowest, in the saintly band!

Would, though it were in scorn applied,
That term the test of truth could bide!
Like kingly salutations given

In mockery to the King of Heaven.

A Saint! And what imports the name
Thus bandied in derision's game?
"Holy, and separate from sin;
"To good, nay, even to God akin."

Is such the meaning of a name,

From which a Christian shrinks with shame? Yes, dazzled with the glorious sight,

He owns his crown is all too bright.

And ill might son of Adam dare
Alone such honour's weight to bear;
But fearlessly he takes the load,
United to the Son of God.

A Saint! Oh! give me but some sign,
Some seal to prove the title mine,
And warmer thanks thou shalt command,
Than bringing kingdoms in thine hand.

Oh! for an interest in that name,
When hell shall ope its jaws of flame,
And scorners to their doom be hurl'd,
While scorned saints "shall judge the world!"

How shall the name of saints be prized,
Tho' now neglected and despised,

When truth shall witness to the word,

That none but "Saints shall see the Lord!"

LXXIII.

BROTHER, thou art gone before us,
And thy saintly soul is flown,
Where tears are wiped from every eye,
And sorrow is unknown;
From the burden of the flesh,

And from care and fear released, Where the wicked cease from troubling, And the weary are at rest.

The toilsome way thou'st travell'd o'er,
And borne the heavy load,
But Christ hath taught thy languid feet
To reach his blest abode.
Thou'rt sleeping now, like Lazarus
Upon his father's breast,

Where the wicked cease from troubling,
And the weary are at rest.

Sin can never taint thee now,
Nor doubt thy faith assail,

Nor thy meek trust in Jesus Christ,
And the Holy Spirit, fail.

And there thou'rt sure to meet the good
Whom on earth thou lovedst best,
Where the wicked cease from troubling,
And the weary are at rest.

"Earth to earth," and "Dust to dust"
The solemn priest hath said,
So we lay the turf above thee now,
And we seal thy narrow bed:
But thy spirit, brother, soars away
Among the faithful blest,

Where the wicked cease from troubling,
And the weary are at rest.

And when the Lord shall summon us,
Whom thou hast left behind,
May we untainted by the world,
As sure a welcome find;

May each, like thee, depart in peace,
To be a glorious guest,

Where the wicked cease from troubling,
And the weary are at rest.

LXXIV.

For thou didst die for me, oh Son of God!
By thee the throbbing flesh of man was worn;
Thy naked feet the thorns of sorrow trod,
And tempests beat thy houseless head forlorn.
Thou, that wert wont to stand

Alone, on God's right hand,

Before the ages were, the Eternal, eldest born.

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