DIES IRÆ. When the trumpet's blast appalling, Death's stern heart what fear surprises, Opened are the awful pages, Man's eternal doom presages. When the Judge shall take his station, Naught escape his stern probation. What shall I, poor wretch, be pleading? Ask what patron's interceding, When the righteous help is needing? King of majesty tremendous, Who dost free salvation send us, Save me, Source of love stupendous ! Think, O Jesus, kind and tender! Me thou sought'st with travail sorest; Righteous Judge of dread decision, Deep my guilty spirit sigheth; 435 Thou who Mary hast acquitted, And the robber's guilt remitted, Thou e'en me hast kindly pitied. Though my prayers can naught avail me, Lest the endless fire assail me. Midst thy sheep, O Saviour, hide me; On thy right a place decide me. When thy wrath the accursed is branding, Lowly bowed in deep submission, Ah! that day so sad and tearful! A. C. KENDRICK. DAY Dies Ira. AY of wrath, that day of burning, All the world to ashes turning! Oh, what fear shall it engender, DIES IRE. Trumpet, scattering sounds of wonder, Shall resistless summons thunder. All aghast then Death shall shiver, Book, where actions are recorded, Shall be brought and dooms awarded. When shall sit the Judge unerring, What shall I say, that time pending? Dreadful King, all power possessing, Think, O Jesus, for what reason Thou didst bear earth's spite and treason, Seeking me thy worn feet hasted; Righteous Judge of retribution? Culprit-like, I plead, heart-broken, 437 Thou, who Mary gav'st remission, Though my prayers be void of merit, Be the Lord, my place decided When the accursed away are driven, Call me with the blessed to heaven! I beseech thee, prostrate lying, Day of tears and late repentance! ABRAHAM COLES. O God From the Russian. THOU eternal One! whose presence bright All space doth occupy, all motion guide; Unchanged through time's all-devastating flight; Thou only God! There is no God beside! Being above all beings! Mighty One! Whom none can comprehend and none explore; Who fill'st existence with thyself alone; Embracing all,-supporting,-ruling o'er,Being whom we call God,—and know no more! GOD. In its sublime research, philosophy May measure out the ocean-deep-may count The sands or the sun's rays-but God! for thee 439 There is no weight nor measure:-none can mount And thought is lost ere thought can soar so high, Thou from primeval nothingness didst call Eternity had its foundation ;-all Sprung forth from thee:-of light, joy, harmony Sole Origin :-all life, all beauty thine. Thy word created all, and doth create; Thy splendor fills all space with rays divine; Thou art, and wert, and shalt be! Glorious! Great! Light-giving, life-sustaining Potentate! Thy chains the unmeasured universe surround: So suns are born, so worlds spring forth from thee; And as the spangles in the sunny rays Shine round the silver snow, the pageantry A million torches lighted by thy hand |