Dropped from an Angel's wing. With From councils senseless as intolerant moistened eye We read of faith and purest charity In Statesman, Priest, and humble Citizen: O could we copy their mild virtues, then What joy to live, what blessedness to die! Methinks their very names shine still and bright; Apart like glow-worms on a summer night; Or lonely tapers when from far they fling VI. CLERICAL INTEGRITY. NOR shall the eternal roll of praise reject Those Unconforming; whom one rigorous day Drives from their Cures, a voluntary prey On a wild coast; how destitute! did They Fields which they love, and paths they daily trod, And cast the future upon Providence; As men the dictate of whose inward sense Outweighs the world; whom self-deceiving wit Lures not from what they deem the cause of God. Their warrant. Bodies fall by wild sword law; But who would force the Soul tilts with a straw Against a Champion cased in adamant. VIII. ACQUITTAL OF THE BISHOPS. A VOICE, from long-expecting thousands sent, Shatters the air, and troubies tower and spire; For Justice hath absolved the innocent, Yea, many, haply wont to entertain IX WILLIAM THE THIRD. CALM as an under-current, strong to draw Swerves not-diverted by a casual law. Conqueror beloved! expected anxiously! X. OBLIGATIONS OF CIVIL TO RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. UNGRATEFUL Country, if thou e'er forget The sons who for thy civil rights have bled! How, like a Roman, Sidney bowed his head, And Russel's milder blood the scaffold wet; Bowing with reverence to the ancient creed, Fixed on the frame of England's Church their sight, And strove in filial love to reunite Her Spires, her Steeple-towers with glittering vanes What force had severed. Thence they Far-kenned, her Chapels lurking among fetched the seed Of Christian unity, and won a meed Of praise from Heaven. To Thee, O saintly WHITe, Patriarch of a wide-spreading family, Remotest lands and unborn times shall turn, Whether they would restore or build-to Thee, As one who rightly taught how zeal should burn, As one who drew from our Faith's holiest urn The purest stream of patient Energy. XVI. trees, Where a few villagers on bended knees Find solace which a busy world disdains. XVIII. PASTORAL CHARACTER. A GENIAL hearth, a hospitable board, To the neat mansion, where, his flock among, The learned Pastor dwells, their watchful Lord. Though meek and patient as a sheathed sword; BISHOPS and Priests, blessed are ye, if Though pride's least lurking thought ap deep (As yours above all offices is high) Deep in your hearts the sense of duty lie; Charged as ye are by Christ to feed and keep From wolves your portion of his chosen sheep: Laboring as ever in your Master's sight, Making your hardest task your best delight, What perfect glory ye in Heaven shall reap! But, in the solemn Office which ye sought And undertook premonished, if unsound Your practice prove, faithless though but in thought, Bishops and Priests, think what a gulf profound Awaits you then, if they were rightly taught Who framed the Ordinance by your lives disowned! XVII. PLACES OF WORSHIP. As star that shines dependent upon star move pears a wrong To human kind; though peace be on his XIX. THE LITURGY. YES, if the intensities of hope and fear career, As through a zodiac, moves the ritual year Of England's Church; stupendous mysteries! Which whoso travels in her bosom eyes, Trusting in hope that Others may advance With mind intent upon the King of Glory, From his mild advent till his countenance Shall dissipate the seas and mountains hoary. XX. BAPTISM. We stood, a trembling, earnest Company! With low soft murmur, like a distant bee, Some spake, by thought-perplexing fears be trayed; And some a bold unerring answer made: How fluttered then thy anxious heart for me, Beloved Mother! Thou whose happy hand tie: DEAR be the Church, that, watching o'er Had bound the flowers I wore, with faithful the needs Of Infancy, provides a timely shower weeds ! Sweet flowers! at whose inaudible command THANKSGIVING AFTER CHILDBIRTH. WOMAN! the Power who left his throne on high, The Power that thro' the straits of Infancy Thou offerest up for safe Delivery Of thy fond hopes hereafter walk inclined XXVIII. VISITATION OF THE SICK. THE Sabbath bells renew the inviting peal; Glad music! yet there be that, worn with pain And sickness, listen where they long have lain, In sadness listen. With maternal zeal Inspired, the Church sends ministers to kneel Beside the afflicted; to sustain with prayer, And soothe the heart confession hath laid bare That pardon, from God's throne, may set its seal On a true Penitent. When breath departs From one disburthened so, so comforted, His Spirit Angels greet; and ours be hope That, if the Sufferer rise from his sick-bed, Hence he will gain a firmer mind, to cope With a bad world, and foil the Tempter's arts. XXIX. THE COMMINATION SERVICE. By some of unreflecting mind, as calling SHUN not this Rite, neglected, yea abhorred, Man to curse man, (thought monstrous and appalling.) Go thou and hear the threatenings of the Lord; Listening within his Temple see his sword Unsheathed in wrath to strike the offender's head, Thy own, if sorrow for thy sin be dead, And deigned to wear the robe of flesh we Who knows not that? yet would this wear, delicate age |