Chapter I: Front Matter (1)

VERSES By CHRISTINA G. ROSSETTI

“OUT OF THE DEEP HAVE I CALLED UNTO THEE, O LORD.”

VERSES.

“OUT OF THE DEEP HAVE I CALLED UNTO THEE, O LORD.”

Alone Lord God, in Whom our trust and peace, Our love and our desire, glow bright with hope; Lift us above this transitory scope Of earth, these pleasures that begin and cease, This moon which wanes, these seasons which decrease; We turn to Thee; as on an eastern slope Wheat feels the dawn beneath night’s lingering cope, Bending and stretching sunward ere it sees. Alone Lord God, we see not yet we know; By love we dwell with patience and desire, And loving so and so desiring pray; Thy Will be done in earth as heaven to-day; As yesterday it was, tomorrow so; Love offering love on love’s self-feeding fire.

Seven vials hold Thy wrath: but what can hold Thy mercy save Thine own Infinitude Boundlessly overflowing with all good, All lovingkindness, all delights untold? Thy Love, of each created love the mould; Thyself, of all the empty plenitude; Heard of at Ephrata, found in the Wood, For ever One, the Same, and Manifold. Lord, give us grace to tremble with that dove Which Ark-bound winged its solitary way And over past the Deluge in a day, Whom Noah’s hand pulled in and comforted: For we who much more hang upon Thy Love Behold its shadow in the deed he did.

“Where neither rust nor moth doth corrupt.”

Nerve us with patience, Lord, to toil or rest, Toiling at rest on our allotted level; Unsnarled, unsacred by world or flesh or devil, Fulfilling the good Will of Thy behest: Not careful here to hoard, not here to revel; But waiting for our treasure and our zest Beyond the fading splendour of the west, Beyond this deathstruck life and deathlier evil. Not with the sparrow building here a house: But with the swallow tabernacling so As still to poise alert to rise and go On eager wings with wing-outspeeding wills Beyond earth’s gourds and past her almond boughs, Past utmost bound of the everlasting hills.

“As the sparks fly upwards.”

Lord, grant us wills to trust Thee with such aim Of hope and passionate craving of desire, That we may mount aspiring, and aspire Still while we mount; rejoicing in Thy Name Yesterday, this day, day by day the Same: So sparks fly upward scaling heaven by fire, Still mount and still attain not, yet draw nigher While they have being to their fountain flame. To saints who mount, the bottomless abyss Is as mere nothing, they have set their face Onward and upward toward that blessed place Where man rejoices with his God, and soul With soul, in the unutterable kiss Of peace for every victor at the goal.

Lord, make us all love all: that when we meet Even myriads of earth’s myriads at Thy Bar, We may be glad as all true lovers are Who having parted count reunion sweet. Safe gathered home around Thy blessed Feet, Come home by different roads from near or far, Whether by whirlwind or by flaming car, From pangs or sleep, safe folded round Thy seat. Oh, if our brother’s blood cry out at us, How shall we meet Thee Who hast loved us all, Thee Whom we never loved, not loving him? The unloving cannot chant with Seraphim, Bear harp of gold or palm victorious, Or face the Vision Beatifical.

O Lord, I am ashamed to seek Thy Face As tho’ I loved Thee as Thy saints love Thee: Yet turn from those Thy lovers, look on me, Disgrace me not with uttermost disgrace; But pour on me ungracious, pour Thy grace To purge my heart and bid my will go free, Till I too taste Thy hidden Sweetness, see Thy hidden Beauty in the holy place. O Thou Who callest sinners to repent, Call me Thy sinner unto penitence, For many sins grant me the greater love: Set me above the waterfloods, above Devil and shifting world and fleshly sense, Thy Mercy’s all-amazing monument.

It is not death, O Christ, to die for Thee: Nor is that silence of a silent land Which speaks Thy praise so all may understand: Darkness of death makes Thy dear lovers see Thyself Who Wast and Art and Art to Be; Thyself, more lovely than the lovely band Of saints who worship Thee on either hand, Loving and loved thro’ all eternity. Death is not death, and therefore do I hope: Nor silence silence; and I therefore sing A very humble hopeful quiet psalm, Searching my heart-field for an offering; A handful of sun-courting heliotrope, Of myrrh a bundle, and a little balm.

Lord, grant us eyes to see and ears to hear, And souls to love and minds to understand, And steadfast faces toward the Holy Land, And confidence of hope, and filial fear, And citizenship where Thy saints appear Before Thee heart in heart and hand in hand, And Alleluias where their chanting band As waters and as thunders fill the sphere. Lord, grant us what Thou wilt, and what Thou wilt Deny, and fold us in Thy peaceful fold: Not as the world gives, give to us Thine own: Inbuild us where Jerusalem is built With walls of jasper and with streets of gold, And Thou Thyself, Lord Christ, for Corner Stone.

“Cried out with tears.”

Lord, I believe, help Thou mine unbelief: Lord, I repent, help mine impenitence: Hide not Thy Face from me, nor spurn me hence, Nor utterly despise me in my grief; Nor say me nay, who worship with the thief Bemoaning my so long lost innocence:— Ah me! my penitence a fresh offence, Too tardy and too tepid and too brief. Lord, must I perish, I who look to Thee? Look Thou upon me, bid me live, not die; Say “Come,” say not “Depart,” tho’ Thou art just: Yea, Lord, be mindful how out of the dust I look to Thee while Thou dost look on me, Thou Face to face with me and Eye to eye.

O Lord, on Whom we gaze and dare not gaze, Increase our faith that gazing we may see, And seeing love, and loving worship Thee Thro’ all our days, our long and lengthening days. O Lord, accessible to prayer and praise, Kind Lord, Companion of the two or three, Good Lord, be gracious to all men and me, Lighten our darkness and amend our ways. Call up our hearts to Thee, that where Thou art Our treasure and our heart may dwell at one: Then let the pallid moon pursue her sun, So long as it shall please Thee, far apart,— Yet art Thou with us, Thou to Whom we run, We hand in hand with Thee and heart in heart.

“I will come and heal him.”

O Lord God, hear the silence of each soul, Its cry unutterable of ruth and shame, Its voicelessness of self-contempt and blame: Nor suffer harp and palm and aureole Of multitudes who praise Thee at the goal, To set aside Thy poor and blind and lame; Nor blazing Seraphs utterly to outflame The spark that flies up from each earthly coal. My price Thy priceless Blood; and therefore I Price of Thy priceless Blood am precious so That good things love me in their love of Thee: I comprehend not why Thou lovedst me With Thy so mighty Love; but this I know, No man hath greater love than thus to die.

Ah Lord, Lord, if my heart were right with Thine As Thine with mine, then should I rest resigned Awaiting knowledge with a quiet mind Because of heavenly wisdom’s anodyne. Then would Thy Love be more to me than wine, Then should I seek being sure at length to find, Then should I trust to Thee all humankind Because Thy Love of them is more than mine. Then should I stir up hope and comfort me Remembering Thy Cradle and Thy Cross; How Heaven with us is Thy one only Heaven, Heaven shared with us thro’ all eternity, With us long sought, long loved, and much forgiven.

“The gold of that land is good.”

I long for joy, O Lord, I long for gold, I long for all Thou profferest to me, I long for the unimagined manifold. Abundance laid up in Thy treasury. I long for pearls, but not from mundane sea; I long for palms, but not from earthly mould; Yet in all else I long for, long for Thee, Thyself to hear and worship and behold. For Thee, beyond the splendour of that day Where all is day and is not any night; For Thee, beyond refreshment of that rest To which tired saints press on for its delight:— Or if not thus for Thee, yet Thee I pray To make me long so till Thou make me blest.

Weigh all my faults and follies righteously, Omissions and commissions, sin on sin; Make deep the scale, O Lord, to weigh them in; Yea, set the Accuser vulture-eyed to see All loads ingathered which belong to me: That so in life the judgement may begin, And Angels learn how hard it is to win One solitary sinful soul to Thee. I have no merits for a counterpoise: Oh vanity my work and hastening day, What can I answer to the accusing voice? Lord, drop Thou in the counterscale alone One Drop from Thine own Heart, and overweigh My guilt, my folly, even my heart of stone.

Lord, grant me grace to love Thee in my pain, Thro’ all my disappointment love Thee still, Thy love my strong foundation and my hill, Tho’ I be such as cometh not again, A fading leaf, a spark upon the wane: So evermore do Thou Thy perfect Will Beloved thro’ all my good, thro’ all mine ill, Beloved tho’ all my love beside be vain. If thus I love Thee, how wilt Thou love me, Thou Who art greater than my heart? (Amen!) Wilt Thou bestow a part, withhold a part? The longing of my heart cries out to Thee, The hungering thirsting longing of my heart: What I forewent wilt Thou not grant me then?

Lord, make me one with Thine own faithful ones, Thy Saints who love Thee and are loved by Thee; Till the day break and till the shadows flee, At one with them in alms and orisons; At one with him who toils and him who runs, And him who yearns for union yet to be; At one with all who throng the crystal sea And wait the setting of our moons and suns. Ah, my beloved ones gone on before, Who looked not back with hand upon the plough! If beautiful to me while still in sight, How beautiful must be your aspects now; Your unknown, well-known aspects in that light Which clouds shall never cloud for evermore.

“Light of Light.”

O Christ our Light, Whom even in darkness we (So we look up) discern and gaze upon, O Christ, Thou loveliest Light that ever shone, Thou Light of Light, Fount of all lights that be, Grant us clear vision of Thy Light to see, Tho’ other lights elude us, or begone Into the secret of oblivion, Or gleam in places higher than man’s degree. Who looks on Thee looks full on his desire, Who looks on Thee looks full on Very Love: Looking, he answers well, “What lack I yet?” His heat and cold wait not on earthly fire, His wealth is not of earth to lose or get; Earth reels, but he has stored his store above.

CHRIST OUR ALL IN ALL.

“The ransomed of the Lord.”

Thy lovely saints do bring Thee love, Incense and joy and gold; Fair star with star, fair dove with dove, Beloved by Thee of old. I, Master, neither star nor dove, Have brought Thee sins and tears; Yet I too bring a little love Amid my flaws and fears. A trembling love that faints and fails Yet still is love of Thee, A wondering love that hopes and hails Thy boundless Love of me; Love kindling faith and pure desire, Love following on to bliss, A spark, O Jesu, from Thy fire, A drop from Thine abyss.

Lord, we are rivers running to Thy sea, Our waves and ripples all derived from Thee: A nothing we should have, a nothing be, Except for Thee.

Sweet are the waters of Thy shoreless sea, Make sweet our waters that make haste to Thee; Pour in Thy sweetness, that ourselves may be Sweetness to Thee.

“In exceeding bitter cry.”

Contempt and pangs and haunting fears— Too late for hope, too late for ease, Too late for rising from the dead; Too late, too late to bend my knees, Or bow my head, Or weep, or ask for tears.

Hark!...One I hear Who calls to me: “Give Me thy thorn and grief and scorn, Give Me thy ruin and regret. Press on thro’ darkness toward the morn: One loves thee yet: Have I forgotten thee?”

Lord, Who art Thou? Lord, is it Thou My Lord and God Lord Jesus Christ? How said I that I sat alone And desolate and unsufficed? Surely a stone Would raise Thy praises now!

O Lord, when Thou didst call me, didst Thou know My heart disheartened thro’ and thro’, Still hankering after Egypt full in view Where cucumbers and melons grow? —“Yea, I knew.”—

But, Lord, when Thou didst choose me, didst Thou know How marred I was and withered too, Nor rose for sweetness nor for virtue rue, Timid and rash, hasty and slow? —“Yea, I knew.”—

My Lord, when Thou didst love me, didst Thou know How weak my efforts were, how few, Tepid to love and impotent to do, Envious to reap while slack to sow? —“Yea, I knew.”—

Good Lord, Who knowest what I cannot know And dare not know, my false, my true, My new, my old; Good Lord, arise and do If loving Thou hast known me so. —“Yea, I knew.”—

“Thou, God, seest me.”

Ah me, that I should be Exposed and open evermore to Thee!— “Nay, shrink not from My light, And I will make thee glorious in My sight With the overcoming Shulamite.”— Yea, Lord, Thou moulding me.

...Without a hiding-place To hide me from the terrors of Thy Face.— “Thy hiding-place is here In Mine own heart, wherefore the Roman spear For thy sake I accounted dear.”— My Jesus! King of Grace.

...Without a veil, to give Whiteness before Thy Face that I might live.— “Am I too poor to dress Thee in My royal robe of righteousness? Challenge and prove My Love’s excess.”— Give, Lord, I will receive.

...Without a pool wherein To wash my piteous self and make me clean.— “My Blood hath washed away Thy guilt, and still I wash thee day by day: Only take heed to trust and pray.”— Lord, help me to begin.

Lord Jesus, who would think that I am Thine? Ah, who would think Who sees me ready to turn back or sink, That Thou art mine?

I cannot hold Thee fast tho’ Thou art mine: Hold Thou me fast, So earth shall know at last and heaven at last That I am Thine.

“The Name of Jesus.”

Jesus, Lord God from all eternity, Whom love of us brought down to shame, I plead Thy Life with Thee, I plead Thy Death, I plead Thy Name.

Jesus, Lord God of every living soul, Thy Love exceeds its uttered fame, Thy Will can make us whole, I plead Thyself, I plead Thy Name.

Lord God of Hosts, most Holy and most High, What made Thee tell Thy Name of Love to me? What made Thee live our life? what made Thee die? “My love of thee.”

I pitched so low, Thou so exceeding high, What was it made Thee stoop to look at me While flawless sons of God stood wondering by? “My love of thee.”

What is there which can lift me up on high That we may dwell together, Thou with me, When sin and death and suffering are gone by? “My love of thee.”

O Lord, what is that best thing hid on high Which makes heaven heaven as Thou hast promised me, Yea, makes it Christ to live and gain to die? “My love of thee.”

Lord, what have I that I may offer Thee? Look, Lord, I pray Thee, and see.—

What is it thou hast got? Nay, child, what is it thou hast not? Thou hast all gifts that I have given to thee: Offer them all to Me, The great ones and the small, I will accept them one and all.—

I have a will, good Lord, but it is marred; A heart both crushed and hard; Not such as these the gift Clean-handed lovely saints uplift.—

Nay, child, but wilt thou judge for Me? I crave not thine, but thee.—

Ah, Lord, Who lovest me! Such as I have now give I Thee.

If I should say “my heart is in my home,” I turn away from that high halidom Where Jesus sits: for nowhere else But with its treasure dwells The heart: this Truth and this experience tells.

If I should say “my heart is in a grave,” I turn away from Jesus risen to save: I slight that death He died for me; I, too, deny to see His beauty and desirability.

O Lord, Whose Heart is deeper than my heart, Draw mine to Thine to worship where Thou art; For Thine own glory join the twain Never to part again, Nor to have lived nor to have died in vain.

Leaf from leaf Christ knows; Himself the Lily and the Rose:

Sheep from sheep Christ tells; Himself the Shepherd, no one else:

Star and star He names, Himself outblazing all their flames:

Dove by dove, He calls To set each on the golden walls;

Drop by drop, He counts The flood of ocean as it mounts:

Grain by grain, His hand Numbers the innumerable sand.

Lord, I lift to Thee In peace what is and what shall be;

Lord, in peace I trust To Thee all spirits and all dust.

Lord, carry me.—Nay, but I grant thee strength To walk and work thy way to Heaven at length.—

Lord, why then am I weak?—Because I give Power to the weak, and bid the dying live.—

Lord, I am tired.—He hath not much desired The goal, who at the starting-point is tired.—

Lord, dost Thou know?—I know what is in man; What the flesh can, and what the spirit can.—

Lord, dost Thou care?—Yea, for thy gain or loss So much I cared, it brought Me to the Cross.—

Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief.— Good is the word; but rise, for life is brief.

The follower is not greater than the Chief: Follow thou Me along My way of grief.

Lord, I am here.—But, child, I look for thee Elsewhere and nearer Me.— Lord, that way moans a wide insatiate sea: How can I come to Thee?— Set foot upon the water, test and see If thou canst come to Me.— Couldst Thou not send a boat to carry me, Or dolphin swimming free?— Nay, boat nor fish if thy will faileth thee: For My Will too is free.— Lord, I am afraid.—Take hold on Me: I am stronger than the sea.— Save, Lord, I perish.—I have hold of thee, I made and rule the sea, I bring thee to the haven where thou wouldst be.

New creatures; the Creator still the Same For ever and for ever: therefore we Win hope from God’s unsearchable decree And glorify His still unchanging Name. We too are still the same: and still our claim, Our trust, our stay, is Jesus, none but He: He still the Same regards us, and still we Mount toward Him in old love’s accustomed flame. We know Thy wounded Hands: and Thou dost know Our praying hands, our hands that clasp and cling To hold Thee fast and not to let Thee go. All else be new then, Lord, as Thou hast said: Since it is Thou, we dare not be afraid, Our King of old and still our Self-same King.

“Kings of Kings and Lord of Lords.”

Is this that Name as ointment poured forth For which the virgins love Thee; King of kings And Lord of lords? All Seraphs clad in wings; All Cherubs and all Wheels which south and north, Which east and west turn not in going forth; All many-semblanced ordered Spirits, as rings Of rainbow in unwonted fashionings, Might answer, Yes. But we from south and north, From east and west, a feeble folk who came By desert ways in quest of land unseen, A promised land of pasture ever green And ever springing ever singing wave, Know best Thy Name of Jesus: Blessed Name, Man’s life and resurrection from the grave.

Thy Name, O Christ, as incense streaming forth Sweetens our names before God’s Holy Face; Luring us from the south and from the north Unto the sacred place.

In Thee God’s promise is Amen and Yea. What art Thou to us? Prize of every lot, Shepherd and Door, our Life and Truth and Way:— Nay, Lord, what art Thou not?

“The Good Shepherd.”

O Shepherd with the bleeding Feet, Good Shepherd with the pleading Voice, What seekest Thou from hill to hill? Sweet were the valley pastures, sweet The sound of flocks that bleat their joys, And eat and drink at will. Is one worth seeking, when Thou hast of Thine Ninety and nine?—

How should I stay my bleeding Feet, How should I hush my pleading Voice? I Who chose death and clomb a hill, Accounting gall and wormwood sweet, That hundredfold might bud My joys For love’s sake and good will. I seek My one, for all there bide of Mine Ninety and nine.

“Rejoice with me.”

Little Lamb, who lost thee?— I myself, none other.— Little Lamb, who found thee?— Jesus, Shepherd, Brother. Ah, Lord, what I cost Thee! Canst Thou still desire?— Still Mine arms surround thee, Still I lift thee higher, Draw thee nigher.

Shall not the judge of all the earth do right? Yea, Lord, altho’ Thou say me nay: Shall not His Will be to me life and light? Yea, Lord, altho’ Thou slay.

Yet, Lord, remembering turn and sift and see, Remember tho’ Thou sift me thro’, Remember my desire, remember me, Remember, Lord, and do.

Me and my gift: kind Lord, behold, Be not extreme to test or sift; Thy Love can turn to fire and gold Me and my gift.

Myself and mine to Thee I lift: Gather us to Thee from the cold Dead outer world where dead things drift.

If much were mine, then manifold Should be the offering of my thrift: I am but poor, yet love makes bold Me and my gift.

“He cannot deny Himself.”

Love still is Love, and doeth all things well, Whether He show me heaven or hell Or earth in her decay Passing away On a day.

Love still is Love, tho’ He should say, “Depart,” And break my incorrigible heart, And set me out of sight Widowed of light In the night.

Love still is Love, is Love, if He should say, “Come,” on that uttermost dread day; “Come,” unto very me, “Come where I be, Come and see.”

Love still is Love, whatever comes to pass: O Only Love, make me Thy glass, Thy pleasure to fulfil By loving still Come what will.

“Stain from the foundation of the world.”

Slain for man, slain for me, O Lamb of God, look down; Loving to the end look down, behold and see: Turn Thine Eyes of pity, turn not on us Thy frown, O Lamb of God, slain for man, slain for me.

Mark the wrestling, mark the race for indeed a crown; Mark our chariots how we drive them heavily; Mark the foe upon our track blasting thundering down, O Lamb of God, slain for man, slain for me.

Set as a Cloudy Pillar against them Thy frown, Thy Face of Light toward us gracious utterly; Help granting, hope granting, until Thou grant a crown, O Lamb of God, slain for man, slain for me.

Lord Jesu, Thou art sweetness to my soul: I to myself am bitterness: Regard my fainting struggle toward the goal, Regard my manifold distress, O Sweet Jesu.

Thou art Thyself my goal, O Lord my King: Stretch forth Thy hand to save my soul: What matters more or less of journeying? While I touch Thee I touch my goal, O Sweet Jesu.

I, Lord, Thy foolish sinner low and small, Lack all. His heart too high was set Who asked, What lack I yet? Woe’s me at my most woeful pass! I, Lord, who scarcely dare adore, Weep sore: Steeped in this rotten world I fear to rot. Alas! what lack I not? Alas! alas for me I alas More and yet more!—

Nay, stand up on thy feet, betaking thee To Me. Bring fear; but much more bring Hope to thy patient King: What, is My pleasure in thy death? I loved that youth who little knew The true Width of his want, yet worshipped with goodwill: So love I thee, and still Prolong thy day of grace and breath. Rise up and do.—

Lord, let me know mine end, and certify When I Shall die and have to stand Helpless on Either Hand, Cut off, cut off, my day of grace.— Not so: for what is that to thee? I see The measure and the number of thy day: Keep patience, tho’ I slay; Keep patience till thou see My Face. Follow thou Me.

“Because He first loved us.”

I was hungry, and Thou feddest me; Yea, Thou gavest drink to slake my thirst: O Lord, what love gift can I offer Thee Who hast loved me first?—

Feed My hungry brethren for My sake; Give them drink, for love of them and Me: Love them as I loved thee, when Bread I brake In pure love of thee.—

Yea, Lord, I will serve them by Thy grace; Love Thee, seek Thee, in them; wait and pray: Yet would I love Thyself, Lord, face to face, Heart to heart, one day.—

Let today fulfil its daily task, Fill thy heart and hand to them and Me: Tomorrow thou shalt ask, and shalt not ask Half I keep for thee.

Lord, hast Thou so loved us, and will not we Love Thee with heart and mind and strength and soul, Desiring Thee beyond our glorious goal, Beyond the heaven of heavens desiring Thee? Each saint, all saints cry out: Yea me, yea me, Thou hast desired beyond an aureole, Beyond Thy many Crowns, beyond the whole Ninety and nine unwandering family. Souls in green pastures of the watered land, Faint pilgrim souls wayfaring thro the sand, Abide with Thee and in Thee are at rest: Yet evermore, kind Lord, renew Thy quest After new wanderers; such as once Thy Hand Gathered, Thy Shoulders bore, Thy Heart caressed.

As the dove which found no rest For the sole of her foot, flew back To the ark her only nest And found safety there; Because Noah put forth his hand, Drew her in from ruin and wrack, And was more to her than the land And the air:

So my spirit, like that dove, Fleeth away to an ark Where dwelleth a Heart of Love, A Hand pierced to save, Tho’ the sun and the moon should fail, Tho’ the stars drop into the dark, And my body lay itself pale In a grave.

“Thou art fairer than the children of men.”

A rose, a lily, and the Face of Christ Have all our hearts sufficed: For He is Rose of Sharon nobly born, Our Rose without a thorn; And He is Lily of the Valley, He Most sweet in purity. But when we come to name Him as He is, Godhead, Perfection, Bliss, All tongues fall silent, while pure hearts alone Complete their orison.

“As the Apple Tree among the trees of the wood.”

As one red rose in a garden where all other roses are white Blossoms alone in its glory, crowned all alone In a solitude of own sweetness and fragrance of own delight, With loveliness not another’s and thorns its own; As one ruddy sun amid million orbs comely and colourless, Among all others, above all others is known; As it were alone in the garden, alone in the heavenly place, Chief and centre of all, in fellowship yet alone.

None other Lamb, none other Name, None other Hope in heaven or earth or sea, None other Hiding-place from guilt and shame, None beside Thee.

My faith burns low, my hope burns low, Only my heart’s desire cries out in me By the deep thunder of its want and woe, Cries out to Thee.

Lord, Thou art Life tho’ I be dead, Love’s Fire Thou art however cold I be: Nor heaven have I, nor place to lay my head, Nor home, but Thee.

“Thy friend and thy Father’s friend forget not.”

Friends, I commend to you the narrow way: Not because I, please God, will walk therein, But rather for the Love Feast of that day, The exceeding prize which whoso will may win. Earth is half spent and rotting at the core, Here hollow death’s heads mock us with a grin, Here heartiest laughter leaves us tired and sore. Men heap up pleasures and enlarge desire, Outlive desire, and famished evermore Consume themselves within the undying fire. Yet not for this God made us: not for this Christ sought us far and near to draw us nigher, Sought us and found and paid our penalties. If one could answer “Nay” to God’s command, Who shall say “Nay” when Christ pleads all He is For us, and holds us with a wounded Hand?

“Surely The bath borne our griefs.”

Christ’s Heart was wrung for me, if mine is sore; And if my feet are weary, His have bled; He had no place wherein to lay His Head; If I am burdened, He was burdened more. The cup I drink, He drank of long before; He felt the unuttered anguish which I dread; He hungered Who the hungry thousands fed, And thirsted Who the world’s refreshment bore.

If grief be such a looking-glass as shows Christ’s Face and man’s in some sort made alike, Then grief is pleasure with a subtle taste: Wherefore should any fret or faint or haste? Grief is not grievous to a soul that knows Christ comes,—and listens for that hour to strike.

“They toil not, neither do they spin.”

Clother of the lily, Feeder of the sparrow, Father of the fatherless, dear Lord, Tho’ Thou set me as a mark against Thine arrow, As a prey unto Thy sword, As a ploughed up field beneath Thy harrow, As a captive in Thy cord, [narrow] Let that cord be love; and someday make my Hallowed bed according to Thy Word. Amen.

Darkness and light are both alike to Thee: Therefore to Thee I lift my darkened face; Upward I look with eyes that fail to see, Athirst for future light and present grace. I trust the Hand of Love I scarcely trace. With breath that fails I cry, Remember me: Add breath to breath, so I may run my race That where Thou art there may Thy servant be. For Thou art gulf and fountain of my love, I unreturning torrent to Thy sea, Yea, Thou the measureless ocean for my rill: Seeking I find, and finding seek Thee still: And oh! that I had wings as hath a dove, Then would I flee away to rest with Thee.

“And now why tarriest thou?”

Lord, grant us grace to mount by steps of grace From grace to grace nearer, my God, to Thee; Not tarrying for tomorrow, Lest we lie down in sorrow And never see Unveiled Thy Face.

Life is a vapour vanishing in haste; Life is a day whose sun grows pale to set; Life is a stint and sorrow, One day and not the morrow; Precious, while yet It runs to waste.

Lord, strengthen us; lest fainting by the way We come not to Thee, we who come from far; Lord, bring us to that morrow Which makes an end of sorrow, Where all saints are On holyday.

Where all the saints rest who have heard Thy call, Have risen and striven and now rejoice in rest: Call us too home from sorrow To rest in Thee tomorrow; In Thee our Best, In Thee our All.

Have I not striven, my God, and watched and prayed? Have I not wrestled in mine agony? Wherefore still turn Thy Face of Grace from me? Is Thine Arm shortened that Thou canst not aid? Thy silence breaks my heart: speak tho’ to upbraid, For Thy rebuke yet bids us follow Thee. I grope and grasp not; gaze, but cannot see. When out of sight and reach my bed is made, And piteous men and women cease to blame Whispering and wistful of my gain or loss; Thou Who for my sake once didst feel the Cross, Lord, wilt Thou turn and look upon me then, And in Thy Glory bring to nought my shame, Confessing me to angels and to men?

“God is our Hope and Strength.”

Tempest and terror below; but Christ the Almighty above. Tho the depth of the deep overflow, tho’ fire run along on the ground, Tho’ all billows and flames make a noise,—and where is an Ark for the dove?— Tho’ sorrows rejoice against joys, and death and destruction abound: Yet Jesus abolisheth death, and Jesus Who loves us we love; His dead are renewed with a breath, His lost are the sought and the found. Thy wanderers call and recall, Thy dead men lift out of the ground; O Jesus, Who lovest us all, stoop low from Thy Glory above: Where sin hath abounded make grace to abound and to superabound, Till we gaze on Thee face unto Face, and respond to Thee love unto Love.

Day and night the Accuser makes no pause, Day and night protest the Righteous Laws, Good and Evil witness to man’s flaws; Man the culprit, man’s the ruined cause, Man midway to death’s devouring jaws And the worm that gnaws.

Day and night our Jesus makes no pause, Pleads His own fulfilment of all laws, Veils with His Perfections mortal flaws, Clears the culprit, pleads the desperate cause, Plucks the dead from death’s devouring jaws And the worm that gnaws.

O mine enemy Rejoice not over me! Jesus waiteth to be gracious: I will yet arise, Mounting free and far, Past sun and star, To a house prepared and spacious In the skies. Lord, for Thine own sake Kindle my heart and break; Make mine anguish efficacious Wedded to Thine own: Be not Thy dear pain, Thy Love in vain, Thou Who waitest to be gracious On Thy Throne.

Lord, dost Thou look on me, and will not I Launch out my heart to Heaven to look on Thee? Here if one loved me I should turn to see, And often think on him and often sigh, And by a tender friendship make reply To love gratuitous poured forth on me, And nurse a hope of happy days to be, And mean “until we meet” in each good-bye. Lord, Thou dost look and love is in Thine Eyes, Thy heart is set upon me day and night, Thou stoopest low to set me far above: O Lord, that I may love Thee make me wise; That I may see and love Thee grant me sight; And give me love that I may give Thee love.

“Peace I leave with you.”

Tumult and turmoil, trouble and toil, Yet peace withal in a painful heart; Never a grudge and never a broil, And ever the better part. O my King and my heart’s own choice, Stretch Thy Hand to Thy fluttering dove; Teach me, call to me with Thy Voice, Wrap me up in Thy Love.

O Christ our All in each, our All in all! Others have this or that, a love, a friend, A trusted teacher, a long worked for end: But what to me were Peter or were Paul Without Thee? fame or friend if such might be? Thee wholly will I love, Thee wholly seek, Follow Thy foot-track, hearken for Thy call. O Christ mine All in all, my flesh is weak, A trembling fawning tyrant unto me: Turn, look upon me, let me hear Thee speak: Tho’ bitter billows of Thine utmost sea Swathe me, and darkness build around its wall, Yet will I rise, Thou lifting when I fall, And if Thou hold me fast, yet cleave to Thee.

Because Thy Love hath sought me, All mine is Thine and Thine is mine: Because Thy Blood hath bought me, I will not be mine own but Thine.

I lift my heart to Thy Heart, Thy Heart sole resting-place for mine: Shall Thy Heart crave for my heart, And shall not mine crave back for Thine?

Thy fainting spouse, yet still Thy spouse; Thy trembling dove, yet still Thy dove; Thine own by mutual vows, By mutual love.

Recall Thy vows, if not her vows; Recall Thy Love, if not her love: For weak she is, Thy spouse, And tired, Thy dove.

“Life as the hart desireth the water brooks.”

My heart is yearning: Behold my yearning heart, And lean low to satisfy Its lonely beseeching cry, For Thou its fulness art.

Turn, as once turning Thou didst behold Thy Saint In deadly extremity; Didst look, and win back to Thee His will frighted and faint.

Kindle my burning From Thine unkindled Fire; Fill me with gifts and with grace That I may behold Thy Face, For Thee I desire.

My heart is yearning, Yearning and thrilling thro’ For Thy Love mine own of old, For Thy Love unknown, untold, Ever old, ever new.

“That where I am, there ye may be also.”

How know I that it looms lovely that land I have never seen, With morning-glories and heartsease and unexampled green, With neither heat nor cold in the balm-redolent air? Some of this, not all, I know; but this is so; Christ is there.

How know I that blessedness befalls who dwell in Paradise, The outwearied hearts refreshing, rekindling the worn-out eyes, All souls singing, seeing, rejoicing everywhere? Nay, much more than this I know; for this is so; Christ is there.

O Lord Christ, Whom having not seen I love and desire to love, O Lord Christ, Who lookest on me uncomely yet still Thy dove, Take me to Thee in Paradise, Thine own made fair; For whatever else I know, this thing is so; Thou art there.

“Judge not according to the appearance.”

Lord, purge our eyes to see Within the seed a tree, Within the glowing egg a bird, Within the shroud a butterfly:

Till taught by such, we see Beyond all creatures Thee, And hearken for Thy tender word, And hear it, “Fear not: it is I.”

My God, wilt Thou accept, and will not we Give aught to Thee? The kept we lose, the offered we retain Or find again. Yet if our gift were lost, we well might lose All for Thy use: Well lost for Thee, Whose love is all for us Gratuitous.

A chill blank world. Yet over the utmost sea The light of a coming dawn is rising to me, No more than a paler shade of darkness as yet; While I lift my heart, O Lord, my heart unto Thee Who hast not forgotten me, yea, Who wilt not forget. Forget not Thy sorrowful servant, O Lord my God, Weak as I cry, faint as I cry underneath Thy rod, Soon to lie dumb before Thee a body devoid of breath, Dust to dust, ashes to ashes, a sod to the sod: Forget not my life, O my Lord, forget not my death.

“The Chiefest among ten thousand.”

O Jesu, better than Thy gifts Art Thou Thine only Self to us! Palm branch its triumph, harp uplifts Its triumph-note melodious: But what are such to such as we? O Jesu, better than Thy saints Art Thou Thine only Self to us! The heart faints and the spirit faints For only Thee all-Glorious, For Thee, O only Lord, for Thee.

SOME FEASTS AND FASTS.

ADVENT SUNDAY.

Behold, the Bridegroom cometh: go ye out With lighted lamps and garlands round about To meet Him in a rapture with a shout.

It may be at the midnight, black as pitch, Earth shall cast up her poor, cast up her rich.

It may be at the crowing of the cock Earth shall upheave her depth, uproot her rock.

For lo, the Bridegroom fetcheth home the Bride: His Hands are Hands she knows, she knows His Side.

Like pure Rebekah at the appointed place, Veiled, she unveils her face to meet His Face.

Like great Queen Esther in her triumphing, She triumphs in the Presence of her King.

His Eyes are as a Dove’s, and she’s Dove-eyed; He knows His lovely mirror, sister, Bride.

He speaks with Dove-voice of exceeding love, And she with love-voice of an answering Dove.

Behold, the Bridegroom cometh: go we out With lamps ablaze and garlands round about To meet Him in a rapture with a shout.

ADVENT.

Earth grown old, yet still so green, Deep beneath her crust of cold Nurses fire unfelt, unseen: Earth grown old.

We who live are quickly told: Millions more lie hid between Inner swathings of her fold.

When will fire break up her screen? When will life burst thro’ her mould? Earth, earth, earth, thy cold is keen, Earth grown old.

Sooner or later: yet at last The Jordan must be past;

It may be he will overflow His banks the day we go;

It may be that his cloven deep Will stand up on a heap.

Sooner or later: yet one day We all must pass that way;

Each man, each woman, humbled, pale, Pass veiled within the veil;

Child, parent, bride, companion, Alone, alone, alone.

For none a ransom can be paid, A suretyship be made:

I, bent by mine own burden, must Enter my house of dust;

I, rated to the full amount, Must render mine account.

When earth and sea shall empty all Their graves of great and small;

When earth wrapped in a fiery flood Shall no more hide her blood;

When mysteries shall be revealed; All secrets be unsealed;

When things of night, when things of shame, Shall find at last a name,

Pealed for a hissing and a curse Throughout the universe:

Then Awful Judge, most Awful God, Then cause to bud Thy rod,

To bloom with blossoms, and to give Almonds; yea, bid us live.

I plead Thyself with Thee, I plead Thee in our utter need:

Jesus, most Merciful of Men, Show mercy on us then;

Lord God of Mercy and of men, Show mercy on us then.

CHRISTMAS EVE.

Christmas hath a darkness Brighter than the blazing noon, Christmas hath a chillness Warmer than the heat of June, Christmas hath a beauty Lovelier than the world can show: For Christmas bringeth Jesus, Brought for us so low.

Earth, strike up your music, Birds that sing and bells that ring; Heaven hath answering music For all Angels soon to sing: Earth, put on your whitest Bridal robe of spotless snow: For Christmas bringeth Jesus, Brought for us so low.

CHRISTMAS DAY.

A baby is a harmless thing And wins our hearts with one accord, And Flower of Babies was their King, Jesus Christ our Lord: Lily of lilies He Upon His Mother’s knee; Rose of roses, soon to be Crowned with thorns on leafless tree.

A lamb is innocent and mild And merry on the soft green sod; And Jesus Christ, the Undefiled, Is the Lamb of God: Only spotless He Upon His Mother’s knee; White and ruddy, soon to be Sacrificed for you and me.

Nay, lamb is not so sweet a word, Nor lily half so pure a name; Another name our hearts hath stirred, Kindling them to flame: “Jesus” certainly Is music and melody: Heart with heart in harmony Carol we and worship we.

CHRISTMASTIDE.

Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love Divine; Love was born at Christmas, Star and Angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead, Love Incarnate, Love Divine; Worship we our Jesus: But wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token, Love be yours and love be mine, Love to God and all men, Love for plea and gift and sign.

ST. JOHN, APOSTLE.

Earth cannot bar flame from ascending, Hell cannot bind light from descending, Death cannot finish life never ending.

Eagle and sun gaze at each other, Eagle at sun, brother at Brother, Loving in peace and joy one another.

O St. John, with chains for thy wages, Strong thy rock where the storm-blast rages, Rock of refuge, the Rock of Ages.

Rome hath passed with her awful voice, Earth is passing with all her joys, Heaven shall pass away with a noise.

So from us all follies that please us, So from us all falsehoods that ease us,— Only all saints abide with their Jesus.

Jesus, in love looking down hither, Jesus, by love draw us up thither, That we in Thee may abide together.

“Beloved, let us love one another,” says St. John, Eagle of eagles calling from above: Words of strong nourishment for life to feed upon, “Beloved, let us love.”

Voice of an eagle, yea, Voice of the Dove: If we may love, winter is past and gone; Publish we, praise we, for lo! it is enough.

More sunny than sunshine that ever yet shone, Sweetener of the bitter, smoother of the rough, Highest lesson of all lessons for all to con, “Beloved, let us love.”

HOLY INNOCENTS.

They scarcely waked before they slept, They scarcely wept before they laughed; They drank indeed death’s bitter draught, But all its bitterest dregs were kept And drained by Mothers while they wept. From Heaven the speechless Infants speak: Weep not (they say), our Mothers dear, For swords nor sorrows come not here. Now we are strong who were so weak, And all is ours we could not seek.

We bloom among the blooming flowers, We sing among the singing birds; Wisdom we have who wanted words: Here morning knows not evening hours, All’s rainbow here without the showers.

And softer than our Mother’s breast, And closer than our Mother’s arm, Is here the Love that keeps us warm And broods above our happy nest. Dear Mothers, come: for Heaven is best.

Unspotted lambs to follow the one Lamb, Unspotted doves to wait on the one Dove; To whom Love saith, “Be with Me where I am,” And lo! their answer unto Love is love.

For tho’ I know not any note they know, Nor know one word of all their song above, I know Love speaks to them, and even so I know the answer unto Love is love.

EPIPHANY.

“Lord Babe, if Thou art He We sought for patiently, Where is Thy court? Hither may prophecy and star resort; Men heed not their report.”— “Bow down and worship, righteous man: This Infant of a span Is He man sought for since the world began!”— “Then, Lord, accept my gold, too base a thing For Thee, of all kings King.”—

“Lord Babe, despite Thy youth I hold Thee of a truth Both Good and Great: But wherefore dost Thou keep so mean a state, Low-lying desolate?”— “Bow down and worship, righteous seer: The Lord our God is here Approachable, Who bids us all draw near.”— “Wherefore to Thee I offer frankincense, Thou Sole Omnipotence.”—

“But I have only brought Myrrh; no wise afterthought Instructed me To gather pearls or gems, or choice to see Coral or ivory.”— “Not least thine offering proves thee wise: For myrrh means sacrifice, And He that lives, this Same is He that dies.”— “Then here is myrrh: alas! yea, woe is me That myrrh befitteth Thee.”—

Myrrh, frankincense, and gold: And lo! from wintry fold Good-will doth bring A Lamb, the innocent likeness of this King Whom stars and seraphs sing: And lo! the bird of love, a Dove Flutters and coos above: And Dove and Lamb and Babe agree in love:— Come all mankind, come all creation hither, Come, worship Christ together.

EPIPHANYTIDE.

Trembling before Thee we fall down to adore Thee, Shamefaced and trembling we lift our eyes to Thee: O First and with the last! annul our ruined past, Rebuild us to Thy glory, set us free From sin and from sorrow to fall down and worship Thee.

Full of pity view us, stretch Thy sceptre to us, Bid us live that we may give ourselves to Thee: O faithful Lord and True! stand up for us and do, Make us lovely, make us new, set us free— Heart and soul and spirit—to bring all and worship Thee.

SEPTUAGESIMA.

“So run that ye may obtain.”

One step more, and the race is ended; One word more, and the lesson’s done; One toil more, and a long rest follows At set of sun.

Who would fail, for one step withholden? Who would fail, for one word unsaid? Who would fail, for a pause too early? Sound sleep the dead.

One step more, and the goal receives us; One word more, and life’s task is done; One toil more, and the Cross is carried And sets the sun.

SEXAGESIMA.

“Cursed is the ground for thy sake.”

Yet earth was very good in days of old, And earth is lovely still: Still for the sacred flock she spreads the fold, For Sion rears the hill.

Mother she is, and cradle of our race, A depth where treasures lie, The broad foundation of a holy place, Man’s step to scale the sky.

She spreads the harvest-field which Angels reap, And lo! the crop is white; She spreads God’s Acre where the happy sleep All night that is not night.

Earth may not pass till heaven shall pass away, Nor heaven may be renewed Except with earth: and once more in that day Earth shall be very good.

That Eden of earth’s sunrise cannot vie With Paradise beyond her sunset sky Hidden on high.

Four rivers watered Eden in her bliss, But Paradise hath One which perfect is In sweetnesses.

Eden had gold, but Paradise hath gold Like unto glass of splendours manifold Tongue hath not told.

Eden had sun and moon to make her bright; But Paradise hath God and Lamb for light, And hath no night.

Unspotted innocence was Eden’s best; Great Paradise shows God’s fulfilled behest, Triumph and rest.

Hail, Eve and Adam, source of death and shame! New life has sprung from death, and Jesu’s Name Clothes you with fame.

Hail Adam, and hail Eve! your children rise And call you blessed, in their glad surmise Of Paradise.

QUINQUAGESIMA.

Love is alone the worthy law of love: All other laws have presupposed a taint: Love is the law from kindled saint to saint, From lamb to lamb, from dove to answering dove. Love is the motive of all things that move Harmonious by free will without constraint: Love learns and teaches: love shall man acquaint With all he lacks, which all his lack is love. Because Love is the fountain, I discern The stream as love: for what but love should flow From fountain Love? not bitter from the sweet! I ignorant, have I laid claim to know? Oh, teach me, Love, such knowledge as is meet For one to know who is fain to love and learn.

Piteous my rhyme is What while I muse of love and pain, Of love misspent, of love in vain, Of love that is not loved again: And is this all then? As long as time is, Love loveth. Time is but a span, The dalliance space of dying man: And is this all immortals can? The gain were small then.

Love loves for ever, And finds a sort of joy in pain, And gives with nought to take again, And loves too well to end in vain: Is the gain small then? Love laughs at “never,” Outlives our life, exceeds the span Appointed to mere mortal man: All which love is and does and can Is all in all then.

ASH WEDNESDAY.

My God, my God, have mercy on my sin, For it is great; and if I should begin To tell it all, the day would be too small To tell it in.

My God, Thou wilt have mercy on my sin For Thy Love’s sake: yea, if I should begin To tell This all, the day would be too small To tell it in.

Good Lord, to-day I scarce find breath to say: Scourge, but receive me. For stripes are hard to bear, but worse Thy intolerable curse; So do not leave me.

Good Lord, lean down In pity, tho’ Thou frown; Smite, but retrieve me: For so Thou hold me up to stand And kiss Thy smiting hand, It less will grieve me.

LENT.