THE GOSPEL SONGS.[7]

Can priestly lips, long silenced, raise A strain so lofty and so strong, Making our matin hymn of praise As jubilant as evensong? Yes: not the lips alone, the eyes Of Zacharias were unsealed, To see and sing the mysteries To love and penitence revealed. With keen prevision of the seer He sings of a redemption wrought, Whereby, released from slavish fear, Men are to filial freedom brought. Three things immutable and sure, His promise, covenant, and oath, Reveal God's purpose, and secure Whate'er man needs for life and growth. The promise to the fathers made Was seen and known—th' Incarnate Word; The Cross His covenant displayed, His oath at Pentecost was heard. Well may this father's heart rejoice, And with prophetic rapture sing; His song a prelude to that 'Voice'[8] Predestined to proclaim the King. His joy a foretaste of that mirth Which shall the hearts of all possess, When o'er a recreated earth Christ's sceptre reigns in righteousness. Of light he sings for darkened eyes, For wandering feet the way of peace, Tells how the Dayspring shall arise, And shadows flee and sorrows cease. And still the Church's children raise That strain so lofty and so strong, Which makes their matin hymn of praise As jubilant as evensong.

Earth's noise God's music supersedes, Sin's discord it excludes, It tells us of a Lamb that bleeds, And of a Dove that broods. It tells us of a Child Who brings The help that sets us free; The song His Maiden-Mother sings Of saved Humanity. The Mother's and the Sister's part She plays; she leads the choir Of those whose purity of heart Is passionate desire. Above the blood-encrimsoned sea, Dispelling doubt and fear With her celestial minstrelsy, Our Miriam doth cheer The men whose homeward-going hearts Are loyal to their King; When all from her have learnt their parts, Then shall creation sing! The sweetest of the Gospel songs, To all the Saints so dear, To every eventide belongs Throughout the changeful year. It sanctifies the vesper hour When summer smiles serene; It is a joy-constraining power When winter blasts are keen. 'My soul doth magnify the Lord'— Ecstatic is the voice That sings of Paradise restored— 'My spirit doth rejoice!'

To cradle Mary's Child his heart An old man opens wide: Behold him in God's peace depart, And in God's peace abide. He sings the very Song of Peace, Responsive to the Word; His lullaby shall never cease To make its music heard. For all the children of the Bride, The subjects of the King, With each returning eventide Have learnt his song to sing. He sings of 'peace,' 'salvation,' 'light:' His lovely words we take For consolation night by night, Until God's morning break. Then, when our dazzled eyes grow dim, Breathed with our parting breath The old man's sweet, heart-soothing hymn Glad welcome gives to death. We too what Simeon saw may see— The Mother undefiled, Our hearts enfold as blissfully The Everlasting Child!