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25.

THE Son of God goes forth to war,

A kingly crown to gain ;

His blood-red banner streams afar :
Who follows in His train?

Who best can drink His cup of woe,
Triumphant over pain,

Who patient bears His cross below,
He follows in His train.

3 The Martyr, first, whose eagle eye
Could pierce beyond the grave;
Who saw his Master in the sky,
And called on Him to save.

4 Like Him, with pardon on his tongue,
In midst of mortal pain,

He prayed for them that did the wrong :
Who follows in his train?

5 A glorious band, the chosen few,
On whom the Spirit came;

Twelve valiant saints, their hope they knew,
And mocked the cross and flame.

6 They met the tyrant's brandished steel,
The lion's gory mane;

They bowed their necks the death to feel :
Who follows in their train?

7 A noble army, men and boys,

The matron and the maid,
Around the Saviour's throne rejoice,
In robes of light arrayed.

8 They climbed the steep ascent of heaven,
Through peril, toil, and pain;

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O God! to us may grace be given
To follow in their train! Amen.

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Bp. R. Heber.

St. John the Evangelist's Day.

26.

WORD Supreme, before creation

Born of God eternally,

Who didst will for our salvation

To be born on earth, and die;
Well Thy saints have kept their station,
Watching till Thine hour drew nigh.

Now, 'tis come, and faith espies Thee;
Like an eaglet in the morn,

One in steadfast worship eyes Thee,
Thy beloved, Thy latest born:
In Thy glory he descries Thee
Reigning from the tree of scorn.

3 He first, hoping and believing,
Did beside the grave adore;
Latest he, the warfare leaving,
Landed on th' eternal shore ;
And his witness we receiving

Own Thee Lord for evermore.

4 Much he asked in loving wonder,
On Thy bosom leaning, Lord;
In that secret place of thunder
Answer kind didst Thou accord,
Wisdom for Thy Church to ponder
Till the day of dread award.

5 Lo! heaven's doors lift up, revealing
How Thy judgments earthward move,
Scrolls unfolded, trumpets pealing,
Wine cups from the wrath above;
Yet o'er all a soft voice stealing—
"Little children, trust and love!"

7. Keble.

27.

Jussu tyranni pro fide.

I EXPELLED by tyrant's harsh command,

The Exile on the sea-girt strand,
Disdainful of the chains of earth,
Asserts his free celestial birth.

2 Before him stands, in vision dread,
Jesus who liveth, and was dead:
The Lamb for us a Victim slain ;
The Lion who hath rent death's chain.

3 There, to the prophet's kindling eye,
He pictures heaven's bright mystery ;
And shows, with blood of martyrs sown,
Earth's kingdoms conquered for His own.

4 Grant us, O Christ, with Thee to die ;With Thee to rise and reign on high;All gain terrestrial to despise,

And joys celestial only prize.

5 We praise the Father, and the Son
Who hath o'er death the victory won,
That we, with Him, may conquerors be;

With whom, blest Spirit, praise to Thee. Amen.

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W. E. Green. (tr.)

The Innocents Day.

28.

Hymnum canentes martyrum.

hymn for Infant Martyrs raise

Through whom the Lord did perfect praise ;
Whom earth so early cast away,

And heaven with joy received to-day ;
Whose angels see the Father's face,
World without end, and sing His grace.

A voice from Ramah was there sent,
A voice of weeping and lament,

When Rachel mourned her children sore,
Whom for the tyrant's sword she bore;
Triumphant is their glory now,

The first for Christ in death to bow.

3 Dwelling on Sion's holy hill,

The Lamb's own steps they follow still;
Death hath no power to hurt them more,
The hour of pain and grief is o'er ;
All bright they shine in heavenly day,
And every tear is wiped away.

Ven. Bede. J. M. Neale. (tr.*)

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GLORY to Thee, O Lord!

Who, from this world of sin,

By the fierce Herod's ruthless sword
Those precious ones didst win.

2 Glory to Thee, O Lord!

For now, all grief unknown,

They wait in patience their reward,
The martyr's heavenly crown.

3 Baptized in their own blood,
Earth's untried perils o'er,
They passed unconsciously the flood,
And safely gained the shore.

4 Glory to Thee for all

The ransomed infant band,

Who since that hour have heard Thy call, And reached the quiet land !

5 Oh, that our hearts within,

Like theirs, were pure and bright; Oh, that as free from deeds of sin We shrunk not from Thy sight!

6 Lord, help us every hour

Thy cleansing grace to claim; In life to glorify Thy power,

In death to praise Thy Name. Amen.

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