ON THE EPIPHANY.

AT THE FIRST VESPERS.

There shall be a root of Jesse, and He that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in Him shall the Gentiles trust.-Rom. XV.

"Quæ stella sole pulchrior."

WHAT is that which shines afar,

Fairer than the sun at morn?

"Tis a glorious star,

Which a rising King doth harbinger, And marks a cradle low where God on earth is born. Faithful spake ye, seers of old,

From Jacob doth a Star arise,

The East is stirred to behold.

A little star keeps watch without,

"Tis let down from the skies;

But a nobler Star within

Doth its march begin,

Which, on their distant rout,

To Him with gentle power doth lead the Wise.

The toil and perils what are they?

Faithful love knows no delay:

Kindred, and home, and country hold not them; "Tis God that calls, and they obey.

Star of Bethlehem,

Star of Grace, that lead'st the

way,

Let not the mists of our dark soul

Obstruct Thy heavenly light, and guiding soft

control.

Father, Light of lights, to Thee,

To Holy Spirit, and to Son,

In whom Thou to the world hast shone,
Everlasting glory be !

AT THE MATTINS.

God hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.-2 TIM. i.

"Linquunt tecta Magi principis urbis."

FROM princely walls in Eastern pomp array'd, They seek the distant Bethlehem's lowly shade;

Faith leads the way, and gathers light, and now Leans upon hope, which strengthens as they go.

What gladness crown'd their steps as now to view
The Heavenly Messenger appeared anew;
And o'er the roof the star descending mild
Showed in a mother's arms the Holy Child!

But yet no ivory here, no glowing gold,
No purple royalties the Babe enfold;
His palace-hall-a stable's solitude,

His regal throne-a manger dark and rude!

Others let Kingly pomp and power adorn,
His is a better Kingship; on this morn
He, on His poor straw pallet meanly laid,
Hath hearts of men with viewless sceptre sway'd.

Lo, at His humble cradle, on bent knee,
They in the Child adore the Deity!

And to that Child us of that Gentile seed,
And to that humble cradle Faith shall lead.

Love is the gold, meet offering for a King, Myrrh to the Son of Man shall abstinence bring;

And prayers shall be the ascending frankincense Which owns our God in veil'd Omnipotence.

Glory to God the Father, Fount of Light,
To Him, who shone upon the Gentiles' night,
And unto Him, well-spring of Charity,
All equal in mysterious Unity!

AT THE VESPERS.

He hath called us not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles. As He saith also in Osee, I will call them My people which were not My people, and her beloved which was not beloved.-ROM.ix.

"Huc vos, o miseri, surda relinquite."

POOR wanderers, who make your prayer
To gods form'd by your hands,
That speak and hear not-see ye where

A glorious city stands,

And opes to you her walls and golden rest;

Those glorious walls within God is Himself the

guest.

E'en now your chiefs they lead the way,
The volume is displayed,

From prophecy breaks forth the ray :—
They sat beneath death's shade,

But wake, and see afar a wondrous light, Which from those walls breaks forth upon the rear of night.

Long have they been asunder thrown,
Like sunshine and the shade;

But now-the wall is broke and gone,

And they are equal made;

Oh Thou, whose counsels in dark waters dwell,
And footsteps are in deeps by man untraceable!

Judah, who on her mountain throne

Had built on high her nest,

Hath from her lofty seat come down

To welcome her new Guest.

And see the Alien's glory late made wise,
To live by her decay, from her abasement rise.

Drooping and dropping as she hung

Over her stock o'erthrown,

I