THE TEMPLE BUILDER. (Lines Written for a Sacerdotal Jubilee.) How shall we greet this Day of Jubilee? The cymbal's clamorous song, the softer sound Ah no! the Temple-choirs have passed away: A royal Priesthood that can never end. O Kingly Priesthood! who may sing thy praise? And yet the heart too full must overflow: Sing we to-day, not glory then, but love! Sing we the sturdy faith, through weal and woe Who wills in sacrifice its depth to prove. Sing we the Jubilee each bosom yields: Thou cam'st to labor in the Saviour's fields White with the harvest! What though thronging fears Peopled thy soul with doubt too deep for tears? God's helping grace, at Ordination poured For laborers in the vineyard of the Lord, Thou, too, didst patiently the burden bear Not thine the need, but ours: and still thy zeal We thank Thee for love's labor which alone Still, as in silent watches of the night, Sermon and Sacrament were warp and woof Of the delights of holiness, and place The splendid tints of sanctifying grace. So, while the outer temple slowly raised Its stately fabric, thy dear care would build A house not made with hands, where God is praised Blessed thy people!-yet more blessed Thou, God's people led to God; the hosts of hell All praise to God, through whom the fight is won, LAUDA SION. Lauda, Sion, Salvatorem, In hymnis et canticis. Laudis thema specialis, Panis vivus et vitalis Hodie proponitur. Quem in sacrae mensa coenae, Turbae fratrum duodenae Datum non ambigitur. Sit laus plena, sit sonora, Mentis jubilatio. Dies enim solemnis agitur, In qua mensae prima recolitur Hujus institutio. In hac mensa novi Regis, Phase vetus terminat. Vetustatem novitas, Umbram fugat veritas, Noctem lux eliminat. |