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Wherefore fupplicate we, lauding
Thee, O Bleffed Trinity,

We at last may keep our Eafter
In Thy home beyond the sky,
There to Thee our Hallelujah
Singing everlastingly.

10th Cent.

XIII.

PARADISE.

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HERE nor waxing moon nor waning,
Sun nor ftars in courses bright:
For the Lamb to that glad city
Shines an everlasting light :
There the daylight beams for ever,
All unknown are time and night.

For the faints, in beauty beaming,
Shine in light and glory pure;
Crown'd in triumph's flushing honours,
Joy in unifon fecure :

And in fafety tell their battles,

And their foes' difcomfiture.

Freed from every stain of evil,
All their carnal wars are done;

For the flesh, made fpiritual,

And the foul agree in one.
Peace unbroken fpreads enjoyment,
Sin and scandal are unknown.

Here they live in endless being,
Paffingness has passed away;

Here they bloom, they thrive, they flourish,
For decayed is all decay :

Lasting energy hath swallowed

Darkling Death's malignant fway.

Though each one's respective merit
Hath its varying palm affigned,
Love takes all as his poffeffion,

Where his power hath all combined:

So that all that each poffeffes
All partake in unconfined.

CHRIST, Thy foldiers' palm of honour,
Unto this Thy city free
Lead me, when my warfare's girdle

I fhall caft away from me :
A partaker of Thy bounty
With Thy bleffed ones to be.

Grant me vigour, while I labour
In the ceaseless battle preffed,
That Thou mayft, the conflict over,
Grant me everlafting reft:

And I may at length inherit

THEE

my portion ever blest.

PETER DAMIAN*, 11th Cent.

* The above stanzas form a portion of the celebrated hymn "De Gloriâ et Gaudiis Paradifi," by a true Chriftian, though a Roman Cardinal, and are from Mr. Wackerbath's admirable tranflation of the fame.

XIV.

THE LAST DAY.

WHAT terror in Thy forethought,
Ending scene of mortal life!
Heart is fickened, reins are loosened,
Thrills each nerve with terror rife,
When the anxious heart depicteth
All the anguifh of the ftrife!

Who the spectacle can image

How tremendous! - of that day
When the course of life accomplished,
For the trammels of her clay
Writhes the foul to be delivered,
Agonised to pass away.

Senfe hath perished, tongue is rigid,
Eyes are filming o'er in death,
Palpitates the breast, and hoarsely

Gafps the rattling throat for breath:
Limbs are torpid, lips are pallid,
Breaking nature quivereth.

All come round him! - cogitation,
Habit, word, and deed are there!
All, though much and fore he struggle,
Hover o'er him in the air:

Turn he this way, turn he that way,
On his inmoft foul they glare.

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Confcience! felf her culprit tortures,
Gnawing him with pangs unknown:
For that now amendment's season
Is for ever past and gone;
And that late repentance findeth
Pardon none for all its moan.

Fleshly lufts of fancied sweetness
Are converted into gall,

When on brief and bitter pleasure

Everlasting dolours fall;

Then, what late appeared fo mighty,
Oh! how infinitely small !

Chrift, unconquered King of Glory!
Thou my wretched foul relieve
In that most extremeft terror

When the body she must leave:
Let the Accufer of the Brethren

O'er me then no power receive!

Let the Prince of Darkness vanish
And Gehenna's legions fly!
Shepherd, Thou Thy sheep, thus ransomed,
To Thy country lead on high;

Where for ever in fruition

I may fee Thee eye to eye!

PETER DAMIAN, 11th Cent.

XV.

CHRIST.

HEAD, fo full of bruises,

So full of pain and scorn 'Midft other fore abuses,

Mocked with a crown of thorn! O head, ere now furrounded

With brightest majesty,

In death now bowed and wounded!

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Saluted be by me.

O Lord, what Thee tormented
Was my fin's heavy load!
I had the debt augmented,
Which Thou didst pay in blood:
Here am I, blushing finner,

On whom wrath ought to light;
O Thou, my health's beginner,
Let Thy grace cheer my fight.
I'll here with Thee continue,
(Though poor, defpife me not),
I'm one of thy retinue

As were I on the spot,
When, earning my election,
Thy heart-ftrings broke in death
With fhame and love's affection
I'll watch my latest breath.

I give Thee thanks unfeigned,
O Jefus! Friend in need!

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