XII. CONFESSION. My smile is bright, my glance is free, But I am scanned by Eyes unseen, Erst my good Angel shrank to see My thoughts and ways of ill; And now he scarce dare gaze on me. Scar-seamed and crippled still. XIII. AWE. I BOW at Jesus' Name, for 'tis the Sign Full of unlovely thoughts and rebel aims As hastening judgment flames, How can I lightly view my Means of life?— The Just assailing sin, and death-stained in the strife! And so, albeit His woe is our release, Thought of that woe aye dims our earthly peace; The Life is hidden in a Fount of Blood! And this is tidings good, But in the Angels' reckoning, and to those And kept, like Paul, a virgin course, content To go where Jesus went; But for the many, laden with the spot And earthly taint of sin, 'tis written, "Touch Me not." XIV. THE CROSS OF CHRIST. "Ad omnem progressum atque promotum, ad omnem aditum et exitum, ad vestitum, ad calciatum, ad lavacra, ad mensas, ad lumina, ad cubilia, ad sedilia, quacunque nos conversatio exercet, frontem Crucis signaculo terimus." Tertull. de Corona, § 3. WHENE'ER across this sinful flesh of mine I draw the Holy Sign, All good thoughts stir within me, and collect Till there springs up that hope of GOD's elect And who shall say, but hateful spirits around, Shudder to see, and wail their overthrow? Some lonely Saint hails the fresh odour, though FORGIVENESS. XV. THE THREE ABSOLUTIONS.* "And there shall in nowise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie; but they which are written in the Lamb's Book of Life." EACH morn and eve, the Golden Keys Are lifted in the sacred hand, To shew the sinner on his knees Where heaven's bright doors wide open stand. On the dread Altar duly laid The Golden Keys their witness bear, That He, the Life of Souls, is there. *1. In the Daily Service. 2. In the Communion. 3. In the Visitation of the Sick. Full of the past, all shuddering thought, But touch them trembling; for that gold To close, not ope, the favour'd fold, To bind, not loose, the lost soul's band. "And the Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. soever will, let him take of the waters of life freely." O LORD, I hear, but can it be The gracious word was meant for me? The secret of that living well, By whose waters I may rest And slake this lip unblest? And who *Vid. Death-bed Scenes, "The Barton Family." §3. |