St. Matthias's Day

They do their best, make twofold choice,
Then cast their lot before the Lord;
And kneeling low, with heart and voice,
Plead the fulfilment of His Word.

The sad default of him, who late
Had sinn'd so deep, and brought such shame
Upon the high and holy state,
Of those who bore the Sacred Name,

Bids them with trembling hearts refuse
Alone to bear the awful load
Which rests on those, who needs must choose
One who may touch the Ark of God.

But still they do their best, — with care,
From those who knew, and loved their Lord,
Who had walked with Him everywhere,
Witness'd His deeds, and learnt His word,

Two they select, whose names they lay
With prayer, and lot before the Throne,
Asking the Lord Himself to say
Which His Apostle He will own.

And taught by lessons such as these
May we, upon this Holy Day,
With lifted hearts and bended knees,
For i true and faithful Pastors' pray.

And, at each solemn Ember-tide,
When those, who rule God's Church, accord
The lot they cast, but cannot guide,
For its disposal to the Lord; —

Let us their consecrating hands
With fervent Faith sustain on high,
And, o'er the kneeling white-robed bands,
Thus help to guide them wittingly.

To search, to choose, to set apart,
This is their task, and this their care;
They do their best with earnest heart,
And let us do our best in prayer.

O if but half the breath, that's spent
To vex the weak, and blame the wrong,
Found thus in Faith arid Prayer its vent,
How glad would be the Church's song!

As looks the morning forth, how soon
Her light o'er all the earth would swell;
'Clear as the Sun, fair as the Moon,'
Like banner'd army terrible.

Revive Thy work, O Lord revive
Thy drooping work, in these our days,
Make us with Thee in Prayer to strive,
That we in Thee may rest with Praise,

Awake, O North, thou South wind blow,
Upon my garden blow, and move
Its hidden spices thence to flow,
And perfume all the world with Love,