The Pillars of the Choir: St Jude

One glory kindles night's aerial blue,
But clothes each star with its distinctive hue ;
One light from crystal dew-drops on the thorn
Calls forth the varied jewels of the morn :
And, in that little band of Jesus blest,
To whom our Lord " Himself did manifest,"
And who on Him in answ'ring love are bent,
Faith doth in each a varying form present.

Thus that deep voice, O Jude, is all thine own,
Tho' Christ is heard in thy dread warning tone,
And speaks in thee, exhorting with arm'd heed
To wrestle for the everlasting Creed.

Unfolding ever to our feeble sight
In endless form, we see the Infinite ;
Nor doth the varied human countenance,
So manifold in shape and speaking glance,
Range through more boundless changes, than doth Love
In spirits which are born of God above.

Thus, Lord, when, from Thy vessels of rude clay,
Thou makest up Thy jewels on that day,
Their diverse hues, with Thy pure lustre sown,
Shall blend to form Thy many-colour'd crown.