The Pillars of the Choir: St Matthias

From Abraham's breast, 'mid heavenly towers on high,
Death's lake is seen, and heard the dismal cry;
From Salem's heights, dread Sodom's sea of doom
Is o'er the hills descried in fiery gloom :
'Mid that small band, for Heaven's high mandate seal'd,
Hell opens, and a Judas is reveal'd.

Dread thought of terror ! Heaven the rescued crown
Holds, and on just Matthias lets it down ;
Sent forth of Him Who was sent forth of God,
And arm'd with nought but His supporting rod.

Oh. by that Cross on which Thou deign'st to die,
Let that staff bear me Death's dark valley by!—
Thine was the Patriarch's staff, when Jordan's strand
He pass'd, and thence return'd a two-fold band ; —
Thine was the staff Elisha sent before,
The staff of health which false Gehazi bore.

From this new morn until th' eternal Day,
That pastoral staff must be the pilgrim's stay ;
From this new morn, when, from its wintry blight,
Springs the new year, and day is mast'ring night.
Still, wheresoe'er'the grounded staff shall pass,
The sea divides, — wide opes the watery mass.