nothing, beyond the fact of his existence, is known, and doing this sixty or seventy different times, the verbiage, the bombast, the trappings with which Scriptural simplicity is elevated to the taste of a corrupt Court, are each and all scarcely to be paralleled. He is by far the most prolific of the hymn writers. SUNDAY OF THE PRODIGAL SON. (SEPTUAGESIMA.) The Sunday before Septuagesima, and Septuagesima itself once, respectively, in the Greek Church, the Sunday of the Pharisee and Publican,-and the Sunday of the Prodigal Son,-those parables forming the gospel for the day, and serving for the keynote to the offices. The following Troparia are from the Canon at Lauds on Septuagesima. (Ode VI. and Ode VIII. Trop. 2, 3. βυθὸς ἁμαρτημάτων. The abyss of many a former sin Thou Saviour and Thou glorious King! My Father's heritage abused, Wasted by lust, by sin misused; To shame and want and misery brought In hunger now,-no more possessed Who yet would fain return to Thee! With that blest thief my prayer I make, : Mourn, mourn, my soul, with earnest care, K THE PILGRIMS OF JESUS. This is merely a Cento from the Canon on SS. O happy band of pilgrims, O happy, if ye labour AS JESUS did for men: O happy, if ye hunger AS JESUS hunger'd then! The Cross that JESUS carried The Crown that JESUS weareth He weareth it for you. The Faith by which ye see Him, What are they, but vaunt-couriers To lead you to His Sight? What are they, save the effluence Of Uncreated Light? The trials that beset you, That Death alone can cure,— What are they, but His jewels O happy band of pilgrims, Look upward to the skies ;Where such a light affliction Shall win you such a prize! |