XCVI.** THE PRIMATE ON HIS DEATH-BED, 1604. “O, Fon the Church of God ”—As faint and rare Form'd his sole wish, and moved his parting prayer. Be this our matins and our even-song, In life, in death, "O, for the Church of God!" XCVII.** THE PRIMATE AT THE BLOCK, 1644. penury, By faction's lawless minions, ponder well; 'King James I. 2 Abp. Laud. XCVIII.** THE PRIMATE DISINTERRED, 1648.1 To grave obscene the scatter'd fragments doom. The channel thou, through which transmissive flows And foster-father of her Liturgy! XCIX.* .*** THE SISTER CHURCH, 1641-1649. FIERCE was thy trial then, and hard to bear, Mother beloved! Nor less full sure did she, Thy sister Church across the narrow sea, In that fierce trial hold an equal share. What time the Triple-crown'd cried havoc there; And Knox's leagued and stern presbytery, And Cromwell's swarm of independency, Harried her chosen fold and pastures fair. Thy sister she in worship, faith, and love, Yea more than shared thy sufferings and disgrace. Woe worth the while, when lordly Edom strove, Hagar's wild tribes, and Moab's spurious race, To plant the idols of man's dreams above God's holy ark in his appointed place. When in the time of the Great Rebellion, Lambeth Palace came into the possession of Colonel Scot, he turned the chapel into a hall, C.*** THE REQUIEM, 1641. "REST he in peace, of English race the last! Such dirge was heard o'er martyr'd BEDELL's tomb, As if in symbol of the general doom, Which swept the Church with desolating blast. "Rest she in peace!" Alas, her glory past, She seem'd as if no radiance could illume Her temples closed, denounced her rites divine, CI.*** THE LITURGY PROSCRIBED, 1647-1649. YET, ere it sank, with interrupted flame Now and again her flickering worship shone, Men of high worth, but little known to fame. And LESLEY, dauntless prelate, fought the fight And BULKELEY pray'd, till crush'd by ruthless might, demolished Archbishop Parker's monument, digged up his body, sold the lead that enclosed it, and buried the bones in a dunghill. CII.*** THE CONSECRATED BISHOPS, 1661. "TWAS a glad scene of holy festival, When they, the first and best of Erin's land, Priests, people, peers, and chiefs of high command Throng'd nave, and choir, and gallery and stall: And TAYLOR, golden-mouth'd, his willing thrall Held each tranc'd ear of that devoted band; And BRAMHALL bless'd with consecrating hand Twelve priestly heads, thenceforth episcopal. O'twas a gladsome scene! To Patrick's fane The crowded street as that procession trod, God speed on all the speaking windows rain. For, past the terrors of the chastening rod, Her star-crown'd head the Church exalts again, And trims her lamp anew, and blesses God. CIII.** BISHOP KEN'S MORNING AND A HOLY pilgrim journey'd on his way: His fingers touch'd the lute's melodious string, 66 The lute and voice renew'd their communing, Glory to Him, who made the night and day!" With honor marks the Church's history. Who know thee, know thee strong in grace But all applaud thy sacred minstrelsy; And village children, when their voices join divine In hymns of daily praise, still learn of thee. CIV.** THE IMPRISONED BISHOPS, 1688 Stood forth, despite a bigot tyrant's rage, CV.** THE PRIMATE DEPRIVED, 1692. The hermit's vestment, and the diet spare, "Praise to the Lord, who gives and takes away! 1 Archbishop Sancroft: the Bishops, Lloyd of St. Asaph, Turner of Ely, Lake of Chichester, Ken of Bath and Wells, White of Peter borough, Trelawney of Bristol. Of these, Sancroft, Turner, Lake, |