My life is like a faded leaf, My harvest dwindled to a husk ; And tedious in the barren dusk ; No bud nor greenness can I see: My life is like a broken bowl, TH ADVENT. HIS Advent moon shines cold and clear, Our lamps have burned year after year, And still their flame is strong. Watchman, what of the night?" we cry, Heart-sick with hope deferred: "No speaking signs are in the sky," Is still the watchman's word. The Porter watches at the gate, The watch is long betimes and late, "Watchman, what of the night?" but still His answer sounds the same: "No daybreak tops the utmost hill, Nor pale our lamps of flame." One to another hear them speak, "All night we watch and rise." One with another, soul with soul, "Friends watch us who have touched the goal.” They urge us, come up higher." "With them shall rest our waysore feet, With them is built our home, With Christ." "They sweet, but He most sweet, Sweeter than honeycomb." There no more parting, no more pain, The distant ones brought near, The lost so long are found again, Eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard, With them our good things long deferred, We weep because the night is long, Weeping we hold Him fast Who wept And will not let Him go except Weeping we hold Him fast to-night; Till daybreak smite our wearied sight, Then figs shall bud, and dove with dove Then He shall say, "Arise, My love, My fair one, come away." THE THREE ENEMIES. THE FLESH. "SWEET, WEET, thou art pale.” "More pale to see, Christ hung upon the cruel tree And bore His Father's wrath for me." "Sweet, thou art sad." "Beneath a rod More heavy, Christ for my sake trod The winepress of the wrath of God." "Sweet, thou art weary." "Not so Christ : Whose mighty love of me sufficed For Strength, Salvation, Eucharist." "Sweet, thou art footsore." "If I bleed, His feet have bled: yea, in my need THE WORLD. "Sweet, thou art young." "So He was young Who for my sake in silence hung Upon the Cross with Passion wrung." "Look, thou art fair.” "He was more fair Than men, Who deigned for me to wear "And thou hast riches." “Daily bread : All else is His; Who living, dead, For me lacked where to lay His Head.” "And life is sweet." "It was not so To Him, Whose Cup did overflow With mine unutterable woe." THE DEVIL. "Thou drinkest deep." “When Christ would sup He drained the dregs from out my cup: So how should I be lifted up?” "Thou shalt win Glory." "In the skies, Lord Jesus, cover up mine eyes Lest they should look on vanities." "Thou shalt have Knowledge." "Helpless dust, In Thee, O Lord, I put my trust : |