life of lives, having life in Thyself; and Thou changest not, O life of my soul! Blessed is the man who loveth Thee, and his friend in Thee, and his enemy for Thee. For he only loses none dear to him, to whom all are dear, in Him who cannot be lost. And who is that but our God, the God that made heaven and earth, and filleth them, even by filling them creating them. None loseth but he who leaveth Thee. And who leaveth Thee, whither goeth or whither fleeth he, but from Thee pleased, to Thee displeased? For doth he not find thy law in his own punishment? And thy law is truth, and truth is Thyself. "The Word itself calleth me to return to that place of rest where love is not forsaken, if it forsaketh not to love. I behold how some things pass away, that others may replace them, and so this lower universe be completed by all his parts. But Thou dost never depart, O God, my Father supremely good, Beauty of all things beautiful! With Thee will I fix my dwelling, for now I am tired out with vanities. To Thee will I intrust whatsoever I have received from Thee, so shall I lose nothing; and my decay shall bloom again, and all my diseases be healed. Thou madest me for Thyself, and my heart is restless until it repose in Thee. THE DIVINE ILLUMINATION. "Too late loved I Thee, O Thou Beauty of ancient days, yet ever new! too late loved I Thee! And behold Thou wert within, and I abroad, and there I searched for Thee; plunging deformed amid those fair forms, which Thou hadst made. Thou wert with me, but I was not with Thee. Things held me far from Thee, which, unless they were in Thee, were not at all. Thou didst call, and shout, and burst my deafness. Thou didst flash, shine, and scatter my blindness. Thou didst breathe odors, and I drew in breath, and pant for Thee. and I hunger and thirst for Thee. shall with my whole self cleave to Thee, I shall nowhere have sorrow, or labor; and my life shall wholly live, as wholly full of Thee. But because I am not full of Thee I am a burden to myself. Woe is me! Lord, have pity on me. My evil sorrows strive with my good joys ; and on which side is the victory I know not. I tasted, When I Woe is me! Lord have mercy on me. Woe is me! lo! I hide not my wounds; Thou art the Physician, I the sick; Thou merciful, I miserable. And all my hope is in thy exceeding great mercy. Give what Thou enjoinest, and enjoin what Thou wilt. For too little doth he love Thee, who loves anything with Thee which he loveth not for Thee. O love, who ever burnest and never consumest! O charity, my God! Kindle me. Give me what est, and enjoin what Thou wilt." Thou enjoin IX. DIES IREÆ. THE PRAYER IN THE DIES IRÆ. The Dies Ira, one of the grandest hymntones of the church, justly held in veneration by all denominations of evangelical Christians, and often sung to the music of the greatest composers, is attributed to Thomas of Celano, of the thirteenth century. It forms a part of Mozart's Requiem, has been frequently translated from the original Latin, and a translation of three of the most impressive stanzas, by Sir Walter Scott, is found in most collections of hymns. Sir Walter Scott was heard quoting it on his death bed, as was the Earl of Roscommon, and Dr. Johnson used to quote it, and weep at the vision that it brought before his mind. The following is an almost literal translation of the prayer which forms a large part of the poem : "Rex tremendæ Majestatis, Qui salvandos salvas gratis, 66 King of Majesty tremendous, "Think, kind Jesu, my salvation "Faint and weary thou hast sought me, On the cross of suffering bought me. Shall such grace be vainly brought me? "Righteous Judge! for sin's pollution |