After which shall be sung or said by the Bishop (the persons to be
ordained Priests all kneeling), "Veni, Creator Spiritus." Rubric
in the Office for Ordering of Priests.
'Twas silence in Thy temple, Lord,
When slowly through the hallowed air
The spreading cloud of incense soared,
Charged with the breath of Israel's prayer.
'Twas silence round Thy throne on high,
When the last wondrous seal unclosed,
And in this portals of the sky
Thine armies awfully reposed.
And this deep pause, that o'er us now
Is hovering--comes it not of Thee?
Is it not like a mother's vow
When, with her darling on her knee,
She weighs and numbers o'er and o'er
Love's treasure hid in her fond breast,
To cull from that exhaustless store
The dearest blessing and the best?
And where shall mother's bosom find,
With all its deep love-learned skill,
A prayer so sweetly to her mind,
As, in this sacred hour and still,
Is wafted from the white-robed choir,
Ere yet the pure high-breathed lay,
"Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,"
Rise floating on its dove-like way.
And when it comes, so deep and clear
The strain, so soft the melting fall,
It seems not to th' entranced ear
Less than Thine own heart-cheering call.
Pages:
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225