EASTER DAY.* And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen. St. Luke xxiv. 5, 6. [Almighty God, who through thine only begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life; we humbly beseech thee, that as, by thy special grace preventing us, thou dost put into our minds good desires; so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.] OH day of days! shall hearts set freet Enthroned in thy sovereign sphere And week-days, following in their train, [Easter, derived from a Saxon word meaning to rise, is the name given to the festival which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It is always held on the Sunday after the full moon which immediately succeeds the 21st day of March, the vernal equinox. The occurrence of Easter Sunday regulates all the moveable feasts of the year. It cannot be earlier than the 22d of March, nor later than the 25th of April.] [Easter was anciently called the Great Day, the Feast of feasts, and the Queen of feasts.] [The first day of the week, Sunday, being hallowed from the apostles' times, as commemorative of the resurrection, is, as it were, a weekly Easter.] * Till all, both resting and employ, Then wake, my soul, to high desires,† Or, if she think, it is in scorn: "Where is your Lord?" she scornful asks: "["Can there be any day but this, Though many suns to shine endeavour? "Easter," by George Herbert.] ["Rise, heart; thy Lord is risen. Sing his praise Who takes thee by the hand, that thou likewise "Easter," by George Herbert.] ["It is Easter, beautiful Easter. The time in all the year when nature's types most clearly shadow forth the realities of the Christian dispensation. For the first butterfly has burst from its grave-clothes, and is gone up towards heaven in the light of this season; and look! a thousand blossoms hang on branches that were to all appearance dead last week-nay! that but a fortnight ago were bending beneath a heavy load of snow; and see how the chestnut buds, wrapped up as they were by God's own hand with inimitable art, fold within fold, have heard the voice of God in the garden, and burst their cerements, and sprung forth in beauty, exulting in the life He has renewed to them. And the primroses too are up, round the foot of the old cross, and the daisies and the cuckoo-flowers are awake, and, rising out of their graves under every hedge, tell their tale of hope and the resurrection." Scenes in our Parish, by a Country Parson's Daughter.] Sons of a king ye boast to be; Methinks your wisdom guides amiss, Yet even the lifeless stone is dear No more a charnel-house, to fence 'Th' imprisoning stone is roll'd away. "Tis now a cell, where angels use To come and go with heavenly news, And in the ears of mourners say, "Come, see the place where Jesus lay:" "Tis now a fane, where Love can find Christ every where embalm'd and shrin'd; Aye gathering up memorials sweet, Where'er she sets her duteous feet. Oh! joy to Mary first allowed, When rous'd from weeping o'er his shroud, By his own calm, soul-soothing tone, Breathing her name, as still his own! Joy to the faithful Three renew'd So is it still: to holy tears, In lonely hours, Christ risen appears: MONDAY IN EASTER WEEK. ST. PETER AND CORNELIUS. Of a truth, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him. Acts x. 34, 35. [Scripture appointed as the Epistle for the Day.] [Almighty God, who through thine only begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life; we humbly beseech thee, that as, by thy special grace preventing us, thou dost put into our minds good desires; so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect, through Jesus Christ our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.] up GO and watch the new-born rill With a bright emerald thread. Canst thou her bold career foretell, Her freshening billows send? * Perchance that little brook shall flow With monarchs at their helm. Or canst thou guess, how far away 'Mid reeds and mountain fern, Nurses her store, with thine to blend Their spotless lives at last? Even so, the course of prayer who knows? But streams shall meet it by and by Their chant of many parts. Unheard by all but angel ears The while upon his terrac'd roof For heavenly vision soar'd. Far o'er the glowing western main* [Peter was at Joppa, on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean.] |