O the censer-bearing Elders, Crowned with gold and robed in white! O the living creatures’ anthem, Never resting day or night! And the thousand choirs of Angels, With their voices like the sea, Singing praise to God the Father And, O victim Lamb, to Thee! Lord, bring home the glorious lesson To their hearts, who strangely deem That an unmajestic worship Doth Thy Majesty beseem; Show them more of Thy dear Presence, Let them, let them come to know, That our King is throned among us, And His Church is Heaven below. Then shall faith read off the meaning Of each stately ordered rite, Dull surprise and hard resistance Turn to awe and full delight; Men shall learn how sacred splendour Shadows forth the pomps above How the glory of our altars Is the homage of our love. ’Tis for Thee we bid the frontal Its embroidered wealth unfold, ’Tis for Thee we deck the reredos With the colours and the gold; Thine the floral glow and fragrance, Thine the vestures’ fair array, Thine the starry lights that glitter Where Thou dost Thy light display. ’Tis to Thee the chant is lifted, ’Tis to Thee the heads are bowed; Far less deep was Israel’s rapture When the glory filled the cloud. O our own true God incarnate, What should Christians’ Ritual be But a voice to utter somewhat Of their pride and joy in Thee. What but this? yet since corruption Mars too oft our holiest things, In the form preserve the spirit; Give the worship angel’s wings, Till we gain Thine own high temple, Where no tainting breath may come, And whate’er is good and beauteous Finds with Thee a perfect home.” SERMON II. I CORINTHIANS xiv. 40. “Let all things be done decently and in order.”