Sequence 52. St. Peter and St. Paul

June 29TH.
ROME ! St. Peter celebrate thou !

Rome ! St. Paul too venerate thou
With an equal reverence !

Let the church be joyful truly,
And, rejoicing in them wholly,
Praise them with a joy intense!

These, on whom the Church is grounded,
Founded by them, on them founded,
Are her bases and roof-props ;
Curtains and the tent above her
Those red skins that form her cover ;
And her flowers, bowls and knops.

Clouds they are, light radiating.
Human heart-soil irrigating.

Now with dew and now with rain : 1 5
Preachers for a new law pleading,
Leaders to Christ's safe fold leading
A new flock of Christian men.

Together toiling, they
Thresh out the barn-stored grain,
In hope that thus they may
The vineyard's penny gain.

And, as they wield the fan.
Away the chaff is blown,
While 'neath fresh fruits again
The crowded barn-floors groan.

" Mountains " is their appellation.
Catching first illumination
From the light of the true Sun.

Such their virtue is, that even
Names like " firmament " and " heaven "
Have by it for them been won.

They the rout of sickness cause.
And, repealing grim death's laws,
Evil spirits put to flight :
They destroy idolatry,
And from guilt the guilty free,
Making sad hearts once more bright.

Both a common glory share in,
Each of them however bearing
Marks of greatness all his own :
Peter, peerless prince, presideth
O'er the whole church ; Paul provideth
Laws to govern it well-known.

But to one is princedom given,
That the true faith, never riven
By disputes, be one as well :
Many seeds doth one shell cover,
But the strength is one moreover
Of the many 'neath that shell.

Coming to Rome, they met
Salvation to proclaim,
For they well knew that it
Was full of deeds of shame,
Yet no cure discerning.

'Gainst those iniquities
These true physicians fight,
Whose saving remedies
Those fools oppose with might,
Never wisdom learning.

As Christ's truth they there expounded.
Nero, by their words confounded,
Simon Magus too, astounded.

Yield not to the apostles' word.
Weakness flieth, death's self dieth,
Rome believeth, Magus sigheth ;
New life earth revivifieth,
Now its idols are abhorred.

Wicked Nero, captivated
With the doctrines Magus stated,
By his death now desolated,
Mourns his dreadful headlong fall ;
But these warriors pre-elected,
Ne'er from faith's straight line deflected.

In the battle undejected
Stand, whom sword can ne'er appal.

Peter, who true light enjoyeth,
On the cross, head downward, dieth ;
Paul by swordsman's stroke ; whose passion.

Though thus differing in its fashion,
A reward, not differing, gains.

Fathers, highest rank attaining !
With the King of all kings reigning !

May the judgment, so sustaining.
Of your power for us be gaining
A release from sinful chains ! Amen.