Sequence 68. St. Augustine

August 28th.
OUR tuneful strains let us upraise
That endless feast's delights to praise,
When, since thereon no trouble weighs,
The heart observes true sabbath days ;
The rapture of a conscience clear,
That perfumes all those joys sincere,
By which it hath rich foretaste here
Of saints' unending glory there,
Where the celestial company
Joys in its home exultingly ;
And, giving crowns, their King they see
In all his glorious majesty.

O happy land ! how great its bliss,
That knoweth nought but happiness !

For all the dwellers on that shore
One ceaseless song of praise outpour ;
1 88 s. AUGUSTINUS.

Who those delights' full sweetness feel,
Which not a trace of grief conceal ;
'Gainst whom no foeman draws the steel,
And who beneath no tempest reel :
Where one day, clear from cloudlet's haze,
Is better than a thousand days ;
Bright with true light's transcendent rays ;
Filled with that knowledge of God's ways,
To grasp which human reason fails,
Nor human tongue to tell avails.

Till this mortality shall be
Absorbed in that life's victory ;
When God shall all in all appear,
Life, righteousness, and knowledge clear ;
Victuals and vesture and whate'er
The pious mind would wish to share !

This in this vale of misery
The sober mind's chief thought should be ;
This should it feel, while rest it takes,
This should be with it when it wakes ;
How it will in that home, — its days
Of earthly exile past, — fond lays
For ever, crowned, the King to praise
In all His glorious beauty, raise.

These praises, sounding loud and clear,
The Church now imitateth here ;
As, in due order, year by year,
The birthdays of her saints appear ;
When, after they have fought their fight,
With worth-won honours they are dight ;
The martyr crowned with roses bright ;
The virgin clad in robes of white.

They too receive a golden chain,
Who doctrines Catholic maintain :
In which Augustine now doth reign.

One of the great King's shining train ;
Whose written volumes' full array
Are now the one Faith's strength and stay :
Hence Mother Church avoids the way
Where errors lead mankind astray.

To follow where his steps precede,
And preach the truths He taught indeed.

Mother ! may grace thy servants lead,
And grant the pure warm faith we need ! Amen.