COMMUNE PONTIFICUM.

"At even, being the first day of the week, the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews."

CLIX.

"ARE the gates sure?—is every bolt made fast?
No dangerous whisper wandering through-
Dare we breathe calm, and, unalarmed, forecast
Our calls to suffer or to do ?"

O ye of little faith! twelve hours ago,

He whom ye mourn, by power unbound The bonds ye fear; nor sealed stone below Barred Him, nor mailed guards around.

The Lord is risen indeed! His own have seen,
They who denied, have seen His face,

Weeping and spared. Shall loyal hearts not lean
Upon His outstretched arm of grace?

Shine in your orbs, ye stars of God's new Heaven,
Or gathered or apart, shine clear !

Far, far beneath the opposing mists are driven,
The Invisible is waiting near.

Y.

"Jesus came, and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when He had so said, He shewed them His hands and His side. Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord."

CLX.

Is He not near ?-look up and see : Peace on His lips, and in His hands and side The wounds of love, He stays the trembling knee, Nerves the frail arm, His ark to guide.

Is He not near? O trust His seal Baptismal, yet uncancelled on thy brow; Trust the kind love His holy months reveal, Oft as His altar hears thy deep heart-searching vow.

And trust the calm, the joy benign,

That o'er the obedient breathes in life's still hour, When Sunday-lights with summer airs combine, And shadows blend from cloud and bower.

And trust the wrath of JESUS' foes;

They feel Him near, and hate His mark on you; O take their word, ye whom He loved and chose! Be joyful in your KING; the rebels own you true.

Y.

"Then said JESUS unto them again, Peace be unto you. As My FATHER hath sent me, so send I you."

CLXI.

AND shrink ye still ?-He nearer draws,
And to His mission and His cause

Welcomes His own with words of grace and might : "Peace be to you!"-their peace, who stand In sentry with God's sword in hand,

The peace of CHRIST's loved champions warring in His sight.

"Peace be to you !"-their peace, who feel
E'en as the SON the FATHER's seal,

So they the SON's; each in his several sphere
Gliding, on fearless Angel wing,

One heart in all, one hope, one KING,

Each an Apostle true, a crowned and robed seer.

T

Sent as the FATHER sent the SON, 'Tis not for you to swerve, nor shun Or power or peril; ye must go before,

If caught in the fierce bloody shower,

Think on your LORD's o'erwhelming hour ;

Are ye not priests to Him who the world's forfeit bore?

Throned in His church till He return, Why should ye fear to judge and spurn* This evil world, chained at His feet and yours? Why with dejected faltering air

Your rod of more than empire bear?

Your brows are royal yet; God's unction aye endures.

γ.

"And having said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, RECEIVE YE THE HOLY GHOST."

CLXII.

By your Lord's creative breath,
Breathing Hope and scorn of death,
Love untired, on Pardon leaning ;
Joy, all mercies sweetly gleaning;

* Vide Rev. ii. 26-28, which is also addressed to a Christian bishop.

Zeal, the bolts of Heaven to dart,

Fragrant Purity of heart;

By the voice ineffable,

Wakening your mazed thoughts with an Almighty spell ;

By His word, and by His hour

When the PROMISE came with power,

By His HOLY SPIRIT's token,-
By His saintly chain unbroken,
Lengthening, while the world lasts on,
From His cross unto His throne,-

Guardians of His Virgin Spouse !

Know that His might is yours, whose breathing sealed your vows.

Y.

"Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; AND WHOSESOEVER SINS YE RETAIN, THEY ARE RETAINED."

CLXIII.

BEHOLD your armoury !-sword, and lightning shaft, Culled from the stores of God's all-judging ire, And in your wielding left! The words, that waft Power to your voice absolving, point with fire