The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

""214 THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.Brighter than eastern skies at daybreak strewnWith fancied roses, than the unblemished moonBefore her wane begins on heaven s blue coast,Thy imagefalls to earth. Yet some, I ween,Not unforgiven, the suppliant knee might bendAs to a visible power, in which did blendAll that was mixed and reconciled in theeOf mother s love with maiden purity,Of high with low, celestial with serene."To honor one who has been the subject of divine,angelic, and saintly panegyric,is to us a privilege,and the privilege is heightened into a sacred duty,when we remember that the spirit of prophecy foretold that she should ever be the unceasing theme ofChristian eulogy as long as Christianity itself wouldexist.Honor he isworthy of, whom the king hath amind to honor." 1The King of kings hath honoredHis divine Son did not disdain to be subjectMary ;to her, therefore should we honor her, especially asthe honor we pay to her redounds to God, the sourceof all glory. The Royal Prophet, than whom noman paid higher praise to God, esteemed the friendsof God worthy of all honor : To me, Thy friends,O God, are made exceedinglyhonorable." 2 Nowthe dearest friends of God are they who most faithare My friends, iffully keep His "precepts You :you do the things that I command you."1Esther vi. 11.3Who2 Ps. cxxxviii. (In Protestant version, Ps. cxxxix.)3John xv. 14.