{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/hec/hec17.htm","path":"chr/hec/hec17.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/hec/hec17.htm","text":"Hymns of the Eastern Church, by J.M. Neale, [1884]\nby S. Andrew of Crete.\nIt would be unpardonable not to give a portion of that which the Greeks regard as the King of Canons\u2014the Great Canon of the Mid-Lent week. It is a collection of Scriptural examples, turned to the purpose of penitential Confession. It is impossible to deny the beauty of many stanzas, and the ingenuity of some tropological applications. But the immense length of the Canon, for it exceeds three hundred stanzas, and its necessary tautology, must render it wearisome, unless devotionally used under the peculiar circumstances for which it is appointed. The following is a part of the earlier portion.\n\u03a0\u03cc\u03b8\u03b5\u03bd \u1f04\u03c1\u03be\u03bf\u03bc\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b8\u03c1\u03b7\u03bd\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bd;\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Whence shall my tears begin?\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0What first-fruits shall I bear\n \u00a0\u00a0Of earnest sorrow for my sin?\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Or how my woes declare? p. 79\n O Thou! the Merciful and Gracious One\n Forgive the foul transgressions I have done.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0With Adam I have vied,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Yea, pass\u2019d him, in my fall;\n \u00a0\u00a0And I am naked now, by pride\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And lust made bare of all;\n Of Thee, O God, and that Celestial Band,\n And all the glory of the Promised Land.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0No earthly Eve beguil\u2019d\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0My body into sin:\n \u00a0\u00a0A spiritual temptress smiled,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Concupiscence within:\n Unbridled passion grasp\u2019d the unhallow\u2019d sweet:\n Most bitter\u2014ever bitter\u2014was the meat.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If Adam's righteous doom,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Because he dared transgress\n \u00a0\u00a0Thy one decree, lost Eden's bloom\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And Eden's loveliness: p. 80\n What recompence, O Lord, must I expect,\n Who all my life Thy quickening laws neglect?\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0By mine own act, like Cain,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A murderer was I made:\n \u00a0\u00a0By mine own act my soul was slain,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0When Thou wast disobeyed:\n And lusts each day are quickened, warring still\n Against Thy grace with many a deed of ill.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Thou formed\u2019st me of clay,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0O Heav\u2019nly Potter! Thou\n \u00a0\u00a0In fleshly vesture didst array,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0With life and breath endow.\n Thou Who didst make, didst ransom, and dost know,\n To Thy repentant creature pity show!\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0My guilt for vengeance cries;\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0But yet Thou pardonest all, p. 81\n \u00a0\u00a0And whom Thou lov\u2019st Thou dost chastise,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And mourn\u2019st for them that fall:\n Thou, as a Father, mark\u2019st our tears and pain,\n And welcomest the prodigal again.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I lie before Thy door,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0O turn me not away!\n \u00a0\u00a0Nor in mine old age give me o\u2019er\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0To Satan for a prey!\n But ere the end of life and term of grace,\n Thou Merciful! my many sins efface!\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Priest beheld, and pass\u2019d\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The way he had to go:\n \u00a0\u00a0A careless glance the Levite cast,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And left me to my woe:\n But Thou, O Jesu, Mary\u2019s Son, console,\n Draw nigh, and succour me, and make me whole!\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Thou Spotless Lamb divine,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Who takest sins away,\n \u00a0\u00a0Remove, remove, the load that mine\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Upon my conscience lay:\n And, of Thy tender mercy, grant Thou me\n To find remission of iniquity!\n[In Mr. Young's book: composed by Dr. Schroeder.]","title":"Hymns of the Eastern Church: S. Andrew: The Great Canon, Called Also the King of Canons","type":"page"}