Common of an Evangelist

Sequence.

To Christ your voices raise
in glorifying praise,
ye reverential quire;
Who, the evangelists,
truth's earnest dogmatists,
did with his grace inspire:
Who, as him doth beseem,
who by the lightning's gleam
unto the world gives light;
By these whom he chose out
he heresies doth rout,
and schism puts to flight.
These are the fountains four
from whence the rivers pour
o'er hill and glade to reach;
From paradise they spring,
the world illumining
with undivided speech.
Four living creatures show
these four to us below,
so holy vision says:
Each differing in form,
in action uniform,
before the prophet's gaze.
With wings of fashion fair,
poised o'er the earth in air,
forth with their wheels they go;
Calm and composed of mien,
and full of eyes, and keen
the Word of God to show.
In these we may behold
the twice two rings of gold,
which Israel's ark did bear;

Their doctrine's wholesome sound,
Christ's Church wherever found,
its keeper, doth declare.
On such a car conveyed,
the queen of Sheba paid
her court to Solomon;
These the Lamb's chariots are,
who, for the love he bare
towards us, to death was done.
Christ is the head and end,
who all doth comprehend,
in these four gospels found;
Upon their teaching staid,
their instrumental aid,
the Church her faith doth ground.
At their blest intercessions
may Christ from all transgressions
deliver us through grace;
And by the word they teach,
direct us till we reach
in heaven a resting-place.