24

Before the Sermon.

ALLELUIA! best and sweetest
Of the hymns of praise above!
ALLELUIA! thou repeatest,
Angel-host, these notes of love;
This ye utter,

While your golden harps ye move.

ALLELUIA! Church victorious,
Join the concert of the sky!
ALLELUIA! bright and glorious,
Lift, ye Saints, this strain on high!
We, poor exiles,

Join not yet your melody.

ALLELUIA! strains of gladness

Suit not souls with anguish torn;
ALLELUIA! sounds of sadness

Best become our state forlorn:
Our offences

We with bitter tears must mourn.

But our earnest supplication,

HOLY GOD, we raise to Thee;

Visit us with Thy salvation,
Make us all Thy joys to see:
ALLELUIA!

Ours at length this strain shall be.

25

SEPTUAGESIMA.

Morning.

After the third Collect.

JESU, Creator of the world!

Of all mankind Redeemer blest!
True GOD of GOD! in Whom we see
The FATHER'S Image clear express'd!

Thee, SAVIOUR, love alone constrain'd
To make our mortal flesh Thine own;
And as a second Adam come,

For the first Adam to atone.

That self-same Love Which made the sky, Which made the sea, and stars, and earth, Took pity on our misery,

And broke the bondage of our birth.

O JESU! in Thy Heart divine

May that same Love for ever glow; For ever mercy to mankind

From that exhaustless fountain flow.

For this Thy sacred Heart was pierced,
And both with Blood and Water ran;
To cleanse us from the stains of guilt,
And be the hope and strength of man.

TO GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON,
All praise, and power, and glory be ;
With Thee, O HOLY COMFORTER,
Henceforth through all eternity. Amen.

26

Before the Holy Communion.

THOU, great CREATOR, art possess'd
And Thou alone, of endless rest:
To angels only it belongs

To lift to Thee their ceaseless songs.

But we must toil and toil again,
With ceaseless woe and endless pain;
How then can we, in exile drear,
Lift the glad song of glory here?

Oh, Thou Who wilt forgiving be,
To all who truly turn to Thee,
Grant us to mourn the hapless cause
Of all our woe, Thy broken laws!

Then to such salutary grief
Let faith and hope bring due relief,
And we, too, shall be soon possess'd
Of ceaseless songs of endless rest.

TO GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON,
And HOLY GHOST, be glory done;
Let equal praise to each be given,
By all on earth, and all in heaven. Amen.

Septuagesima.

27

Before the Sermon.

THE LORD himself, the mighty Lord,
Vouchsafes to be my guide;
The Shepherd, by whose constant care
My wants are all supplied.

In tender grass He makes me feed,
And gently there repose;

Then leads me to cool shades, and where
Refreshing water flows.

He does my wand'ring soul reclaim,
And, to His endless praise,
Instruct with humble zeal to walk
In His most righteous ways.

I pass the gloomy vale of death,
From fear and danger free;
For there His aiding rod and staff
Defend and comfort me.

In presence of my spiteful foes
He does my table spread;

He crowns my cup with cheerful wine,
With oil anoints my head.

Since God does thus His wondrous love

Through all my life extend,

That life to Him I will devote,
And in His Temple spend.

TO FATHER, SON, and HOLY GHOST,
The GOD Whom we adore,

Be glory; as it was, is now,

And shall be evermore. Amen.

Evening.

After the third Collect.

Hymn 25.

Before the Sermon.

Hymn 26.