Shall the vile race of flesh and blood
Contend with their Creator, God?
Shall mortal worms presume to be
More holy, wise, or just, than He?
Behold! he puts His trust in none
Of all the spirits round His throne;
Their natures, when compared with His,
Are neither holy, just, nor wise.

But how much meaner things are they
Who spring from dust, and dwell in clay;
Touched by the finger of Thy wrath,
We faint and vanish like the moth.

From night to day, from day to night,
We die by thousands in Thy sight;
Buried in dust whole nations lie,
Like a forgotten vanity.

Almighty Power, to Thee we bow;
How frail are we! how glorious Thou!
No more the sons of earth shall dare
With an eternal God compare.

AND STRAIGHTWAY IN THE MORNING, THE CHIEF PRIESTS HELD A CONSULTATION WITH THE ELDERS AND SCRIBES-BOUND JESUS, CARRIED HIM

AWAY AND DELIVERED HIM TO PILATE.

Behold the Man! How glorious He!
Before His foes He stands unawed,
And without wrong or blasphemy,
He claims equality with God.
Behold the Man! by all condemned,
Assaulted by a host of foes,
His person and His claims contemned,
A man of sufferings and of woes.
Behold the Man! He stands alone;
His foes are ready to devour;
Not one of all His friends will own
Their Master in this trying hour.
Behold the Man! So weak He seems,
His awful words inspire no fear;
But soon must he who now blasphemes
Before His judgment seat appear.

Behold the Man! Though scorned below,
He bears the greatest name above;

The angels at His footstool bow,

And all His royal claims approve.

Thrice fallen, thrice restored!
The bitter lesson learnt,
That heart for Thee, O Lord,

With triple ardor burnt.

The cross He took He laid not down
Until He grasped the martyr's crown.

Oh bright, triumphant faith!
Oh courage void of fears!
Oh love, most strong in death!

Oh penitential tears!

By these, Lord, keep us lest we fall,

And make us go where Thou shalt call.