HOU that art the Father's Word,
Thou that art the Lamb of God,
Thou that art the Virgin's Son,
Thou that savest souls undone,
Sacred Sacrifice or sin,
Fount of piety within,
Hail, Lord Jesus!
Thou to whom Thine angels raise
Quiring songs of sweetest praise,
Thou that art the flower and fruit,
Virgin-born from Jesse's root,
Shedding perfect peace abroad,
Perfect man and perfect God,
Hail, Lord Jesus!
Thou that art the door of heaven,
Living Bread in mercy given,
Brightness of the Father's face,
Everlasting Prince of Peace,
Precious pearl beyond all price,
Brightest Star in all the skies,
Hail, Lord Jesus!
King and Spouse of holy hearts,
Fount of love that ne'er departs,
Sweetest Life and brightest Day,
Truest Truth, and surest Way
That leads onward to the blest
Sabbath of eternal rest,
Hail, Lord Jesus!
HERE is a book, who runs may read,
Which heavenly truth imparts,
And all the lore its scholars need,
Pure eyes and Christian hearts.
The works of God, above, below,
Within us, and around,
Are pages in that book, to show
How God Himself is found.
The glorious sky, embracing all,
Is like the Maker's love,
Wherewith encompassed, great and small
In peace and order move.
One Name, above all glorious names,
With its ten thousand tongues
The everlasting sea proclaims,
Echoing angelic songs.
The raging fire, the roaring wind,
Thy boundless power display:
But in the gentler breeze we find
Thy Spirit's viewless way.
Thou who hast given us eyes to see,
And love this sight so fair,
Give us a heart to find out Thee,
And read Thee everywhere. Amen.
THE spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,
And spangled heavens, a shining frame,
Their great Original proclaim;
The unwearied sun from day to day
Does his Creator's power display,
And publishes to every land
The work of an Almighty hand.
Soon as the evening shades prevail,
The moon takes up the wondrous tale,
And nightly to the listening earth
Repeats the story of her birth;
Whilst all the stars that round her burn,
And all the planets in their turn,
Confirm the tidings as they roll,
And spread the truth from pole to pole.
What, though in solemn silence all
Move round the dark terrestrial ball;
What, though no real voice nor sound
Amidst their radiant orbs be found;
In reason's ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious voice,
For ever singing, as they shine,
"The hand that made us is Divine."
SEXAGESIMA.
JESU, Creator of the world blest!
True God of God! in whom we see
The Father's image clear expressed!
Thee, Saviour, love alone constrained
To make our mortal flesh Thine own;
Thou as a second Adam cam'st,
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 breast divine
That self-same love doth ever glow;
For ever, mercy to mankind
Shall from that ceaseless fountain flow.
For this Thy pierced and wounded heart
Poured forth the water and the blood,
To cleanse us from the stains of guilt,
And reconcile the world to God.
To God the Father, and the Son,
All praise, and power, and glory be,
With Thee, O Holy Comforter,
Through time and through eternity. Amen.
LMIGHTY God, Thy word is cast
Like seed into the ground;
Now let the dew of heaven descend,
And plenteous fruits abound.
Let not the foe of Christ and man
This holy seed remove;
But give it root in every heart
To bring forth fruits of love.
Let not the world's deceitful cares
The rising plant destroy;
But let it yield a hundredfold
The fruits of peace and joy.
Where'er the precious seed is sown,
Thy quickening grace bestow;
That all whose souls the truth receive,
Its saving power may know.
To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Holy Ghost,
All honour by the Church be done,
And by the heavenly host.
OW blest were they who walked in love
With Christ, while yet He dwelt above,
First children of Almighty grace,
First fathers of the faithful race!
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