The Words on the Cross 164

PART I Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."

ST. LUKE xxiii. 34

Even while thy life-blood flows,
Craving pardon for thy foes:

Hear us, Holy Jesus.
2 Saviour, for our pardon sue,

When our sins thy pangs renew,
For we know not what we do:

Hear us, Holy Jesus.
30 may we, who mercy need,

Be like thee in heart and deed,
When with wrong our spirits bleed:

Hear us, Holy Jesus.

PART II
“ To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise."

ST. LUKE xxiii. 43

1 Jesus, pitying the sighs

Of the thief, who near thee dies,
Promising him Paradise:

Hear us, Holy Jesus.
2 May we, in our guilt and shame,

Still thy love and mercy claim,
Calling humbly on thy Name:

Hear us, Holy Jesus. 3 O remember us who pine,

Looking from our cross to thine;
Cheer our souls with hope divine:

Hear us, Holy Jesus.

PART III “Woman, bebold thy son!” “Behold thy mother!"

ST. JOHN xix. 26, 27 1 Jesus, loving to the end

Her whose heart thy sorrows rend,
And thy dearest human friend:

Hear us, Holy Jesus.

2 May we in thy sorrows share,

And for thee all peril dare,
And enjoy thy tender care:

Hear us, Holy Jesus.
3 May we all thy loved ones be,

All one holy family,
Loving for the love of thee:

Hear us, Holy Jesus.

PART IV

“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

St. MATT. xxvii. 46

1 Jesus, whelmed in fears unknown,

With our evil left alone,
While no light from heaven is shown:

Hear us, Holy Jesus.

2 When we vainly seem to pray,

And our hope seems far away,
In the darkness be our stay:

Hear us, Holy Jesus.

3 Though no Father seem to hear,

Though no light our spirits cheer,
Tell our faith that God is near:

Hear us, Holy Jesus.

PART V
"I thirst." — ST. JOHN xix. 28
1 Jesus, in thy thirst and pain,

While thy wounds thy life-blood drain,
Thirsting more our love to gain:

Hear us, Holy Jesus.

2 Thirst for us in mercy still;

All thy holy work fulfill:
Satisfy thy loving will:

Hear us, Holy Jesus.

3 May we thirst thy love to know;

Lead us in our sin and woe
Where the healing waters flow:

Hear us, Holy Jesus.

PART VI
“It is finished.” - ST. JOHN xix. 30
1 Jesus, all our ransom paid,

All thy Father's will obeyed,
By thy sufferings perfect made:

Hear us, Holy Jesus.

2 Save us in our soul's distress,

Be our help to cheer and bless,
While we grow in holiness:

Hear us, Holy Jesus.

3 Brighten all our heavenward way

With an ever holier ray,
Till we pass to perfect day:

Hear us, Holy Jesus.

PART VII
Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit."

ST. LUKE xxiii. 46 1 Jesus, all thy labour vast,

All thy woe and conflict past,
Yielding up thy soul at last:

Hear us, Holy Jesus.

2 When the death shades round us lower,

Guard us from the tempter's power,
Keep us in that trial hour:

Hear us, Holy Jesus.

3 May thy life and death supply

Grace to live and grace to die,
Grace to reach the home on high:
Hear us, Holy Jesus. Amen.

Thomas B. Pollock, 1870

Easter-Eben

165

Six 7's

In the tomb the Saviour lay;
Still he slept, from head to feet
Shrouded in the winding sheet,
Lying in the rock alone,
Hidden by the sealèd stone.

2 Late at even there was seen

Watching long the Magdalene;
Early, ere the break of day,
Sorrowful she took her way
To the holy garden glade,
Where her buried Lord was laid.

3 So with thee, till life shall end,

I would solemn vigil spend:
Let me hew thee, Lord, a shrine
In this rocky heart of mine,
Where in pure embalmèd cell
None but thou may ever dwell.

4 Myrrh and spices will I bring,

True affection's offering;
Close the door from sight and sound
Of the busy world around;
And in patient watch remain
Till
my
Lord
appear again. Amen.

Thomas Whytehead, 1842, cento

166

C.M. THE THE grave itself a garden is,

Where loveliest flowers abound; Since Christ, our never-fading life,

Sprang from that holy ground.

2 O give us grace to die to sin,

That we, O Lord, may have A holy, happy rest in thee,

A Sabbath in the grave.

3 Thou, Lord, baptized in thine own blood,

And buried in the grave,
Didst raise thyself to endless life,

Omnipotent to save.

4 Baptized into thy death we died,

And buried were with thee,
That we might live with thee to God,

And ever blest might be.