5 The Church of thy dear Son
Inflame with love's pure fire,
Bind her once more in one,
And life and truth inspire.

O Lord, stretch forth thy mighty hand,
And guard and bless our fatherland.

6 Give peace, Lord, in our time:
O let no foe draw nigh,

Nor lawless deed of crime
Insult thy Majesty.

O Lord, stretch forth thy mighty hand,
And guard and bless our fatherland. Amen.

183

W. Walsham How, 1871

C.M.

LORD in thy Name thy servants

plead,

And thou hast sworn to hear;

Thine is the harvest, thine the seed,
The fresh and fading year.

2 Our hope, when autumn winds blew wild, We trusted, Lord, with thee;

And now that spring has on us smiled,
We wait on thy decree.

3 The former and the latter rain,
The summer sun and air,

The green ear, and the golden grain,
All thine, are ours by prayer.

4 Thine, too, by right, and ours by grace, The wondrous growth unseen,

The hopes that soothe, the fears that brace, The love that shines serene.

5 So grant the precious things brought forth By sun and moon below,

That thee, in thy new heaven and earth,
We never may forego. Amen.

HAIL! festal day! to endless ages

When God ascended to his starry throne.

2 Now with the Lord of new and heavenly birth,

His gifts return to grace the springing earth.

3 Now glows the earth with painted flowers' array,

And warmer light unbars the gates of day.

4 Now Christ, from gloomy hell, comes triumphing,

And field and grove with flower and leafage spring.

5 The reign of death o'erthrown, he mounts on high,

Sent forth with joyous praise from sea and sky.

6 Loose now the captives, loose the prison door,

The fallen, from the deep, to light restore.

7 A countless people, from death's fetters free,

Own thee Redeemer, join, and follow thee.

8 Creator and Redeemer, Christ our Light! The One begotten of the Father's might;

9 Co-equal, Co-eternal, thou to whom

The kingdom of the world decreed shall come;

10 Thou, looking on our race in darkness laid,

To rescue man, true Man thyself wast

made

Venantius Fortunatus, c. 530-609;
Tr. Theodore A. Lacey 1884

185

8.7.8.7.4.7

LOOK, ye saints; the sight is glorious;

See the

of

now;

From the fight returned victorious,

Every knee to him shall bow;

Crown him! Crown him!

Crowns become the Victor's brow.

2 Crown the Saviour, angels crown him;
Rich the trophies Jesus brings;
On the seat of power enthrone him,
While the vault of heaven rings;
Crown him! Crown him!

Crown the Saviour King of kings.

3 Sinners in derision crowned him,
Mocking thus Messiah's claim;
Saints and angels crowd around him,
Own his title, praise his Name
Crown him! Crown him!
Spread abroad the Victor's fame!

4 Hark! those bursts of acclamation!
Hark! those loud triumphant chords!
Jesus takes the highest station;
O what joy the sight affords!
Crown him! Crown him!

King of kings, and Lord of lords.

186

Thomas Kelly, 1809

L.M.

IFT up your heads, ye mighty gates!
Behold the King of glory waits;

The King of kings is drawing near;
The Saviour of the world is here.

2 The Lord is just, a helper tried;
Mercy is ever at his side;
His kingly crown is holiness;
His scepter, pity in distress.

3 O blest the land, the city blest,
Where Christ the Ruler is confessed!
O happy hearts and happy homes
To whom this King of triumph comes!

4 Fling wide the portals of your heart!
Make it a temple, set apart

From earthly use for heaven's employ,
Adorned with prayer and love and joy.

5 Redeemer, come! I open wide
My heart to thee: here, Lord, abide!
Let me thy inner presence feel:
Thy grace and love in me reveal.

6 So come, my Sovereign! enter in!
Let new and nobler life begin!
Thy Holy Spirit, guide us on,
Until the glorious crown be won!

Amen.

George Weissel, 1642; Tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1855

187

OU

UR Lord is risen from the dead; Our Jesus is gone up on high; The powers of hell are captive led, Dragged to the portals of the sky.

L.M.

2 There his triumphal chariot waits,
And angels chant the solemn lay:
Lift up your heads, ye heavenly gates,
Ye everlasting doors, give way.

3 Loose all your bars of massy light,
And wide unfold the radiant scene;
He claims those mansions as his right;
Receive the King of glory in.

4 Who is the King of glory, who?

The Lord that all his foes o'ercame,
The world, sin, death, and hell o'erthrew;
And Jesus is the Conqueror's name.

5 Lo! His triumphal chariot waits,
And angels chant the solemn lay:
Lift up your heads, ye heavenly gates,
Ye everlasting doors, give way.