263

8.8.6.8.8.6 worth,

O could I sound the glories forth
Which in my Saviour shine,

I'd soar, and touch the heavenly strings,
And vie with Gabriel while he sings
In notes almost divine.

2 I'd sing the characters he bears,
And all the forms of love he wears,
Exalted on his throne:

In loftiest songs of sweetest praise,
I would to everlasting days
Make all his glories known.

3 O the delightful day will come
When my dear Lord will bring me home,
And I shall see his face;

Then with my Saviour, Brother, Friend,
A blest eternity I'll spend,
Triumphant in his grace.

264

Samuel Medley, 1789

6.6.6.6.4.4.4.4

TE holy angels bright,

Who wait at God's right hand,

Or through the realms of light

Fly at your Lord's command,

Assist our song,

For else the theme
Too high doth seem
For mortal tongue.

2 Ye blessed souls at rest,
Who ran this earthly race
And now, from sin released,
Behold the Saviour's face,

God's praises sound,
As in his light
With sweet delight
Ye do abound.

3 Ye saints, who toil below,
Adore your heavenly King,
And onward as ye go
Some joyful anthem sing;
Take what he gives
And praise him still,
Through good or ill,
Who ever lives!

4 My soul, bear thou thy part,
Triumph in God above:
And with a well-tuned heart
Sing thou the songs of love!
Let all thy days

265

S

Till life shall end,
Whate'er he send,

Be filled with praise.

Richard Baxter, 1681; Richard R. Chope, alt. 1857

10.10.7

ING Alleluia forth in duteous praise,
Ye citizens of heaven, O sweetly raise
An endless Alleluia.

2 Ye powers, who stand before the eternal Light,

In hymning choirs re-echo to the height An endless Alleluia.

3 The holy city shall take up your strain, And with glad songs resounding wake again An endless Alleluia.

4 In blissful antiphons ye thus rejoice To render to the Lord with thankful voice An endless Alleluia.

5 Ye who have gained at length your palms in bliss,

Victorious ones, your chant shall still be this,

An endless Alleluia.

6 There, in one grand acclaim, for ever ring The strains which tell the honour of your King,

An endless Alleluia.

7 This is sweet rest for weary ones brought back,

This is glad food and drink which ne'er shall lack,

An endless Alleluia.

8 While thee, by whom were all things made, we praise

For ever, and tell out in sweetest lays
An endless Alleluia.

9 Almighty Christ, to thee our voices sing Glory for evermore; to thee we bring

266

An endless Alleluia. Amen.

Latin; Tr. John Ellerton, 1865

E watchers and ye holy ones,

P.M.

Y Bright seraphs, cherubim and thrones,

Raise the glad strain, Alleluia!

Cry out, dominions, princedoms, powers, Virtues, archangels, angels' choirs,

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

2 O higher than the cherubim, More glorious than the seraphim, Lead their praises, Alleluia!

Thou bearer of the eternal Word,
Most gracious, magnify the Lord,
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
3 Respond, ye souls in endless rest,
Ye patriarchs and prophets blest,
Alleluia, Alleluia!

Ye holy twelve, ye martyrs strong,
All saints triumphant, raise the song
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

4 O friends, in gladness let us sing,
Supernal anthems echoing,
Alleluia, Alleluia!

To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Spirit, Three in One,
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Amen.

Athelstan Riley, 1909

267

FR

Holy Days

GENERAL FOR SAINTS' DAYS

7.6.7.6 D.

ROM all thy saints in warfare, for all thy saints at rest,

To thee, O blessed Jesus, all praises be addressed.

Thou, Lord, didst win the battle that they might conquerors be;

Their crowns of living glory are lit with rays from thee.

Insert here the stanza for the special Saint's Day
to be celebrated.

ST. ANDREW

2 Praise, Lord, for thine apostle, the first to welcome thee,

The first to lead his brother the very Christ

to see.

With hearts for thee made ready, watch we throughout the year,

Forward to lead our brethren to own thine Advent near.

ST. THOMAS

3 All praise for thine apostle, whose shortlived doubtings prove

Thy perfect twofold nature, the fullness of thy love.

On all who wait thy coming shed forth thy peace, O Lord,

And grant us faith to know thee, true Man, true God, adored.

ST. STEPHEN

4 Praise for the first of martyrs, who saw thee ready stand

To aid in midst of torments, to plead at God's right hand.

Share we with him, if summoned by death our Lord to own,

On earth the faithful witness, in heaven the martyr crown.

ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST

5 Praise for the loved disciple, exile on Patmos' shore;

Praise for the faithful record he to thy Godhead bore.