7 What shall I, frail man, be pleading?

Who for me be interceding,
When the just are mercy needing?

8 King of Majesty tremendous,

Who dost free salvation send us,
Fount of pity, then befriend us!

9 Think, good Jesus, my salvation

Cost thy wondrous Incarnation;
Leave me not to reprobation!

10 Faint and weary, thou hast sought me,

On the cross of suffering bought me.

Shall such grace be vainly brought me? 11 Righteous Judge! for sin's pollution

Grant thy gift of absolution,

Ere the day of retribution. 12 Guilty, now I pour my moaning,

All my shame with anguish owning;

Spare, O God, thy suppliant groaning! 13 Thou the sinful woman savedst;

Thou the dying thief forgavest;

And to me a hope vouchsafest. 14 Worthless are my prayers and sighing,

Yet, good Lord, in grace complying,

Rescue me from fires undying! 15 With thy favoured sheep O place me;

Nor among the goats abase me;

But to thy right hand upraise me. 16 While the wicked are confounded,

Doomed to flames of woe unbounded,
Call me with thy saints surrounded.

17 Low I kneel, with heart submission,

See, like ashes, my contrition;
Help me in my last condition.

18 Ah! that day of tears and mourning!

From the dust of earth returning
Man for judgment must prepare him;
Spare, O God, in mercy spare him!

19 Lord, all pitying, Jesus blest,

Grant them thine eternal rest. Amen.

Thomas of Celano, 13th cent.; Tr. William J. Irons, 1849

Six 8's

66 O

COME, O come, Emmanuel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

2 O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free

Thine own from Satan's tyranny;
From depths of hell thy people save,
And give them victory o'er the grave.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

3 0 come, thou Day-spring, come and cheer

Our spirits by thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

4 O come, thou Key of David, come,

And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

5 O come, O come, thou Lord of might!

Who to thy tribes on Sinai's height,
In ancient times didst give the law,
In cloud, and majesty, and awe.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel. Amen.

Tr. John Mason Neale, 1852; alt, 1861

TH

67

P.M.
HOU art coming, O my Saviour!

Thou art coming, O my King!
In thy beauty all resplendent,
In thy glory all transcendent;

Weil may we rejoice and sing;
Coming: in the opening east

Herald brightness slowly swells; Coming: 0 thou glorious Priest!

Hear we not thy golden bells?

2 Thou art coming, thou art coming;

We shall meet thee on thy way;
We shall see thee, we shall know thee,
We shall bless thee, we shall show thee

All our hearts could never say;
What an anthem that will be,

Music rapturously sweet, Pouring out our love to thee

At thine own all-glorious feet.

3 Thou art coming; at thy table

We are witnesses for this;
While remembering hearts thou meetest
In communion clearest, sweetest,

Earnest of our coming bliss;
Showing not thy death alone,

And thy love exceeding great, But thy coming, and thy throne,

All for which we long and wait.

4 Thou art coming, we are waiting

With a hope that cannot fail; Asking not the day or hour, Resting on thy word of power,

Anchored safe within the veil. Time appointed may be long,

But the vision must be sure; Certainty shall make us strong,

Joyful patience can endure.

5 O the joy to see thee reigning,

Thee, our own beloved Lord! Every tongue thy Name confessing, Worship, honour, glory, blessing

Brought to thee with one accord;
Thee, our Master and our Friend,

Vindicated and enthroned,
Unto earth's remotest end
Glorified, adored, and owned! Amen.

Frances R. Havergal, 1879

68

7.6.7.6 D. THE :

world is

The times are waxing late:
Be sober and keep vigil;

The Judge is at the gate:

The Judge who comes in mercy,

The Judge who comes with might, To terminate the evil,

To diadem the right.

2 Arise, arise, good Christian,

Let right to wrong succeed;
Let penitential sorrow

To heavenly gladness lead:
To the home of fadeless splendour,

Of flowers that bear no thorn,
Where they shall dwell as children,

Who here as exiles mourn;

3 'Mid power that knows no limit,

And wisdom free from bound,
Where rests a peace untroubled,

Peace holy and profound,
O happy, holy portion,

Refection for the blest,
True vision of true beauty,

Sweet cure for all distrest!

4 Thou hast no shore, fair ocean!

Thou hast no time, bright day!
Dear fountain of refreshment

To pilgrims far away!
Strive, man, to win that glory;

Toil, man, to gain that light;
Send hope before to grasp it,

Till hope be lost in sight.

6 O sweet and blessèd country,

The home of God's elect!
O sweet and blessèd country

That eager hearts expect!