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St. Gregory (540-604)

Trans. Tattendon Hymnal (1899)

T

PRIMO DIERUM OMNIUM

HIS day the first of days was made,

When God in light the world arrayed;

Or when his Word arose again,

And conquering death gave life to men.

Slumber and sloth drive far away;
Earlier arise to greet the day;
And ere its dawn in heaven unfold
The heart's desire to God be told,

Unto our prayer that he attend,
His all-creating power extend
And still renew us, lest we miss
Thro' earthly stain our heavenly bliss.

That us, who here this day repair
To keep the apostles' time of prayer
And hymn the quiet hours of morn,
With blessed gifts he may adorn.

For this, Redeemer, thee we pray
That thou wilt wash our sins away,
And of thy loving-kindness grant
Whate'er of good our spirits want:

That exiles here awhile in flesh
Some earnest may our souls refresh
Of that pure life for which we long,
Some foretaste of the heavenly song.

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Henry Downton (1818-1885)

'OR thy mercy and thy grace, Constant through another year, Hear our song of thankfulness; Jesu, our redeemer, hear.

Lo! our sins on thee we cast,
Thee, our perfect Sacrifice,
And, forgetting all the past,
Press towards our glorious prize.

Dark the future; let thy light
Guide us, bright and morning Star;
Fierce our foes and hard the fight;
Arm us, Saviour, for the war.

In our weakness and distress,
Rock of strength, be thou our stay;
In the pathless wilderness
Be our true and living Way.

Who of us death's awful road
In the coming year shall tread,
With thy rod and staff, O God,
Comfort thou his dying bed.

Keep us faithful, keep us pure,
Keep us evermore thine own,
Help, oh help us to endure,
Fit us for the promised crown.

So within thy palace gate

We shall praise, on golden strings,

Thee the only potentate,

Lord of lords and King of kings.

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Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

COME

OME, thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set thy people free;

From our fears and sins release us;
Let us find our rest in thee.

Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver;

Born a child, and yet a king;

Born to reign in us for ever;

Now thy gracious kingdom bring.

By thy own eternal Spirit,

Rule in all our hearts alone:

By thy all-sufficient merit,

Raise us to thy glorious throne.

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