Then, with that guerdon well content, Rejoicing to their home they went, That Infant sweet their one reward, The Angel host their loving guard. GOD, when our last long road we take, Grant us the like, for JESU's sake.

Amen.

Also 368, 397. Week before Septuagesima. 8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 7.

55.

ALLELUIA! song of sweetness, Voice of joy, eternal lay; Alleluia is the anthem

Of the choirs in heavenly day,
Which the Angels sing, abiding
In the House of GoD alway.
Alleluia thou resoundest,

Salem, Mother ever blest;
Alleluias without ending

Fit yon place of gladsome rest;
Exiles we, by Babel's waters

Sit in bondage and distressed. Alleluia we deserve not

Here to chant for evermore; Alleluia our transgressions Make us for a while give o'er, For the holy time is coming Bidding us our sins deplore. Trinity of endless glory,

Hear Thy people as they cry; Grant us all to keep Thy Easter In our Home beyond the sky. There to Thee our Alleluia Singing everlastingly. Amen.

So may we for ever

With denizens of light,
And all their hymning choirs
In echoing songs unite.
Alleluias, &c.

You shall the noble city
Of God receive on high,
Which ever joyful wakes
To strains of melody.
Alleluias, &c.

To that blest home return;
Take ye its joys for aye,
And to the LORD ascribe
A glory-giving lay.
Alleluias, &c.

Thee, CHRIST! we celebrate,
Thy glory we proclaim,
And hail Thee, LORD of Might,
In songs of glad acclaim.
Alleluias, &c.

Thou art the Light and Joy

Of Heaven's star-decked domain, Where victors Thee their Prince Extol in ceaseless strain. Alleluias, &c.

There find the wearied rest,

Rich store of heavenly food,
And drink sweet draughts refreshed
From an exhaustless flood.
Alleluias, &c.

We in melodious strains,
The world's Creator sing,
And with o'erflowing hearts
Our laud and music bring.
Alleluias, &c.

Thee, CHRIST! we celebrate,

Thy glory we proclaim,
And hail Thee, LORD of Might,
In songs of glad acclaim.
Alleluias, &c.

3 of 7.

Holy, Uncreated Light, Three in One, of boundless might:

Thou, when time began its course, Madest, with creative force, Heaven and Earth, O Threefold Source.

Void was earth, no form it bore, Darkling lay the deep of yore, Till GoD moved the waters o'er.

59.

Sexagesima.

L. M.

seas,

Grass and herbs, and fruitful trees, Sun and moon, and stars with these. Then the teeming waters bare Whales and countless fishes there, Winged their flight the birds of air. At Thy word the pregnant earth Beasts and cattle at a birth, And the creeping thing brought forth. Last, to crown Thy wondrous plan, Wisdom, Love, and Power began, In Thine Image mad'st Thou man. Viewing earth, and sky, and flood, 1 Lifeless things, and living brood, Then Thou spakest, It is good. Now to Thee all praise be done, GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON, GOD the SPIRIT, Three in One. Amen. 58.

ΜΑ

C. M.

AKER of earth, to Thee alone Perpetual rest belongs; To Thee bright choirs around Thy throne,

Pour forth their endless songs. But we, as sinless now no more, Are doomed to toil and pain; Yet exiles on a foreign shore May sing the heavenly strain. FATHER, Whose promise binds Thee

still

To make the captive free, Grant us to mourn the deeds of ill That banish us from Thee.

In glory and in power complete, To make that power and glory known, Lays the round world's foundation

stone.

The elements, before unmade,
Are now in beauteous order laid;
And wondrous harmony they raise,
To celebrate their Maker's praise.
But e'en while thus the world comes
forth

In all the beauty of its birth,
His mind hath in itself unfurled

Another and a nobler world.
The Builder is His only Son,
In grace and love it is begun;
And carried on through every age
By His own word, the Gospel page.
In Heaven at length, when time is
o'er,

"Twill stand complete to move no more;

Made meet for such a blest abodeMeet for the dwelling place of God. O GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON, And God the SPIRIT, Three in One, Preserve, direct, maintain in love The world below, the world above! Amen.

Upon Thy love and care:

Till Thou restore us with the blest,
The joys of Heaven to share.

O GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON,
And God the HOLY GHOST,
To Thee be praise, great Three in One,
From Thy created host. Amen.

The wonders of your faith set forth, Or tell of all your panting sighs Which hope uplifted to the skies?

In dreary exile here below

Ye found the world an empty show; On true delights you fixed your love, Not here below, but there above.

The heart, O Gon, that loves Thee well, | Still longs with Thee in peace to dwell;

Forbid, O LORD, our souls to roam,
And fix them on our future home.

Praise to the FATHER, and the SON,
And HOLY SPIRIT, Three in One,
Eternal praise to each be given,
By all on earth, and all in heaven.
Amen.

L. M.

61. E. 1st to 3rd S. in L.
IN solemn course, as holy lore

Hath taught, keep we the fast
once more;

The ten days' noted order meet, Four times in mystic round complete. The Law and Prophets first made

known

This rule to earth in ages gone, Which CHRIST, of times Who doth

abide

LORD and Creator, sanctified.

Now use we in abstemious mood Discourse, and drink, and earthly food;

Curtail superfluous mirth and sleep,
Strive close and holy watch to keep.
Speak we in reverent awe to heaven
Each cry aloud to be forgiven;
And so, t' appease His vengeful wrath,
Our tears before the Judge pour forth.
How oft by sins we should amend,
O Gon, Thy goodness we offend !
Pour on us from Thy throne above
The riches of Thy pardoning love.

Behold, we here before Thee stand
Frail creatures of Thy forming hand;
O give not to a stranger's claim
The honour of Thy glorious Name.
The slavish bands of sin release,
And all the good we ask increase;
So us unto Thyself restore
To please Thee here and evermore.
Bestow our prayer, blest Trinity,
Grant this, unsevered Unity;
So may the gifts Thy fast imparts,
Be precious to our loving hearts.
Amen.

MERCIFUL Creator, hear,
Regard our mingled tears and

prayer,
Heavenward to Thee devoutly sent,
In this our holy fast of Lent.
Heart-searcher kind, well known to
Thee

Is all our souls' infirmity;

Repentant now we seek Thy Face;
Impart Thy blessed pardoning grace.
Much have we sinnéd in Thy sight;
Spare, who confess their guilt aright;
In honour of Thy Name restore
Health to our sicknesses once more.
Grant that the body's outward sense
And thus the fasting spirit be
Be chastened by fit abstinence;
From every guilty blemish free.
Bestow our prayer, blest Trinity,
Grant this, unsevered Unity;
So may the gifts Thy fast imparts
Be precious to our loving hearts.
Amen.

63. E. 3rd to 5th S. in L. L. M. BEHOLD the accepted time appear.

The medicine for our sin is here, Whereby in heart, and work, and word. We have offended Thee, O Lord. How kind and merciful His care, Who hath till now vouchsafed to spare;

Nor would that lost and unforgiven We should from Him in guilt be driven.

Before Him now with flowing tear,
With fast and penitential prayer,
We fall, and works of mercy meet
Devoutly offer at His feet.

64. M. JESU, Who this our Lenten tide

Of abstinence hast sanctified; And Who to amend our soul's estate, This holy fast didst consecrate;

So unto Paradise once more,
By sober converse to restore
The souls whom thence enticing lust
Insatiate, had to ruin thrust:

Be with Thy Church in saving power,
In this her penitential hour;
When for the sins of bygone days,
In plenteousness of tears she prays.
To all our heinous past offence,
Thy gracious pardon, LORD, dispense;
Henceforth, O kindest Guardian, deign
To keep us from those sins again.

So cleansed in spirit in Thine eyes,
By this our fasting sacrifice,
May we Thy Paschal joys prepare
With meet and reverent love to share.
Grant this, O FATHER, thro' the SON,
For Thy good SPIRIT's sake be done;
Adored through all eternity,
In honour One, in Person Three.

65.

Amen.

6, 5, 6, 5, 6, 5, 6, 5.

CHRISTIAN! dost thou see them

On the holy ground,
How the troops of Midian
Prowl and prowl around?
Christian! up and smite them,
Counting gain but loss:
Smite them by the merit
Of the Holy Cross !
Christian! dost thou feel them,
How they work within,
Striving, tempting, luring,
Goading into sin?
Christian! never tremble!

Never be down-cast!

Smite them by the virtue
Of the Lenten Fast!
Christian! dost thou hear them,
How they speak thee fair?
"Always fast and vigil?
Always watch and prayer?"
Christian! say but boldly:
"While I breathe I pray :"
Peace shall follow battle,
Night shall end in day.
["Well I know thy trouble,
O My servant true;
Thou art very weary,-
I was weary too:

But that toil shall make thee,
Some day all Mine own
But the end of sorrow

Shall be near My Throne."]

8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 7.

66. HUMBLY now, with deep contri

tion,

We Thy mercy, LORD, entreat, Now, as mourning, weeping, kneeling, We bow down before Thy feet. FATHER, in the day of anguish,

And of darkness, and of shame, Cling we to that precious promise Made to us in JESU's name.

For His sake-our great RedeemerThrough His death of wondrous love,

Dare we to approach the footstool

Of Thy mighty throne above?
Dare we, stained with such dishonour,
Stained with sin, look up to Thee?
Dare we, with our loathsome gar-
ments,

To the source of glory flee?
Dare we pray, with eager voices,
For Thy blessing and Thy grace:
For one accent of forgiveness;

For one glimmer of Thy Face?
Aye, through Him Who bore in sor-

row

Bore in want, in woe, and strifeThis same weight of human weakness, This same weary human life. Through His Name, and by His merits, Whom we worship and adore, For His blesséd sake we pray Thee, Hear us, spare us evermore.

By His hour of mortal weakness, Give Thineerring children strength, That they bear the burden bravely, That they win the crown at length. Amen.

7, 8, 7, 8, 7.

67.
LORD, my Rock, to Thee I cry,
Hear the voice of my complaining,
Lest if Thou my suit deny,
Through rebuke of Thy disdaining
I become as those that die.

Hear me ere my life be gone, Where I kneel, my heart outpouring, In the place where Thou art known, Where the cherub-forms adoring,

Bend around Thy mercy throne. LORD, on Whom my hope relied, When I poured my heart before Thee, Be Thy mercy magnified; Let my grateful songs adore Thee, For the help Thy love supplied. Mighty God, my shield in war, Strength in weakness, hope in sadness, Great as Thy dear mercies are Is my heart's exulting gladness, Hymning forth Thy praise afar.

7,7,7, 5.

68. LORD of mercy and of might, Of mankind the Life and Light,

Maker, Teacher Infinite,

JESU, hear and save!

Who, when sin's primeval doom
Gave creation to the tomb,
Didst not scorn the Virgin's womb,
JESU, hear and save!

Mighty Monarch, SAVIOUR mild,
Humbled to a mortal child,
Captive, beaten, bound, reviled,
JESU, hear and save!

Throned above celestial things,
Borne aloft on Angels' wings,
LORD of lords, and King of kings,
JESU, hear and save!

Who shalt yet return from high,
Robed in might and majesty,
Hear us, help us when we cry,

JESU, hear and save! Amen.

LORD, when we bend before Thy throne,

And our confessions pour,
Teach us to feel the sins we own,
And hate what we deplore.

Our broken spirits pitying see;
Then let a kindling ray from Thee
And penitence impart;

Beam hope upon the heart.
When we disclose our wants in prayer,
May we our wills resign;
And not a thought our bosom share,
That is not wholly Thine.

Let faith each meek petition fill,
And waft it to the skies;
And teach our hearts 'tis goodness
still,

That grants it, or denies.

70.

7, 6, 7, 6, 7, 6, 7, 6. Y sins, my sins, my SAVIOUR! They take such hold on me,

MY

I am not able to look up,

Save only, CHRIST, to Thee; In Thee is all forgiveness,

In Thee abundant grace, My shadow and my sunshine The brightness of Thy Face. My sins, my sins, my SAVIOUR! How sad on Thee they fall, Seen through Thy gentle patience, I tenfold feel them all;

I know they are forgiven,

But still, their pain to me
Is all the grief and anguish

They laid, my LORD, on Thee.
My sins, my sins, my SAVIOUR!
Their guilt I never knew
Till, with Thee, in the desert

I near Thy Passion drew;
Till, with Thee, in the garden

I heard Thy pleading prayer, And saw the sweat-drops bloody, That told Thy sorrow there. Therefore my songs, my SAVIOUR, E'en in this time of woe, Shall tell of all Thy goodness, To suffering man below;