By the dread mysterious hour Of the insulting tempter's power, Turn, O turn a favouring eye; Hear our solemn Litany!
By the sacred griefs that wept O'er the grave where Lazarus slept ; By the boding tears that flow'd Over Salem's lov'd abode ; By the anguish’d sigh that told Treachery lurk'd within Thy fold; From Thy seat above the sky, Hear our solemn Litany!
By Thine hour of dire despair, By Thine agony of prayer, By the cross, the nail, the thorn, Piercing spear, and torturing scorn; By the gloom that veil'd the skies O'er the dreadful sacrifice; Listen to our humble cry, Hear our solemn Litany!
By Thy deep expiring groan; By the sad sepulchral stone ; By the vault, whose dark abode Held in vain the rising God; O! from earth to heaven restored, Mighty re-ascended Lord,
Listen, listen to the cry
Of our solemn Litany.
Star of morn and even, Sun of Heaven's heaven, Saviour high and dear Toward us turn Thine ear; Through whate'er may come, Thou canst lead us home.
Though the gloom be grievous, Those we leant on leave us, Though the coward heart Quit its proper part,
Though the Tempter come, Thou wilt lead us home.
Saviour pure and holy, Lover of the lowly,
Sign us with Thy sign, Take our hands in Thine, Take our hands and come, Lead Thy children home.
Star of morn and even, Shine on us from Heaven, From Thy glory-throne Hear Thy very own! Lord and Saviour, come, Lead us to our home!
When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of Glory died, My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ, my God; All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood.
See from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down! Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.
ROCK OF AGES
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee!
Let the water and the blood, From Thy riven side which flow'd, Be of sin the double cure,
Cleanse me from its guilt and power.
Not the labours of my hands Can fulfil Thy law's demands; Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears for ever flow, All for sin could not atone; Thou must save, and Thou alone.
Nothing in my hand I bring; Simply to Thy cross I cling; Naked, come to Thee for dress; Helpless, look to Thee for grace; Foul, I to the Fountain fly; Wash me, Saviour, or I die!
While I draw this fleeting breath When my heartstrings break in death, When I soar through tracts unknown, See Thee on Thy judgment-throne ; Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee!
All is o'er ;-the pain-the sorrow- Human taunts, and fiendish spite, Death shall be despoil'd to-morrow
Of the prey he grasps to-night; Yet, once more to seal His doom, Christ must sleep within the tomb.
Close and still the cell that holds Him, While in brief repose He lies; Deep the slumber that enfolds Him,
Veil'd awhile from mortal eyes :- Slumber, such as needs must be After hard-won victory.
Fierce and deadly was the anguish Which on yonder cross He bore; How did soul and body languish, Till the toil of death was o'er ! But that toil, so fierce and dread, Bruis'd and crush'd the serpent's head.
Whither hath His soul departed?— Roams it on some blissful shore, Where the meek and faithful-hearted, Vext by this world's hate no more, Wait until the trump of doom Call their bodies from the tomb?
Or, on some benignant mission, To the imprison'd spirits sent, Hath He to their dark condition Gleams of hope and mercy lent? Souls not wholly lost of old When o'er earth the deluge roll'd!
Ask no more ;-the abyss is deeper E'en than angels' thoughts may scan ; Come and watch the Heavenly Sleeper; Come, and do what mortals can, Reverence meet toward Him to prove, Faith, and trust, and humble love.
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