The fires that rushed on Sinai down
In sudden torrents dread,
Now gently light, a glorious crown,
On every sainted head.
Like arrows went those lightnings forth
Winged with the sinner's doom,
But these, like tongues, o'er all the earth
Proclaiming life to come.
Praise to the Father and the Son,
Praise to the Spirit be;
Praise to the blessed Three in One;
Through all eternity.
TRINITY SUNDAY.
Hymns 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65,
The Son of God goes forth to war,
A kingly crown to gain,
His blood-red banner streams afar,
Who follows in His train ?
Who best can drink His cup of woe,
Triumphant over pain,
Who patient bears His cross below,
He follows in His train.
The martyr first, whose eagle eye
Could pierce beyond the grave,
Who saw his Master in the sky,
And called on Him to save.
Like Him, with pardon on his tongue
In midst of mortal pain,
He prayed for them who did the wrong,
Who follows in his train?
A glorious band, the chosen few,
On whom the Spirit came,
Twelve valiant saints, their hope they knew,
And mocked the cross and flame.
They met the tyrant's brandished steel,
The lion's gory mane,
They bowed their necks the death to feel,
Who follows in their train?
A noble army, men and boys,
The matron and the maid,
Around the Saviour's throne rejoice,
In robes of light arrayed.
They climbed the steep ascent of heaven,
Through peril, toil, and pain,
O God, to us may grace be given
To follow in their train.
Sing we the martyrs blest,
Their blood for Jesus poured;
Sing we their glorious victories,
And infinite reward.
Treading the world beneath,
Spurning the body's pain,
'Twas theirs, in martyrdom's brief space,
Eternal joys to gain.
To raging flames consigned,
And ruthless beasts a prey,
Their sacred flesh, by savage hooks,
Torn piece by piece away.
With racking anguish worn,
Unmoved they still endure,
Unmoved continue in the grace
Of endless life secure.
Saviour, to us vouchsafe,
Of thy dear clemency,
A portion with thy martyr saints,
Through all eternity.
Spouse of Christ! in arms contending
O'er each clime beneath the sun,
Blend with prayers for help ascending,
Notes of praise for triumphs won.
As the Church to-day rejoices
All her saints in one to join,
So from earth let all our voices
Rise in melody divine.
Leader of the ransomed nation,
See the Virgin's holy Son,
Who was slain for our salvation,
Who for us the victory won.
See the ministering spirits,
All the blest angelic throng,
Praising their Creator's merits
In a never-failing song.
All their earthly toils completed,
Hark! the twelve the anthem swell;
And on thrones of glory seated
Judge the tribes of Israel.
They who nobly died believing,
Martyrs purpled in their gore,
Crowns of life by death receiving,
Rest in joy for evermore.
Priests and Levites, Gospel-preachers.
And confessors numberless,
Prelates meek, and holy teachers,
Bear the palm of righteousness.
Virgin souls, by high profession
To the Lamb devoted here,
Strewing flowers in glad procession,
At the marriage feast appear.
These, the world and death defying,
Jesus faithfully confessed;
Living on, yet daily dying,
Numbered now among the blest.
All are one, together praising
God's eternal majesty,
Thrice-repeated anthems raising
To the all-holy Trinity.
So may we, with hearts devoted,
Serve our God in holiness;
So may we, by God promoted,
Share that heaven which they possess.
Also Hymns 124, 125.
In token that thou shalt not fear
Christ crucified to own,
We print the cross upon thee here,
And stamp thee His alone.
In token that thou shalt not blush
To glory in His name,
We blazon here upon thy front
His glory and His shame.
In token that thou shalt not flinch
Christ's quarrel to maintain,
But 'neath his banner manfully
Firm at thy post remain;
In token that thou too shalt tread
The path He travelled by,
Endure the cross, despise the shame,
And sit thee down on high;
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