At Thy word they rose before Thee,
And Thy breath doth them sustain.
From high angels Thee attending,
Thou dost faithful guardians send,
In mysterious ways descending,
May they keep us to the end.
Keep us, else with wiles deceiving
The persuader of all ill,
Round his deadly meshes weaving,
The lost soul will rend and kill.
All creation bows before Thee,
FATHER, SON, and HOLY GHOST;
Highest angels that adore Thee,
Succour and sustain the lost.
"And there shall be no more night there, and they need no candle, neither light of the sun, for the LORD GOD giveth them light."
150. O HEAVENLY Jerusalem,
Of everlasting halls,
Thrice blessed are the people
Thou storest in Thy walls!
Thou art the golden mansion,
Where saints for ever sing!
The seat of GOD's own chosen,
The palace of the King.
There GOD for ever sitteth,
Himself of all the Crown;
The Lamb the light that shineth,
And never goeth down.
Nought to this seat approacheth
Their sweet peace to molest;
They sing their GOD for ever,
Nor day nor night they rest.
Calm hope from thence is leaning,
To her our longings bend;
No short-lived toil shall daunt us
For joys that cannot end.
TO CHRIST the Sun that lightens
His Church above, below,
TO FATHER, and to SPIRIT,
All things created bow.
"Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun, in the kingdom of their FATHER."
151. How bright those glorious spirits shine, Whence all their bright array?
How came they to the blissful seats
Of everlasting day?
Lo! these are they from suffering great,
Who came to realms of light;
And in the Blood of CHRIST have wash'd
Those robes which shine so bright.
Now, with triumphal palms they stand
Before the throne on high,
And serve the GOD they love amidst
The glories of the sky.
His presence fills each heart with joy,
Tunes ev'ry mouth to sing,
By day, by night, the sacred courts
With Alleluias ring.
Hunger and thirst are felt no more,
Nor suns with scorching ray;
GOD is their Sun, Whose cheering beams
Diffuse eternal day.
The Lamb which dwells amidst the throne
Shall o'er them still preside,
Feed them with nourishment divine,
And all their footsteps guide.
Midst pastures green He'll lead His flock
Where living streams appear;
And GOD the LORD from every eye
Shall wipe off ev'ry tear.
"Ye are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the city of the Living GOD, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first-born, which are written in Heaven, and to GOD the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to JESUS the Mediator of the New Covenant."
152. 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.
Mary leads the sacred story,
Mary, with her heavenly Child,
Sharer with Him now in glory
Maid and Mother undefiled.
Angels next, in due gradation
Of their nine-fold ministry,
Hymn the FATHER of creation,
Maker of the stars on high.
John, the herald-voice sonorous,
More than prophet owned to be,
Patriarchs and seers in chorus,
Swell the angelic harmony.
Near to CHRIST the Apostles seated,
Trampling on the powers of hell,
By the promise now completed,
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 gay procession
At the marriage-feast appear.
All are blest 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.
"GOD shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain."
153. WHO are these like stars appearing, These before GOD's throne who stand?
Each a golden crown is wearing,
Who are all this glorious band?
Alleluia! hark, they sing-
Praising loud their Heavenly King.
Who are these in dazzling brightness,
Clothed in GoD's own righteousness;
These, whose robes of purest whiteness
Shall their lustre still possess,
Still untouched by time's rude hand,
Whence come all this glorious band?
These are they who have contended
For their SAVIOUR'S honour long,
Wrestling on till life was ended,
Following not with sinful throng.
These, who well the fight sustained
Triumph by the Lamb have gained.
These are they whose hearts were riven,
Sore with woe and anguish tried,
Who in prayer full oft have striven
With the GOD they glorified;
Now their painful conflict o'er,
GOD has bid them weep no more.
These, the Almighty contemplating,
Kings and priests before Him stand,
Soul and body always waiting
Day and night at His command.
Now in God's most holy place
Blest they stand before His face.
"These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb."
154. O JESU, Source of sanctity,
In Whom Thy servants live,
All glory for Thy saints to Thee,
SAVIOUR of men, we give.
All glory for Thine angel train,
Who Heaven's high temple throng;
All glory for those ancient men,
Bards of prophetic song.
All glory for the messenger
Who came Thy face before;
For the blest Virgin glory, her
Who the Incarnate bore.
All glory for Thy chosen band,
To whom the charge was given,
To publish peace from land to land,
And ope the gates of Heaven.
For Thy meek priests a goodly choir,
For them, whose annals boast
Youth, maiden mild, and hoary sire,
The Martyrs' noble host.
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