They praise the Lamb who once was slain;

But we can add a higher strain;

Not only say, He suffered thus,

But that He suffered all for us.

Jesus, who pass'd the angels by,
Assumed our flesh to bleed and die;
And still He makes it His abode ;
As man He fills the throne of God.

Our next of kin, our Brother now,
Is He to whom the angels bow;
They join with us to praise His Name,
But we the nearest interest claim.

But ah! how faint our praises rise!
Sure 'tis the wonder of the skies,
That we, who share His richest love,
So cold and unconcern'd should prove.

O glorious hour! it comes with speed,
When we, from sin and darkness freed,
Shall see the God who died for man,
And praise Him more than angels can.
John Newton. 1779

LVI.

O Saviour, may we never rest

Till Thou art form'd within ;

Till Thou hast calm'd our troubled breast,
And crush'd the power of sin.

O may we gaze upon Thy cross,

Until the wondrous sight

Makes earthly treasures seem but dross,

And earthly sorrows light.

Until, releas'd from carnal ties,

Our spirit upward springs,

And sees true peace above the skies,
True joy in heavenly things.

There as we gaze, may we become
United, Lord, to Thee;

And in a fairer, happier home,

Thy perfect beauty see.

William Hiley Bathurst. 1831.

LVII.

Saviour, I lift my trembling eyes

To that bright seat, where, placed on high, The great, the atoning Sacrifice,

For me, for all, is ever nigh.

Be Thou my guard on peril's brink;
Be Thou my guide through weal or woe;
And teach me of Thy cup to drink,

And make me in Thy path to go.

For what is earthly change or loss?
Thy promises are still my own:
The feeblest frame may bear Thy cross,
The lowliest spirit share Thy Throne.

Anon. "M. G. T.” 1831.

V.

CHRIST RISEN.

"And the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures."

LVIII.

Again the Lord of Life and Light
Awakes the kindling ray,
Unseals the eyelids of the morn,
And pours increasing day.

O what a night was that which wrapt
The heathen world in gloom!
O what a sun, which broke this day
Triumphant from the tomb!

This day be grateful homage paid,
And loud hosannas sung;
Let gladness dwell in every heart,
And praise on every tongue.

Ten thousand differing lips shall join
To hail this welcome morn,

Which scatters blessings from its wings
To nations yet unborn.

The powers of darkness leagued in vain
To bind His Soul in death;

He shook their kingdom, when He fell,
With His expiring breath.

And now His conquering chariot wheels

Ascend the lofty skies

;

While broke beneath His powerful cross
Death's iron sceptre lies.

Exalted high at God's right hand,

The Lord of all below,

Through Him is pardoning love dispens'd,

And boundless blessings flow.

And still for erring guilty man
A Brother's pity flows;

And still His bleeding heart is touch'd
With memory of our woes.

To Thee, my Saviour and my King,
Glad homage let me give ;

And stand prepared like Thee to die,

With Thee that I may live!

Anna Lætitia Barbauld. 1773.

LIX.

Christ the Lord is risen to-day,
Sons of men and angels say:
Raise your joys and triumphs high,
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply.

Love's redeeming work is done,
Fought the fight, the battle won:
Lo! our Sun's eclipse is o'er;
Lo! He sets in blood no more.

Vain the stone, the watch, the seal ;
Christ hath burst the gates of hell!

Death in vain forbids His rise;
Christ hath open'd Paradise !

Lives again our glorious King:
Where, O Death, is now thy sting?
Once He died, our souls to save :
Where thy victory, O Grave?

Soar we now where Christ has led,
Following our exalted Head;

Made like Him, like Him we rise ;
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies.

What though once we perish'd all,
Partners in our parents' fall?
Second life we all receive,
In our Heavenly Adam live.

Risen with Him, we upward move;
Still we seek the things above;
Still pursue, and kiss the Son
Seated on His Father's Throne.

Scarce on earth a thought bestow,
Dead to all we leave below;
Heav'n our aim, and loved abode,
Hid our life with Christ in God:

Hid, till Christ our Life appear
Glorious in His members here;
Join'd to Him, we then shall shine,
All immortal, all divine.

Hail the Lord of Earth and Heaven!
Praise to Thee by both be given !
Thee we greet triumphant now!
Hail, the Resurrection Thou!