THE BAPTISM OF SUCH AS ARE OF RIPER YEARS.

224

"Buried with Him in baptism."

7-6's.

AROUND Thy grave, Lord Jesu,
Thine open grave, we stand,

With hearts all full of gladness,
To keep Thy blest command:
So Thee in faith we follow,

And trace Thy path of love,
Through the strange solemn waters,
Up to Thy throne above.
Lord Jesu! we remember
The coldness of Thy tomb-
The silence and the darkness—
The more than midnight gloom :
After Thy Cross and passion,
The deep sleep came at last;

O'er the Eternal radiance

The mortal shadow passed.

But now Thou art arisen !
Thy travail all is o'er,

Once Thou for sin hast suffered,
And Thou shalt die no more!
Crowned with immortal honour,
Because of that dark bed,
Give us to share Thy triumph,
Thou First-born from the dead!

Into Thy death baptized,

O let us with Thee die :

And clothe us with Thy risen life,
And wholly sanctify :

So freed from the old nature,
And ransomed by Thy blood,
May we pass on to glory,

Alive with Thee to God.—Amen.

225

HOLY COMMUNION.

"Come, for all things are now ready."

MY God, and is Thy table spread,

L.M.

And doth Thy cup with love o'erflow?

Thither be all Thy children led,
And let them all Thy sweetness know.
Hail, sacred Feast, which Jesus makes,
Rich banquet of His Flesh and Blood!
Thrice happy he who here partakes
That sacred stream, that heavenly food.

Why are its dainties all in vain
Before unwilling hearts displayed?
Was not for them the Victim slain?
Are they forbid the children's bread?

O let Thy table honoured be,
And furnished well with joyful guests;
And may each soul salvation see,
That here its sacred pledges tastes.

To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
The God Whom heaven and earth adore,
From men and from the angel-host
Be praise and glory evermore.—AMEN.

226

C.M.

"This do in remembrance of Me."

ACCORDING to Thy gracious word,

In meek humility,

This will I do, my dying Lord,

I will remember Thee.

Thy body broken for my sake

My bread from heaven shall be ;
Thy sacramental cup I take,
And thus remember Thee.
Gethsemane can I forget?

Or there Thy conflict see,
Thine agony and bloody sweat,
And not remember Thee?

When to the Cross I turn mine eyes,

And rest on Calvary,

O Lamb of God, my Sacrifice,

I must remember Thee.

And when these failing lips grow dumb, And mind and memory flee,

When Thou shalt in Thy kingdom come, Jesu! remember me. AMEN.

227

P.M.

"To know the love of Christ, which passeth

knowledge."

ESU, to Thy table led,

JF

Now let every heart be fed
With the true and living Bread.
While in penitence we kneel,
Thy sweet Presence let us feel,
All Thy wondrous love reveal!

While on Thy dear Cross we gaze,
Mourning o'er our sinful ways,
Turn our sadness into praise !

When we taste the mystic Wine,
Of thine outpoured Blood the sign,
Fill our hearts with Love Divine !

Draw us to Thy wounded side,
Whence there flowed the healing tide;
There our sins and sorrows hide!

From the bonds of sin release,
Cold and wavering faith increase,
Lamb of God, grant us Thy peace!

Lead us by Thy pierced Hand,
Till around Thy Throne we stand,

In the bright and better land!—Amen.

228

P.M.

"Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; therefore let us keep the feast."

HERE, O my Lord, I see Thee face to face; Here would I touch and handle things

unseen;

Here grasp with firmer hand the eternal grace, And all my weariness upon Thee lean.

Here would I feed upon the bread of God; Here drink with Thee the royal wine of

heaven;

Here would I lay aside each earthly load,

Here taste afresh the calm of sin forgiven.

Too soon we rise; the symbols disappear; The feast, though not the love, is passed an gone;

The bread and wine remove, but Thou art here;

Nearer than ever; still my Shield and Sun.

Mine is the sin, but Thine the righteousness; Mine is the guilt, but Thine the cleansing blood;

Here is my robe, my refuge, and my peace,—
Thy blood, Thy righteousness, O Lord my God.
I know that deadly evils compass me,
Dark perils threaten, yet I would not fear,
Nor poorly shrink, nor feebly turn to flee;
Thou, O my Christ, art buckler, sword, and
spear.

But see, the Pillar-cloud is rising now,
And moving onward through the desert night;
It beckons, and I follow, for I know
It leads me to the heritage of light.

Feast after feast thus comes and passes by;
Yet, passing, points to the glad feast above,
Giving sweet foretaste of the festal joy,

The Lamb's great bridal feast of bliss and AMEN.

love.

229

L.M.

"This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend."

JESU, thou Joy of loving hearts!

Thou Fount of Life! Thou Light of men!

From the best bliss that earth imparts,

We turn unfilled to Thee again.