Hallelujah! Thou too may'st sing But oh! we may not now This joyful strain begin: Our heads we first must bow In sorrow for our sin. Alleluia ! We may not sing O Lord, our hearts incline, To worship only Thee! We then that choir may join, And ours that strain may be: Alleluia! We then may sing LENT. NOCTURN. (Quod lex adumbravit vetus. No. 60.) THIS Solemn fast the Fathers saw Thou, the heart-searching God, must know How vile and weak we be: But, Lord, do thou thy mercy show, Great is our sin, and great our shame, Oh! may our outward abstinence That we may rescue every sense Blest Three in One, with grief sincere, That fruits of mercy may appear GOOD FRIDAY. NOCTURN I. (Fando quis audivit, Dei. No. 63.) To whom is our report made known? The Son of God, for sinful man In purpose slain, since time began, But wherefore, Saviour, dost Thou lie And why those bloody drops, that show Oh! 'tis the effect of grief within Doth the dread cup deter thy soul? The Father, who the Victim gave, Amen. The Father, who the Victim gave, EVENSONG. (Vexilla regis prodeunt. No. 66.) THE royal banner is unfurled, The cross is reared on high, See through his holy hands and feet Our souls are saved alive. And see, the spear hath pierced his side, And shed that sacred flood, That holy reconciling tide, The water and the blood. Hail! holy cross, from thee we learn The only way to heaven; nd oh, to thee may sinners turn, dovah! we thy name adore, And sing, till time shall be no more, OR THIS. (Prone vocem, mens, canoram. No. 67.) Now, my soul, thy voice upraising, Of the sorrows most amazing, And the agonizing pain, Which our Saviour, Sinless bore, for sinners slain. He the ruthless scourge enduring, And removed our pains away. He to liberty restored us By the very bonds he bare, To the cross, and keep us there. When his painful life was ended, Then the spear transfixed his side, Blood and water thence descended, Pouring forth a double tide: This to cleanse us, That to heal us, is applied. |