ASCENSION-DAY.
HYMN 31. 7's D.
Christ's ascension and intercession.
HAIL the day that sees him rise,
Parted from our wishful eyes!
Christ, awhile to mortals given,
Re-ascends his native heaven:
There the glorious triumph waits;
Lift your heads, eternal gates!
Wide unfold the radiant scene,
Take the King of glory in.
See, the heaven its Lord receives !
Yet he loves the earth he leaves;
Though returning to his throne,
Still he calls mankind his own.
Still for us he intercedes:
Prevalent his death he pleads;
Near himself prepares our place,
Harbinger of human race.
Grant our hearts may thither rise,
Seeking thee beyond the skies;
Ever upward may we move,
On the wings of faith and love.
There at length may we remain,
Partners of thine endless reign;
There thy face unclouded see,
Find our heaven of heavens in thee.
HYMN 32. . C. M.
Jesus seen of angels.
BEYOND the glittering starry sky,
Far as the eternal hills,
There in the boundless world of light,
Our great Redeemer dwells.
2 Legions of angels, bright and fair, In countless armies shine,
At his right hand, with harps of gold,
To offer songs divine.
Whilst he vouchsaf'd on earth to dwell,
And suffer scorn and pain,
They cast their honours at his feet,
And waited in his train.
Through all his travels here below
They did his steps attend;
Oft wondering how, or where at last
The mystic scene would end.
They saw his agonizing frame
Sweat blood at every pore:
They saw him break the bars of death,
Which none e'er brake before.
They brought his chariot from above,
To bear him to his throne,
Wav'd their triumphant wings, and cried,
"The glorious work is done."
HYMN 33. c. M.
Christ the Lord of all.
1 ALL hail the great Immanuel's name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown him Lord of all.
Ye saints redeem'd of Adam's race,
From sin and Satan's thrall;
Hail him, who saves you by his grace,
And crown him Lord of all.
Let every kindred, every tribe,
On this terrestial ball,
To him all majesty ascribe,
And crown him Lord of all!
O that with yonder sacred throng,
We at his feet may fall;
There join the everlasting song,
And crown him Lord of all!
WHIT-SUNDAY.
HYMN 34. L.M.
The day of Pentecost.
1 GREAT was the day, the joy was great,
When the divine disciples met;
Whilst on their heads the Spirit came,
And sat like tongues of cloven flame.
2 What gifts, what miracles he gave!
And power to kill, and power to save!
Furnish'd their tongues with wondrous words,
Instead of shields, and spears, and swords.
3 Thus arm'd, he sent the champions forth,
From east to west, from south to north;
"Go, and assert your Saviour's cause;
Go; spread the mystery of his cross."
4 These weapons of the holy war,
Of what almighty force they are,
To make our stubborn passions bow,
And lay the proudest rebel low!
5 Nations, the learned and the rude,
Are by these heavenly arms subdued;
While Satan rages at his loss,
And hates the doctrine of the cross.
Great King of grace, my heart subdue;
I would be led in triumph too,
A willing captive to my Lord,
And sing the victories of his word.
For the influences of the Holy Spirit.
CREATOR Spirit! by whose aid
The world's foundations first were laid,
Come, visit every waiting mind,
Come, pour thy joys on human kind :
From sin and sorrow set us free;
And make us temples worthy thee.
Plenteous of grace, descend from high,
Rich in thy sevenfold energy:
Thrice holy fount! thrice holy fire!
Our hearts with heavenly love inspire;
Come, and thy sacred unction bring,
To sanctify us while we sing.
Chase from our minds the infernal foe;
And peace, the fruit of love, bestow:
Give us thyself, that we may see
The Father and the Son by thee;
Make us eternal truths receive,
And practice all that we believe.
Immortal honour, endless fame,'
Attend the Almighty Father's name;
The Saviour-Son be glorified,
Who for lost man's redemption died;
And equal adoration be,
Eternal Comforter, to thee.
HYMN 36. s. M.
For spiritual illumination and strength.
COME, Holy Spirit, come,
Let thy bright beams arise;
Dispel the darkness from our minds,
Enlighten all our eyes.
Convince us of our sin,
Then point to Jesu's blood;
And to our wondering view reveal
The pardoning love of God.
Revive our drooping faith,
Our doubts and fears remove;
And kindle in our breasts the flame
Of never-dying love.
Dwell thou within our hearts,
Our minds from bondage free;
Then shall we know, and praise, and love,
The Father, Son, and Thee.
HYMN 37. C. M.
For quickening grace.
COME, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove,
With all thy quickening powers:
Kindle a flame of sacred love
In these cold hearts of ours.
In vain we tune our formal songs,
In vain we strive to rise;
Hosannas languish on our tongues,
And our devotion dies.
And shall we, Lord, for ever be
In this poor lifeless state;
Our love so faint, so cold to thee,
And thine to us so great?
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