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Thee we adore, O hidden Saviour, Thee,
Who in Thy supper with us deign'st to be;
Both flesh and spirit in Thy presence fail,
Yet here Thy presence we devoutly hail.
O blest memorial of our dying Lord,
Who living Bread to men doth here afford!
Oh may our souls for ever feed on Thee,
And Thou, O Christ, for ever precious be!
Fountain of goodness! Jesu, Lord and God!
Cleanse us unclean with Thy most cleansing
Blood;
Increase our faith and love, that we may know
The hope and peace, which from Thy Presence
O Christ! Whom now beneath a veil we see, May what we thirst for soon our portion be, To gaze on Thee unveiled, and see Thy face, The vision of Thy glory and Thy grace. Amen.
The voice that breathed o'er Eden,
That earliest wedding day,
The primal marriage blessing,
It hath not passed away:
Still in the pure espousal
Of Christian man and maid.
The Holy Three are with us,
The threefold grace is said.
For dower of blessed children,
For love and faith's sweet sake,
For high mysterious union,
Which nought on earth may break;
Be present, awful Father,
To give away this bride,
As Eve Thou gavest to Adam
Out of his own pierced side :
Be present, Son of Mary,
To join their loving hands,
As Thou didst bind two natures
In Thine eternal bands:
Be present, Holiest Spirit,
To bless them, as they kneel,
As Thou for Christ, the Bridegroom,
The heavenly Spouse dost seal.
O spread Thy pure wing o'er them,
Let no ill power find place,
When onward to Thine Altar
The hallowed path they trace,
To cast their crowns before Thee
In perfect sacrifice,
Till to the home of gladness
With Christ's own Bride they rise. Amen.
O God the Son Eternal, Thy dread might Sent forth St. Michael and the hosts of heaven
And from the realms of light
Cast down in burning fight
Satan's rebellious hosts to darkness given.
Thine Angels, Lord, we bless with thankful lays,
Dwelling with Thee above yon depths of sky;
Who, 'mid Thy glory's blaze,
Heaven's ceaseless anthems raise,
And gird Thy throne in faithful ministry.
We celebrate their love, whose viewless wing
Hath left for us so oft their mansion high
The mercies of their King
To mortal saints to bring,
Or guard the couch of slumbering infancy.
But Thee, the First and Last, we glorify;
Who, when Thy world was sunk in death and sin,
Not with Thine hierarchy,
But didst with Thine own arm the battle win;
Alone didst pass the dark and dismal shore, Alone didst tread the wine-press; and alone, All glorious in Thy gore,
Didst light and life restore
To us who lay in darkness and undone !
Therefore with angels and archangels we
To Thy dear love our thankful chorus raise,
And tune our songs to Thee,
Who art, and art to be;
And, endless as Thy mercies, sound Thy praise.
Christ is our corner-stone,
On Him alone we build;
With His true saints alone
The courts of heaven are filled:
On His great love
Our hopes we place
Of present grace,
And joys above.
Oh then with hymns of praise
These hallowed courts shall ring;
Our voices we will raise
The Three in One to sing;
And thus proclaim
In joyful song,
Both loud and long,
That glorious Name.
Here, Gracious God, do Thou
For evermore draw nigh;
Accept each faithful vow,
And mark each suppliant sigh;
In copious shower
On all who pray
This holy day
Thy blessings pour!
Here may we gain from Heaven
The grace which we implore;
And may that grace, once given,
Be with us evermore,-
Until that day
When all the blest
To endless rest
Are called away!
Praise to the God of heaven,
Praise to His only Son;
And praise to Him be given,
Who with them both is One,
The Holy Ghost,
Who makes us meet
For the blest seat
Amid God's host. Amen.
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 the sinful throng;
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