I

127.

Veni Creator Spiritus.

COME Holy Ghost, Creator, come,

And visit all the souls of Thine:

Thou hast inspired our hearts with life;
Inspire them now with life divine.

2 Thou art the Comforter, the gift Of God most high; the Fire of love, The everlasting Spring of joy,

And holy unction from above.

3 Thy gifts are manifold; Thou writ'st
God's laws in every faithful heart;
The promise of the Father, Thou
Dost heavenly eloquence impart.

4 Enlighten our dark souls, till they

Thy love, Thy heavenly love embrace; And since we are by nature frail,

Assist us with Thy saving grace.

5 Drive far from us the mortal foe,
And grant us to have peace within ;
That, with Thy light and guidance blest,
We may escape the snares of sin.

6 Teach us the Father to confess,

And Son, who from the grave revived,

And, with the Father and the Son,
Thee, Holy Ghost, from both derived.

St. Gregory.

Amen.

Tr. in Book of Common Prayer.

128.

Jesu, nostra, redemptio.

IO CHRIST, our hope, our heart's desire,
Redemption's only spring,
Creator of the world art Thou,
Its Saviour and its King.

2

How vast the mercy and the love
Which laid our sins on Thee,
And led Thee to a cruel death

To set Thy people free!

3 But now the bonds of death are burst,
The ransom has been paid;

And Thou art on Thy Father's Throne
In glorious robes arrayed.

4 O may Thy mighty love prevail
Our sinful souls to spare!

O may we come before Thy Throne
And see Thy glory there!

5 O Christ, be Thou our present joy,
Our future great reward;

Our only glory may it be,

To glory in the Lord.

6 All praise to Thee Who dost ascend
Triumphantly to heaven;

All praise to God the Father's Name,
And Holy Ghost be given. Amen.

7. Chandler. (tr.)

I

129.

HAIL the day that sees Him rise

Glorious, to His native skies;
Christ, awhile to mortals given,

Enters now the highest heaven.

2 There the glorious triumph waits;
Lift your heads, eternal gates;
Wide unfold the radiant scene:
Take the King of Glory in.

3 Him though highest heaven receives,
Still He loves the earth He leaves;
Though returning to His throne,
He can ne'er forget His own.

4 Still for them He intercedes,
His prevailing death He pleads,
Now prepares for them a place,
Saviour of the ransomed race.

5 Ever upwards may we rove,
Wafted on the wings of love,
Looking when our Lord shall come,
Waiting, longing after home:

6 Then shall we with Thee remain,
Partners of Thine endless reign:

Then Thy face unclouded see;

Find our heaven of heavens in Thee. Amen.

M. Madan.

130.

Eterne Rex altissime.

I THOU eternal King most High !
Who didst the world redeem;

And conquering death and hell, receive
A dignity supreme.

2 Thou, through the starry orbs, this day
Didst to Thy throne ascend;
Thenceforth to reign in sovereign power,
And glory without end.

3 There, seated in Thy majesty,
To Thee submissive bow

The heaven of heavens, the spacious earth,
The depths of hell below.

4 There, waiting for Thy faithful souls,
Be Thou to us, O Lord!

Our peerless joy while here we stay,
In heaven our great reward.

5 Renew our strength, our sins forgive,
Our miseries efface;

And lift our souls aloft to Thee,
By Thy celestial grace.

6 Glory to Jesus, who returns
Triumphantly to heaven;
Praise to the Father evermore,
And Holy Ghost be given. Amen.

E. Caswall. (tr.)

131.

I OUR Lord is risen from the dead ;
Our Jesus is gone up on high:
The powers of hell are captive led,
Dragged to the portals of the sky.

2 There His triumphant chariot waits,
And angels chant the solemn lay;
"Lift up your heads, ye heavenly gates!
Ye everlasting doors, give way!"

3 "Loose all your bars of massy light,
And wide unfold th' ethereal scene;
He claims these mansions as His right;
Receive the King of glory in. "

4

"Who is the King of glory? Who?
The Lord, that all His foes o'ercame,
The world, sin, death, and hell o'erthrew,
And Jesus is the Conqueror's name."

5 Lo! His triumphant chariot waits,
And angels chant the solemn lay;
"Lift up your heads, ye heavenly gates!
Ye everlasting doors, give way!"

6 "Who is the King of glory? Who?" The Lord, of glorious power possess'd, The King of saints and angels too,

God over all, for ever blest.

C. Wesley.