1 BOWED low in supplication,

We come, O Lord, to Thee; Thy grace alone can save us;

To Thee alone we flee.

2 We come for this our Parish

Thy mercy to implore;

On Church, and homes, and people,
O Lord, Thy blessing pour.

3 Blot out our sins, O Father!

Forgive the guilty past;
Loose from their chains the captives
Whom Satan holdeth fast.

4 Wake up the slumbering conscience To listen to Thy call;

The weak and wavering strengthen,
And raise up them that fall.

5 Our crying sin drive from us
With Thy chastising rod;
That we may be a people
Fearing and loving God.

6 O be Thy house, Lord, hallowed,
And hallowed be Thy day;
Let sin-stained souls find pardon,
And learn to love and pray.

7 O bless and keep the faithful,
That they may stand secure;
Unharmed by Satan's malice,

And steadfast, meek, and pure.

8 With heavenly food supported,
O be they firm and strong
To follow all things holy,
To flee from all things wrong.

THE

That earliest wedding day,

The primal marriage blessing, It hath not passed away :

2 Still in the pure espousal

Of Christian man and maid, The Holy Three are with us, The threefold grace is said,

3 For dower of blessed children,

For love and faith's sweet sake, For high mysterious union

Which nought on earth may break.

To give away this bride, As Eve Thou gav'st to Adam Out of his own pierced side;

5 Be present, Son of Mary,

To join their loving hands,
As Thou didst bind two natures
In Thine eternal bands;

6 Be present, Holiest Spirit,
To bless them as they kneel,
As Thou for Christ, the Bridegroom,
The heavenly spouse dost seal.

That earliest wedding day,

The primal marriage blessing, It hath not passed away :

2 Still in the pure espousal

Of Christian man and maid The Holy Three are with us, The threefold grace is said,

3 For dower of blessed children,

For love and faith's sweet sake,
For high mysterious union

Which nought on earth may break.

To give away this bride, As Eve Thou gav'st to Adam Out of his own pierced side;

5 Be present, Son of Mary,
To join their loving hands,
As Thou didst bind two natures
In Thine eternal bands;

6 Be present, Holiest Spirit,

To bless them as they kneel, As Thou for Christ, the Bridegroom, The heavenly spouse dost seal.

FATHER all creating,

Whose wisdom, love, and power,

First bound two lives together
In Eden's primal hour,

To-day to these Thy children
Thine earliest gift renew;
A home by Thee made happy,
A love by Thee kept true.

2 O Saviour, guest most bounteous
Of old in Galilee,

Vouchsafe to-day Thy presence
With these who call on Thee;
Their store of earthly gladness

Transform to heavenly wine,
And teach them in the tasting
To know the gift is Thine.

3 O Spirit of the Father,

Breathe on them from above,
So mighty in Thy pureness,
So tender in Thy love;
That guarded by Thy presence,
From sin and strife kept free,
Their lives may own Thy guidance,
Their hearts be ruled by Thee.

4 Except Thou build it, Father,
The house is built in vain;
Except Thou, Saviour, bless it,
The joy will turn to pain;
But nought can break the union
Of hearts in Thee made one,
And love which Thou hast hallowed
Is endless love begun.