O then our steps uphold,
Till this dark vale be past;
Till, through life's conflict manifold,
Thy rest we reach at last ;-
That rest and joy profound,
Of faithful souls above;
Where they with heav'nly bliss are crown'd,The bliss of changeless love.
To Thee our hearts we raise ;
May we among Thy faithful shine,
And share their songs of praise. Amen.
AT MORNING AND EVENING PRAYER. After the Third Collect.
31 0 THOU, by Whom the world was made, And by Whose Power 'tis still upheld ;The Son of Gon, in Whom alone
The FATHER'S Image is beheld :
What could have mov'd Thee to descend,
And our poor mortal flesh assume ;-
For the first Adam's ruin'd
A Second Adam to become?
'Twas Love:-the Love which fram'd the sky, Which made the stars, the sun, the earth, Took pity on our misery,
And broke the bondage of our birth.
Yes, 'twas in Love Thy sacred Heart
Pour'd forth its mingled tide of Grace :-
The Water, sin's dark stains to purge,
The Blood, its dread award t'efface.
And still, within Thy Breast Divine,
That Love, yet unabated, glows;
Still fresh, from its exhaustless Source,
The two-fold stream of Mercy flows.
To Thee, Blest SAVIOUR, from Whose Love
Such priceless gifts of Grace descend,
With FATHER, and with HOLY GHOST,
All praise be giv'n, world without end.
Amen. In other respects, the same as on Septuagesima.
AT MORNING AND EVENING PRAYER.
After the Third Collect.
32 O YE, who clung to Christ in love,
While yet He dwelt in realms above;-
First children of almighty Grace,
First fathers of the faithful race!
O, how can words of equal worth,
The wonders of your faith set forth;
Or tell of all your panting sighs
Of hope, uplifted to the skies?
Strangers and pilgrims here below,
Ye deem'd the world an empty show;
To higher joys your hearts were giv'n,
The country that ye sought was Heav'n.
So now, the soul that cleaves to God,
Still longs to reach His dear abode;
O GOD, forbid our hearts to roam,
And fix them on that blessed home!
Blest THREE in ONE, to Thee we cry,
O grant us so to live and die,
That, in Thy courts, through endless days,
Our work may be to sing Thy praise!
In other respects, the same as on Septuagesima.
AT MORNING AND EVENING PRAYER,
After the Third Collect.
33 AGAIN return th' appointed days,
That bid us fast and weep;
Let priest and flock their voices raise,
In wailings loud and deep.
But vain are outward forms of grief,
Vain too the words of prayer;
Unless the heart implore relief,
And penitence be there.
The forehead prostrate in the dust,
The hair and garments torn,
Soothes not the anger of the Just,
Unless the spirit mourn.
O may we, then, with hearts sincere,
Confess our sins to GOD;
And may He our confessions hear,
And stay th' uplifted rod!
O Gracious GOD, in mercy deign
Our contrite vows to heed;
And grant us time to turn again,
And grace to turn indeed!
Great THREE in ONE, Thy name we bless, Thy praises ever sing;
O may the fruits of righteousness
From Lenten sorrow spring! Amen.
BEFORE THE HOLY COMMUNION.
34 GOD of our life, to Thee we call,
Afflicted at Thy Feet we fall;
O'erwhelm'd with guilty shame and fear,
Our cry, O GOD of mercy, hear!
Friend of the friendless and distress'd,
Where shall we look for peace
Where but to Thee, Whose gracious Voice
Bids the repentant soul rejoice?
Did ever sinner plead with Thee,
And Thou didst spurn his lowly plea?
Does not Thy promise still remain,
That none shall seek Thy Face in vain?
Then hear, O LORD, our suppliant cry,
And bend on us Thy pitying Eye!
To Thee our contrite prayer we make;
O hear us, for Thy Mercy's sake!
O GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON,
And HOLY SPIRIT, Three in One,
Grant that our fast, through all its round,.
May with Thy gifts of Grace be crown'd!
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