"Now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face."

48. O THOU, Who by a star didst guide

The wise men on their way,

Until it came and stood beside
The place where JESUS lay:

Though by a star Thou dost not lead
Thy servants now below;

Yet Thy good Spirit, when they need,
Will show them how to go.

Though now we know Thee but in part, 'Tis written in Thy word,

That "blessed are the pure

in heart,

For they shall see the LORD."

O SAVIOUR, give, as then, Thy grace
To make us pure in heart;
That we may see Thee face to face,
Hereafter, as Thou art!

TO GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON,
And GOD the HOLY GHOST,

By men on earth all praise be done,
And by the heav'nly host.

Septuagesima.

"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him."

49. THOU, Great Creator, art possess'd, And Thou alone, of endless rest,

To Angels only it belongs

To lift to Thee their ceaseless songs.

But we must toil and toil again,
With ceaseless woe, and endless pain;
How then can we, in exile drear,
Raise the glad song of glory here?

O Thou, Who wilt forgiving be
To all who truly turn to Thee,
Grant us to mourn the heavy cause
Of all our woe, Thy broken laws.

Then to the sharp and wholesome grief,
Let faith and hope bring due relief.
And we, too, shall be soon possess'd,
Of ceaseless songs of endless rest.

H

To GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON,
And God the SPIRIT, Three in One,
Let equal praise to each be given,
By men and angels, earth and heaven.

Sexagesima.

"We look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."

50. OUR GOD in His celestial seat,

In glory and in power complete,

To make that power and glory known,
Lays the round world's foundation stone.

The elements, before unmade,
Are now in fairest order laid;
And wondrous harmony they raise,
To celebrate their Maker's praise.

But even while the world comes forth
In all the beauty of its birth,

His love eternal doth unfold
Another world of nobler mould.

His only Son the work doth frame,
'Tis founded in His own great Name!
And carried on through every age
By His own word, the Gospel-page.

In Heaven at length, when time is o'er,
"Twill stand complete to change no more;
For sons redeem'd a blest abode-
Meet for the dwelling place of God.

O GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON,
And GOD the SPIRIT, Three in One,
Preserve, direct, maintain in love

The world below, the world above!