THE Lord of Might, from Sinai's brow,
Gave forth His voice of thunder;
And Israel lay on earth below,
Outstretched in fear and wonder.
Beneath His feet was pitchy night,
And at His left hand and His right
The rocks were rent asunder.
The Lord of Love, on Calvary,
A meek and suffering Stranger,
Upraised to heaven His languid eye,
In nature's hour of danger.
For us He bore the weight of woe,
For us He His blood to flow,
And met His Father's anger.
The Lord of Love, the Lord of Might,
The King of all created,
Shall back return to claim His right,
On clouds of glory seated;
With trumpet-sound and angel-song,
And hallelujahs loud and long,
O'er death and hell defeated.
THE Lord shall come ! the earth shall quake,
The hills their fixed seat forsake,
And, withering, from the vault of night
The stars withdraw their feeble light.
The Lord shall come, but not the Same
As once in lowliness He came-
A silent Lamb before His foes,
A weary man, and full of woes.
The Lord shall come! a dreadful Form,
With wreath of flame and robe of storm,
On cherub wings, and wings of wind,
Appointed Judge of human kind.
Can this be He, once wont to stray
A Pilgrim on the world's highway,
By power oppressed, and marked by pride?
O God! is this the Crucified?
Then sinners shall to rocks complain,
And seek the mountain's cleft in vain ;
While faith, victorious o'er the tomb,
Shall joyful sing, "The Lord is come!
THE Son of God goes forth to war
A kingly crown to gain;
His blood-red banner streams afar;
Who follows in His train?
Who best can drink His cup of woe,
Triumphant over pain;
Who patient bears His cross below,
He follows in His train.
The martyr first, whose eagle eye
Could pierce beyond the grave,
Who saw His Master in the sky,
And called on Him to save.
A glorious band, the chosen few,
On whom the Spirit came;
Twelve valiant saints, their hope they knew,
And mocked the cross and flame.
A noble army, men and boys,
The matron and the maid, Around the Saviour's throne rejoice, In robes of light arrayed.
They climbed the steep ascent of heaven,
Through peril, toil, and pain;
O God, to us may grace be given
To follow in their train.
THOU who camest from above,
Bringing light and shedding love,
Teaching Thy all-perfect way,
Giving gifts to man to-day,-
Thou who once didst change our state,
Making us regenerate,
Help us evermore to be
Faithful subjects unto Thee.
Where Thou art not, none can do
What is holy, just, and true:
They, whose heart Thy wisdom leads,
Think good thoughts and do good deeds.
Often have we grieved Thee sore;
Never may we grieve Thee more:
Thou the feeble canst protect,
Thou the wandering soul direct.
We are dark-be Thou our Light;
We are blind-be Thou our Sight:
Be our Comfort in distress,
Guide us through the wilderness.
Praise the blessed Three in One,
Praise the Father and the Son:
To the Holy Ghost arise
Praise from all below the skies. Amen.
THOU, Whose Almighty Word
Chaos and darkness heard,
And took their flight;
Hear us, we humbly pray;
And where the Gospel-day
Sheds not its glorious ray,
"Let there be light!"
Thou, who didst come to bring
On Thy redeeming wing
Healing and light;
Health to the sick in mind,
Sight to the inly blind ;-
O, now to all mankind
"Let there be light!"
Spirit of truth and love,
Life-giving, holy Dove,
Speed forth Thy fight!
Move o'er the waters' face,
Bearing the lamp of grace,
And in earth's darkest place
"Let there be light!"
Blessed and Holy Three,
Glorious Trinity,
Grace, Love, and Might!
Boundless as ocean's tide,
Rolling in fullest pride,
Through the world, far and wide, "Let there be light!" Amen.
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