Praise to the FATHER, and the Son,

Who from the dead arose !
Praise to the Blessed Paraclete,

While age on ages flows.

Commemoration of Martyrs. “ He that overcometh the same shall be clothed in white raiment: and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My FATHER, and before His angels.” 161. FEAR no more for the torturer's hand

Nor the dungeon dark that bound thee;
The choirs of heaven about thee stand,

Bright shining homes surround thee.
Fear no more for the clanking chain,

Thou art free as light of Heaven;
The stripes that marked thy frame with pain,

For rays of thy crown are given.
Fear no more for stern cold, nor need,

Nor for nakedness for ever;
CHRIST'S

pure light doth clothe thee and feed,
And shall no more from thee sever.
Lo, He stands at His martyr's side,

Death with nobler life surrounding,
And takes him with Him to abide,

The dread tyrant's wrath confounding.
To God on high be honour done,

In the height all height exceeding ;
To FATHER, Son, and Holy One

From FATHER and Son proceeding.

“ These are they which came out of great tribulation : and have washed their robes, and made them white in the Blood of the LAMB." 162. Of the martyrs we sing,

Whom the purple adorns ;
Who have followed their King,
In His dread Crown of Thorns.

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Now their storms are all past,

And their dark sea of blood
Hath conveyed them, at last,

To their haven of good.
Though the tyrant be stern,

Yet they fear not his rod,
For their fears nought discern

But the terrors of God.
When fierce foe-men pursue,

Their life-blood they afford,
As an offering due

To their suffering LORD.
Thus the love which remains,

Must CHRIST's Body fulfil,
Till the last drop it drains

In His cup of all ill.
He, for us Who was spent,

In His fulness complete,
Shall Himself then present,

For His FATHER made meet.
Dread JEHOVAH we sing,

In CHRIST JESUS made known;
Of all martyrs the King,

Of all martyrs the Crown.

“ Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” 163. How happy the mortal

Through pains and dismay,
Who hath burst the portal

To regions of day.
Where death hath benighted,

Ere life's sun went down,
The faith that he plighted,

With death he doth crown.
Our weak spirits languish

At the sound of death's feet;

But thou the stern anguish

Dost go forth to meet.
Yet nothing confounded

With rack and with chains,
Where death hath abounded

With tortures and pains.
Lo! from highest heaven,

His champion to own,
Between the clouds riven,

Is CHRIST looking down.
His hand hath He holden,

Where weak nature fails;
His Spirit doth embolden,

And in him prevails.
Shall we then soft-hearted

Seek ease and repose,
And sing the departed

In death and stern woes ?
Let such themes of wonder

Arouse us from sleep,
Lest, woke by death's thunder

We wake but to weep.
Great FATHER, SON, SPIRIT,

The Ancient of days,
May we Thee inherit,

And sing of Thy praise.

“Have not I commanded thee? be strong and of a good courage : be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” 164. SING we the Martyrs blest,

Their blood for JESUS poured ;
Sing we their glorious victories,

And infinite reward.
Treading the world beneath,

Spurning the body's pain,
'Twas theirs, in martyrdom’s brief space

Eternal joys to gain.

To raging flames consigned,

And ruthless beasts a prey;
Their sacred flesh, by savage hooks,

Torn piece by piece away.
With racking anguish worn,

Unmoved they still endure;
Unmoved continue, in the grace

Of endless life secure.
SAVIOUR! to us vouchsafe,

Of Thy dear clemency,
A portion with Thy Martyr Saints,

Through all eternity.

Commemoration of Bishops. “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind: neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock." 165. JESU! Who didst Thy pastor crown, And send on him Thy blessing down,

Hear us, we pray!
Thou art Thyself the Diadem,
Radiant with many a living gem

And heavenly ray.
Proof of his love, and pledge of Thine,
He bears the mission from Thy shrine,

Thy staff to hold ;-
The charge of Thine own ransomed sheep
Which Thee the FATHER gave to keep,-

And guard Thy fold.
He knows them all, of them is known,
He knows and goes before his own,

By stream and rock,
To lead, and sheltered pastures give;
They hear, they follow, and they live,

A gentle flock.

When one hath wandered from his sight,
He seeketh it, both day and night

The mountains round;
And joy repayeth all his fears,
When to the fold he homewards bears

The lost and found.

The roaring beasts he sets afar,
And wolves, that with more treacherous war,

Come prowling nigh;
Their guileful arts he knows full well-
Ready with his dear flock to dwell,

For them to die.
Oft as the unbloody Sacrifice
He offers up, of countless price,

And shares the feast;
Himself he on the altar lays,
And his own flock, with prayer and praise,

A holy Priest.
All praise to Thee, the Priest Supreme,
Through Whom alone all blessings stream,

The Eternal SON;
And may Thy ransomed heritage
Thy glory sing from age to age,

God, Three in One.

“Who is a faithful and wise servant whom his LORD hath made ruler over His household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his LORD when He cometh shall find so doing.” 166. CHRIST, by Thy FATHER's high decree

Seald the great Priest to be,
Who choosest Thine own ministry,

And formest them to Thee :

Where shall we find a faithful breast,

Meet for Thy high behest ?
Fit worldly meed by worth to claim,

A lov'd and honour'd name: