"Blessed is He Who cometh in the Name of the LORD. HOsanna in the highest !"
1. CREATOR of the starry height,
Of hearts believing endless Light,
JESU, Redeemer, bow Thine ear,
Thy suppliants' vows in pity hear;
Who, lest the earth, through evil eye
Of treacherous fiend should waste and die,
With mighty love instinct, wert made
Th' expiring world's all-healing Aid;
Who to the Cross, that world to win
From common stain of common sin,
From Virgin shrine, a Virgin Birth,
A spotless Victim issuest forth.
At vision of Whose glory bright,
At mention of Whose Name of might,
Angels on high and fiends below
In reverence or in trembling bow.
Almighty Judge, to Thee we pray,
Great Umpire of the last dread day,
Protect us through th' unearthly fight
With armour of celestial light.
To GOD, the FATHER, and the SON,
And HOLY GHOST all praise be done
All honour, might, and glory be,
Through all the long eternity.
"But now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself."
2. WORD of the Eternal FATHER's might,
Proceeding from His Bosom bright,
Who, now the times wax old, art born,
Sole Succour of a world outworn;
Our darkling bosoms, LORD, illume,
And with Thine own true love consume,
That, wean'd from fading things below,
The heart celestial joys may know:
So, when the Judge's sentence dire
Consigns the accurs'd to endless fire;
And voice of welcome bids arise
The righteous to their destin'd skies;
We writhe not in the darksome flood,
The fiery gulf's undying food,
But cleans'd the Face of GOD to see,
In Heaven's delights entranc'd
TO FATHER, and co-equal SON,
And Thee, Blest Spirit, Three in One,
As aye it was, and aye shall be,
All praise through all eternity!
"Now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed."
3. WHAT thrilling voice through midnight peals,
Which every dark recess reveals?
Away, pale dreams, dim shadows fly,
Lo, JESUS lightens from on high.
Now let the sluggard soul spring forth,
Nor longer lie enchain'd on earth;
All breath of ill dispelling far,
Bright peers the new-born Morning Star.
Behold the LAMB, sent down below,
Himself to pay the debt we owe;
O let us all with tears most due
For that His dear-bought pardon sue.
That, when He shall again appear,
And wrap the world in sudden fear,
His utmost wrath He may not wreak,
But shield us for His pity's sake.
TO GOD, the FATHER, and the SON,
And HOLY GHOST, all praise be done,
All honour, might, and glory be,
Through all the long eternity
"Behold, thy King cometh unto thee."
4. THE Advent of our King and GOD, Our prayers must now employ; And we must meet Him on His road With hymns of holy joy.
Nor doth the everlasting SON
Abhor the Virgin's womb:
That we from bondage may be won,
He bears a servant's doom.
Gentle and meek He comes; arise,
Sion, behold thy King,
And haste to meet Him, nor despise
The peace He deigns to bring.
He shall return the Judge e'en now
On clouds with lightning riven,
And His own body left below
In triumph bear to Heaven.
Let crimes, the brood of night depart
From the approaching morn;
And the old Adam of the heart
Before the newly-born.
All praise, while endless ages run,
To FATHER ever blest,
To SPIRIT, and eternal SON,
In flesh made manifest.
"Behold, I send My messenger before Thy face, which shall prepare Thy way before Thee."
5. ON Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry
Announces that the LORD is nigh:
Come then and hearken, for he brings
Glad tidings from the King of kings.
E'en now the air, the sea, the land,
Feel that their Maker is at hand;
The very elements rejoice,
And welcome Him with cheerful voice.
Then cleans'd be every Christian breast,
And furnished for so great a Guest'
Yea, let us each our hearts prepare
For CHRIST to come and enter there.
For Thou art our Salvation, LORD,
Our Refuge, and our sure reward,
Without Thy grace our souls must fade,
And wither like a flower decay'd.
Stretch forth Thine hand to heal our sore,
And make us rise to fall no more;
Once more upon Thy people shine,
And fill the world with love divine.
To Him, Who left the throne of Heaven
To save mankind, all praise be given;
Like praise be to the FATHER done,
And HOLY SPIRIT, Three in One.
"Then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven : and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn.... men's hearts failing them for very fear."
6. DAY of wrath! O day of mourning!
See! once more the Cross returning-
Heaven and earth in ashes burning.
O what fear man's bosom rendeth,
When from Heaven the Judge descendeth,
On Whose sentence all dependeth!
Wondrous sound the trumpet flingeth, Through earth's sepulchres it ringeth, All before the throne it bringeth!
Death is struck, and nature quaking— All creation is awaking,
To its Judge an answer making!
Lo! the books exactly worded,
Wherein all hath been recorded!-
Thence shall judgment be awarded.
When the Judge His seat attaineth,
And each hidden deed arraigneth,
Nothing unaveng'd remaineth.
What shall I, frail man, be pleading?
Who for me be interceding,
When the just are mercy needing?
King of Majesty tremendous,
Who dost free salvation send us,
Fount of Pity! then befriend us.
Think, kind JESU,-my salvation
Caus'd Thy wondrous Incarnation-
Leave me not to reprobation!
Faint and weary, Thou hast sought me,
On the Cross of suffering bought me ;-
Shall such grace be vainly brought me ?
Righteous Judge of retribution,
Grant Thy gift of absolution,
Ere that reckoning-day's conclusion!
Guilty, now, I pour my moaning
All my shame with anguish owning;
Spare, O GOD, Thy suppliant groaning!
Thou the sinful woman savest-
Thou the dying thief forgavest-
And to me a hope vouchsafest.
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