THE Lord ascendeth up on high,
The Lord hath triumph'd gloriously,
In power and might excelling:
The grave and hell are captive led,
Lo! He returns, our glorious Head,
To His eternal dwelling.
The heavens with joy receive their Lord,
By saints, by angel hosts ador'd;
O day of exultation!
O earth! adore thy glorious King,
His Rising, His Ascension sing,
With grateful adoration.
Our great High Priest hath gone before,
Now on His Church His grace to pour,
And still His love He giveth :
Oh, may our hearts to Him ascend,
May all within us heavenward tend
To Him Who ever liveth.
By saints on earth, and saints in heaven,
All praise to God the Lord be given,
Who hath the lost befriended,
To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
The God of heaven's resplendent host,
In bright array extended.
REJOICE, the Lord is King;
Your Lord and King adore;
Rejoice, give thanks and sing,
And triumph evermore :
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, ye saints of God, rejoice.
Jesus the Savior reigns,
The God of truth and love;
When He had purg'd our stains,
He took His seat above:
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, ye saints of God, rejoice.
His kingdom cannot fail;
He rules o'er earth and heaven; The keys of death and hell
To Christ, the Lord, are given; Lift up your heart, lift up your voice; Rejoice, ye saints of God, rejoice.
He sits at God's right hand,
Till sinners, as 'tis meet,
Shall bow to His command,
And fall beneath His feet:
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, ye saints of God, rejoice.
HE Whom we fix our hopes upon,
Unto the highest heaven is gone;
The track we see, let us pursue
The narrow way, till Him we view.
O Thou, Who with a Victor's train,
At God's right hand dost ever reign,
To Thee alone our hopes would tend,
With Thee would rest, in Thee would end.
Jesu, Who soon again shalt come,
To call the nations to their doom,
For Thee our panting spirits sigh,
Would see Thy sign illume the sky.
Yea, Lord of all this earthly frame,
Now will we praise Thy mighty Name,
And still our love shall upward glow,
And upward still our song shall flow.
Sunday after Ascension Day.
O CHRIST! Who hast prepar'd a place
For us around Thy throne of grace,
We pray Thee, lift our hearts above,
And draw them with the cords of love!
Source of all good! Thou, gracious Lord,
Art our exceeding great reward;
How fleeting is our present pain!
How boundless our eternal gain!
With open face and joyful heart,
Oh may we see Thee as Thou art:
May love to Thee for ever glow,
May praise to Thee for ever flow.
Thy never-failing grace to prove,
A pledge of Thine eternal love,
Send down Thy Holy Ghost, to be
The lifter of our souls to Thee.
O CHRIST! our hope, our heart's desire,
Redemption's only spring!
Creator of the world art Thou,
Its Savior, and its King.
How vast the mercy and the love
Which laid our sins on Thee,
And led Thee to a cruel death,
To set Thy people free!
But now the bonds of death are burst,
The ransom hath been paid;
And Thou art on Thy Father's throne,
In robes of light array'd.
O may Thy mighty love prevail,
Our sinful souls to spare!
O may we come before Thy throne,
And find acceptance there!
O Christ! be Thou our present joy,
Our future great reward!
Our only glory may it be,
To glory in the Lord!
RULER of the hosts of light,
Death hath yielded to Thy might,
And Thy blood hath mark'd a road,
Which will lead us back to God.
From Thy dwelling place above,
From Thy Father's throne of love,
Look upon us here below,
Do not leave us in our woe.
Lord, the Comforter impart,
Let Him dwell in every heart,
All Thine image to restore;
Come, and never leave us more.
Come with blessings from above,
Holy comfort, perfect love,
Wisdom, purity and peace,
Meekness, strength, and righteousness.
AGAIN the circling seasons tell
The blest and joyous hour,
What time upon th' Apostles fell
The Spirit's wondrous shower.
In flame-drops lights the thrilling Fire;
A tongue its mystic form,
Each mouth with wisdom to inspire,
With love each heart to warm.
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