1 "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the Blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the Body of Christ?'"
OW, my tongue, the mystery telling
And the Blood, all price excelling.
Which the Gentiles' Lord and King,
In a Virgin's womb once dwelling,
Shed for this world's ransoming.
Given for us, and condescending
To be born for us below,
He, with men in converse blending,
Dwelt the seed of truth to sow,
Till He closed with wondrous ending
His most patient life of woe.
That last night, at supper lying,
'Mid the Twelve, His chosen band,
Jesus, with the law complying,
Keeps the feast its rites demand;
Then, more precious Food supplying,
Gives Himself with His own Hand.
Word-made-Flesh true bread He maketh
By His Word His Flesh to be;
Wine His Blood; which whoso taketh
Must from carnal thoughts be free;
Faith alone, though sight forsaketh,
Shows true hearts the mystery.
Therefore we, before Him bending,
This great Sacrament revere;
Types and shadows have their ending,
For the newer rite is here;
Faith, our outward sense befriending,
Makes our inward vision clear.
Glory let us give, and blessing
To the Father, and the Son,
Honour, might, and praise addressing,
While eternal ages run;
Ever too His love confessing,
Who from Both with Both is One. Amen.
"So man did eat angels' food."
Lo the Angels' Food is given
To the pilgrim who hath striven;
See the children's Bread from heaven,
Which on dogs may ne'er be spent:
Truth the ancient types fulfilling,
Isaac bound, a victim willing,
Paschal Lamb its life-blood spilling,
Manna to the fathers sent.
Very Bread, Good Shepherd, tend us;
Jesu, of Thy love befriend us;
Thou refresh us, Thou defend us,
Thine eternal goodness send us
In the land of life to see:
Thou Who all things canst and knowest,
Who on earth such Food bestowest,
Grant us with Thy Saints, though lowest,
Where the heavenly Feast Thou shewest,
Fellow-heirs and guests to be. Amen.
3 "As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father; so he that eateth Me, even he shall live by Me."
HE Heavenly Word proceeding forth
Yet leaving not the Father's side,
Accomplishing His work on earth
Had reached at length life's eventide.
By false disciple to be given
To foemen for His life athirst,
Himself, the very Bread of Heaven,
He gave to His disciples first.
He gave Himself in either kind,
His precious Flesh, His precious Blood;
In love's own fulness thus designed
Of the whole man to be the Food.
By Birth their Fellow-man was He;
Their Meat, when sitting at the Board;
He died, their Ransomer to be;
He ever reigns, their great Reward.
O Saving Victim, opening wide
The gate of heaven to man below,
Our foes press on from every side,
Thine aid supply, Thy strength bestow.
All praise and thanks to Thee ascend
For evermore, Blest One in Three;
O grant us life that shall not end
In our true native land with Thee. Amen.
4 "Jesus said unto them, I am the Bread of Life.”
HEE we adore, O hidden Saviour, Thee,
Who in Thy Sacrament dost deign to be;
Both flesh and spirit at Thy Presence fail,
Yet here Thy Presence we devoutly hail.
O blest Memorial of our dying Lord,
Who living Bread to men doth here afford!
O may our souls for ever feed on Thee,
And Thou, O Christ, for ever precious be.
Fountain of goodness, Jesu, Lord and God,
Cleanse us, unclean, with Thy most cleansing Blood;
Increase our faith and love, that we may know
The hope and peace which from Thy Presence flow.
O Christ, Whom now beneath a veil we see,
May what we thirst for soon our portion be,
To gaze on Thee unveiled, and see Thy Face,
The vision of Thy glory and Thy grace. Amen.
5 "Wisdom saith, Come eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled."
DRAW nigh and take the Body of the Lord,
And drink the holy Blood for you outpoured.
Saved by that Body and that holy Blood,
With souls refreshed, we render thanks to God.
Salvation's Giver, Christ, the Only Son,
By His dear Cross and Blood the victory won.
Offered was He for greatest and for least,
Himself the Victim, and Himself the Priest.
Victims were offered by the law of old,
Which in a type this heavenly mystery told.
He, Ransomer from death, and Light from shade,
Now gives His holy grace His saints to aid.
Approach ye then with faithful hearts sincere,
And take the safeguard of salvation here.
He, that His saints in this world rules and shields, To all believers life eternal yields;
With heavenly bread makes them that hunger whole, Gives living waters to the thirsting soul.
Alpha and Omega, to Whom shall bow
All nations at the Doom, is with us now. Amen.
6 "He that eateth My Flesh and drinketh My Blood dwelleth in Me and I in him."
FOOD that weary pilgrims love,
O Bread of Angel-hosts above,
O Manna of the Saints,
The hungry soul would feed on Thee;
Ne'er may the heart unsolaced be
Which for Thy sweetness faints.
O Fount of love, O cleansing Tide,
Which from the Saviour's pierced Side
And Sacred Heart dost flow,
Be ours to drink of Thy pure rill,
Which only can our spirits fill,
And all our need bestow.
Lord Jesu, Whom, by power Divine
Now hidden 'neath the outward sign,
We worship and adore,
Grant, when the veil away is rolled,
With open face we may behold
Thyself for evermore. Amen.
"We have an Altar."
ONCE, only once, and once for all,
His precious life He gave;
Before the Cross our spirits fall,
And own it strong to save.
"One offering, single and complete,"
With lips and heart we say;
But what He never can repeat
He shews forth day by day.
For, as the Priest of Aaron's line
Within the Holiest stood,
And sprinkled all the mercy-shrine
With sacrificial blood;
So He, Who once atonement wrought,
Our Priest of endless power,
Presents Himself for those He bought
In that dark noontide hour.
His Manhood pleads where now It lives
On heaven's eternal Throne,
And where in mystic rite He gives
Its Presence to His own.
And so we shew Thy death, O Lord,
Till Thou again appear;
And feel, when we approach Thy Board,
We have an Altar here.
All glory to the Father be,
All glory to the Son,
All glory, Holy Ghost, to Thee,
While endless ages run. Amen.
"Thou art a Priest for ever."
LLELUIA! sing to Jesus!
His the sceptre, His the Throne;
Alleluia! His the triumph,
His the victory alone;
Hark! the songs of peaceful Sion
Thunder like a mighty flood;
Jesus out of every nation
Hath redeemed us by His Blood.
Alleluia! not as orphans
Are we left in sorrow now;
Alleluia! He is near us,
Faith believes, nor questions how:
Though the cloud from sight received Him,
When the forty days were o'er,
Shall our hearts forget His promise,
"I am with you evermore"?
Alleluia! Bread of Angels,
Thou on earth our Food, our Stay;
Alleluia! here the sinful
Flee to Thee from day to day;
Intercessor, Friend of sinners,
Earth's Redeemer, plead for me,
Where the songs of all the sinless
Sweep across the crystal sea.
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