What though, by earthly woes oppressed,

The body wearied lies,

Yet may our spirit freely wing

Its passage to the skies.

Oh thou, who art our only hope,
Thy help we humbly crave,
Defend thy blood-bought people, Lord,
Whom Jesus died to save.

To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Holy Ghost,
All glory be from saints on earth,
And from the angel-host.

FOR EASTER.

(Jesu, redemptor seculi. No. 16.)

OH Thou, who wast for sinners slain,
And the third day didst rise again,
No more to suffer or to die,

And captive led'st captivity:

While night surrounds us, dark and deep,

And we our eyelids close in sleep,

Do thou thy shield around us throw,
To save us from our crafty foe.

Thy gentle sleep consigns to rest
The weary limbs and care-worn breast;
May we such sweet repose partake,
But keep, oh keep, our souls awake.

With thee to die, oh Christ, is gain :
With thee we wish to rise again:
For thee, things earthly to despise,
And fix our treasure in the skies.

Now to the Father and the Son,
Who victory o'er the grave hath won,
And to the Holy Ghost, be given

All praise on earth, all praise in heaven.

Amen.

MONDAY.

NOCTURN.

(Dei canamus gloriam. No. 17.)

COME let us praise the name of God

Who spread the lofty skies;

And to the firmament above

Uplift our wond'ring eyes.

Slow floating in the blue expanse
The watery clouds we view;

Whence fruitful showers, at God's command,

The thirsty soil bedew.

How fair a type of God's free grace

Which to our souls is given:

It drops into the inner man
Like gentle dews from heaven

And as the faithful heart receives
The sanctifying shower,

In rapture sweet 'tis raised aloft
By God's Almighty power.

Oh happy saints, on whom are poured
Such blessings from above:

Oh, may they show a thankful heart,
And render love for love.

To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Holy Ghost,
All glory be from saints on earth,
And from the angel-host.

MATINS.

(Nil laudibus nostris eges. No. 18.)

OUR praises, Lord, thou dost not need,
But we thy children are,

And thou art pleased thy grace to yield
To long persisting prayer.

Thy dark decrees are like the night,
When silence reigns around:
Thy love is like the beauteous morn,
With glowing sunbeams crowned.

Thy wonders, Lord, oppress the mind,
And make the tongue to cease,
But love still burns within the heart,

And will not hold its peace.

Oh let it then break forth to thee,

Our Father and our Lord, Our only consolation now,

Our future great reward.

Yes, thither tend our eager hearts,
Though weak the flesh may be;
Oh Jesu, be thyself our guide,
And draw our souls to thee.

Amen.

EVENSONG.

(Jactamur heu quot fluctibus. No. 19.)

WHEN storms and tempests o'er us roll,
Our hope is in the skies;

To thee, oh God, our anxious soul
And earnest prayers arise.

Thou, Father, dost thine aid afford,
Before the prayer is made,
In all our weakness, gracious Lord,
Thy strength is full display'd.

The sufferings that our souls oppress,
Thy mightier hand shall cure,
And thine avenging arm redress
The wrongs we now endure.

Oh, then, what full success shall smile
On all our labours past!

Who would not gladly weep awhile
To reap such joys at last!

To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
One mighty God of Heaven,
All glory by the angel host,
And saints on earth, be given.

TUESDAY.

NOCTURN.

(Jubes, et in præceps aquis. No. 20.)

He speaks the word; the floods obey, And sink into their bed:

Emerging from her liquid veil,

Earth shows her new-born head.

This to His children, for their home,
The Father hath assigned;

One common earth contains them all,
One common love should bind.

We've no abiding city here,

But there's a home above,
For those who live as sons of God,
In peace and holy love.

But they whose dark deceitful arts
Their fellow-men molest,

They shall not of thy love partake,
Nor come unto thy rest.

C