When shall we reach those blissful realms,

Where Christ exalted reigns,

And learn of the celestial choir
Their own immortal strains?

EVENSONG.

(Jesu, redemptor omnium. No. 43.)

JESUS, thou holy Son of God,

Thou friend to sinful man,

Who madest in heaven thy bright abode,: Before the world began,

Thou, Lord, our chiefest glory art,

Our only refuge thou:

Prayer is the incense of our heart;

Accept that incense now.

The likeness, Lord, thou didst assume
Of our most sinful race,

That we, thy ransomed saints, might come
To share thy promised grace.

Oh! then, thy work of grace begin,

And when begun, maintain;
So shall no falling back to sin
Our later years profane.

So let the land, the sea, the sky,
Let all the world rejoice,
And sing thy glorious majesty,
With a triumphant voice.

And we, to whom thou camest on earth,

Eternal life to bring,

On this, the season of thy birth,

Thy wondrous love will sing.

OR THIS.

HARK, the herald angels sing,
Glory to the new-born King,
Peace in heaven and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.
Joyful all ye nations rise,

Join the triumph of the skies,
With the angelic host proclaim,
Christ is born at Bethlehem.

Hark, the herald angels sing,
Glory to the new-born King!

Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
Late in life behold Him come,
Offspring of a Virgin's womb;
Veiled in flesh, the Godhead He,
Hail the incarnate Deity!

Pleased as man with men to appear,

Jesus our Immanuel here.

Hark, the herald angels sing,

Glory to the new-born King!

E

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace,
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing on his wings:
Mild He lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die!
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth!
Hark, the herald angels sing,
Glory to the new-born King!

ST. STEPHEN'S DAY.

(Quid, obstinata pectora. No. 44.)

Ан, wherefore do the impious Jews
Again their God defy?

Their holy teacher they refuse,
And drag him forth to die.

At him they dare, with ruthless hands, To cast the murderous stone,

While Saul, their chief, insulting stands, And makes their crime his own.

But, lo! before the martyr's eye
The starry poles are riven;

He sees his Lord enthroned on high,
At God's right hand in heaven.

Thus ever thou wilt give thy might
To all thy saints, O Lord!
Thyself the witness of the fight,
Thyself their great reward.

Oh! Stephen's was a glorious death,
Allowed for Christ to die:
His body sank the stones beneath,
His soul was in the sky.

For even then his ardent mind,
Filled with excess of light,
No longer was to earth confined,
But winged its upward flight.

The Father's name we loudly raise,
The Son we all adore;

The Holy Ghost, one God, we praise,
Both now and evermore.

ST. JOHN'S DAY.

(Jussu tyranni pro fide. No. 45.)

BELOVED disciple of thy Lord,

Wast thou to exile driven?
Oh never sore thy spirit soar'd
With fleeter wings to heaven;

He that was dead, and is alive,
Then cheer'd thine eyes again;
The Lion, strong with death to strive,
The Lamb, for sinners slain.

Oh, then the mysteries were unfurl'd
Of His triumphant reign,

How martyr blood, through all the world,
His kingdom should maintain.

Then grant us, Lord, with Thee to die,→
With Thee again to rise:

With Thee from this vain world to fly,-
To meet Thee in the skies.

And now to Him, who vanquish'd death,'
And shows the way to heaven,
To Christ from ev'ry human breath,
Be endless praises given.

INNOCENTS' DAY.

MATINS.

(Salveti, Flores Martyrum. No. 46.)

HAIL, infant martyrs, new-born victims, hail!
Hail, earliest flowerets of the Christian spring!
O'er whom, like rosebuds scattered by the gale,
The cruel sword such havoc dared to fling.

The Lord's first votive offerings of blood,
First tender lambs upon the altar laid,
Around in fearless innocence they stood,
And sported gaily with the murderous blade.