A feeble band, but led by Christ,
Hell's bulwarks they o'erthrow:
So fell, at Israel's trump alone,
The walls of Israel's foe.
O Jesu, may thy trumpet clang
Our sluggish souls excite :
May our thick darkness be dispelled
By thy celestial light!
And now to God, the Three in One
Be praise and glory given:
Who calleth us, from sin's dark night,
To share the beams of heaven.
(Cælestis aulæ principes. No. 87.)
HAIL! Princes of the host of heaven,
To whom by Christ, your chief, 'tis given,
On twelve bright thrones to sit on high,
And judge the world with equity.
'Tis yours to cheer with sacred light
Those who lie sunk in sin's dark night:
To guide them in the upward path,
And rescue them from endless wrath.
With no vain arts, no earthly sword,
Ye quell the rebels of the Lord :
The cross, the cross which men despise,
'Tis that achieves your victories.
Through you the wondrous works of God
Are spread through every land abroad;
Thus every clime records your fame,
And distant ages praise your name.
And now to God, the Three in One,
Be highest praise and glory done,
Who calleth us from sin's dark night,
To walk in His eternal light.
(Quem misit in terras Deus. No. 88.)
His only son the Father gave
From death and hell mankind to save:
And Jesus, on His Throne above,
Through you completes his task of love.
When the meek Lamb, by fierce wolves slain,
Sent you, his sheep, those wolves to gain,
They soon themselves, so wild before,
Meek lambs became, fierce wolves no more.
The earth was once with human blood
Of idol sacrifice bedewed:
Your martyr blood, upon it poured,
Hath made it holy to the Lord.
And oh! what fruits of beauty rare,
Thus fertilized, it now doth bear,
Of God's free grace, the blessed effect,
The harvest of the Lord's elect.
And oh! may we that grace receive
From Him who doth the increase give,
And we in time shall all be stored
In the bright garners of the Lord.
And now to God, the Three in One,
Be highest praise and glory done,
Who calleth us from sin's dark night
To walk in his eternal light.
(Pulsum supernis sedibus. No. 89.)
LONG time the fallen human race
In sinful darkness laid,
And ignorant of the way to life,
In hopeless wanderings strayed.
But now their King on earth descends
To teach the way to heaven,
To fetch poor exiles back to God,
Himself to exile given.
He comes to wanderers here below
His succour to afford:
Himself the way, himself the life,
Himself their great reward.
Eternal God, within the veil
Of human flesh confined,
Oh! may thy truth its beams unfold
To every faithful mind!
Redeemer of the world, to Thee
All glory we afford,
The Father and the Holy Ghost
Be equally adored.
(Hæc illa solemnis dies. No. 90.)
THIS is the day, the solemn day,
Which God appointed to convey
Such news as made our sorrows cease, and of peace.
Our parents' guilt, our parents' fall,
To certain death consigned us all :
From certain death mankind to save,
His only Son Jehovah gave.
Yes! He who was th' Eternal's Son,
E'er time had yet its course begun,
Our life of pain and weakness bore,
Nor did the Virgin's womb abhor.
He took on him our mortal state,
That he might bear the sinner's fate,
That so his blood, in ransom given,
Might take away the wrath of heaven.
Yes! He, the infinite great God,
Iu human flesh awhile abode :
That we might high in glory dwell,
He came as our Immanuel.
Redeemer of the world, to thee
All praise and glory rendered be:
And to the Father, King of heaven,
And Holy Ghost, all praise be given.
(Sinæ sub alto vertice. No. 91.)
THE law on Sinai's fiery height,
'Mid thunderings was given:
The lightning flash, the trumpet clang
Bespoke the God of heaven.
But now a veil of human flesh
Around his brightness thrown, Our God in milder beams arrayed, To favoured man is shown.
The Gospel law converts the heart,
And sanctifies the will.
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