3 mf And as, when ebbed the Flood, our sires Kneeled on the mountain sod;

cres While o'er the new world's altar-fires Shone out the bow of God;

p

cres

And sweetly fell the peaceful spell,
Word that shall aye avail;

'Summer and winter shall not cease,
Seed-time nor harvest fail; '-

4 mf Thus in their change let frost and heat
And winds and dews be given :

All fostering power, all influence sweet
Breathe from the bounteous heaven.
Attemper fair with gentle air

The sunshine and the rain,
That kindly earth, with timely birth,
May yield her fruits again ;-

5 mf That we may feed Thy poor aright,
And, gathering round Thy throne,
Here, in the holy angels' sight,
Repay Thee of Thine own.
For so our sires in olden time

Spared neither gold nor gear,
Nor precious wood, nor hewen stone,
Thy sacred shrines to rear.

6 mf For there, to give the second birth
In mysteries and signs,

The Face of Christ o'er all the earth
On kneeling myriads shines.

And if so fair beyond compare

Thy earthly houses be,

cres In how great grace shall we Thy Face

In Thine own palace see!

Also the following:

Amen.

Bishop E. W. Benson.

LITANIES (87) and (88)

189

The Ascension.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things
which are above, where Christ sitteth on the
right hand of God. Col. iii. 1.

1 m As Christ our Saviour's gone before,

L.M.

Exalted high through worlds unknown, To Thee, Almighty King, we pray,

For Thou art God, and Thou alone :2 mf Grant, Lord, that we in heart and mind Ascending to those realms above, May ever dwell in thought with Him, Partakers of His endless love;—

cres

3 Where with the Father, Holy Ghost,
The God Whom heaven and earth adore,
He lives and reigns Eternal One,
And One in Three for evermore.

Amen.

Godfrey Thring.

190

And now I am no more in the world, but
these are in the world, and I come to

Thee.

John xvii. 11.

1 AT length the longed-for joy is given : The sacred day begins to shine,

L.M.

When Christ our God, our Hope divine, Ascends the radiant steep of heaven.

2 ƒ Ascending up in majesty,

The Lord resumes His ancient throne: The heavenly realms with joys unknown, O Sole-begotten, welcome Thee.

3 The mighty victory is wrought;
The prince of this world lieth low;
The Son to God presenteth now
The human flesh in which He fought.

4 High o'er the clouds He comes to reign,
Gives hope to those who in Him trust :
The Paradise which Adam lost

He opens wide to man again. 50 mighty joy to all our race! dim The Virgin-born, Who bore for us

The stripes, the spitting, and the cross,
cres Takes on the Father's throne His place.
6 To Thee let ceaseless praises rise,
Champion of our salvation Thou,
Bearing Thy human body now
In the high palace of the skies.
7 mf One common joy this day shall fill
The hearts of angels and of men :

To them that Thou art come again;
To us that Thou art with us still.

8 my Now, following in the steps He trod,

'Tis ours to look for Christ from heaven, And so to live that it be given

cres To rise with Him at last to God.

191

Amen.

From the Latin (6th or 7th cent.); tr. Elizabeth Charles,

verse 2, ll. 1, 4, alt.

He lifted up His hands, and blessed them.
Luke xxiv. 50.

1 HAIL the day that sees Him rise

78.

Hallelujah! To His throne above the skies; Hallelujah! Christ, awhile to mortals given, Hallelujah! Re-ascends His native heaven. Hallelujah!

2 There for Him high triumph waits;

Hallelujah!

Lift your heads, eternal gates; Hallelujah!
He hath conquered death and sin;

4 my See! He lifts His Hands above;

Hallelujah!

See! He shows the prints of love;

cres Hark! His gracious lips bestow Hallelujah! Blessings on His Church below. Hallelujah!

Hallelujah!

5 my Still for us His death He pleads,

Hallelujah!

Still for us He intercedes, Hallelujah!

cres Near Himself prepares our place,

Hallelujah! ƒ He the First-fruits of our race. Hallelujah!

6 p Lord, though parted from our sight

Far above the starry height, Hallelujah!

Hallelujah!

cres Grant our hearts may

thither rise,

Hallelujah!

Following Thee above the skies. Hallelujah!

Amen.

C. Wesley (1708-1788).

192

Lift up your heads, O ye gates, 8.7.-10s.-12.10. and be ye lift up, ye everlasting

doors, and the King of Glory

shall come in. Ps. xxiv. 7.

1 HARK, the vault of heaven is ringing,
Songs of angels sweep the sky,
Thousand times ten thousand bringing
Hearts attuned in harmony;

mf

cres

Lo, the noise of battle over,

Death is dying on the shore,
Man Divine doth now recover

All that man had lost before.

Lift up your heads, ye everlasting gates;
Be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors;

The King of Glory comes, and conquering
waits

To enter in and tread the golden floors; The King of Glory comes, to reign all king

doms o'er,

In love, and joy,

and peace

for evermore.

2 f

dim

mf

dim

3 f

Who is this on clouds ascending

From the world of sin and shame!
Myriad angels, hark! attending,
Chant the triumph of His Name;
This is He, the Lord Anointed,

He Who left His throne on high,
Spotless Lamb by God appointed
Once for fallen man to die.

Lift up your heads, ye everlasting gates;
&c.

See, He comes in robes of glory,

Lord of lords, and King of kings,
Angels tell His wondrous story,
Heaven with Hallelujah rings;