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Hunger and thirst they feel no more,
Nor sin, nor death, nor pain deplore;
The tears are wiped from every eye,
And sorrow yields to endless joy.

They see their Saviour face to face,
And sing the triumphs of His grace;
Him day and night they ceaseless praise,
To Him their loud hosannas raise.

To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Spirit, Three in One,
Unceasing praise and glory be,
Now and through all eternity.

[24]

The hymn, Maker of all things, will serve for the second hymn for Sexagesima Sunday.

Quinquagesima Sunday;

OR, THE SUNDAY NEXT BEFORE LENT.

I.

WHOм should I praise, O Christ, but Thee,
Whose praises Angels sing,

Who the Eternal Envoy art

Of the Eternal King?

From Heaven's high Court Thou didst descend,

Love led Thee on Thy way;

Thou saw'st man's fatal wreck, and, lo!

Thy pity could not stay.

A servant's despicable form
This made Thee gladly wear,

Sleep, hunger, thirst and cold endure,
And mock of sinners hear.

This led Thee through consuming fire,
And through deep water-flood,
With dismal clouds involved Thy soul,
And dyed Thy robes in blood.

The wine-press of Almighty wrath
This made Thee freely tread,
With basest outcasts choose Thy lot,
And with the silent dead.

O strange effect of saving love!
What love does this require!
How should it melt away our souls

In flames of sacred fire!

How should our mouths be filled with praise!
What homage should we pay

To Him Who plunged in night for us,
And turned our night to day!

O God of Love! O God of Might!
The Prince of hearts set free,

The Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
Eternal praise to Thee.

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II.

FATHER of all, from Whom we trace

Our universal kind,

Teach us to all of human race

To show a brother's mind.

Saviour of men, 'twas Thine the pain
Of death for all to bear;

In concord all Thy followers train,
Meet for the Name they share.
Spirit of grace, God's chosen fold
Who lav'st with heavenly dew,
O grant that all the truth that hold
May peace with all ensue.
O might mankind in love agree,
Sons of one parent stock!
But chief may Christian verity
Connect the Christian flock!

May truth to all that hear its sound
A bond of union prove;

And fellowship of faith be crowned
With fellowship of love!

O God the Father, praise to Thee,
Thy Spirit and Thy Son!

O keep Thy Church in unity,
As Thou Trine Lord art One.

[26]

THE FIRST DAY OF LENT;

Commonly called
Ash-Wednesday.

I.

AUDI BENIGNE CONDITOR.

O MERCIFUL CREATOR! hear

Our prayer, to Thee devoutly bent, Which we pour forth with many a tear, In this Thy holy fast of Lent.

Thou mildest Searcher of the heart,

Who know'st the weakness of our strength, To us forgiving grace impart,

That we may seek Thy face at length. We all have sinn'd, we own our shame, But spare us who our sins confess, And for the glory of Thy Name

To our sick souls afford redress.

Grant that the flesh may so be pined,
By means of outward abstinence,
As that the sober watchful mind

May fast from spots of foul offence.
Grant this, O Blessed Trinity!

Pure Son of God! to this incline, That of our fast the fruit may be

A grateful recompense for Thine.

[27]

This hymn will serve for the second hymn throughout Lent.

II.

O LORD, turn not Thy face from me,

Who lie in woeful state,

Lamenting all my sinful life

Before Thy mercy gate;

A gate which opens wide to those
That do lament their sin;

Shut not that gate against me, Lord,
But let me enter in.

And call me not to strict account
How I have sojourn'd here,

For then my guilty conscience knows
How vile I shall appear.

I need not to confess my life
To Thee Who best can tell
What I have been and what I am,
I know Thou know'st it well.

The circumstances of my crimes,
Their number, and their kind,

Thou know'st them all, and more, much more
Than I can call to mind.

Therefore with tears I come to beg
Of my offended God

For pardon, like a child that dreads
His angry parent's rod.

So come I to Thy mercy gate,
Where mercy doth abound,
Imploring pardon for my sin,
To heal my deadly wound.

O Lord, I need not to repeat
The comfort I would have;

Thou know'st, O Lord, before I ask,

The blessing that I crave.

Mercy, Good Lord!

Mercy we ask,

This is the total sum;

For mercy, Lord, is all our suit,
O let Thy mercy come!

Blest Trinity, with grief sincere,
To Thee we humbly pray

That fruits of mercy may appear,
To bless this fasting day.

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