Part 2

The shepherds saw a wondrous sight, In Bethlehem's fields at even, When, lo! a star, in radiance bright, Shed o'er the plains its glorious light, And angel bands, harmonious quite, His praises sang from heaven.

II

Say, came He forth by myriads led?-- Come, gaily sound his praises high; A crown of gold upon his head? While angels praise Him in the sky. _Refrain._

III

Of earthly pomp the Lord had none,-- Come, gaily sound His praises high; His kingly crown had not been won, While angels praise Him in the sky. _Refrain._

IV

A little child the Lord became,-- Come, gaily sound His praises high, To bear our guilt, and share our shame, While angels praise Him in the sky. _Refrain._

V

O Jesu, Who in manger lay,-- Come, gaily sound his praises high, Make me a little child to-day, While angels praise Thee in the sky. _Refrain._

VI

And may I come, with spirit meet,-- Come, gaily sound His praises high, To lay my tribute at Thy feet, While angels praise Thee in the sky. _Refrain._

VII

To Father, Spirit, One with Christ,-- Come, gaily sound His praises high, Be endless praise, Whose love sufficed, While angels praise Him in the sky. _Refrain._

[1]This carol has been set to excellent and appropriate music by Mr. Arthur Henry Brown, Brentwood, Essex, and is published by Novello & Co., London. It is noteworthy that Mr. Brown is honourably associated with Eastern Hymnody by his tune, _St. Anatolius_, which was composed for Dr. Neale's rendering of the Greek evening hymn, {ten hemeran dielthon}, "The day is past and over"; and also by _Orthodoxus_ and _Apostolicus_, which were composed for The Ektene and The Litany Of The Deacon respectively; and by _St. Stythians_, composed for {basileu ouranie paraklete}, "O King, enthroned on high"--renderings by the present author, all of which find a place in the new edition of Church Hymns.

CAROL[2]

{euphrantheti hierousalem}

I

Jerusalem, rejoice! Keep festival and sing; All ye who dwell in Zion's courts, Bring forth an offering. Rejoice, rejoice, Jerusalem, rejoice; And sing with glee, right merrily, Let every heart and voice.

II

To-day the chain is loosed That long hath bound our race, The condemnation is removed Through God's abounding grace. Rejoice, rejoice, etc.

III

The gates of heaven are wide, And Satan's work undone; For She[3] who fell beneath his power, Now gives the world God's Son. Rejoice, rejoice, etc.

IV

O depth of riches great! O height of wisdom strong! O knowledge of the Living God, To right such grievous wrong! Rejoice, rejoice, etc.

V

Now, let creation sing And leap, nor brook control, For Christ hath come to call it back, And save each ruined soul. Rejoice, rejoice, Jerusalem rejoice; And sing with glee, right merrily, Let every heart and voice.

[2]Music by Mr. Arthur Henry Brown.

[3]Woman.

I

The best that heaven could bring-- First fruits, an offering free-- Was brought from far, when, by the star, The wise men came to Thee.

II

No sceptre, and no throne! The magi were amazed, As, with surprise, on humble guise And poverty, they gazed.

III

But there Thy God-head shone, Despite the manger bed; O Christ, the Lord, Incarnate Word! 'Twas there Thou laid'st Thy head.

I

Out from the rising of the sun, O'er tracts of desert wild, The Magi came on journey lone, To seek the heaven-born child; The star o'erhead their footsteps led, And hope their way beguiled.

II

They bore Him costly gifts of gold, And myrrh and spices sweet: "For He is King," they had been told, Whom they would meekly greet; And they would go, in reverence low, And worship at His feet.

III

O humble Child, in manger laid! The wise beheld Thee there, And reverently their homage paid, And gave their offerings rare. Their quest was found, and to the ground They bowed the head in prayer.

IV

O Jesu, who in manger lay, The Son of God most high, Let me my humble homage pay, And bring my offerings nigh, And humbly greet Thee at Thy feet, And low in worship lie.

EASTER

I

O woeful hour! when from the night Emerged in wrath Satanic might, To crush the Christ, whom God in heaven, To raise our fallen race, had given.

II

O woeful hour! when, with the scorn Of sinful men, His soul was torn; When sin exulting bowed the knee, And stung the Christ with mockery.

III

O woeful hour! when to the tree The Christ was nailed in agony; When anguish for our sin He bore, And thorns His throbbing temples tore.

IV

O woeful hour! O darkest day! The God-Man, still, entombed lay, For death his cruel shaft had driven To quell the hope our God had given.

V

O saddened soul! the night is past, The morn, bright morn, has come at last; The rage of sin its worst hath done, Yet lives in power th' eternal Son.

VI

The dark hath vanished in the light; O futile now, Satanic might; Sin wounded lies, and death is slain By Him who lives in power again.

VII

Hail, glorious morn! the Christ hath risen; Hail Victor from the darkest prison! Up, up, my soul! thy praises pour To Christ, Thy God, for evermore.

I

Crown the Lord of glory, Angels, crown your King; Saints whose souls He ransomed, Bring your offering; Let no voice be silent, Laud and honour bring.

II

Crown the Lord of glory,-- Once He dwelt below, Bore the cross of sorrow, Drank the cup of woe; Now He reigns triumphant, Let your praises flow.

III

Crown the Lord of glory,-- On the earth He wore Purple robe that mocked Him, Thorns His brow that tore; Now His griefs are ended, Praise Him evermore.

IV

Crown the Lord of glory, For His work is done; Crown the King of glory, God's eternal Son; In my life enthroned, Be Thy reign begun!

I

O Christ, when on the shameful tree, Thou bor'st such cruel pain for me, Thine every member felt the smart, And sent its sorrows to Thy heart.

II

A crown of thorns Thy temples tore, Thy face, O Christ, vile spittings bore, And cruel hands, O action base! Smote Thee, defiant, in the face.

III

When in Thy thirst, men heard Thee call, Thy lips were drenched with bitter gall; And to Thine ears the words were borne Of blasphemy and ribald scorn.

IV

Thy hands and feet with nails were riven, The spear into Thy side was driven;-- O Christ, when dying on the tree, How great the pain Thou bor'st for me!

V

Now, by Thy Cross, Almighty King, Salvation to the sinner bring, And let Thy sacrifice for me Teach me to sacrifice for Thee.

I

O God of love, whose mercy came To this dark world of sin and shame, And on a Cross of suffering sore, That sin and shame in meekness bore.

II

Supreme the love the Christ displayed, When He, True God, True Man was made; When He was scorned, His patience then Shone forth divine, with sinful men.

III

Did e'er such mercy lead the great To stoop from high to low estate? Did e'er such love incline the heart To take the erring sinner's part?

IV

'Twas God who loved, 'twas God who gave His Son our erring souls to save; 'Tis Christ that wins us by the love From earth below to heaven above.

V

Win me, O Lord, whose mercy came To this dark world of sin and shame, To that bright world whose beauties shine Forever in Thy love divine.

VI

To Thee, O Father, glory be, And glory, Christ, God-Man, to Thee, And to the Spirit, Three in One, Now, and while countless ages run.

I

When Hades held the Lord of Life, The boast of sin was vaunting high; 'Twas much to wound a sinless soul, But more to see the God-Man die.

II

When Hades held the Lord of Life, The gates were barred to hold Him fast. No prison bars so closely drawn Were e'er by soul of mortal passed.

III

When Hades held the Lord of Life, Rejoicing, death beheld Him there;-- "Now close the ancient barriers draw, And drive the prisoner to despair."

IV

O, blank surprise when Hades shook! O, ringing joy through all the gloom! Asunder fell the gates of night, And rose the Conqueror from the tomb.

V

Immortal Saviour! death is dead, No more it holds the souls of men; For Thou hast crushed the power of sin, And brought us back to life again.

I

When Thou, O Christ, upon the tree, Wert bearing pain for sinful men, The sun, lamenting, hid his face, And clothed himself with darkness then;

II

And o'er the world, when noontide came, The light grew faint and faded soon; And men in wonder saw the dark Bring in the night at hour of noon.

III

But, low in Hades' depths there shone Such light as never shone before; And prisoners saw the Light of lights, And joyed to feel their bondage o'er.

IV

O blessed art Thou, Christ, our Lord, For all the pain so meekly borne; The dark that hid Thee in Thy woe, Has ushered in a glorious morn.

I

To Thy Cross and Resurrection, Laud and praise we humbly give; In Thy death and life immortal, We will die, and ever live.

II

Christ Incarnate! by Thy Manhood, Thou to God hast brought me nigh; Christ the humble! by Thy meekness, Thou hast raised my horn on high.

III

Source of life! O Christ, the anguish Borne upon the cruel tree Lifts me to the bliss abiding, Where from suffering, souls are free.

IV

Endless praises, bright and thankful, Christ, to Thee be ever given, By the souls in sorrow singing, By the souls redeemed in heaven.

I

Light is dawning 'mong the hills, Light of light Thy beams display, All the darkness chase away, Light that dawned upon our ills.

II

Dark the day the Cross was raised By the hands of cruel men; Great Thy load of sorrow then; Angel hosts were sore amazed.

III

Dark the world while in the tomb, Lone in death the Saviour lay, Till the stone was rolled away, And His Rising quelled the gloom.

IV

Fadeless now, O Light of light, Glory of the Father, Thou, Shine upon Thy people now, Rise upon their darkest night.

I

Hail rising morn! for He hath risen; Hail light that gilds the Eastern skies; For, from the bonds of darkest prison, Thy first beams saw the Christ arise.

II

O merciful and gracious One! The gates of Hades Thou hast rent, And by Thy Rising, Christ the Son, No more we lie in bondage pent.

III

To-day the lips of Adam sing; Eve hails the Christ of mankind born; And patriarchs and prophets bring Their hymns to greet the wondrous morn.

IV

And Thine the glory, Thine the power, By glowing hearts in praise expressed; For Thine the might, this glorious hour, By which the sons of men are blessed.

I

We worship, Lord, before Thee now, For great, and good, and pure art Thou. O Christ, the God, our stumblings heal, And lead us all Thy love to feel.

II

For of Thy will it pleased Thee well Here, in our flesh, with us to dwell, To bear the Cross, that we might be From Satan's servitude set free.

III

Wherefore we cry aloud and praise, With thankful voice, Thy name always; For, O! our Saviour, Thou didst bring The joy that makes our souls to sing.

I

Heavy laden with thy grief, Do thy tears like raindrops flow? Christ hath all thy sorrows borne Long ago.

II

See Him in the garden, prone, While He poured His soul to God; Then He bore affliction keen, And the rod.

III

Weary, laden with thy sin, Dost thou bow beneath the load? Cast the burden of thy woe, On thy God.

IV

See Him faint beneath the load, As He bears the ghastly tree; Hear His weary spirit sigh, All for thee.

V

Sad and doubting, lo! the sun Shines upon a glorious day: He is risen! come, see the place Where He lay.

VI

Glory to our suffering Lord, Praise to our exalted King,-- Source of life and endless bliss,-- Let us bring.

I

To Thee, O Christ, our God, Great Shepherd, who didst bear The wandering sheep that strayed Back to Thy shepherd care;

II

Who, pitying, gav'st Thy life, That we might stray no more,-- To Thee our hearts we raise, And Thee our songs adore.

III

Blest Spirit, source of life, From Hades' fearful gloom Thou brought'st the Shepherd, Christ, Who lay in mortal tomb,

IV

That He might still provide, And tend, and guard, and keep, Where'er His flock, abides One Shepherd, of His sheep.

I

Glory shone within the gloom, Vacant eyes in wonder gazed; Shook the portals of the tomb, And the prisoners stood amazed.

II

"Who is this in garb of light, Come to chase our night away? Who is this in glorious might, Brings to us eternal day?"

III

"Back! the triumph has been won;" Prone the powers of darkness lie, At the feet of God's own Son, Fresh from fields of victory.

IV

Glory, glory, life is ours! Hades heard the shout and feared; Sin and all satanic powers Saw the Victor as He neared.

V

Burst the gates and cast them down, Set the sighing prisoners free; Fear not though the tyrant frown, Christ hath purchased liberty,

VI

Sin is crushed and death is slain, See the Cross and Him who died! From the grave He rose again, Who for man was crucified.

VII

Hail! the Resurrection day, Hail! the gladness and the gain; "He is risen," the angels say, Yea, the Lord is risen again.

I

When Adam heard the voice of sin And fell before its power, The flowers of Paradise were shorn Of beauty in that hour.

II

And clouds obscured the heavenly light, And e'en the stars were dim; For O 'twas night, and only night, Dark night 'twixt God and him.

III

"O whence that flashing sword that gleams? And whence those angels there?" Out from the garden of their bliss, Was thrust the guilty pair.

IV

Life is not theirs, the tree of Life The Cherubim surround; Death dogs our guilty parents' steps, Curse blasts the fertile ground.

V

O dreary, dreary, dark and dread, O misery of sin! "God make another garden fair, And take Thy wanderers in."

VI

All praise to Christ our glorious Lord, For sin and death are slain; The gates of heaven are open wide, And life is ours again.

I

Within the garden's sombre shade, The Christ of God in anguish prayed;-- And who that agony could tell, As from his brow the blood-drops fell?

II

"Can you not watch one hour?" He saith, "My soul is sorrowful to death." But He alone the vigil kept, While worn disciples slumbering slept.

III

O dark the cloud that threatening hung, And sore the grief His soul that wrung,-- The hate of man, the guilty name, The bitter Cross, the sin and shame.

IV

"If I must drink this cup," He prayed, "The burden bear upon me laid, My God, I bow Me to Thy will, And meekly Thy behest fulfil."

V

My soul, when to the garden led, And clouds are gathering overhead, When none the hour of anguish shares, To God direct thy earnest prayers.

VI

"Thy will be done, Thy will is best,-- Even then the bitter cup is blest,-- If 'tis Thy will the cup I'll drain, Despite the agony of pain."

PENTECOST

{Ergo, hos palai tois mathetais epengeilo.}

I

Even as Thou saidst, the Spirit came, In fiery tongues of living flame; And men were moved to spread abroad, The Wisdom of th' Incarnate God.

II

And nations heard the truth, and gave Their souls to Him who came to save; And toiling in their sins, arose The power of Satan to oppose.

III

Even as Thou saidst; the Spirit's power Came at the Pentecostal hour, And drooping souls with zeal were fired, And felt the life that power inspired.

IV

Even as Thou saidst, the Spirit's voice Spake to dull hearts, and bade rejoice; And men that dwelt in sorrow's night, Felt hope awake as morning light.

V

Even as Thou saidst; His power can still Our empty lives to fulness fill; Can charge with hope, with zeal inspire, And kindle life, and light, and fire.

VI

Even as Thou saidst!--O Spirit, come, Make with Thy people here Thy home; In all their need Thy gifts supply, And Christ our Lord still glorify.

I

O may the Spirit of all grace Descend and in our hearts abide, And what of good or ill betide, Find in them aye a resting-place.

II

There is no peace to mortals given, Save when the Spirit finds His rest Within the secret of our breast, And there inspires the calm of heaven.

III

Our earthly calms a storm presage, They whisper peace, and tempests rise, And clouds obscure the brightest skies, And winds, and waves in tumult rage.

IV

No storm disturbs the heavenly peace, No whispering fills the soul with fears As when the brooding tempest nears, And clouds around our path increase.

V

'Tis lasting calm, 'tis heavenly rest; Come, Spirit of the Living God, And in our spirits shed abroad The peace that makes the troubled blest.

COMMUNION

I

Let Thy Blood in mercy poured, Let thy gracious Body broken, Be to me, O gracious Lord Of Thy boundless love the token; Thou didst give Thyself for me, Now I give myself to Thee.

II

Thou didst die that I might live;-- Blessed Lord Thou cam'st to save me; All that love of God could give, Jesus by His sorrows gave me;-- Thou didst give Thyself for me, Now I give myself to Thee.

III

By the thorns that crowned Thy brow, By the spear wound and the nailing; By the pain and death I now Claim, O Christ, Thy love unfailing; Thou didst give Thyself for me, Now I give myself to Thee.

IV

Wilt Thou own the gift I bring? All my penitence I give Thee; Thou art my exalted King, Of Thy matchless love forgive me;-- Thou didst give Thyself for me, Now I give myself to Thee.

I

O Lord of bounty, let this bread Be Thy pure Body unto me; And let the wine in symbol poured, Tell of the glorious Mystery;-- O let me here Thy presence feel; And all my sins in mercy heal.

II

I am not worthy to partake Of Thy pure Body, gracious Lord; Nor of the Blood so freely shed By Thee, O Thou Incarnate Word; Yet grant Thy presence unto me, And let me now commune with Thee.

JUDGMENT

I

When in the clouds the Lord appears, And angels stand around His throne; When judgment fills the soul with fears, And none can aught of sin disown;-- Spare me, O Lord, Thy creature spare, And let my soul Thy mercy share.

II

Even in Thy judgment mercy shew;-- But ere that awful day awakes, Make me my guilty state to know, And from my evil courses break;-- Spare me, O Lord, Thy creature spare, And let my soul Thy mercy share.

III

For Thou art pitiful and kind, And Thou hast died, O Judge of men, That, ere the Judgment, I may find The path that leads to life again;-- Spare me, O Lord, Thy creature spare, And let my soul Thy mercy share.

IV

I have no penitence nor tears, I have no merit of my own; But, ah! my soul is filled with fears, And gladly would its sin disown;-- Spare me, O Lord, Thy creature spare, And let my soul Thy mercy share.

V

And bring me nigh the throne of grace, That, ere the day of Judgment dire, I may behold Thy loving face, And flee Thine all consuming ire;-- Spare me, O Lord, Thy creature spare, And let my soul Thy mercy share.

VI

Swift draws the day of Judgment nigh; Wake, wake, my soul, the Judge is near! And call for mercy while thy cry Can enter His inclining ear;-- Spare me, O Lord, Thy creature spare, And let my soul Thy mercy share.

I

The Bridegroom comes! My soul, awake, And slumber from thine eyelids shake; Hark! in the midnight hour the cry; Bestir, my soul, for He is nigh.

II

Now trim your lamp, and let its light Illume the darkness of the night; And with the tarrying host attend The Bridegroom, as the Bridegroom's friend.

III

Hast thou no oil? O foolish soul! Why didst thou not the hours control? Why in the darkness slumber still, Without the oil your lamp to fill?

IV

Go, get your oil,--but no, too late! The Bridegroom's come, and closed the gate;-- "O let me knock, for He is kind, And will not leave my soul behind."

V

"O let me in, my lamp's aglow; How could I, Lord, Thy coming know? 'Twas night, I slumbered,--let me in: Forgive, O Lord, forgive my sin."

VI

Too late! The time has gone apace; Too late, 'tis gone, the hour of grace; O soul of mine, awake, awake, And slumber from thine eyelids shake.

I

O Judge of all, when sinful men To Thy dire judgment seat are brought,-- Tell not the error of my life, O tell it not.

II

When bowed with grief my tears are shed, Because my life with sin is fraught, To angel hosts tell not my sin, O tell it not.

III

O hide the secrets of my soul, And give the pardon I have sought, And to the myriads round Thy throne, O tell them not.

IV

O merciful and just Thou art; In pity view my woeful lot, And shame me not because of sin,-- O tell it not.

I

I brought my merits to the throne, And set them forth in order there; I said, "O Lord, Thy servant own, And let his brow the garland wear; The grace and virtue of his life, He won as victor in the strife."

II

The song that erstwhile filled the place, Where high the throne of Christ was set, Grew faint, as on each pensive face Joy mixed with pain, and pity met;-- Their song had told the debt they owed, And how the Christ His grace bestowed.

III

O, silence fell, so sharp and chill,-- My soul to meanness pined and shrank, Forth went my cry in accent shrill, "My Lord, have I no grace to thank?" Its echo dying, lingered, sank, "My Lord, have I no grace to thank?"

IV

I saw His pierced hands and side, I saw the thorn-wounds on His brow,-- "My Lord, forgive my sinful pride, Accept my sore repentance now;" Then rose high heaven's adoring prayers, My grateful song went forth with theirs.

I

The time is drawing nigh, Even now the day is near, When Christ from heaven high To Judgment shall appear;-- Keep watch, my soul, in fear, The Judge of men is near.

II

Then kings and princes great, The rich and poor shall meet; And high and low estate, Shall gather round His feet;-- Keep watch, my soul, in fear, The Judge of men is near.

III