Part 4
Sad, repenting, full of fear, Hoping, doubting, still we wait; As we call, in mercy hear;-- Open, Lord, to us the gate.
I
Burdened with a heavy load, Lord, we come, for Thou art calling; Rough and toilsome is the road, And the night around is falling.
II
Sin, the burden that we bear, Fills us with a dread to meet Thee; Yet, we yield not to despair, But for mercy would entreat Thee.
III
From the cross a glorious light Falls upon our path to cheer us; And a hope on pinions bright Hovers, in the darkness, near us.
IV
For the sake of Him Who bore All the sin, we come lamenting, Let Thy pardon now restore Sinners, at Thy feet, repenting.
I
Lord of a countless throng, Fair as the stars of night, Won from the thrall of cruel wrong Back to the good and right; Thine is the praise they sing, Lord of their souls, and King.
II
Thine was the love that sought Far as their wanderings led; Thine was the wondrous grace that brought Life to the faint and dead; Pardon for all the past, Peace that shall endless last.
III
Lord of a countless throng Sworn to be faithful aye, When, in the power that makes them strong, They stand in evil day; Make us by grace, we pray, Loyal and brave as they.
I
Let all the world abroad In cheerful praise unite To bless the name of God, Creator, Lord of might.
II
He made the sea and land, The pastures rolling wide, The mountains towering, grand, The streams that ceaseless glide;
III
The cattle on the hills, The flocks afield that rove, The birds, whose music fills The silence of the grove;
IV
The heavens that, day and night, His matchless power declare, The sun and moon, whose light Illumines everywhere.
V
Let man, creation's lord, His rightful homage give To Him Whose mighty word First called his soul to live.
VI
And with the heavenly host, Our Sovereign Lord adore, And Son, and Holy Ghost, Both now, and evermore.
I
Thou Saviour of our sinful race, We sing the fulness of Thy grace; Lord, as our songs in rapture soar, On us Thy loving-kindness pour.
II
There is no merit of our own, No plea to offer, save alone That Thou hast died upon the tree, To set our sin-bound spirits free.
III
O, when the world, in awful fear, Beholds the Judge of all appear, Be this our joy on that dread day, That Christ hath borne our sins away.
IV
When in the land of bliss divine, Our souls in robes of beauty shine, This be our song before the throne, Not ours the beauty, Thine alone.
V
To Thee, O God, be glory given, And to the Christ, the King of heaven; And to the Holy Spirit, blest, Be praise for evermore exprest.
I
Where the Lord reveals His presence, Glory lights the sacred place, And the soul in adoration Falls before the throne of grace.
II
Seraphim, and saints in wonder, Lift their songs where Christ is set, And employ, in sacred homage, Harp, and palm, and coronet.
III
Light of lights, no light approacheth,-- Sun, nor moon, nor stars of night, Flood the noon-tide and the darkness With such radiance of delight.
IV
Beauty of the King Immortal! Ere we rise to where Thou art, Let the glory of Thy presence Chase the darkness from our heart.
I
O Love of God, surpassing far The loves that human hearts unite, Far from our ken as yonder star That sheds its radiance on the night;
II
High as the heavens, and deep as hell, Broad as the world's infinite need,-- None but the Christ that love can tell, And none its winning power impede.
III
Glory to God! that love exprest Came in the gift our need required, And in the Christ our lives are blest, And by His love are souls inspired.
IV
And from the manger to the cross, And at the noon-day and the night, He bore the burden of our loss, Nor shunned the anguish and despite.
V
And 'twas the love of God He showed, When, crowned with shame, He meekly died;-- No gifts by bleeding love bestowed, So great as Jesus crucified.
I
O God of our salvation, Who in Thy glorious might, Didst speak, and all creation Arose from brooding night; And chaos, and confusion, To form and order sped, While lo! in rich profusion The earth its beauty spread.
II
O God of our salvation, Thy word hath still its power, And souls in desolation Are lying at this hour; Speak as of old, and banish The chaos and the night, And bid their sorrows vanish Before Thy glorious light.
III
O God of our salvation, Thy Word our Flesh became; To free from condemnation He bore our human name, And spoke to us confiding Of all the Father willed; And we, with Him abiding, Are with His fulness filled.
IV
O God of our salvation, Thou, Christ, in mercy come, And make Thy new creation Thine everlasting home; And in our hearts abiding, And in Thy Church adored, Still speak the word confiding, O Jesus Christ, our Lord.
I
O Jesus, when my guilty fears My wakened soul distress, And Judgment for the past appears In all its awfulness,-- Bid gathering clouds asunder roll, And shed Thy sunshine in my soul.
II
When from their long-forgotten grave My guilty deeds arise, And terror proves me yet the slave My soul would fain despise,-- From stings of memory heal my soul, And free me from sin's dire control.
III
O Lord, in Whom my hope is set, I look in faith to Thee; From sin, and guilt, and sad regret, My soul in mercy free;-- For, in that mercy, Lord, I trust, And lie, repenting, in the dust.
I
Lord, I am Thine, for Thou hast died for me; Thy claim I own, and give myself to Thee; Not with the price of gold, of gold most fine Hast Thou redeemed my soul, and made me Thine.
II
Thy blood was shed upon the awful tree; I marvel at the love there shown for me All loveless, and to sin and self a slave;-- Thy gifts enriched me, yet I nothing gave.
III
Now in its wonder would my soul arise, Shorn of all pride, but precious in Thine eyes, Who for its life Thy glory laidst aside, And wore its shame, and for its purchase died;
IV
And fired with love, that wondrous love proclaim In life, in death, in fealty to Thy name; In loving service, for such service given, Here upon earth, and yonder in Thy heaven.
V
Lord, I am Thine, Thy love hath won my soul; Now shall my life obey such sweet control;-- No, not mine own, the purchase is complete, I bring my all to lay it at Thy feet.
ASPIRATIONS
I
Lord, let our eyes the things unseen behold, And, 'mid the glory that like sunset dies, Fair to the sight the wondrous bliss unfold That lives in beauty under cloudless skies.
II
And let our ears the things unuttered hear, That silent voices to the soul can tell; That heart can whisper when a heart is near Of love that scorns in uttered tones to dwell.
III
Teach us to know that things unseen are real, That earth no bloom of fadeless beauty gives, That far beyond the things that sense can feel, The joy of being, and of having, lives.
IV
Lord Who hast risen, nor left the world behind, Daily incline our sense-bound souls to soar, Till 'mong the things all hidden we may find Possessions that abide for evermore.
I
Wake to the songs that lips unsullied sing, And let their tones responsive echoes call,-- There's more to cheer us than our senses bring, And sweeter anthems than from mortals fall.
II
Saints in the land where sin is all unknown, Where care nor sorrow can the light subdue, Dwell in the glory of the heavenly throne, And voice new praise, for wonders ever new.
III
Wake to their praise, and let us blend with theirs Songs that shall travel to a fairer clime; Glad as the morn, and hallowed by our prayers, Offerings of duty from the realm of time.
VI
One, we are one with victors gone before; Songs that are ours, were theirs when in the strife; Theirs shall be ours when, all our striving o'er, Christ gives us entrance to immortal life.
I
Bring to the Christ your fears, And tell your sorrows there, The faintest cry he hears, And every faltering prayer; He knows your weight of woe, Who dwelt with us below.
II
With thought of sin opprest, Does conscience smite thee sore? There is a place of rest, Where sin afflicts no more; See, where the blood was spilt, The cross hath borne thy guilt.
III
Think you of former bliss, Of happier, sunnier hours, When fragrant joys you miss, Bestrewed your path like flowers? With Christ more joys abound, Than can on earth be found.
IV
Mourn you a heart estranged, Once kind, but now grown cold? A happy friendship changed, Now that the years are old? There is a Friend above, And His, a lasting love.
V
Is there an empty room Where silence broods alone, All curtained round with gloom, Where once the sunlight shone? Hearts that are linked below, In Christ no parting know.
VI
Bring then to Christ your fears, And tell your sorrows there, The faintest cry He hears, And every faltering prayer; He knows your weight of woe, Who dwelt with us below.
I
Lord, soothe my anxious, troubled soul, And bid its doubting cease, Speak to the crested waves that roll, To sink in quiet peace; And bring me to a place of rest, A haven calm and still, Where every soul by sin distressed, May dwell secure from ill.
II
Ah! Thou wert once, my Blessed Lord, By surging waters pressed, But Thou didst speak th' almighty word And laidst them still at rest; And 'gainst Thy soul the wrath of sin Its tempest fury cast, But Thou didst stand, serene within, Till all the storm had passed.
III
O Christ, the hiding-place of those Who face the blinding blast, And battle with a myriad woes That sweep in fury past; Be Thou my comfort and defence, While storm fiends wildly cry,-- My star of hope when night is dense, And dangers round me lie.
I
Surpassing great the gift of God To erring mortals given, A way that, from their dark abode, Leads to the light of heaven.
II
O Christ Who art the living way, Plant Thou my feet therein, And lead me lest I go astray In luring paths of sin.
III
Too long I've found a sad delight In wandering from Thy care, Nor feared the sudden fall of night, The darkness, and the snare.
IV
O Jesus Christ, to Thee my soul In conscious weakness clings; Teach me to seek the kind control That peace and safety brings.
V
And lead me upwards day by day, Till, night and danger past, I reach by Thee the living way, The Father's house at last.
I
My hope is firmly set On Him Whose truth abides; The lights of earth may fade and die, The hopes of earth despairing fly,-- No fear my heart betides.
II
My love its ardour finds In Him Whose love is strong, Who bought me with a price untold, More than of silver or of gold, And fills my heart with song.
III
My peace its calm attains In Him Whose power defends; My foes may sound a loud alarm, I trust securely in the arm He for my succour lends.
IV
My joy its gladness sings In notes His voice awakes,-- A joy no effort can attain, That thrills alike in loss and gain, And when the world forsakes.
V
Thou Christ art all I need, Of all my bliss the spring; More fulness in Thy grace is found, Than when the corn and wine abound, And all the world can bring.
I
The time is drawing near, It cannot tarry long, When they who face the conflict here, Shall join the glorious throng,
Where gladness fills each heart, And honour crowns each brow;-- For tireless service fit me, Lord, By willing service now.
II
Let no depressing thought My brooding mind depress; But let me hear, in winning tones, What they who serve possess,
Where gladness fills each heart, etc.
III
Let sunshine flood the soul, When threatening night descends, That I may see the light serene No sunset ever ends.
Where gladness fills each heart, etc.
IV
Let strength my spirit nerve, That, with each labour done, I may, like those who serve above, See some new task begun;
Where gladness fills each heart, etc.
V
The time is drawing near,-- Till that bright morning break, May I, with those who see Thy face, Thy will, my pleasure make:
Where gladness fills each heart, etc.
I
I will not yield my sword, I will not bow the knee, But I would hear the blessed word That calls my soul to Thee; And through the din of war, And in the midst of strife, That word shall be the guiding star To lead me on to life.
II
And in the midst of snares Which subtle fingers lay, I shall not stumble unawares Upon the upward way; But keep before my eyes The goal before me set, Lest I should miss the glorious prize Which loyal victors get.
III
O Christ, Who art my King, Thy cause I make mine own, Till proud rebellious foes shall bring Their homage to Thy throne; Till then my heart revive With courage brave and strong, And steel my feeble arm to strive Against the power of wrong.
IV
When from the fateful field I hail my rightful King, To Him my trusty sword I'll yield, And all my trophies bring; And He shall crown my head With honours richer far Than trophies from the conquered dead, And all the spoils of war.
I
If in the cause of right I must, Do battle with the sword, Then, let me follow Him I trust, My chosen King and Lord.
II
As Captain in the mortal fight, He knows the foe I fear; His presence fires my soul with might, And fills my heart with cheer.
III
If I should see Him ever near, When blows unceasing fall, I shall no flaunting banner fear, Nor loudest battle call.
IV
And in the thickest of the strife, No polished shaft I'll dread, For He preserves my soul in life, In battle shields my head.
V
No power shall in the fight prevail, No subtle gin ensnare, Though all the hosts of hell assail, And guile the fraud prepare.
VI
Lord, gird me with Thy armour bright, And lead me forth to win, For I would battle for the right Against the might of sin.
I
The Christ on Olive's mount in prayer His heart to God exprest; And as they held sweet converse there, His soul with peace was blest.
II
Far from the din of troubled life, The tumult, and the swell, A silence, stilling earthly strife, Upon His spirit fell.
III
And there a voice whose soothing tone The trusting spirit filled, Came with that grace by which alone Our great unrest is stilled.
IV
O may the blessed thought, divine, That moved the Christ to prayer, Our weary, anxious souls incline Like peace and joy to share;
V
And on the mount where God is met, May we the solace know, That found His soul on Olivet, Who shared our life below.
I
Like music at the stilly hour, When twilight veils the light of day, A gentle voice, with winning power, Allured me from the world away.
II
It made me sad, because I thought That love undying I could spurn; It made me glad, because it brought A loving message in return.
III
Ah, then the Christ my sin revealed, And bade me cast the barrier down, And rise to things from eyes concealed, More lasting than the world's renown.
IV
I found the pathway to the cross, And lo, my blindness passed away, For radiant sunlight swept across The darkness that had led astray.
V
'Twas then that Christ, in all His love, In all His beauty won my soul;-- Now, for the treasures stored above, I thrust aside the world's control.
I
O Lord, Thou in the hour of need, Didst succour those who sought Thine aid,-- The faint revive, the hungry feed,-- And on the sick thine hand was laid.
II
Our needy souls Thy help would crave, For faint they droop, and hungry pine,-- Lord, from their mortal sickness save, And heal them by Thy power divine.
III
Where memories weave a sombre web, And sighs reveal the heart distressed, Where joys that flowed, in murmurs ebb, And buoyant souls are sore oppressed;
IV
Come as of yore, all helpful, come, And let Thy loving kindness bless, That, where the voice of praise is dumb, Songs may arise of thankfulness.
I
My harp upon the willows, grave, In weeping days is sadly hung, For, Lord, the joy Thy presence gave, Is from my soul in anguish wrung.
II
I think upon the peaceful hours, With Thy companionship to please; But now the world is shorn of flowers, And birds are mute among the trees.
III
Wilt Thou not come as morning light? As spring that wakes the sleeping earth? As zephyrs on the tuneless night, To stir my soul to holy mirth?
IV
O matchless Love! for me expressed, O gift of Love surpassing great! Wake love responsive in my breast, And make my drooping soul elate.
V
My heart is strung; up heart, proclaim In joyful strains the Love divine, That stooped from highest heaven, and came To earth to save this soul of mine;
VI
To free my heart from carking cares, From trusting aught to fleshly aid; To shew me sin's seductive snares, That for unwary feet are laid.
VII
Blest Spirit of my God, return, And o'er my life resume Thy sway, That love within my soul may burn, And quicken joy from day to day.
I
To Thee my soul enraptured sings, O Thou, Immortal King of kings Enthroned where glory shines; The garland of the praises sweet, That I would offer at Thy feet, My grateful heart entwines.
II
More rare Thy beauty than the best By highest heaven or earth possessed; More radiant than the sun, The glory shining from Thy face That fills with light the holy place, O Thou Immortal One!
III
Greater Thy might than lord of war,-- Thy vast dominions stretch afar Beyond a kingly sway; Thy hand upholds the earth and sea, And heaven, and all that therein be, Thy wise decrees obey.
IV
But not by rule of power alone Are subjects loyal to Thy throne, Thy love their fealty wins,-- A love that, by its winning grace Allured our fallen, guilty race From their rebellious sins.
V
Lord, by Thy cross that won my soul, From bondage to benign control, My every power possess; That, daily, I my cross may bear, And find, to serve Thee everywhere, Is praising Thee the best.
VI
To Thee my soul enraptured sings, O Thou Immortal King of kings, But I would join the song, Of myriad souls in realms of light, Who praise their King by day and night, Through all the ages long.
MODERN GREEK HYMNS
{Christos ho Logos me theoi sarkoumenos.}
The following is a close rendering of a hymn to Christ The Word, taken from a collection of hymns to The Three One God, by Bishop Nektarios, Metropolitan of Pentapolis (_vide_ Introduction, page xxi). The hymn, which is in anapaests, is at page 10 of the author's collection, where it bears the title, {Ôdê eis ton kyrion hêmôn Iêsoun Christon.} The volume was published at Athens, 1909, and is one of many similar collections written by hymn-writers in the communion of the Greek Church.
I
Christ The Word! Thine Incarnation Links my nature to Thine own; By Thy sore Humiliation, I am lifted to Thy throne; By Thy suffering Thou hast fired me With a zeal to sacrifice, And to noble life inspired me,-- Hence my grateful songs arise.
II
Word of God! Thy Crucifixion Hath upraised me from the earth; By Thy death and dereliction, Thou hast given me nobler birth; By Thy Resurrection glorious, Life immortal now I own,-- Hence ascend my songs victorious To Thy praise, O Christ the Son.
III
By Thy hand at the creation, Thou didst form me from the ground, And, to mark my kingly station, With Thine image I was crowned; And that hand, when pierced and bleeding, Raised me from corruption's mire, And, though all this love unheeding, Decked me with divine attire.
IV
Thou who gav'st my soul its being, Breathing in me life divine, Didst, by Thine all-wise decreeing, Unto death Thy life resign; And from death my soul defending, Thou didst sojourn with the dead, That Thou mightst, my fetters rending, Raise me up, Thou Glorious Head!
V
Shame be on your heads abiding, Disobedient people now, Who to death, and vile deriding, Caused the Word of God to bow! Shame! for death, nor powers infernal, Nor the dark of hades' gloom, Could retain the King Eternal In the bondage of the tomb.
{Deute kai mimêsômetha en tê parousê heortê.}
Another rendering from the Greek of Bishop Nektarios. The original is on page 68 of his collection, where it is entitled, {Hymnos eis tên baptisin tou kyriou hêmôn Iêsou Christou}. The hymn is obviously based on the troparian and contakion for the Feast of the Theophany, or Epiphany (January 6), and the contakion for the Feast of St. John Baptist (January 7). The latter contakion reads thus:--
"At Thy bodily presence Jordan was driven back in fear; John shook with trembling as he fulfilled his prophetic ministry; the host of angels were amazed at seeing the Baptized in the flesh, and all that were in the dark shades [of hades] received light, and praised Thee Who hast appeared, and hast lightened everything." (Menaeon, Venice edition, page 81.)
I
Come, keep this Feast, who holy things revere, And with pure minds, your Lord adore with fear.
II
Lo, to the Jordan on this sacred day, The Bridegroom from His chamber took His way.
III
Jordan affrighted, on its course was stayed; The Baptist heard His voice and was dismayed.
IV
"How can I hold that sacred Head of Thine, O Word of God, Immortal, and Divine?"
V
Then, from the Father, in the heaven above, The Holy Ghost descended as a Dove.
VI
While on the Christ the dove-like form abode, And Jordan's parted waters o'er Him flowed.
VII
"This is my Son," the Father spake from heaven, "Who, for the lost of Adam's race was given."
VIII
Illumine us, we sing, O Christ the Lord, Glory to Thee, O Thou Incarnate Word!
_BY THE SAME AUTHOR. Crown 8vo. Price 3/6 each nett._
HYMNS OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH, being Centos and Suggestions from the Service Books of the Holy Eastern Church. With Introduction, and Historical and Biographical Notes.
HYMNS FROM THE EAST, being Centos and Suggestions from the Service Books of the Holy Eastern Church. With Introduction.