Thy road is ready; and Thy paths made straight
With longing expectation wait

The consecration of Thy beauteous feet!
Ride on triumphantly! Behold, we lay
Our lusts and proud wills in Thy way!

Hosanna! Welcome, to our hearts! Lord, here
Thou hast a temple too; and full as dear
As that of Sion, and as full of sin :

Nothing but thieves and robbers dwell therein :
Enter, and chase them forth, and cleanse the floor!
Crucify them, that they may never more

Profane that holy place

Where Thou hast chose to set Thy face!
And then, if our stiff tongues shall be

Mute in the praises of Thy Deity,

The stones out of the temple wall

Shall cry aloud, and call

Hosanna! and Thy glorious footsteps greet! Amen!

Bishop Jeremy Taylor. 1655.

CLXXV.

Jesus, Thy Church with longing eyes
For Thy expected coming waits;
When will the promised light arise,
And glory beam from Zion's gates?

Ev'n now, when tempests round us fall,
And wintry clouds o'ercast the sky,
Thy words with pleasure we recall,

And deem that our redemption's nigh.

Come, gracious Lord, our hearts renew,
Our foes repel, our wrongs redress,
Man's rooted enmity subdue,

And crown Thy Gospel with success.

O come, and reign o'er every land;
Let Satan from his throne be hurl'd ;
All nations bow to Thy command,
And grace revive a dying world!

Yes, Thou wilt speedily appear!
The smitten earth already reels;
And not far off we seem to hear

The thunder of Thy chariot wheels.

Teach us in watchfulness and prayer
To wait for the appointed hour;
And fit us by Thy grace to share

The triumphs of Thy conquering power.

William Hiley Bathurst. 1831.

CLXXVI.

Light of the lonely pilgrim's heart,

Star of the coming day!

Arise, and with Thy morning beams
Chase all our griefs away!

Come, blessed Lord! let every shore

And answering island sing

The praises of Thy royal name,
And own Thee as their King.

Bid the whole earth, responsive now
To the bright world above,
Break forth in sweetest strains of joy
In memory of Thy love.

Jesus! Thy fair creation groans,
The air, the earth, the sea,
In unison with all our hearts,
And calls aloud for Thee.

Thine was the Cross, with all its fruits
Of grace and peace divine:

Be Thine the crown of glory now,

The palm of victory Thine!

Anon. [1852]

CLXXVII.

O Saviour! is Thy promise fled?
Nor longer might Thy grace endure
To heal the sick, and raise the dead,
And preach the Gospel to the poor?

Come, Jesus, come! return again;

With brighter beam Thy servants bless,
Who long to feel Thy perfect reign,
And share Thy kingdom's happiness!

A feeble race, by passion driven,

In darkness and in doubt we roam, And lift our anxious eyes to Heaven, Our hope, our harbour, and our home.

Yet, 'mid the wild and wintry gale,
When death rides darkly o'er the sea,
And strength and earthly daring fail,
Our prayers, Redeemer! rest on Thee.
Come, Jesus, come! and as of yore
The prophet went to clear Thy way,
A harbinger Thy feet before,

A dawning to Thy brighter day;

So now may grace, with heavenly shower,
Our stony hearts for truth prepare ;
Sow in our souls the seed of power,

Then come, and reap Thy harvest there!
Bishop Reginald Heber. 1827.

CLXXVIII.

O Spirit of the living God!

In all Thy plenitude of grace,
Where'er the foot of man hath trod,
Descend on our apostate race!

Give tongues of fire and hearts of love
To preach the reconciling word;
Give power and unction from above,
Whene'er the joyful sound is heard.

Be darkness, at Thy coming, Light;
Confusion, order in Thy path;
Souls without strength inspire with might;
Bid mercy triumph over wrath.

O Spirit of the Lord! prepare

All the round earth her God to meet;
Breathe Thou abroad like morning air,
Till hearts of stone begin to beat.

Baptize the nations far and nigh;

The triumphs of Thy Cross record; The name of Jesus glorify,

Till every kindred call Him Lord.

James Montgomery. 1825.

CLXXIX.

Speed Thy servants, Saviour, speed them !
Thou art Lord of winds and waves:
They were bound, but Thou hast freed them;
Now they go to free the slaves :

Be Thou with them!

'Tis Thine arm alone that saves.

Friends and home and all forsaking,
Lord! they go, at Thy command;
As their stay Thy promise taking,
While they traverse sea and land :
O be with them!

Lead them safely by the hand!

Speed them through the mighty ocean,
In the dark and stormy day,
When the waves in wild commotion
Fill all others with dismay :

Be Thou with them!
Drive their terrors far away.

When they reach the land of strangers,
And the prospect dark appears,
Nothing seen but toils and dangers,
Nothing felt but doubts and fears;
Be Thou with them!

Hear their sighs, and count their tears.