THE mystery, passing wonder,
When, reclining at the board,
"Eat," Thou saidst to Thy Disciples,
"That true Bread with quickening stored;
Drink in faith the healing Chalice
From a Dying GOD outpoured."
CHRIST is now our mighty Pascha,
Eaten for our mystic Bread;
As a Lamb led out to slaughter,
And for this world offered:
Take we of His broken Body,
Drink we of the Blood He shed.
CHRIST to all the world gives banquet
On that most celestial Meat:
Him, albeit with lips all earthly,
Yet with holy hearts we greet:
Him, the sacrificial Pascha,
Priest and Victim all complete.
Glory let us give, and blessing,
To the FATHER and the SON,
Honour, might, and praise addressing,
While eternal ages run;
Ever, too, His Love confessing,
Who from Both with Both is ONE.
GOD unseen-yet truly near !
Thy Presence may we feel;
And thus, inspired with holy fear,
Before Thine Altar kneel.
Here may Thy faithful people know
The blessings of Thy Love;
The streams that through the desert flow,
The Manna from above.
We come, obedient to Thy Word,
To feast on heavenly Food;
Our meat, the Body of the LORD,
Our drink, His precious Blood.
Thus may we all Thy Words obey,
For we, O GOD, are Thine
And go rejoicing on our way,
Renew'd with strength divine.
To FATHER, SON, and HOLY GHOST,
The GOD Whom we adore,
Be glory, as it was, is now,
And shall be evermore.
67. T And Son of Gop Most High,
10 CHRIST, the Prince of Peace,
The Father of the world to come,
We lift our joyful cry.
Deep in His Heart for us
The wound of Love He bore ;-
That Love, which still He kindles in
The hearts that Him adore.
O JESU! Victim blest!
What else but Love divine
Could Thee constrain to open thus
That sacred Heart of Thine?
O Fount of endless Life!
O Spring of waters clear!
O Flame celestial, cleansing all
Who unto Thee draw near!
Hide me in Thy dear Heart,
For thither do I fly ;
There seek Thy Grace through life, in death
Thine Immortality.
TO GOD the FATHER, SON,
And SPIRIT, glory be;
As was, and is, and shall be so,
Through all eternity. Amen.
68. LIVING Bread from Heaven, To weary pilgrims given,
Angelic Sustenance !
Celestial Food, I need Thee,
Thou, Thou alone canst feed me;
My Life comes only thence.
O Fount of Love abounding!
My wondering thoughts confounding!
I come to taste Thy stream,
From His warm Heart that's bleeding
To give me what is needing
To quicken, cheer, redeem.
O JESU, here Thou'rt hidden!
Here now, as I am bidden,
By faith I feast on Thee—
O let the clouds concealing,
Soon melt away, revealing
The GOD I long to see!
To GOD our Great CREATOR,
To GOD Who took our Nature,
To GOD the Holy Dove,
The THREE IN ONE, be given
Eternal praise in Heaven
And earth, in songs of love. Amen.
Holy Matrimony.
69. The earliest wedding day,
HE Voice that breathed o'er Eden,
The primal marriage blessing,
It hath not pass'd away.
Still in the pure espousal
Of Christian man and maid
The Holy THREE are with us,
The threefold grace is said.
For dower of blessed children,
For Love and Faith's sweet sake,
For high mysterious union
Which nought on earth may break;
Be present, Awful FATHER,
To give away this bride,
As Eve Thou gav'st to Adam
Out of his own pierced side;
Be present, Son of Mary,
To join their loving hands,
As Thou didst join two Natures
In Thine eternal bands;
Be present, Holiest SPIRIT,
To bless them as they kneel,
As Thou for CHRIST, the Bridegroom,
The heavenly Spouse dost seal.
O spread Thy pure wings o'er them,
Let no ill power find place,
When onward to Thine Altar
The hallow'd path they trace,
To cast their crowns before Thee
In perfect sacrifice,
Till to the Home of gladness
With CHRIST's own Bride they rise.
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