Seasonal Hymns: Holy Days 341-350

341

All hail the power of Jesus’ Name! – E Perronet

All hail the power of Jesus' name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown Him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown Him Lord of all.

Ye chosen seed of Israel's race,
ye ransomed from the Fall,
hail Him who saves you by His grace,
and crown Him Lord of all.
Hail Him who saves you by His grace,
and crown Him Lord of all.

Sinners, whose love can ne'er forget
the wormwood and the gall,
go spread your trophies at His feet,
and crown Him Lord of all.
Go spread your trophies at His feet,
and crown Him Lord of all.

Let every kindred, every tribe
on this terrestrial ball,
to Him all majesty ascribe,
and crown Him Lord of all.
To Him all majesty ascribe,
and crown Him Lord of all.

O that with yonder sacred throng
we at His feet may fall!
We'll join the everlasting song,
and crown Him Lord of all.
We'll join the everlasting song,
and crown Him Lord of all.

342

To the Name of our salvation – Latin 17^th Cent. / J Neale trans

To the Name of our salvation,
laud and honor let us pay,
which for many a generation
hid in God's foreknowledge lay;
but with holy exultation
we may sing aloud today.

Jesus is the Name we treasure;
Name beyond what words can tell;
Name of gladness, Name of pleasure,
ear and heart delighting well;
Name of sweetness, passing measure,
saving us from sin and hell.

'Tis the Name for adoration,
Name for songs of victory,
Name for holy meditation
in this vale of misery,
Name for joyful veneration
by the citizens on high.

'Tis the Name that whoso preacheth
speaks like music to the ear;
who in prayer this Name beseecheth
sweetest comfort findeth near;
who its perfect wisdom reacheth,
heavenly joy possesseth here.

Jesus is the Name exalted
over every other name;
in this Name, whene'er assaulted,
we can put our foes to shame;
strength to them who else had halted,
eyes to blind, and feet to lame.

Therefore we in love adoring,
this most blessèd Name revere;
holy Jesus, thee imploring
so to write it in us here,
that hereafter, heavenward soaring,
we may sing with angels there.

The Confession of St. Peter

343

Thou art the Christ, O Lord – W Howe

Thou art the Christ, O Lord,
the Son of God most high!
For ever be adored
that Name in earth and sky,
in which, though mortal strength may fail,
the saints of God at last prevail!

O surely he was blest
with blessedness unpriced,
who, taught of God, confessed
the Godhead in the Christ!
For of thy Church, Lord, thou didst own
thy saint a true foundation-stone.

Thrice fallen, thrice restored!
The bitter lesson learned,
that heart for thee, O Lord,
with triple ardor burned.
The cross he took he laid not down
until he grasped the martyr's crown.

O bright triumphant faith,
O courage void of fears!
O love most strong in death,
O penitential tears!
By these, Lord, keep us lest we fall,
and make us go where thou shalt call.

The Conversion of St. Paul

344

We sing the glorious conquest – J Ellerton

We sing the glorious conquest
before Damascus' gate,
when Saul, the Church's spoiler
came breathing threats and hate.
The ravening wolf rushed forward
full early to the prey;
but lo! the Shepherd met him,
and bound him fast today.

O glory most excelling
that smote across his path!
O light that pierced and blinded
the zealot in his wrath!
O voice that spake within him
the calm, reproving word!
O love that sought and held him
the bondman of his Lord!

O Wisdom ordering all things
in order strong and sweet,
what nobler spoil was ever
cast at the Victor's feet?
What wiser master builder
e'er wrought at thine employ
than he, till now so furious
thy building to destroy?

Lord, teach thy Church the lesson,
still in her darkest hour
of weakness and of danger,
to trust thy hidden power;
thy grace by ways mysterious
the wrath of man can bind,
and in thy boldest foeman
thy chosen saint can find.

345

A light from heaven shone around – G Grindal

Purification of St. Mary the Virgin

346

Hail to the Lord who comes – J Ellerton

Hail to the Lord who comes,
comes to his temple gate!
Not with his angel host,
not in his kingly state;
no shouts proclaim him nigh,
no crowds his coming wait;

but, borne upon the throne
of Mary's gentle breast,
watched by her duteous love,
in her fond arms at rest;
thus to his Father's house
he comes, the heav'nly Guest.

There Joseph at her side
in reverent wonder stands,
and, filled with holy joy,
old Simeon in his hands
takes up the promised Child,
the glory of all lands.

Hail to the great First-born
whose ransom-price they pay!
The Son before all worlds,
the Child of man today,
that he might ransom us
who still in bondage lay.

O Light of all the earth,
thy children wait for thee!
come to thy temples here,
that we, from sin set free,
before thy Father's face
may all presented be!

347

O Zion, open wide thy gates – J de Santeuil / E Casewell trans

O Zion, open wide thy gates,
let figures disappear;
a Priest and Victim, both in one,
the Truth himself, is here.

No more the simple flock shall bleed;
behold, the Father's Son
himself to his own altar comes
for sinners to atone.

Conscious of hidden deity,
the lowly virgin brings
her newborn Babe, with two young doves,
her humble offerings.

The agèd Simeon sees at last
his Lord, so long desired,
and Anna welcomes Israel's hope,
with holy rapture fired.

But silent knelt the mother blest
of the yet silent Word,
and pondering all things in her heart,
with speechless praise adored.

All glory to the Father be,
all glory to the Son,
all glory, holy Ghost, to thee,
while endless ages run.

348

Victim divine, thy grace we claim – C Wesley

Victim divine, thy grace we claim
while thus thy precious death we show;
once offered up, a spotless Lamb,
in thy great temple here below,
thou didst for all mankind atone,
and standest now before the throne.

Thou standest in the holiest place,
as now for guilty sinners slain;
thy blood of sprinkling speaks and prays
all-prevalent for helpless man;
thy blood is still our ransom found,
and spreads salvation all around.

We need not now go up to heaven
to bring the long-sought Savior down;
thou art to all already given,
thou dost e'en now thy banquet crown:
to every faithful soul appear,
and show thy real Presence here.

St. Matthias

349

When one of thine did false become – G Wither

When one of thine did false become

And his high place abuse

Thou leftist him Lord and in his room

Didst just Matthias chose

So if within thy church this day

Unfaithful pastors dwell

To them repentance grant we pray

Or them with speed expel.

Though horned like the lamb they show

Though sheep like clothed they be

Let us their dragon language know

And wolvish nature see

And cause Thy lots to fall on those

Thy flocks to undertake

Who shall their manners well compose

And thereof conscience make.

Let us likewise his fall so heed

Whose place Matthias got

And with such loving awe proceed

That we deny Thee not

For titles be they ne er so high

Rare gifts or sacred place

Shall no man's person sanctify

Without Thy special grace

St. David

350

We praise thy name, all-holy Lord – E Newell

We praise thy name, all-holy Lord,
For him, the beacon-light
That shone beside our western sea
Through mists of ancient night;
Who sent to Ireland's fainting Church
New tidings of thy word
For David, prince of Cambrian saints,
We praise thee, holy Lord.

For all the saintly band whose prayers
Still gird our land about,
Of whom, lest men disdain their praise,
The voiceless stones cry out;
Our hills and vales on every hand
Their names and deeds record:
For these, thy ancient hero host,
We praise thee, holy Lord.

Grant us but half their burning zeal,
But half their iron faith,
But half their charity of heart,
And fortitude to death;
That we with them and all thy saints
May in thy truth accord,
And ever in thy holy Church
May praise thee, holy Lord.