ASCENSION DAY.
1 HAIL the day that sees him rise,
Glorious, to his native skies!
Christ, awhile to mortals giv'n,
Enters now the highest heav'n.
2 There the glorious triumph waits-
Lift your heads, eternal gates!
Christ has vanquish'd death and sin,
Take the King of Glory in.
3 Lo! the heav'n its Lord receives,
Yet he loves the earth he leaves :
Though returning to his throne,
Still he calls mankind his own.
4 Still for us he intercedes,
His prevailing death he pleads;
Near himself prepares our place,
Harbinger of human race.
5 0, though parted from our sight,
Far above yon azure height,
Grant our hearts may thither rise,
Seeking thee above the skies.
1 OUR Lord is risen from the dead,
Our Saviour is gone up on high;
The powers of hell are captive led,
Dragg'd to the portals of the sky.
2 There his triumphal chariot waits,
And angels chant the solemn lay;
Lift up your heads, ye heavenly gates,
Ye everlasting doors give way.
3 Loose all your bars of massy light,
And wide unfold the radiant scene;
He claims those mansions as his right-
Receive the King of Glory in.
4 Who is the King of Glory? who?
The Lord that all his foes o'ercame;
That sin, and death, and hell o'erthrew;
And Jesus is the conqueror's name.
5 Lo! his triumphal chariot waits,
And angels chant the solemn lay;
Lift up your heads, ye heavenly gates,
Ye everlasting doors give way.
6 Who is the King of Glory? who?
The Lord, of boundless power possest;
The King of saints and angels too,
God, over all, for ever blest.
1 NOW let our cheerful eyes survey
Our great high-priest above;
Behold him bent to carry on,
And end his work of love
2 Though raised to a superior throne,
Where angels bow around,
And high o'er all the shining train,
With matchless honours crown'd:
3 The names of all his saints he bears
Deep graven on his heart;
Nor shall the meanest Christian say,
That he has lost his part.
4 With cries and tears he offer'd up
His humble suit below;
But with authority he asks,
Enthroned in glory now.
5 For all that come to God by him,
Salvation he demands;
Points to their names upon his breast,
And spreads his wounded hands.
6 His sweet atoning sacrifice
Gives sanction to his claim :
"Father, I will that all my saints
Be with me where I am.
By their salvation recompense
The sorrow I endured;
Just to the merits of thy Son,
And faithful to thy Word."
8 Eternal life, at his request,
To every saint is given;
Safety below, and, after death,
The plenitude of heaven.
1 ON wings of faith my soul arise,
View thy estate beyond the skies;
Nor heart can think, nor tongue can tell,
What pleasures in those mansions dwell.
2 No gnawing grief, heart-rending pain,
Can in that place admission gain;
Nor sorrow there, or tort'ring fear,
For God shall wipe the falling tear.
3 Before the throne a river glides,
Immortal verdure decks its sides;
The tree of life majestic rears
Its head, and sov'reign virtue bears.
4 No rising sun his beams displays,
No moon emits her feeble rays;
The Godhead its own glory sheds,
The Lamb eternal radiance spreads.
5 One distant glimpse my passion fires,
Jesus! to thee my soul aspires;
When shall I at my home arrive,
Earth leave, and first begin to live?
1 SPIRIT of mercy, truth, and love,
Oh shed thine influence from above!
And still, from age to age, convey
The wonders of this sacred day.
2 In ev'ry clime, by every tongue,
Be God's amazing glory sung;
Let all the list'ning earth be taught
The wonders by the Saviour wrought.
3 Unfailing comfort! heav'nly Guide,
Still o'er thy favour'd Church preside;
Still let mankind thy blessings prove,
Spirit of mercy, truth, and love!
1 HOLY Ghost! dispel our sadness,
Pierce the clouds of nature's night;
Come, thou source of joy and gladness,
Breathe thy life, and spread thy light.
2 Hear, O hear, our supplication,
Blessed Spirit! God of peace!
Rest upon this congregation
With th' abundance of thy grace.
3 Author of our new creation,
Bid us all thine influence prove;
Make our souls thy habitation,
Shed abroad the Saviour's love.
1 MY soul, praise the Lord, speak good of his name,
His mercies record, his bounties proclaim;
To God, their Creator, let all creatures raise
The song of thanksgiving, the chorus of praise.
2 Though hid from man's sight, God sits on his
throne, Yet here, by his works, their Author is known; He rides in the whirlwind, while clouds veil his
And smiles in the sunbeam, or frowns in the storm.
3 By knowledge supreme, by wisdom divine,
God governs this earth with gracious design;
O'er beast, bird, and insect, his providence reigns,
Whose will first created, whose love still sustains.
4 And man, his last work, with reason endued,
Who falling through sin, by grace is renew'd;
To God, his Redeemer, let man ever raise
The song of thanksgiving, the chorus of praise.
1 CREATOR-SPIRIT, by whose aid
The world's foundations first were laid,
Come, visit every humble mind,
Come, pour thy joys on human kind;
From sin and sorrow set us free,
And make us temples worthy thee.
2 Thou strength of his almighty hand,
Whose power does heaven and earth command,
Thrice holy fount! thrice holy fire,
Our hearts with heavenly love inspire;
Come, and thy sacred unction bring,
To sanctify us while we sing.
3 Plenteous of grace, descend from high,
Rich in thy sevenfold energy;
Give us thyself, that we may see
The Father and the Son by thee :
Make us eternal truths receive,
And practise all that we believe.
4 Chase from our minds th' infernal foe,
And peace, the fruit of love bestow;
Our frailties help, our sin control,
Submit the senses to the soul;
And lest again we go astray,
Protect and guide us in the way.
5 Immortal honour, endless fame,
Attend th' almighty Father's name :
The Saviour Son be glorified,
Who for lost man's redemption died :.
And equal adoration be,
Eternal Comforter, to thee.
BEHOLD the world above
Is open'd to our sight;
Where saints, in perfect love,
Harmoniously unite :
Before the throne a countless band,
Together stand, by Jesus known.
2 From ev'ry clime they come,
Of nations, kindreds, tongues,
Now by their Lord brought home,
And all with thankful songs:
With psalms of joy together raise
The voice of praise, to God most high.
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