eleventh century in the British Museum Library; also in the old Roman,
Sarum, York, and Aberdeen Breviaries. Chandler’s rendering of this fine
hymn—“O Christ, our hope, our heart’s desire,” and which is to be found
in most collections, is the hymn for Evensong on Ascension Day in that
author’s “Hymns of the Primitive Church.”
I
Thou our Redeemer art, O Christ,
Our heart’s desire, our fervent love;
Creator of the worlds, Thou cam’st
To wear our flesh, from heaven above.
II
’Twas love that brought Thee to our aid,
To bear the burden of our woe,
To bow the head in shameful death,
And life, immortal life, bestow.
III
Asunder burst the bands of hell,
The captives hailed the glorious day;
And by Thy mighty triumph crowned,
Thou art at God’s right hand for aye.
IV
O may Thy mercy still abound,
That, by the goodness of Thy grace,
We daily o’er our sin may rise,
And see the beauty of Thy face.
V
Spring of our joy, be Thou, O Christ;
Our great reward, hereafter be;
And while the endless ages run,
Our praises shall be all of Thee.
EI CANAMUS GLORIAM
By C. Coffin. _(_See p. 3._)_
I
Now let us tune our hearts to sing
The glory of the Almighty King;
His hand unrolled the spacious skies,
Whose beauty lures our wondering eyes.
II
There are the clouds with treasure rare,
Slow floating in the higher air,
Whence come the soft refreshing showers,
To bless the springing of the flowers.
III
Rich is the treasure of Thy grace,
Prepared for us who seek Thy face;
It falls from clouds that earthward roll,
And penetrates the inmost soul.
IV
And faithful hearts that thirsting pine,
Drink deeply of the draught divine,
And with an heavenly impulse rise,
To greet the sunlight in the skies.
V
O happy souls that evermore
Drink of the bliss Thou hast in store;
May grateful love responsive flow
To all the love Thou dost bestow.
VI
Now, glory to the Three in One,
To God the Father, God the Son,
And to the Spirit, one in Three,
From age to age eternally.
DEUS-HOMO, REX CŒLORUM
By Bishop Marbodus. Born in Anjou, 1035; successively Archdeacon of
Angers and Bishop of Rennes; died in 1125. Was author of a poem _De
Gemmis_, which gives a mystical explanation of precious stones much in
favour in the Middle Ages.
I
King of heaven, our nature wearing,
Pity lend the sad despairing;
’Neath the sway of sin repining,
Formed from dust, to dust declining—
Tottering in our ruined state,
Strengthen by Thy goodness great.
II
What is man from sin descending?
Child of death, all woes attending.
What is man? a worm that clingeth
To the earth from which he springeth.
Wilt Thou forth Thine anger bring,
On a weak, defenceless thing?
III
Shall not man, who earthward tendeth,
Look to God, who mercy sendeth?
’Twere a task most unbefitting,
God o’er man in judgment sitting—
Yet should God in judgment speak,
Where shall man an answer seek?
IV
As the shadow quickly flying,
Faint our life and sure our dying;
As the cloud by tempest driven,
As the grass cut down at even;—
King of heaven, in mercy great,
Pity the disconsolate.
_Passion Week_
VEXILLA REGIS PRODEUNT
By Venantius Fortunatus. Born in the district of Treviso, Italy, about
530. In 565 he made a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Martin at Tours,
and spent the remainder of his years in Gaul. Through the influence of
his friend Queen Rhadegunda, Fortunatus became Bishop of Poitiers in
597. Some place his death in the year 609. Fortunatus must have been an
author of great industry and versatility. He wrote the life of St.
Martin in four books, containing 2245 hexameter lines; he threw off in
profusion vers de societé when wandering from castle to cloister in
Gaul; and he composed a volume of hymns for all the festivals of the
Christian year, which is now unhappily lost. This is his best known
hymn, Dr. Neale’s translation of which is inserted for the Fifth Sunday
in Lent, otherwise called Palm Sunday, in “Hymns Ancient and Modern”
_(No. 84)_.
I
See the Royal banners
Wave across the sky,
Bright the mystic radiance,
For the Cross is nigh;
And He who came our flesh to wear,
The Christ of God, was wounded there.
II
Deep the cruel spear thrust,
By the soldier given;
Blood and water mingle,
Where the flesh is riven;
To cleanse our souls the crimson tide
Leapt from the Saviour’s riven side.
III
In the distant ages
Zion’s harp was strung,
And the faithful saw Him,
While the prophet sung;
Now Israel’s Hope the nations see,
For Christ is reigning from the tree.
IV
Tree of wondrous beauty,
Tree of grace and light,
Royal throne to rest on,
Decked with purple bright;
The choice of God, this royal throne
Whence Christ, the King, should rule His own.
V
See the branches drooping!
Laden, see they sway!
For the price of heaven
On those branches lay;
Ah! great the price, that price was paid,
By Him on whom the debt was laid.
PANGE, LINGUA, GLORIOSI, PRŒLIUM CERTAMINIS
This, “one of the first of the Latin mediæval hymns,” has been credited
to St. Hilary. It has also been ascribed to Claudianus Mamertus, who
died in 474. But by the majority of authorities it is regarded as the
composition of Fortunatus, and ranks next to the _Vexilla Regis
prodeunt_ in their estimate. A rendering of it by Keble will be found
in his “Miscellaneous Poems,” beginning, “Sing, my tongue, of glorious
warfare,” which is Dr. Neale’s “Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle,”
in a somewhat altered form.
I
Tell, my tongue, the glorious conflict,
Crowned with victory nobly won;—
More than all the spoil of battle,
Praise the triumph of God’s Son;
How by death the crown of conquest
Graced Him when the strife was done.
II
Grieving sore o’er Eden’s sorrow
When our race in Adam fell;
And the fatal fruit he tasted,
Welcomed sin, and death, and hell;
God ordained a tree in Zion,
Eden’s poison to dispel.
III
In the work of our Redemption
Wisdom met the tempter’s foils;—
On the ground he claimed, the Victor
Fought, and bore away the spoils;
And the bane became the blessing,
Freedom sprang amid his toils.
IV
From the bosom of the Father,
Where He shared the regal crown,
At the time by God appointed,
Came the world’s Creator down—
God incarnate, born of Virgin,
Shorn of glory and renown.
V
List! the voice of infant weeping,
Cradled where the oxen stand,
And the Virgin mother watches,
Tending Him with loving hand,—
Hands and feet of God she bindeth,
Folding them in swaddling band.
VI
Blessing, blessing everlasting,
To the glorious Trinity;
To the Father, Son, and Spirit,
Equal glory let there be;
Universal praise be given,
To the Blessed One in Three.
LUSTRA SEX QUI JAM PEREGIT
By some attributed to St. Ambrose, but generally and with greater
probability to Fortunatus. There is an imitation of this hymn in
English by Bishop Mant, beginning, “See the destined day arise!” one of
the Passion hymns in “Hymns Ancient and Modern” _(No. 99)_.
I
Thirty years by God appointed,
And there dawns the woeful day,
When the great Redeemer girds Him
For the tumult of the fray;
And upon the cross uplifted,
Bears our load of guilt away.
II
Ah! ’tis bitter gall He drinketh,
When His heart in anguish fails;—
From the thorns His life-blood trickles,
From the spear wound and the nails;
But that crimson stream for cleansing,
O’er creation wide prevails.
III
Faithful Cross! in all the woodland,
Standeth not a nobler tree;
In thy leaf, and flower, and fruitage,
None can e’er thy equal be;
Sweet the wood, and sweet the iron,
Sweet the load that hung on thee.
IV
Noble tree! unbend thy branches,
Let thy stubborn fibres bend,
Cast thy native rigour from thee,
Be a gentle, loving friend;
Bear Him in thine arms, and softly,
Christ, the King eternal, tend.
V
Only thou could’st bear the burden
Of the ransom of our race;
Only thou could’st be a refuge,
Like the ark, a hiding-place,
By the sacred blood anointed,
Of the Covenant of Grace.
VI
Blessing, blessing everlasting,
To the glorious Trinity;
To the Father, Son, and Spirit,
Equal glory let there be;
Universal praise be given,
To the Blessed One in Three.
CRUX AVE BENEDICTA
This little poem, which he pronounces “perfect in its kind,” is taken
by Trench from Daniel’s _Thesaurus_, without any note of author or of
date.
I
Hail, thou Blessed Cross, all hail!
Death no longer can prevail.
On those arms extended high,
Did my King and Saviour die.
II
Queen of all the trees that grow,
Medicine when health is low,
Solace to the cumbered heart,
Comfort thou when sorrows smart.
III
O! most sacred wood, the sign
That eternal life is mine;
On the fruit thy branches give,
Feeds the human heart to live.
IV
When, around the Judgment-seat,
Friends of thine and foes shall meet,
Be my prayer, O Christ, to Thee,
And in love remember me.
HORÆ DE PASSIONE D. N. JESU CHRISTI
From a fourteenth-century MS., where it bears the title, “Hours of the
Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, compiled from the Prophets and the
New Testament by the Blessed Pope Urban” _(_b._ 1302, _d._ 1370)._
(AD PRIMAM)
(_Tu qui velatus facie_)
I
Veiled was the glory of Thy face,
O Jesus, Lord of heavenly grace,
When mocking knees were bent in scorn,
And bitter stripes were meekly borne.
II
To Thee the prayer of faith we send,
In Thee we hope: O Lord, attend,
And in Thy mercy lead the way
To where Thy glory shines as day.
III
To Thee be highest honours paid,
O Christ, who wast by man betrayed,
Who on the cross of anguish sore
Didst die, that we might die no more.
(AD TERTIAM)
(_Hora qui ductus tertia_)
IV
O Christ, who in that hour of dread
Forth as a sacrifice wast led;
Who, to retrieve our grievous loss,
Didst bear the burden of the cross.
V
O may Thy Love our hearts inflame;
Be Thy pure life our constant aim;
That we may win the heavenly rest,
And share the glories of the blest.
VI
To Thee be highest honours paid,
O Christ, who wast by man betrayed;
Who on the cross of anguish sore
Didst die, that we might die no more.
(AD SEXTAM)
(_Crucem pro nobis subiit_)
VII
For us the cruel cross He bare,
Endured the thirst while hanging there—
O Jesus! Thou hast anguish borne,
Thy hands and feet with nails were torn.
VIII
Honour and blessing be to Thee,
O Christ, who hung upon the tree,
Who, by the offering of Thy grace,
Didst save from death our fallen race.
(AD NONAM)
(_Beata Christi passio_)
IX
Thy blessed Passion, Christ, be ours,
To set us free from Satan’s powers;
To aid our fainting souls to rise
To joys prepared in Paradise.
X
To Christ the Lord all glory be,
Who, hanging on the shameful tree,
Gave up His life with bitter cry,
And saved a world prepared to die.
XI
To Thee be highest honours paid,
O Christ, who wast by man betrayed,
Who, on the cross of anguish sore,
Didst die, that we might die no more.
(AD COMPLETORIUM)
(_Qui jacuisti mortuus_)
XII
O spotless King, who shared its gloom,
And lay at peace within the tomb,
Teach us to find our rest in Thee,
And sing Thy praise eternally.
XIII
Come to our help, O Lord, who gave
Thy precious blood our souls to save;
Lead us to Thine eternal peace,
Whose sweetest joys shall never cease.
_Easter_
FINITA JAM SUNT PRÆLIA
Of unknown date and authorship. It has not been traced further back
than the _Hymnodia Sacra_, Munster, 1753.
I
Alleluia! Alleluia!
The din of battle now is dead,
And glory crowns the Victor’s head;
Let mirth abound,
And songs resound—Alleluia!
II
Alleluia! alleluia!
The bitter pangs of death are past,
And Christ hath vanquished hell at last;
Cheers are ringing,
Psalms are singing—Alleluia!
III
Alleluia! alleluia!
And when the morn appointed broke,
All decked with beauty Christ awoke;
O shout with glee,
Sing merrily—Alleluia!
IV
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Hell hath He closed with His own hand,
The gates of heaven wide open stand;
Let mirth abound,
And songs resound—Alleluia!
V
Alleluia! Alleluia!
’Tis Thy wounds, O Blessed Jesus—
’Tis Thy death from dying frees us,
That living, we
May sing with glee—Alleluia!
PLAUDITE, CŒLI!
A Jesuit hymn, taken by Walraff, in 1806, out of the _Psalteriolum
Cantiorum Catholicarum a Patribus Societati Jesu_.
I
Shout praises, ye heavens,
And sigh them, soft air;
From highest to lowest,
Sing, sing everywhere;
For black clouds of tempest
Are banished from sight;
And spring, crowned with glory,
Is pouring her light.
II
Come forth with the spring-time,
Sweet flow’rets, and spread
Your rich hues around us
Where nature lay dead;
Come, violets modest,
And roses so gay,
With lilies and marigolds,
Spangle the way.
III
Flow joy song in fulness,
Flow higher and higher;
Pour forth thy sweet measures,
Thou murmuring lyre;
O sing, for He liveth,
As truly He said,
Yea, Jesus hath risen
Unharmed from the dead.
IV
Shout praises, ye mountains,
Vales catch the refrain;
Frisk gaily, ye fountains;
Hills, tell it again—
He liveth, He liveth,
As truly He said;
Yea, Jesus hath risen
Unharmed from the dead.
MORTIS PORTIS FRACTIS
By Peter of St. Maurice, sometimes styled Peter of Cluny, but best
known as Peter the Venerable. Born in Auvergne, 1092 or 1094; began
life as a soldier; afterwards became a Benedictine monk; elected abbot
of the monastery of his order at Cluny in Burgundy; died there in 1156
or 1157. The greater part of his literary activity was given to the
controversy between the Clugnian and Cistercian, or “black” and “white”
monks. This Resurrection hymn is taken from “Some Rhythms, Proses,
Sequences, Verses, and Hymns,” contained in the _Bibliotheca
Cluniacencis_, 1623.
I
Burst are the iron gates of death—
A stronger power prevails;
For, by the cross, the cruel king
Before the Victor quails,
O clear the light that shines afar,
Where darkness held its sway,
For God, who made the light at first,
Restores its gladdening ray.
II
That sinners might for ever live,
The great Creator dies,
And by His death to new estate
Our souls enraptured rise.
There, Satan groaned in baffled hate,
Where Christ our triumph won—
For what to Him was deathly loss,
To man was life begun.
III
He grasps the envied prize, but fails,
And while he wounds, he dies;
But calmly, and with mighty power,
The King secures the prize;
And, leaving earth, His triumph won,
He seeks His native skies.
IV
And now triumphant o’er the grave,
The Lord to earth returns;
To new create our fallen race,
His soul with ardour burns;
Down to the dwellings of the lost,
To dwell with man He came;
And hearts in grievous bondage held,
Receive Him with acclaim.
ALLELUIA, DULCE CARMEN
Found in three MSS. of the eleventh century in the British Museum
Library, and published by the Surtees Society in the “Latin Hymns of
the Anglo-Saxon Church,” from a MS. of the eleventh century, in Durham
Library.
I
Alleluia, hymn of sweetness,
Joyful voice of ceaseless praise;
Alleluia, pleasant anthem,
Choirs celestial sweetly raise:
This the song of those abiding
In the house of God always.
II
Alleluia, Mother Salem,
All Thy people joy in song;
Alleluia, walls and bulwarks
Evermore the notes prolong:
Ah! beside the streams of Babel,
Exiled, weep we o’er our wrong.
III
Alleluia, ’tis befitting
That our song should falter here;
Alleluia, can we sing it
When the clouds of wrath appear?
To bemoan our sin with weeping,
Now the time is drawing near.
IV
Trinity, for ever blessed!
May we sing the gladsome lay,
When from sin our souls are severed,
And the clouds have passed away,
And we share the Easter glory,
In the realms of endless day?
_Ascension_
ÆTERNE REX ALTISSIME
A hymn of complex authorship and of frequently altered text.
I
Eternal King, enthroned on high,
Redeemer, strong Thy folk to save;
Thee, powerful death, by death o’ercome,
A royal crown of triumph gave.
II
Ascending to the throne of God,
Beyond the glittering host of heaven,
More power than human hand could give
To Thee, victorious King, is given.
III
Three kingdoms bow before Thee now—
The heavens above, the earth below,
Hell’s dark abode—and to their Lord,
On bended knee, submission show.
IV
All awe inspired, the angel host
Behold man’s changed estate, amazed;
Our sinful flesh, by flesh renewed,
And man, true God, to Godhead raised.
V
O Christ, with God who dwell’st on high,
Be Thou to us, we humbly pray,
A lasting joy while here we wait,
Our great reward in heaven for aye.
VI
In earnest prayer we come to Thee;
O may our sins be all forgiven,
And lift our hearts by Thy rich grace,
To where Thou art Thyself, in heaven.
VII
That when in clouds of Judgment dire,
Thou com’st with Thine angelic host,
We may escape the avenger’s power,
And wear anew the crowns we lost.
VIII
To Thee, O Christ, all glory be,
Victor returning now to heaven;
To Father, and to Holy Ghost,
Let praise through endless years be given.
POSTQUAM HOSTEM ET INFERNA
By Adam of St. Victor. _(_See p. 49._)_
I
Broken are the bands that bound us,
Spoiled are Satan’s realms around us,
And to joys supernal now,
Christ returns with hosts attending,
And, as when at first descending,
Angel guards their homage bow.
II
Far above the stars ascending,
Faith alone His course attending,
Passing now from mortal sight;
To His hand all power is given,
One with God He rules in heaven,
One in honour and in might.
III
Victor on His throne uplifted,
See all rule to Him is gifted,
O’er Creation’s wide domain.
Now for evermore He liveth,
Nevermore His life He giveth—
Once the sacrifice was slain.
IV
Once He wore our flesh in weakness,
Once He suffered, once in meekness
Gave Himself for sin to die.
Now no longer pain He knoweth:
Perfect peace for ever floweth,
Perfect joy is ever nigh.
CŒLOS ASCENDIT HODIE
Of unknown date and authorship. The text is in Daniel’s _Thesaurus_,
with “Alleluia” as a refrain. Dr. Neale gives it in his “Mediæval Hymns
and Sequences” as “apparently of the twelfth century.”
I
To-day the lingering clouds are riven,
Alleluia!
Our glorious King ascends to heaven,
Alleluia!
II
The heaven and earth His rule obey,
Alleluia!
Who sits at God’s right hand for aye,
Alleluia!
III
See, all things are fulfilled at last,
Alleluia!
By David sung in ages past,
Alleluia!
IV
And on the throne of high renown,
Alleluia!
The Lord is with His Lord set down,
Alleluia!
V
Now blessings on our Lord we shower,
Alleluia!
In this chief triumph of His power,
Alleluia!
VI
Let praise the Trinity adore,
Alleluia!
To God be glory evermore,
Alleluia!
O CHRISTE, QUI NOSTER POLI
Appeared in the Cluniac Breviary of 1686, and in that of Paris, 1736,
as also in later French Breviaries. From his connection with the
revised Paris Breviary, this hymn has been ascribed to Archbishop
Charles de Vintimille, born 1655, died 1746; but in neither the Cluniac
nor Paris Breviary is it marked as his. Chandler’s version of the hymn,
beginning, “O Jesu, who art gone before, To Thy blest realms of light,”
appears in Dr. Martineau’s “Hymns of Praise and Prayer,” with opening
lines altered to, “The Crucified is gone before, To the blest realms of
light,” and with other variations.
I
O Christ, who art ascended now
To realms of bliss above,
Inspire our souls to rise to Thee,
Upborne by faith and love.
II
Make us to seek those holy joys,
That they who love receive;
That earthly mind can never know,
Nor faithless soul perceive.
III
There, where Thou art, they reap reward
Who toiled at duty’s call;
For Thou dost give Thyself to them,
And Thou art all in all.
IV
By power divine, O let us come
Where glory cannot fade;
And from Thy heavenly throne send down
The Spirit to our aid.
V
To Thee who art at God’s right hand,
O Christ, to Thee be praise,
To Father, and to Holy Ghost,
Be glory given always.
_Whitsuntide_
VENI, CREATOR SPIRITUS,
MENTES TUORUM VISITA
Of the authorship of this grand hymn nothing unquestioned is known. It
has been ascribed to Ambrose, Gregory, Rhabanus Maurus (died 856), and
Charlemagne. The most widely prevalent opinion ascribes it to the
last-named person, but in the judgment of Dr. Julian’s assistant-editor
“the hymn is clearly not the work of St. Ambrose nor of Charles the
Great. Nor is there sufficient evidence to allow us to ascribe it
either to Gregory the Great, to Rhabanus Maurus, or to any of the
ecclesiastics connected with the court of Charles the Fat.” The hymn
has not yet been found in any MS. earlier than the latter part of the
tenth century.
I
Come, Thou Creator Spirit blest,
And with Thy grace our minds pervade;
May Thy sweet presence ever dwell
Within the souls which Thou hast made.
II
Thou Holy Paraclete! the Gift
Sent down to earth from God Most High,
Thou Font of Life and fire and love,
Thy holy unction now apply.
III
Sevenfold Thy gifts to us are given,
Of God’s right hand the Finger Thou;
The promise of the Father’s grace,
With gifts of tongues, Thou dost endow.
IV
Make our dull sense enraptured glow,
And let our hearts o’erflow with love;
The weakness of our flesh inspire
With heavenly valour from above.
V
Far from our souls the foe repel,
And let us know the bliss of peace;
Guide Thou our steps, that evermore
Our hearts may learn from sin to cease.
VI
Lead us the Father’s love to know;
Reveal to us the Eternal Son;
And Thee, the Sent of both, we’ll praise,
While everlasting ages run.
VENI, SANCTE SPIRITUS ET EMITTE CŒLITUS
A sequence universally regarded as one of the masterpieces of sacred
Latin poetry. As in the case of the _Veni, Creator Spiritus_, the
authorship is matter of dispute. Robert II. of France, Hermannus
Contractus (born 1013, died 1054), Stephen Langton the Archbishop of
Canterbury, Pope Innocent III.—these have all in turn been credited
with its production. Dr. Julian, the greatest living authority, sums up
the matter of authorship thus: “The sequence is clearly not earlier
than about the beginning of the thirteenth century. It is certainly
neither by Robert II. nor by Hermannus Contractus. The most probable
author is Innocent III.”
I
Holy Spirit, come with power;
Let Thy light, in darkest hour,
Shine upon our onward way.
Father of the humble heart,
Come, Thy choicest gifts impart—
Light our hearts with heavenly ray.
II
Thou canst best the heart console;
Sweet Thy sojourn with the soul—
Cooling breath at noon of day,
Calm Thy rest in toil and care,
Soft Thy shade in noontide glare—
Thou dost chase our tears away.
III
O! Thou blessed Light of light!
Let Thy beams in radiance bright
Fill our inmost heart for aye.
If Thou come not with Thy grace,
Nought of worth can take Thy place,
Nought but leads the soul astray.
IV
What is filthy, come, renew;
What is parched, with grace bedew;
Heal the wounded in the way.
What is stubborn, gently bend;
To the chilled the life-glow send;
Bring the erring ’neath Thy sway.
V
To the faithful who repose
In the love Thy grace bestows,
Be Thy sevenfold gift alway—
Rich reward for service given,
Hope in death and joy in heaven,
Joy untold that lasteth aye.
O FONS AMORIS, SPIRITUS
By Charles Coffin. _(_See p. 3._)_ It is a recast of the _Nunc nobis,
Sancte Spiritus_ of St. Ambrose.
I
O Holy Spirit, font of love,
Thou source of life, and joy, and peace,
With holy fire come from above,
And bid our hearts their warmth increase.
II
O Thou who didst with love’s strong cord
Unite the Father and the Son,
May we who love a common Lord,
In mutual love be bound in one.
III
Now to the Father throned on high,
And unto Christ His only Son,
And to the Spirit, glory be,
Now, and while endless ages run.
_Trinity_
TU TRINITATIS UNITAS
A cento. Added to the Roman Breviary in 1568. In a subsequent edition
it is the hymn for Lauds on Trinity Sunday. It is made up of the first
stanza of a hymn with the same opening, and of the third stanza of the
composition, _Æterna cœli gloria_, with a doxology added.
I
O Thou Eternal One in Three,
Dread Ruler of the earth and sky,
Accept the praise we yield to Thee,
Who, waking, lift our songs on high.
II
The star that tells the approach of day
Is lingering in the glow of morn,
And night and darkness fade away—
O Holy Light, our souls adorn!
III
To God the Father throned in heaven,
To Christ the One Begotten Son,
And to the Spirit praise be given,
Now, and while endless ages run.
O PATER SANCTE, MITIS ATQUE PIE
Found in two MSS. of the eleventh century, and included in the York,
Sarum, and Aberdeen Breviaries.
I
O Holy Father, gracious Thou and tender;
O Jesus Christ, Thou much adorèd Son;
Spirit most sweet, Thou Paraclete, Defender,
Eternally one!
II
Trinity Holy, Unity abiding,
True God Thou art, unbounded goodness Thou,
Light of the angels, trust of the confiding,
We hope in Thee now.
III
Thee all creation pays eternal homage;
Thee all Thy creatures songs of glory raise;
Now come we humbly, joining in the chorus,
O hear Thou our praise.
IV