Both weep and sing in shade of thee: When the dear nails did lock And graft into thy gracious stock The hope, the health, The worth, the wealth Of all the ransom'd world, thou hadst the power, To poise each precious limb, And prove how light the world was when it weigh'd with Him. Wide may'st thou spread Thine arms; and with thy bright and blissful head The King Himself is; thou His humble throne. The Versicle. Lo, we adore Thee, Dread Lamb! and bow thus low before Thee; The Responsor. 'Cause by the covenant of Thy Cross Thou hast saved the world from certain loss. The Prayer. O, my Lord Jesu Christ, Son of the living God! interpose, I pray Thee, Thine own precious death, Thy Cross and Passion, betwixt my soul and Thy judgment, N now and in the hour of my death. And vouchsafe to grant me Thy grace and mercy; to the living and dead, remission and rest; to Thy Church, peace and concord; to us sinners, life and glory everlasting. Who livest and reignest with the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen. COMPLIN. The Versicle. ORD, by Thy sweet and saving sign, The Responsor. Defend us from our foes and Thine. Ver. Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord; Res. And my mouth shall declare Thy praise. Ver. O God, make speed to save me. Res. O Lord, make haste to help me. Ver. Glory be to, &c. Res. As it was in, &c. The Hymn. The complin hour comes last, to call Us to our own life's funeral. Ah, heartless task! yet hope takes heed, Pour on thy noblest sweets, which, when they touch Amen. The Antiphon. O, save us, then, Merciful King of men! Since thou would'st needs be thus A Saviour, and at such a rate, for us; We now will own no shorter wish, nor name a narrower word. Thy blood bids us be bold; Thy wounds give us fair hold; Thy sorrows chide our shame; Thy Cross, Thy nature, and Thy name Advance our claim And cry with one accord, Save them, O save them, Lord! The Versicle. Lo, we adore Thee, Dread Lamb and bow thus low before Thee; The Responsor. 'Cause by the covenant of Thy Cross Thou hast saved the world from certain loss. The Prayer. O, my Lord Jesu Christ, Son of the living God! interpose, I pray Thee, Thine own precious death, Thy Cross and Passion, betwixt my soul and Thy judgment, now and in the hour of my death. And vouchsafe to grant me Thy grace and mercy; to the living and dead, remission and rest; to Thy Church, peace and concord; to us sinners, life and glory everlasting. Who livest and reignest with the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen. THE RECOMMENDATION. HESE hours, and that which hovers o'er my end, Into Thy hands and heart, Lord, I commend! Take both to Thine account, that I and mine That as I dedicate my devoutest breath, So from His living, and life-giving death, My dying life may draw a new and never-fleeting breath! VEXILLA REGIS. The Hymn of the Holy Cross. OOK up, languishing soul! Lo, where the fair Badge of thy faith calls back thy care, And bids thee ne'er forget Thy life is one long debt Of love to Him who, on this painful tree, Paid back the flesh He took for thee. Lo, how the streams of life from that full nest Of loves, thy Lord's too liberal breast, Flow in an amorous flood Of water wedding blood! With these He wash'd thy stain, transferr'd thy smart, And took it home to His own heart. But thou, great love, greedy of such sad gain, Usurp❜d the portion of Thy pain, And from the nails and spear Turn'd the steel point of fear, Their use is changed, not lost; and now they move Not stings of wrath, but wounds of love. Tall tree of life! Thy truth makes good What was till now ne'er understood, Though the prophetic King |