O victim, worthy Heaven,

Of death the victory ;

Who chains of hell hath riven,

And borne her gates away!

From jaws of the dark tomb
He bursts into the light,
And opes beyond the gloom
The heavenly infinite.

Grant us with Thee to die,

That we with Thee may rise,

And build our home on high,
On Thee beyond the skies.

Praise Father, praise the Son, Who leads to starry homes; Praise Spirit, Three in One, Who as our Guardian comes.

N

AT THE COMPLINE.

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son."-CoLoss. i.

"Jesu, Redemptor sæculi."

THOU, who to save

The world didst die, and then Thy breath
Resume, to vanquish gloomy death,
And kill the grave.

O'er all below

Night reigns; our eyes are weigh'd with sleep;
O, from the wiles and watchings keep
Of the great foe.

May rest, which lays

Care's lid, and labour's brow doth slake,
Quicken our hearts, more fresh to wake
Unto Thy praise.

O, be it given

With Thee to die, on earth to love

The better things which are above,
And dwell in Heaven.

10

And now all praise

To Father and to Holy Ghost,

And Him who leads His ransom'd host On starry ways.

N

ON THE ASCENSION.

AT THE FIRST AND SECOND VESPERS.

1

Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is the King of Glory? It is the Lord strong and mighty, even the Lord mighty in battle.-Ps. xxiv.

BLEST Saviour, now Thy work is done

Of death and hell the victory;

And Thou ascended to put on

The glories of eternity.

Now borne upon a glittering cloud,

Thou seest afar earth's little bound;

While, following, flock a happy crowd,
Their Saviour and their King around.

'Mid wondering angels, without end,
Th' eternal doors are open wide;
While Man and God Thou dost ascend,
To set Thee at Thy Father's side.

Our One High-Priest, our Advocate,
Our Intercessor there on high,
Offering for us without the gate

The blood of boundless Charity.

*Thence Thou Thy bride dost here adorn, And cherish her in her unrest,

And she, when harass'd and forlorn,
Reclines upon Thy faithful breast.

Thou midst her conflicts art at hand,
Thou o'er her head dost hold Thy shield,
By Thee alone she is sustain'd,

By Thee hath power her arms to wield.

Where Thou our Head art gone before,
Do Thou to Thee the body draw-
On ways, where Thine own steps of yore
Have trod Thine own life-giving Law.

Now to the Father let us sing,
And Holy Spirit, unto Thee,
And to our Heav'n-ascended King
Who captive led captivity.