Now let us raise our cheerful strains,
And join the blissful choir above;
Where our exalted Saviour reigns,
And angels sing His wondrous love.
While seraphs tune the immortal song,
O may we feel the sacred flame!
May every heart and every tongue
Adore the Saviour's glorious name.
Jesus, who died that we might live,
Died to redeem our ruined race!
O what return can mortals give
For such unbounded gifts of grace!
What though for mercy so divine
We ne'er can worthy honours raise,
Jesus, may all our hearts be Thine,
And all our tongues proclaim Thy praise!
THOU art gone up on high;
To realms beyond the skies;
And round Thy throne unceasingly
The songs of praise arise.
But we are lingering here,
With sin and care oppressed;
Lord, send Thy promised Comforter,
And lead us to our rest.
Thou art gone up on high;
But Thou did'st first come down,
The fires that rushed on Sinai down
In sudden torrents dread,
Now gently light, a glorious crown,
On every sainted head.
Like arrows went those lightnings forth,
Winged with the sinner's doom;
But these, like tongues o'er all the earth
Proclaiming life to come.
Come, Lord, come Wisdom, Love, and Power,
Open our ears to hear:
Let us not miss the accepted hour;
Save, Lord, by Love or Fear.
COME, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,
And lighten with celestial fire.
Thou the anointing Spirit art,
Who dost Thy seven-fold gifts impart.
Thy blessed unction from above
Is comfort, life, and fire of love,
Illumine with perpetual light
The dulness of our blinded sight.
Anoint and cheer our sin-worn face
With the abundance of Thy grace,
Keep far our foes, give peace at home;
Where Thou art guide, no ill can come.
Teach us to know the Father, Son,
And Thee, of Both, to be but One.
That, through the ages all along,
This may be our endless song.
Praise to Thy eternal merit,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
COME, Holy Ghost; Creator, come,
Inspire the souls of Thine;
Till every heart which Thou hast made
Is filled with grace divine.
Thou art the Comforter, the gift
Of God, and fire of love;
The everlasting spring of joy,
And unction from above.
Enlighten our dark souls, till they
Thy sacred love embrace;
Assist our minds, by nature frail,
With Thy celestial grace.
Drive far from us the mortal foe,
And give us peace within ;
That, by Thy guidance blest, we may
Escape the snares of sin.
Teach us the Father to confess,
And Son, from death revived;
And, with them Both, Thee, Holy Ghost,
Who art from Both derived.
COME, gracious Spirit, heavenly Dove,
With light and comfort from above:
Be Thou our Guardian, Thou our guide,
O'er every thought and step preside.
Jesus lives! for us He died:
Then, alone to Jesus living,
Pure in heart may we abide,
Glory to our Saviour giving.
Jesus lives! our hearts know well,
Nought from us His love shall sever;
Life, nor death, nor powers of hell
Tear us from His keeping ever.
Jesus lives! to Him the throne
Far above all power is given:
May we go where He is gone,
Rest and reign with Him in heaven!
COME, let us join our cheerful songs
With angels round the throne;
Ten thousand thousand are their tongues,
But all their joys are one.
Worthy the Lamb that died," they cry,
"To be exalted thus !"
Worthy the Lamb!" our lips reply;
"For He was slain for us.'
Jesus is worthy to receive
Honour and power divine;
And blessings, more than we can give,
Be, Lord, for ever Thine.
The whole creation join in one,
To bless the sacred name
Of Him that sits upon the throne,
And to adore the Lamb.
HAIL the day that sees Him rise
Glorious to His native skies!
Christ, awhile to mortals given.
Enters now the highest heaven.
There the glorious triumph waits; Halleluiah! Lift your heads, eternal gates! Halleluiah! Christ hath vanquished death and sin Halleluiah! Take the King of glory in! Halleluiah!
Lo! the heaven its Lord receives! Halleluiah! Yet He loves the earth He leaves; Halleluiah! Though returning to His throne, Halleluiah! Still He calls mankind His own. Halleluiah!
Lord, though parted from our sight, Halleluiah! Far above yon azure height,
Grant our hearts may thither rise, Halleluiah! Seeking Thee above the skies. Halleluiah!
LIFT up your heads, eternal gates,
Unfold to entertain
The King of glory; see He comes
With His celestial train.
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