Hymn XLIII. For St. Stephens-Day.
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Stephen was one of the seven Deacons mentioned
Act. 6. and the first Martyr of Iesus
Christ.
Hee powerfully maintained the Gospell by
dispute, and sealed the Truth with his Blood: For
which GOD is gloryed by this Dayes observation,
and others by his exemplarie Constancie remembred
Sing this as the former.
[1]
Lord! with what Zeal, did Stephen breath
Thy Truth to such as him withstood?
How stoutly did he meet his Death,
To Seal thy Gospel, with his blood?
This Constancie, thy Grace hath Crown'd;
And, by so Dying; Life he found.
2
Much Love, did in that Saint appear,
When for his Murtherers, he su'd:
And, Faith had made his Eye-sight clear,
When thee, inthron'd in heav'n, he view'd.
In Torments, he true Patience kept;
And, di'd, as if he had but slept.
3
With his hot Zeal, our Hearts inflame;
So kinde, so constant, let us be:
In life, so let us Praise thy Name,
In Death, so let us looke on Thee:
And, when our Sleep, in Death we take,
With Him, to Life, let us awake.