Sequences, Hymns, and Other Ecclesiastical Verses By the Rev. J. M. Neale |
 |
|
 |
Processional Hymn for All Saints.
|
|
|
 | Sequences, Hymns, and Other Ecclesiastical Verses |  |
57
Processional Hymn for All Saints.
Christ's own Martyrs, valiant cohort,
White-robed and palmiferous throng,
Ye that, 'neath the heavenly Altar,
Cry, “How long, O Lord; how long?”
Tell us how the fiery struggle
Ended in the Victor-song?
White-robed and palmiferous throng,
Ye that, 'neath the heavenly Altar,
Cry, “How long, O Lord; how long?”
Tell us how the fiery struggle
Ended in the Victor-song?
58
“'Twas His care that watched beside us,
His Right Arm that brought us through;
So the fiercer waxed our torture,
His bright love the sweeter grew:
Till the men that killed the body
Had no more that they could do.”
His Right Arm that brought us through;
So the fiercer waxed our torture,
His bright love the sweeter grew:
Till the men that killed the body
Had no more that they could do.”
Christ's Confessors, noble Victors
O'er the world, and self, and sin,
Tell us how ye faced the onset
From without and from within:
Ne'er the stretched-out lance withdrawing;
Resolute the Land to win?
O'er the world, and self, and sin,
Tell us how ye faced the onset
From without and from within:
Ne'er the stretched-out lance withdrawing;
Resolute the Land to win?
“He, with each a Fellow Pilgrim,
Was our more than sword and shield:
So they two went on together,
So they two won many a field;
If He for us, who against us?
If He succour, who can yield?”
Was our more than sword and shield:
So they two went on together,
So they two won many a field;
If He for us, who against us?
If He succour, who can yield?”
59
Christ's true Doctors, filled with wisdom,
Tell us how the lore to gain
That discerned the serpent's venom,
Crushed down heresy amain;
Winning conflict after conflict
Till ye reached the Golden Chain?
Tell us how the lore to gain
That discerned the serpent's venom,
Crushed down heresy amain;
Winning conflict after conflict
Till ye reached the Golden Chain?
“In the Cross we found our pulpit,
In the Seven great Words, our lore;
Dying gift of dying Master,
Which, once uttered, all was o'er;
Pillars seven of sevenfold wisdom;
Sion's safeguard evermore.”
In the Seven great Words, our lore;
Dying gift of dying Master,
Which, once uttered, all was o'er;
Pillars seven of sevenfold wisdom;
Sion's safeguard evermore.”
Christ's dear Virgins, glorious lilies,
Tell us how ye kept unstained
Snowiest petals through the tempest,
Till eternal spring ye gained:
Snowiest still, albeit with crimson
Some more precious leaves were stained.
Tell us how ye kept unstained
Snowiest petals through the tempest,
Till eternal spring ye gained:
Snowiest still, albeit with crimson
Some more precious leaves were stained.
60
“In the place where He was buried
There was found a garden nigh;
In that garden us He planted,
Teaching us with Him to die,
Till to Paradise He moved us,
Here to bloom eternally.”
There was found a garden nigh;
In that garden us He planted,
Teaching us with Him to die,
Till to Paradise He moved us,
Here to bloom eternally.”
All Christ's Saints, that none may number,
Out of every land and tongue,
Ye that by the fire and crystal
Have your crowns in worship flung:
Tell us how ye gained the region
Where the Unknown Song is sung?
Out of every land and tongue,
Ye that by the fire and crystal
Have your crowns in worship flung:
Tell us how ye gained the region
Where the Unknown Song is sung?
“Glory, honour, adoration,
To the Lamb That once was slain;
Virtue, riches, power, the Kingdom,
To the Prince That lives again,
His entirely, His for ever,
His we were, and His remain.
To the Lamb That once was slain;
Virtue, riches, power, the Kingdom,
To the Prince That lives again,
His entirely, His for ever,
His we were, and His remain.
Amen.”
| Sequences, Hymns, and Other Ecclesiastical Verses | |