Post Communion.
“We offer and present unto Thee, O Lord, ourselves, our souls,
and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and lively sacrifice unto Thee.”
—Prayer Book.
Not from their feast of awful love
May Paschal guests in peace depart
Till they have hymn'd with choirs above
The Hallel of a grateful heart.
Thus, Mother of the faithful, Thou
A parting banquet hast supplied
Of praise and prayer, for all who vow
That they adore The God who died.
As Members of Thyself, O Lord,
Well may regen'rate souls begin
To hear Thine own adopting word,—
The “Abba!” that is breath'd within.
A double sacrifice they bring
Of person and of praise combined,
Who render Thee such offering
As He accepts, Who saves mankind.
Author and Finisher divine
Of hope, and faith, and all we are!
Now present at Thy bloodless shrine,
With pardon consecrate our prayer.
All meritless, the craven soul
Would shrink and shudder back with dread
Except it heard Love's whisper roll,—
“Emanuel for the guilty bled!”
The precious “Body and the Blood”
By ministerial hands imparted,
With more than super-heavenly food
Now calm and cheer the broken-hearted.
As living members we cohere
In Christ, by mystic life and love,
And though the trembling person fear
Our nature is secured above,—
Assumed by that incarnate Head
Whose will the universe sustains,
And by his speaking Blood hath said
His glory in forgiveness reigns.
Life-giving Lord! where'er we roam
May sacraments our pledges be,—
Thy merits are that mystic home
Where aching hearts unite with Thee.
