4.

When at length the holy fullness
Of the promis'd time was come,
From the throne of God in heaven,
To reverse man's bitter doom,
Christ the Son, the world's creator,
Was made flesh in Mary's womb.

5.

Hark! the tender infant crying

While within the manger there! See his limbs are swathed in linen By his Virgin Mother's care: See his legs, his feet, his ancles Many an infant bandage wear!

6.

Scarce six lustres are completed
'Ere this saving child we see,
Who alone on earth descended
Man's pure sacrifice to be,
Like a lamb, led forth to slaughter
On the altar of the tree.

7.

Then the reed, the salt, the bitter
Vinegar 'twas his to brave;
And the nails, the scoffs, the cruel
Lance which that fell puncture gave,
Whence the blood and water issued
All the earth, sea, stars to lave.

8.

Haughty tree! bend, bend thy branches Softly smoothe thy rugged veins,

And incline that knarled stiffness

Which from youth thy trunk retains.

Softly bow to ease his torture-
To assuage thy Maker's pains!

9.

All our hope on thee was freighted :
Thine our safety to restore,
Thou the boat prepared to carry
Shipwrecked nations safe to shore,
Save us thou dear boat! besprinkled
With the Lamb's redeeming gore.

10.

To God eternal praise and glory,
Highest honour-highest fame.
To his Son, our dear Redeemer,
And the Paraclete the same.
Love and power and thanksgiving
Still attend God's holy name.

The Prose for EASTER SUNDAY and Easter week.
Victima Paschalis.

The Paschal Victim calls for praise; the Christian song obeys.

The Lamb redeems the flock: Christ, whom no sin defiles,

To his great Father thus the sinner reconciles. Death and life in contest strange have met: The leader slain of life yet liveth, reigneth yet. To us Mary say

What sawest thou by the way ?

Angels bearing witness: both the napkin and the cloth.

Christ my hope is risen: he will meet you all in Galilee.

That Christ is truly risen from the dead, we know.

Victorious king! to us thy mercy show.

ADESTE FIDELES, FOR CHRISTMAS.

1.

Oh hasten, ye faithful, joy and triumph vying,
Oh speed ye to Bethlem to honour the Word!
See there the king of angels lowly lying!
Oh, come and kneel before him;

Oh, speed we to adore him;

Oh, let us hasten to honour the Lord.

2.

True God of true God, Light of Light in heaven
Born of a Virgin, 'tis Jesus ador'd!
True God eternal, for us truly given.
Oh, come and kneel before him!

Oh, speed we to adore him!

Oh, let us hasten to honour the Lord.

3.

Now sing all ye angels, till echoes resounding Swell through your courts; and for ever be heard

Glory to God through all heaven resounding.
Oh, come and kneel before him!

Oh, speed we to adore him!

Oh let us hasten to honour the Lord!

4.

All praise to the Word who has this day descended, Glory to thee, blessed Jesus ador'd!

Thou in whose nature God and man is blended:Oh, come and kneel before him!

Oh, speed we to adore him!

Oh, let us hasten to honour the Lord!

THE STABAT MATER.

1.

Tearful stood the mother lowly
Near the cross on which her holy
Son was nail'd, her Son ador'd.

2.

Her soul the while, with anguish heaving-
Sad-with direst sorrow grieving-
Felt the promis'd, piercing sword.

3.

Oh, how woeful her dejection !
All the mother's blest affection
There bewail'd its only one:

4.

Trembling wail'd and sorrow'd o'er him : View'd each torturing nail that tore himHer renown'd, her duteous Son.

5.

Lives there one who tears could smother
Did he see Christ's blessed mother
In this anguish great and wild?

6.

Lives there one-'tis past believing-
Who could see unmov'd the grieving
Of this mother and her child?

7.

He would save his guilty nation :-
Now she sees what desolation,

Torments, stripes his care repay :

8.

Sees her Jesus, love-inspiring,
Scorn'd, deserted, and expiring,
Gently breathe his soul away.

9.

Hail! kind mother, source of feeling!
Make me feel like sorrow stealing

O'er me: make me grieve with thee.
10.

Set my heart on fire-returning
All Christ's pains with love:—a burning
Love that may accepted be.

11.

Mother blest! do not gainsay me;
Stamp my stony heart, I pray thee,

With th' impression of the cross.

12.

Source of grief from thee I borrow;
Let me also feel thy sorrow,

Mourn with thee thy bitter loss.

13.

Make me weep with thee for ever:
From the cross may nothing sever
Me so long as ere I live.

14.

Let me linger with thee near it;
Joining with thee to revere it

Still with tears-which thou wilt give.

15.

Virgin, of all virgins brightest !

Aid me thou who thus unitest

Hearts in grief-thy grief be mine.