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PART II.

SAINTS' DAYS: GENERAL,
APOSTLES AND EVANGELISTS.

See also for Procession on any Saint's Day:
638 Jerusalem, my happy home.

639 The Church triumphant in thy love.

174 OFFICE HYMN. Common of Apostles and Evangelists.

E. and M.

Before 11th cent. Tr. T. A. L.

Annue Christe saeculorum Domine.

LORD of Creation, bow thine ear, O Christ, to

hear

The intercession of thy servant true and dear, That we unworthy, who have trespassed in thy sight,

May live before thee where he dwells in glorious light.

2 O God our Saviour, look on thine inheritance, Sealed by the favour shining from thy counte

nance;

That no false spirit bring to nought the souls of price

Bought by the merit of thy perfect Sacrifice. 3 We bear the burden of our guilt and enmity, Until thy pardon lift the heart from slavery; Then through the spending of thy life-blood, King of grace,

Grant us unending triumph in thy holy place. 4. To thee the glorious Christ, our Saviour manifest, All wreaths victorious, praise and worship be

addrest,

Whom with the living Father humbly we adore, And the life-giving Spirit, God for evermore.

Amen.

175 OFFICE HYMN. Common of Apostles and Evangelists.

(York) M.

THE

Before 11th cent. Tr. J. M. Neale.

Aeterna Christi munera.

HE eternal gifts of Christ the King,
The Apostles' glorious deeds, we sing;
And while due hymns of praise we pay,
Our thankful hearts cast grief away.
2 The Church in these her princes boasts,
These victor chiefs of warrior hosts;
The soldiers of the heavenly hall,
The lights that rose on earth for all.
3 'Twas thus the yearning faith of Saints,
The unconquered hope that never faints,
The love of Christ that knows not shame,
The prince of this world overcame.
4 In these the Father's glory shone ;
In these the will of God the Son;
In these exults the Holy Ghost;
Through these rejoice the heavenly host.
5. Redeemer, hear us of thy love,
That, with this glorious band above,
Hereafter, of thine endless grace,

Thy servants also may have place. Amen.

176 OFFICE HYMN. Common of Apostles and Evangelists.

M. and E. c. 10th cent. Tr. Bishop R. Mant‡.

Exultet caelum laudibus.

ET the round world with songs rejoice;

Let heaven worn the joyful voice,

All mindful of the Apostles' fame,

Let heaven and earth their praise proclaim.
2 Ye servants who once bore the light
Of Gospel truth o'er heathen night,
Still may your work that light impart,
To glad our eyes and cheer our heart.

3 O God, by whom to them was given
The key that shuts and opens heaven,
Our chains unbind, our loss repair,
And grant us grace to enter there;
4 For at thy will they preached the word
Which cured disease, which health conferred :
O may that healing power once more
Our souls to grace and health restore :
5 That when thy Son again shall come,
And speak the world's unerring doom,
He may with them pronounce us blest,
And place us in thy endless rest.

6. To thee, O Father; Son, to thee;
To thee, blest Spirit, glory be!
So was it ay for ages past,

So shall through endless ages last. Amen.

Office Hymn for Apostles and Evangelists during Eastertide. E. and M. 123, Part 2; and for M. and E. 124, Part 2.

177 Apostles.

CAPTA

J.-B. de Santeüil, 1630-97.
Tr. Sir H. W. Baker.

Caelestis aulae principes.
APTAINS of the saintly band,
Lights who lighten every land,
Princes who with Jesus dwell,
Judges of his Israel :

2 On the nations sunk in night
Ye have shed the Gospel light;
Sin and error flee away;
Truth reveals the promised day.
3 Not by warrior's spear and sword,
Not by art of human word,

Preaching but the Cross of shame,
Rebel hearts for Christ ye tame.

4 Earth, that long in sin and pain
Groaned in Satan's deadly chain,
Now to serve its God is free
In the law of liberty.

5 Distant lands with one acclaim
Tell the honour of your name,
Who, wherever man has trod,
Teach the mysteries of God.
6. Glory to the Three in One
While eternal ages run,

178

Who from deepest shades of night
Called us to his glorious light. Amen.

J.-B. de Santeüil, 1630-97. Tr. I. Williams ‡.
Supreme, quales, Arbiter.

ISPOSER supreme, and Judge of the earth,

poor;

To frail earthen vessels, and things of no worth, Entrusting thy riches which ay shall endure; 2 Those vessels soon fail, though full of thy light, And at thy decree are broken and gone;

Then brightly appeareth the arm of thy might, As through the clouds breaking the lightnings have shone.

3 Like clouds are they borne to do thy great will, And swift as the winds about the world go; All full of thy Godhead, while earth lieth still, They thunder, they lighten, the waters o'erflow. 4* Their sound goeth forth, 'Christ Jesus is Lord!' Then Satan doth fear, his citadels fall :

As when the dread trumpets went forth at thy word,

And one long blast shattered the Canaanites' wall.

5 O loud be their trump, and stirring the sound, To rouse us, O Lord, from sin's deadly sleep; May lights which thou kindlest in darkness around

The dull soul awaken her vigils to keep! 6. All honour and praise, dominion and might, To thee, Three in One, eternally be, Who pouring around us thy glorious light, Dost call us from darkness thy glory to see. Amen.

179 Sequence. Evangelists.

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Adam of St. Victor, c. 1170.
Tr. Jackson Mason.

Plausu chorus laetabundo.
HOME sing, ye choirs exultant,
Those messengers of God,
Through whom the living Gospels
Came sounding all abroad!
Whose voice proclaimed salvation
That poured upon the night,
And drove away the shadows,

And flushed the world with light.
2 He chose them, our Good Shepherd,
And, tending evermore

His flock through earth's four quarters,
In wisdom made them four;
True Lawgiver, he bade them
Their healing message spread,
One charter for all nations,
One glorious title-deed.

3* In one harmonious witness
The chosen Four combine,
While each his own commission
Fulfils in every line;

As, in the Prophet's vision,
From out the amber flame

In form of visage diverse
Four living creatures came.

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