Post by clusium on Jun 14, 2020 20:21:04 GMT
Laud, O Sion, laud with hymns of exultation
Christ, Your King, ad Shepherd True;
Bring Him all praise you know,
He Is more than you bestow;
Never can you reach His Due.
Wondrous theme for glad thanksgiving
Is the living and life-giving
Bread today before you set,
from His Hands of old partaken,
As we know, by faith unshaken,
Where the Twelve at supper met.
Full and clear ring out your chanting,
Let not joy nor grace be wanting.
From your heart let praises burst.
For this day the Feast is holden,
When the Institution olden
Of that Supper rehearsed.
By the New King's Revelation,
Ends the forms of ancient rite,
Now the new the old effaces,
Substance now the shadow chases,
Light of day dispels the night.
What He Did at Supper Seated,
Christ Ordained to be repeated,
His Remembrance not to cease,
And His Rule for guidance taking,
Bread and Wine we hallow, making,
Thus, our Sacrifice of peace.
This the Truth each Christian learns,
Bread into His Own Flesh Christ Turns
To His Precious Blood the Wine,
Sight must fail, no thought conceives,
But a steadfast faith believes,
Resting on a Power Divine.
Here beneath these signs are hidden
Priceless, things to sense forbidden,
Signs alone, not things, we see:
Blood and Flesh as Wine, Bread Broken;
Yet beneath each wondrous token,
Christ entire we know to Be.
All who of this Great Food partake,
They sever not the Lord, nor break:
Christ Is Whole to all that Taste.
Be one or a thousand fed
They eat alike that Living Bread,
Eat of Him Who Cannot waste.
Good and guilty likewise sharing,
Though their different ends preparing:
Timeless death, or blessed life.
Life to these, to those damnation,
Even like participation
Is with unlike outcomes rife.
When the Sacrament is broken,
Doubt not, but believe as spoken,
That each severed outward token
Does the very whole contain.
None that precious gift divides,
Breaking but the sign betides.
Jesus Still the Same Abides,
Still Unbroken He Remains.
Hail, the Food of Angels Given
To the pilgrim who has striven,
To the child as Bread from Heaven,
Food alone, for spirit meant:
Now the former types fulfilling -
Isaac bound, a victim willing,
Paschal Lamb, Its Life-Blood Spilling,
Manna to the ancients sent.
Bread Yourself Good Shepherd, Tend us;
Jesus, with Your Love Befriend us.
To Your Lasting Goodness Send us
That the land of life we see.
Lord, Who all things both rule and know,
Who on this Earth such Food Bestow,
Grant that with Your Saints we follow
To that Banquet ever Hallow,
With them heirs and guests to be. Amen.