The Heavenly Jerusalem. 13

Chrift is made the fure Foundation,
And the Precious Corner-stone :
Who, the twofold walls furmounting,
Binds them closely into one;
Holy Sion's acceptation,

And her confidence alone.

All that dedicated City,

Dearly loved by God on high,

In exultant jubilation

Pours perpetual melody:

God the One, and God the Trinal
Lauding everlastingly.

To this temple, where we call Thee,
Come, O Lord of Hofts to-day!
With Thy wonted loving-kindness
Hear Thy fervants as they pray :
And Thy fullest benediction

Shed within these walls for aye.

Here let all Thy people merit

That they fupplicate to gain:

Here to have and hold for ever

Thofe good things their prayers obtain :

And hereafter, in Thy glory,

With Thy blessed ones to reign.*

8th Cent.

*The authorship of this grand hymn, beginning "Urbs

Beata Ierufalem," is unknown.

X.

DEATH.

N the midft of life, behold
Death has girt us round;

Whom for help then fhall we pray?
Where fhall grace be found?

In Thee, O Lord, alone!

We rue the evil we have done,

That Thy wrath on us hath drawn.
Holy Lord and God!

Strong and Holy God!

Merciful and Holy Saviour !

Eternal God!

Sink us not beneath

Bitter pains of endless death;
Kyrie eleifon!

In the midst of death the jaws

Of hell against us gape. Who from peril dire as this Openeth us escape?

"Tis Thou, O Lord, alone! Our bitter fuffering and our fin Pity from Thy mercy win, Holy Lord and God!

Strong and Holy God! Merciful and Holy Saviour! Eternal God!

Let us not defpair

For the fire that burneth there;

Kyrie eleifon!

In the midst of hell our fins
Drive us to defpair;

Whither fhall we flee from them?
Where is refuge, where?

In Thee, Lord Chrift, alone!
For Thou haft fhed Thy precious blood,
All our fins Thou makeft good,

Holy Lord and God!

Strong and Holy God!

Merciful and holy Saviour!

Eternal God!

Let us never fall

From the true faith's hope for all;

Kyrie eleifon!

NOTKER, A.D. 900.

XI.

GLORIOUS SALVATION.

O the Name that brings Salvation,
Honour, worship, laud we pay;
That for many a generation

Hid in God's foreknowledge lay;

But to every tongue and nation
Holy Church proclaims to-day.

Name of gladnefs, Name of pleafure,
By the tongue ineffable,

Name of sweetness paffing measure,
To the ear delectable;

'Tis our fafeguard and our treasure,
'Tis our help 'gainst fin and hell.

"Tis the Name for adoration,
'Tis the Name of Victory;
'Tis the Name for meditation
In the vale of misery :
'Tis the Name for veneration
By the citizens on high.

'Tis the Name that whofo preaches Finds it mufic in his ear:

'Tis the Name that whofo teaches

Finds more sweet than honey's cheer:

Who its perfect wisdom reaches

Makes his ghoftly vifion clear.

'Tis the Name by right exalted
Over every other name;
That when we are fore affaulted,

Puts our enemies to fhame:

Strength to them that elfe had halted,
Eyes to blind, and feet to lame.

Jefu, we Thy name adoring,

Long to see Thee as Thou art;

Of Thy clemency imploring
So to write it in our heart,
That, hereafter, upward foaring,
We with Angels may have part."

*

10th Cent. (?)

XII.

HALLELUJAH.

ALLELUJAH, fong of sweetness,
Voice of joy, celeftial lay,
Hallelujah is the glory

Of the choirs in heavenly day,
Which the Angels fing abiding
In the house of God for aye.

Hallelujah, joyful Mother

Of the Bleft, Jerufalem!
Hallelujah is the anthem

That full well befitteth them,
While to fadnefs Babel's rivers

Exiles on the earth condemn.

Hallelujah, we deferve not

Here to chant for evermore:

Hallelujah, our tranfgreffions

Make us for awhile give o'er :
For the holy time is coming

That would have us fin deplore.

*A tranflation of a Latin hymn fung by the Germans. Date and author not known.

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