Hymn for All Saints' Days

Ye saints! in blest communion
With Christ, the Fount of Love!
Ye who on earth are toiling.
And ye who rest above:
Unite to sing His praises.
And glorify His grace,
Your blessedness beholding
The brightness of His face.

Ye who have pass'd the river,
And enter'd into rest.
Who now are safe for ever
In Paradise the blest:
Refuse not ye to join us,
Who, suffering with Him here.
Yet love to sing His praises,
Through many a sigh and tear.

Bright throng above, how glorious!
Whom men bewail as dead,
But who, o'er death victorious.
Now rest in Christ your Head;
Amid the Hallelujahs
Which swell your gentle mirth.
Ye will not he forgetful
Of those who weep on earth.

For you, in all your gladness.
We bless and praise the Lord,
To us, in all our sadness.
Your tenderness accord:
Till all, in Christ united.
Are safe around the throne.
His Saints in their communion
Complete in Him alone.

With Abraham and Isaac,
What crowds are seated now!
With Jacob and the Patriarchs,
What hosts round Jesus bow!
For them accept our praises.
For us, O Lord, their prayer.
Nor distant be the morning
When we shall meet them there.

Blest be thy faith, S. Andrew!
Which readily obeyed
The calling of thy Saviour,
Nor wilfully delayed:
His guidance and His goodness
In all thy life we trace.
And for thy soul's salvation
We magnify His grace.

Thy very doubts, S. Thomas!
We gratefully receive,
They make more large the promise
To all whose hearts believe:
The shadow resting on thee
Thou wilt not deem a slight.
If it bring out the Saviour
In all His love more bright.

First of the holy martyrs!
Whose sufferings and whose prayer
So like thy Saviour's sorrows
And last petition were:
For thee, thy Lord, seen standing
Beside His Father's throne.
Exalts the earnest pleading
He offers for His own.

What blessed beams of brightness
Upon the Church do shine,"'
Enlighten'd by thy doctrine,
Evangelist Divine!
Thy head upon His bosom
Whose heart is love's deep spring,
The tend'rest consolation
To His beloved doth bring.

From mouths of babes and sucklings.
Lord, Thou hast strength ordain'd.
And Infants in their patience
Thy glory have maintain'd:
They teach us what the youngest,
If to Thy guidance true.
Can for Thy Name adventure.
And in Thy keeping do.

The churches of the Gentiles
Before Thy footstool fall,
And bless Thee for the preaching
Of the apostle Paul:
His wonderful conversion
In glad remembrance hold.
And offer on Thine altar
Its fruits an hundred fold.

Thy mem'ry, S. Matthias!
The Church's hope assures.
Strong in her Lord's protection
All trial she endures:
Preserved from false Apostles
By His unslumb'ring care.
The garments of her priesthood
He keeps both clean and fair.

Lord, for Thy Holy Gospel,
And him, S. Mark, who taught
Men with its heav'nly doctrine
And souls to Jesus brought:
We praise and bless Thy goodness.
And for Thy Church implore
That in Thy truth establish'd
She stand for evermore.

O Saviour! would we know Thee,
The Way, the Truth, the Life!
Vouchsafe us grace to follow
Where Thou dost lead the strife:
With thankfulness rememb'ring
The high and holy names
Of those pass'd on before us,
Saint Philip and Saint James.

Lord, when the desolation
Of sin on earth appears.
The Son of Consolation
Thy Church's spirit cheers:
When gifts Thou art bestowing
Let her not giftless be.
Nor yet of grace to use them
In honour. Lord, of Thee.

For truth severe and holy,
A life so simply pure.
So bold all danger braving.
So patient to endure,
Found in Thine own forerunner,
Saviour! we Thee adore!
Such love Thy way preparing
Vouchsafe us evermore.

O Shepherd of the shepherds!
Saviour of the sheep!
Who dost command us earnestly
Thy flock on earth to keep:
We praise Thee for S. Peter,
His earnestness and love,
For here his path of duty.
And there his rest above.

God! in Whom believing,
S. James refused to stay.
Father and mother leaving,
And all without delay:
We praise Thee for the gladness
With which, when Thou dost call.
Thy Saints their hearts surrender.
For Thee forsaking all.

For him, who neath the fig-tree
In quietness believed,
For him who by his Saviour
Was joyfully received:
For him who. Thine Apostle,
Had grace to preach Thy Word,
And love what he believ'd,
We praise Thy Name, Lord!

For grace, the grace that loosen'd
Custom's enduring hold
From off thy heart, S. Matthew!
And saved from love of gold:
We praise God in the churches,
And, poor though we may be.
We know. Lord, we have riches
Unsearchable in Thee.

For Angels and Archangels,
Whose service round Thy throne,
Thy will to do here teaches.
As it in Heav'n is done:
We praise Thee, and we pray Thee
That, as they serve Thee, so
They may on earth defend us.
Thy suff'ring Saints below.

For Luke, the good physician,
Whose medicine was Thy Word,
Whose praise was in the Gospel,
We magnify Thee, Lord!
And for the wholesome medicines.
Which by Thy blest control
Heal sin's disease, we praise Thee,
Physician of the soul!

Built on the sure foundation.
How fair the Church hath grown.
Apostles, Prophets, Teachers,
Christ, the head Comer-stone!
With unity cement it,
Lord, let it be endued
With love, like Thine Apostles,
S. Simon and S. Jude!

For all Thy Saints in heaven.
For all Thy Saints on earth,
Elect in one communion.
One in their second birth.
We praise Thee, blessed Saviour!
And pray for grace that we
May come to joys prepar'd
Unspeakable in Thee.

To Thee, mighty Father!
To Thee, O blessed Son!
To Thee, O Holy Spirit!
Eternal Three in One!
All praise and adoration.
To Thee Whom Saints adore.
From every clime and nation
Arise for evermore!