tr., Emma Frances Bevan, 1899

John xiii.5.

6 P.M.

Wilt Thou be the sinner's servant,

Humble, loving Lord,

Wash my ways, and all my converse,

Thought, and deed, and word.

Make me bend, the least and lowest,

At my brethren's feet;

Love saith, "As the task is meanest,

Is the service sweet."

Matt. xxvi.28.

7 P.M.

Givest thou Thyself, Lord Jesus,

Thus my life to be?

Thy most precious Blood and Body

Offered up for me?

Thou, O Lord, my food eternal

My eternal feast --

All my hunger stilled for ever,

All my thirst appeased.

John xvii.9, 20.

8 P.M.

Great High Priest whose prayers are music

In the Father's ears,

I shall know their glorious answer

Through eternal years.

Even now, O Lord, I know it,

Made by love Divine,

One with Thee, henceforth, for ever,

Therefore one with Thine.

John xviii.1.

9 P.M.

Lo! I see the shadow falling

Awful in its gloom --

See Thee passing, O Belovèd,

To Thy place of doom --

Mine the sin that veiled the glory,

Thine the burden sore --

Yet, O world, so sweet that sorrow,

Thou art sweet no more.

Luke xxii.41.

10 P.M.

Sorrowful, I see Thee kneeling

That dread cup to take;

Filled with wrath of my deserving

Given Thee for my sake.

Yet to Thee how sweet the bitter,

Sweet the Father's will!

Lord, may I, Thy love recalling,

Suffer, and be still.

Luke xxii.44.

11 P.M.

For Thine agony of weeping,

For Thy sweat of Blood,

For Thy prayer that told the marvel

Of the love of God;

Lord, I thank Thee -- still ascendeth

That unceasing prayer,

Incense from my heart's still temple;

God's High Priest is there.

Luke xxii.48.

MIDNIGHT.

On! the traitor's kiss to suffer

On Thy lips Divine --

Yield Thyself to foemen, stricken

By one word of Thine --

Give me, Lord, to bear rejoicing

Cross and shame for Thee --

Meet with loving lips and gentle

Him who hateth me.

John xviii.12.

1 A.M.

Unresisting, uncomplaining,

Holy, harmless, calm;

Driven, beaten, led to slaughter,

God's unblemished Lamb --

Bind me in eternal fetters,

Lead me, Thine alone;

Silent when contempt and hatred

Mark me for Thine own.

Mark xiv.64.

2 A.M.

Lo! they judge Thee as a traitor,

All the treachery mine --

Scourge Thee as a malefactor,

Saviour Divine.

Search me, O my God, and try me,

Cleanse my inmost will;

Give to me, if men misjudge me,

Patience sweet and still.

Mark xiv.71.

3 A.M.

Peter hath denied Thee -- wilder

Rise the waters deep --

Smitten by Thine eyes of pity

He hath fled to weep.

Make me strong, and true and faithful,

All my strength in Thee;

When my faithless steps would wander,

Look Thou, Lord, on me.

Mark xv.5.

4 A.M.

Silent midst the false accusers,

Thou the Witness true;

Proud, false lips revile and sentence

Him they never knew.

I, the guilty one, acquitted

By Thy lips Divine;

Thine the curse and condemnation,

Life and glory mine.

Mark xv.19.

5 A.M.

Lo! they mock Thee, spit upon Thee,

Smite the Face of God;

I shall stand in shining raiment,

Whitened in Thy Blood --

Stand before Thy Throne of judgment

Faultless, glad, and free;

Grant me love to men who hate me

As Thy love to me.

John xix.9.

6 A.M.

As a sheep before her shearers

Dumb and still art Thou;

For the kingdom and the glory

Are not given Thee now.

Not for me the courts enchanted

Of the world's delight --

With Thee in Thy palace gardens

I shall walk in white.

John xix.16.

7 A.M.

Dragged from Thy belovèd city,

Zion's holy hill,

Mirth of fools and song of drunkards,

Thou art silent still.

Silently, O Lord, I follow

In that path of shame,

Thy reproach and Thy dishonour

Glory of my name.

John xviii.40.

8 A.M.

Thou, the Prince of Life, rejected,

And the murderer claimed;

Stripped and scourged by hands ungentle,

Mocked by tongues untamed --

Strip from me, Lord, self's foul raiment,

Clothe me with Thine own;

I am fit for courts of Heaven,

Clad in Christ alone.

John xix.2.

9 A.M

With the crown of thorns they crown Thee,

Scornfully they bow;

On the Father's throne in glory

Thou art seated now.

Mighty God, I bow before Thee,

Thee, the Saviour King;

Here, my joy to love and suffer;

There, to love and sing.

John xix.5.

10 A.M.

Mocked and spit upon, and bleeding,

Pilate leads Thee forth;

In Thy face they see no beauty,

In Thy Blood no worth.

O despised and humble Jesus,

What, compared with Thee,

Are the glory and the beauty

Of all worlds to me.

John xix.16.

11 A.M.

Sentence passed on Thee, the guiltless

By a sinner's tongue --

I before Thy throne am speechless

I, who did the wrong.

By Thy holy lips acquitted,

Wondering, I go free --

Past for me are death and judgment,

Crucified with Thee.

John xix.17, 18.

NOON.

Thou must bear Thy cross, Lord Jesus,

With the robbers twain --

Wearied, bleeding, and forsaken

In Thy shame and pain.

Taking up my cross I follow,

All my glory this,

With Thee here to toil and suffer,

Thy reproach my bliss.

Luke xxiii.33.

Lo! unto the cross they nail Thee,

Bitter gall prepare,

Those all-holy lips to moisten,

Praying for them there.

When that wounded hand shall sweetly

Pass that cup to me,

May it all the world embitter,

Leave me naught but Thee.

Luke xxiii.43; John xix.25-27.

Hanging in Thy shame and anguish,

Words of love and grace

Welcome the forgiven felon

To Thy Holiest place --

Guide Thy mother, broken-hearted,

To a home of rest --

Comfort him, who yester even

Lay upon Thy Breast.

Matt. xxvii.46; John xix.30.

In Thy direst need forsaken,

Now the work is done --

Thou dost bow Thy Head to welcome

Me, Thy wandering one --

Bend to kiss Thine own, Thy ransomed --

In that kiss to die --

My Belovèd, Thine for ever,

Thine alone am I.

John xix.34.

4 P.M.

From Thy side the blood and water

Flow to cleanse my sin --

Rent the mystic veil of Heaven;

I have entered in.

Heart of love, to sinners open,

Place where God can meet

His beloved, His priest anointed

At His mercy seat.

John xix.41.

5 P.M.

New the grave wherein Thou liest

Wound in linen fine --

I an old cold grave have found Thee,

This poor heart of mine.

So shall that dark grave be glorious,

New, and pure, and fair;

I shall worship Thee for ever

In Thy glory there.