"On the rock of Thy commandments

"Fix me firmly, lest I slide:

"With the glory of Thy Presence

"Cover me on every side;

"Seeing none save Thee is holy,

"GOD, for ever glorified!"

New immortal out of mortal,

New existence out of old:

This the Cross of CHRIST accomplished,

This the Prophets had foretold:

So that we thus newly quickened,

Might attain the heavenly fold.

Every nail-print, every buffet,

Thou didst freely undergo,

As Thy Resurrection's witness

To the Twelve Thou cam'st to show:

So that what they saw in vision,

Future years by faith might know.

"'CHRIST, we turn our eyes to Thee,

"'And this mighty mystery!'

"Habakkuk exclaimed of old,

"In the HOLY SPIRIT bold:

"'Thou shalt come in time appointed,

"For the help of Thine anointed!'"

Taste of myrrh He deigned to know,

Who redeemed the source of woe:

Now He bids all sickness cease

Through the honeycomb of peace:

And to this world deigns to give

That sweet food by which we live.

Blest, O Didymus, the tongue

Where that first confession hung:

First the SAVIOUR to proclaim

First the LORD of Life to name:

Such the graces it supplied,

--That dear touch of JESU's side!