Bishop Bickersteth
O HOLY Father, who in tender love
Didst give Thine only Son for us to die,
The while He pleads at Thy right hand above,
We in One Spirit now with faith draw nigh,
And, as we eat this bread and drink this wine,
Plead His once offered sacrifice Divine.
2
We are not worthy to be called Thy sons,
Nor gather up the fragments of Thy feast;
Yet look on us, Thy sorrowing contrite ones,
On us in Him our advocate and priest,
Whose robe is fringed with mercy’s golden bells,
Whose breastplate fathomless compassion tells.
3
Oh hear us, for Thou always hearest Him;
Behold us sprinkled with His precious blood;
And from between the shadowing Cherubim
Shine forth, and grant us in this heavenly food
Foretastes of coming glory, and meanwhile
A Father’s blessing and a Father’s smile.
4
Nor only, Father, in Thy presence here
Low at Thy footstool for ourselves we pray,
But for the loved ones to our hearts most near
At home or toiling in far lands away.
Oh guard them, guide them, comfort and befriend,
And keep them Thine unfaltering to the end.
5
And, Father, ere we leave Thy mercy-throne,
Bound by these sacred pledges, yet most free
We give our hearts, and not our hearts alone,
But all we are and all we have to Thee;
Glad free-will offerings all our pilgrim days,
Hereafter an eternity of praise.
