Faithful Cross! Above all other...

Faithful Cross! Above all other,

One and only noble Tree!

None in foliage, none in blossom,

None in fruit thy peers may be;

Sweetest wood and sweetest iron!
Sweetest Weight is hung on thee!

Lofty tree, bend down thy branches,

To embrace thy sacred load;

Oh, relax the native tension

Of that all too rigid wood;

Gently, gently bear the members

Of thy dying King and God.

Tree, which solely wast found worthy

This world's Victim to sustain;

Harbour from the raging tempest!

Ark, that saved the world again!

Tree, with sacred blood anointed

Of the Lamb for sinners slain.

Blessing, honour, everlasting,

To the immortal Deity;

To the Father, Son, and Spirit,

Equal praises ever be;

Glory through the earth and heaven

To Trinity in Unity. Amen.

...by Venantius Fortunatus, image

Wonder of wonders! On the cross He dies!

Wonder of wonders!  On the cross He dies!

Man of the ages, David's mighty Son,

The Eternal Word who spake and it was done,

What time, of old, He formed the earth and skies.

Abashed be all the wisdom of the wise!

Let the wide earth through all her kingdoms know

The promise of the Lamb of God, whose blood should flow-

For human guilt the grand, sole sacrifice.

No more need altar smoke, nor victim bleed:

'Tis finished! the great mystery of love.

Ye sin condemned, by this blood, 'tis decreed.

Ye stand absolved; behold the curse removed!

O Christ! Thy deadly wounds, Thy mortal strife

Crush death and hell and give immortal life.

'Tis finished all: the veil is rent,

The welcome sure, the access free:

Now then we leave our banishment,

O Father, to return to Thee!

...Horatius Bonar image