(Dedication of a Church, at Nocturns. Only the first verse is taken from ISAAC WILLIAMS'S 66 translation.) HYMN 243. (a) saw the holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down from GOD, out of Heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."-Rev. xxi. 2. BLESSED City, heavenly Salem,* Vision dear of Peace and Love, Who of living stones art builded + In the height of Heaven above, And with angel hosts encircled, As a bride to earth dost move;‡ URBS beata Hirusalem,* Dicta Pacis Visio, (a) Hymns 243 and 244 form, in the original, one hymn, probably of the 7th or 8th century, the author of which is not known. Partly from them and partly from the following lines of S. Peter Damiani, Hymn 180 is doubtless derived. AD perennis Vitae Fontem mens sitivit avida, Claustra carnis praesto frangi clausa quaerit anima; Gliscit, ambit, eluctatur, exsul frui Patriâ. Nam quis promat summae pacis quanta sit laetitia, Solis gemmis pretiosis haec structura nectitur, + Pet. ii. 4, 5. *Heb. xii. 22. Isa. lxi. 10. 2 From celestial realms descending, Bridal glory round thee shed, Meet for Him Whose Love espoused thee,* To thy LORD shalt thou be led ;+ All thy streets, and all thy bulwarks, Of pure gold are fashioned. 2 Nova veniens e coelo, Nuptiali thalamo Copuletur DOMINO; * Ex auro purissimo.‡ 3 Bright thy gates of pearl§ are shining, 3 Portae nitent margaritis,§ They are open evermore; And by virtue of His Merits Thither faithful souls do soar, Who for CHRIST's dear Name in this world Pain and tribulation bore.|| 4 Many a blow and biting sculpture By the heavenly Architect,** Adytis patentibus; Illuc introducitur Omnis qui ob CHRISTI Nomen Hoc in mundo premitur.|| Per Manum Artificis ; Nam et sancti quique velut sol praeclarus rutilant, CHRISTE, Palma bellatorum, hoc in municipium Nec quietem post procinctum deneges emerito, Entirely different versions of the hymn "Urbs beata" are found in the Roman and 5 Praise and honour to the FATHER, Praise and honour to the SON, Praise and honour to the SPIRIT, Ever THREE, and ever ONE, One in Might and one in Glory, While eternal ages run. Amen. Rev. J. M. NEALE, D.D. (altered by COMPILERS). 5 Gloria et honor DEO Usquequo Altissimo, Per aeterna saecula. Amen. From Hymn of 7-9th Century. 66 HYMN 244. Behold, I lay in Sion a Chief Corner Stone, elect, precious."- Pet. ii. 6. CHRIST is made the sure Foundation,* CHRIST the Head and Corner Stone, Chosen of the LORD, and precious, Binding all the Church in one,t Holy Sion's Help for ever, And her Confidence alone.‡ 2 All that dedicated City, Dearly loved of GOD on high,§ Pours perpetual melody ;|| In glad hymns eternally. 3 To this Temple, where we call Thee, Come, O LORD of Hosts,** to-day : ANGULARE Fundamentum* In utroque nectitur,+ In Quo credens permanet. 2 Omnis illa DEO sacra Et canoro jubilo, || 3 Hoc TinTemplo, Summe DEUS, Exoratus adveni, ** * Isa. xxviii. 16. Prov. iii. 26. Eph. ii. 20, 21. Compare Psalm cxviii. 22. § Psalm lxxxvii. I. See Hymn 67, ver. 1. ¶ For a vindication of the genuineness of stanzas 3, 4 as part of the original hymn, see Trench's "Sacred Latin Poetry," p. 294. With Thy wonted Loving-kindness,* Shed within its walls alway.+ 4 Here vouchsafe to all Thy servants What they ask of Thee to gain,‡ What they gain from Thee for ever With the Blessed to retain, 5 Praise and honour to the FATHER, Praise and honour to the SON, Praise and honour to the SPIRIT, Ever THREE, and ever ONE, While eternal ages run. Amen. Rev. J. M. NEALE, D.D. (altered by COMPILERS). * Et clementi Bonitate 4 Hic promereantur omnes Cum Sanctis perenniter, 5 Gloria et honor DEO Usquequo Altissimo, Per aeterna saecula. Amen. From Hymn of 7-9th Century. "The Voice of the LORD breaketh the cedar-trees: yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Libanus."-Psalm xxix. 5. THE SHEPHERD now was smitten; The wolf was ravening near; + The scattered Flock he threatened, But knew not Whose they were.‡ Zech. xiii. 7. Acts viii. I. * PASTORE percusso,* minas Spirabat et caedes lupus; + Sparsumque vastabat gregem, Te, CHRISTE, Saulus nesciens.‡ + Compare Gen. xlix. 27 with Rom. xi. I ; and see Ezek. xxii. 27 and "Holy Year," xc., ver. 3. 1 Tim. i. 13. |