Laudes Domini ‎#673

673. The Ancient Litany

1 Saviour, when, in dust to thee
Low we bend the adoring knee;
When, repentant, to the skies
Scarce we lift our weeping eyes;
Oh, by all thy pains and woe
Suffered once for man below,
Bending from thy throne on high,
Hear our solemn Litany!

2 By thy helpless infant years,
By thy life of want and tears,
By thy days of sore distress
In the savage wilderness;
By the dread mysterious hour
Of the insulting tempter's power,--
Turn, oh, turn a favoring eye;
Hear our solemn Litany!

3 By thine hour of dire despair;
By thine agony of prayer;
By the cross, the nail, the thorn,
Piercing spear, and torturing scorn;
By the gloom that vailed the skies
O'er the dreadful sacrifice;--
Listen to our humble cry,
Hear our solemn Litany!

4 By thy deep expiring groan;
By the sad sepulchral stone:
By the vault whose dark abode
Held in vain the rising God;--
Oh, from earth to heaven restored,
Mighty reascended Lord!
Listen, listen to the cry
Of our solemn Litany!

Text Information

• First Line: Saviour, when, in dust, to thee
• Title: The Ancient Litany
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1884
• Topic: Backsliding; Christ: Weeping; Christians: Conflicts; Declension, Spiritual; Litany; Wandering
• Notes: Public Domain

Tune Information

• Name: HOLLINGSIDE
• Meter: 7s, D
• Key: E♭ Major
• Notes: Public Domain