Aeterne Rex altissime (Eternal Monarch, King most High)
Eternal Monarch, King most High, Whose Blood hath brought redemption nigh, By whom the death of Death was wrought, And conquering grace's battle fought: Ascending by the starry road, This day Thou wentest home to God, By Heaven to power unending called, And by no human hand installed. That so, in nature's triple frame, Each heavenly and each earthly name, And things in hell's abyss abhorred, May bend the knee and own Him Lord. Yea, Angels tremble when they see How changed is our humanity; That Flesh hath purged what flesh had stained, And God, the flesh of God, hath reigned. Be Thou our joy, O mighty Lord, As Thou wilt be our great reward; Earth's joys to Thee are nothing worth, Thou joy and crown of heaven and earth. To Thee we therefore humbly pray That Thou wouldst purge our sins away, And draw our hearts by cords of grace To Thy celestial dwelling-place. So when the Judgment day shall come, And all must rise to meet their doom, Thou wilt remit the debts we owe, And our lost crowns again bestow. All glory, Lord, to Thee we pay, Ascending o'er the stars to-day; All glory, as is ever meet, To Father and to Paraclete.
