Hail, Body True

Hail

bo­dy true

of Ma­ry born

And in the man­ger laid

That once with thorn and scourg­ing torn

Wast on the cross dis­played

That ev­ery eye might there des­cry

Th’up­lift­ed Sac­ri­fice

Which once for all to God on high

Paid our re­demp­tion’s price!

Hail

pre­cious blood

by true des­cent

Drawn from our own first sire

Yet in­no­cent of that fell taint

Which fills our veins with fire

Once from the side of Him that died

For love of us His kin

Drained an atone­ment to pro­vide

And wash away our sin!

Still Thou art here amidst us

Lord

Unchangeably the same;

When at Thy board with one ac­cord

Thy pro­mis­es we claim;

But lo! the way Thou com’st to­day

Is one where bread and wine

Conceal the pre­sence they con­vey

Both hu­man and di­vine.

How glo­ri­ous is that bo­dy now

Throned on the throne of Heav’n!

The an­gels bow

and mar­vel how

To us on earth ’tis giv’n;

Oh

to dis­cern what splen­dors burn

Within these veils of His—

That faith could in­to vi­sion turn

And see Him as He is!

How migh­ty is the blood that ran

For sin­ful na­ture’s needs!

It broke the ban

it res­cued man;

It lives

and speaks

and pleads;

And all who sup from this blest cup

In faith and hope and love

Shall prove that death is swal­lowed up

In rich­er life ab­ove.