O Holy Father, Who in tender love
66
10.10.10.10.10.10 1 O Holy Father, Who in tender love Didst give Thine only Son for us to die, The while He pleads at Thy right hand above, We in one Spirit now with faith draw nigh, And, as we eat this bread and drink this wine, Plead His once offered sacrifice divine. 2 We are not worthy to be call’d Thy sons, Nor gather up the fragments of Thy feast; Yet look on us, Thy sorrowing contrite ones, On us in Him our Advocate and Priest, Whose robe is fringed with mercy’s golden bells, Whose breastplate fathomless compassion tells. 3 O hear us, for Thou always hearest Him; Behold us sprinkled with His precious blood; And from between the shadowing Cherubim Shine forth, and grant us in this heavenly food Foretastes of coming glory, and meanwhile A Father’s blessing and a Father’s smile. Bishop Bickersteth