442. Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle

Authors: Fortunatus, Venantius Honorious Clementianus, Neale, John Mason

Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle,
sing the final, fierce affray!
how the cross became a triumph
where our sin was borne away;
how, the pains of death enduring,
earth’s Redeemer won the day.

2. When at last the appointed fullness
of the promised time had come,
he was sent, the world’s Creator,
from the Father’s heavenly home;
and he came in truest manhood
from a humble virgin’s womb.

3. Now the thirty years are ended
which on earth he willed to see;
willingly he goes to suffer,
born to set his people free;
on the cross the Lamb is lifted,
there the sacrifice to be.

4. Gall and vinegar they offer,
mocking him with thorns and reed;
nails and spear, the Saviour piercing,
make his sacred body bleed:
by that blood the whole creation
from the stain of sin is freed.

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 triumph, one in glory,
while eternal ages run!