While they beheld, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. While they looked steadfastly toward Heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, and said,
Acts 1:9–11Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into Heaven.
Words: Ancient Latin, author unknown (Æterne Rex Altissime). Translated to English by Richard Mant, Ancient Hymns from the Roman Breviary (London: J. G. & F. Rivington, 1837), number 48.
Music: Ancyra Benjamin C. Unseld, 1901 (🔊 pdf nwc).
Alternate Tunes:
Eternal King of Heav’n on high,
Hope of Thy saints beneath,
Crowned with triumphant majesty,
The vanquisher of death:
Thou dost ascend the starry spheres,
Prompt at the heav’nly call,
Which, all unheard by mortal ears,
Salutes Thee Lord of all:
That of the world, where’er they dwell,
The tribes may worship Thee;
And things in Heav’n, in earth, in hell,
May bow the subject knee.
Angels behold the change with awe:
How sin with flesh began,
And sin by flesh subdued they saw,
The conqueror God in man!
Do Thou from Thy celestial heights
Our prize, our pleasure, prove!
The world Thy subject; Thy delights
All worldly joys above.
Thence for our sins the prayer attend,
Thy pardoning grace supply,
And down Thy healthful Spirit send
To lift our hearts on high.
That when around Thy judgment seat
The skies their radiance pour,
Thou mayst remit our penal debt,
Our forfeit crowns restore.
O Jesus, glory be to Thee,
In Thy celestial rest,
Throned with Paternal Majesty,
And with the Spirit blest!