Worship Supplement ‎#729

729. The Royal Banners Forward Go

1 The royal banners forward go;
The cross shines forth in mystic glow
Where he in flesh, our flesh who made,
Our sentence bore, our ransom paid:

2 Where deep for us the spear was dyed,
Life's torrent rushing from his side,
To wash us in the precious flood
Where mingled water flowed and blood.

3 Fulfilled is all that David told
In true prophetic song of old;
Amid the nations, God, said he,
Has reigned and triumphed from the tree.

4 O tree of beauty, tree of light,
O tree with royal purple dight,*
Elect, on whose triumphal breast
Those holy limbs should find their rest;

5 On whose dear arms, so widely flung,
The weight of this world's Ransom hung
The price of humankind to pay
And spoil the Spoiler of his prey.

6 O cross, our one reliance, hail!
Still may your power with us avail
To give new virtue to the saint
And pardon to the penitent.

7 To thee, eternal Three in One,
Let homage meet by all be done
Whom by the cross thou dost restore,
Preserve, and govern evermore. Amen.

*dight = adorned

Text Information

• First Line: The royal banners forward go
• Title: The Royal Banners Forward Go
• Author: Venantius Fortunatus, 530-609 (cento)
• Translator: John Mason Neale, 1818-66 (alt.)
• Author (sts. 6-7): Anonmous
• Meter: LM
• Publication Date: 1969
• Topic: The Christian Year: Good Friday
• Notes: Latin: Vexilla regis prodeunt

Tune Information

• Name: THE KING'S BANNER
• Composer (attributed to): Johann Eccard, 1553-1611
• Meter: LM
• Key: C Major