<p><a href="https://media.churchmusicassociation.org/pdf/vexilla.pdf">Link to Music</a></p><p>The Royal Banner forward goes,</p><p>The mystic Cross refulgent glows:</p><p>Where He, in Flesh, flesh who made,</p><p>Upon the Tree of pain is laid.</p><p></p><p>Behold! The nails with anguish fierce,</p><p>His outstretched arms and vitals pierce:</p><p>Here our redemption to obtain,</p><p>The Mighty Sacrifice is slain.</p><p></p><p>Here the fell spear his wounded side</p><p>With ruthless onset opened wide:</p><p>To wash us in that cleansing flood,</p><p>Thence mingled Water flowed, and Blood.</p><p></p><p>Fulfilled is all that David told</p><p>In true prophetic song, of old:</p><p>Unto the nations, lo! saith he,</p><p>Our God hath reignèd from the Tree.</p><p></p><p>O Tree! In radiant beauty bright!</p><p>With regal purple meetly dight!</p><p>Thou chosen stem! divinely graced,</p><p>Which hath those Holy Limbs embraced!</p><p></p><p>How blest thine arms, beyond compare,</p><p>Which Earth's Eternal Ransom bare!</p><p>That Balance where His Body laid,</p><p>The spoil of vanquished Hell outweighed.</p><p></p><p>Hail wondrous Altar! Victim hail!</p><p>Thy Glorious Passion shall avail!</p><p>Where death Life's very Self endured,</p><p>Yet life by that same Death secured.</p><p></p><p>O Cross! all hail! sole hope, abide</p><p>With us now in this Passion-tide:</p><p>New grace in pious hearts implant,</p><p>And pardon to the guilty grant!</p><p></p><p>Thee, mighty Trinity! One God!</p><p>Let every living creature laud;</p><p>Whom by the Cross Thou dost deliver,</p><p>O guide and govern now and ever! Amen.</p>