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.

There whilst he hung, his sacred side,
By soldier's spear, was open'd wide
To cleanse us in the precious flood
Of water mingled with his blood.

Fulfill'd is all that David told
In true prophetic song of old,
How God the heathen's king should be;
For God is reigning from the tree.

O tree of glory, tree most fair,
Ordain'd those holy limbs to bear,
How bright in purple robe it stood,
The purple of the Saviour's blood.

Upon its arms, like balance true,
He weigh'd the price for sinners due,
The price which none but he could pay,
And spoil'd the spoiler of his prey.

To thee, eternal three in one,
Let homage meet by all be done,
Whom by the Cross thou dost restore,
Preserve and govern evermore.