Hymns from the German. Anonymous

Freylinghausen. 1670–1739.

      Advent Hymn. I.

       Table of Contents

      This is the Lord; we have waited for Him: we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.

      Isaiah, xxv. 9.

      Wake! the welcome Day appeareth,

      How with joy our hearts it cheereth!

      Wake! the Lord’s great Year behold!

      That which holy men of old,

      Those who throng the Sacred Pages,

      Waited for through countless ages;

      Alleluia! Alleluia!

      Now the wished for Morning breaketh;

      Hark! how Sion’s daughter waketh

      Shouts of joy and jubilee,

      Thus His Advent-dawn to see:

      King and Bridegroom she enthrones Him,

      Though ’tis but a remnant owns Him;

      Alleluia! Alleluia!

      Patriarchs erst and priests aspiring,

      Kings and prophets long desiring,

      Saw not this before they died:

      Lo! the Light to them denied!

      See its beams to earth directed!

      Welcome, O Thou long-expected!

      Alleluia! Alleluia!

      He, the Saviour sent from heaven,

      Once through faith to Abram given,

      Israel’s Sun and glorious King,

      Hope to which the heathen cling,

      Now on earth with men abiding,

      Comes to Zion meekly riding;

      Alleluia! Alleluia!

      Lo! He comes, a Victim willing,

      All His Father’s Will fulfilling;

      He will, through His precious Blood,

      All things once again make good,

      Pain and shame of death sustaining,

      What was lost with joy regaining;

      Alleluia! Alleluia!

      In our stead Himself He offers,

      On th’ accursed Tree He suffers,

      That His Death’s sweet savour may

      Take our curse for aye away;

      Cross and curse for us enduring,

      Hope and heaven to us securing;

      Alleluia! Alleluia!

      Moses’ law no longer rules us,

      Christ’s free Spirit gently schools us;

      Ended now our captive thrall,

      He who God obeys in all,

      Through his Saviour’s Death and Merit,

      Now enjoys adoption’s spirit;

      Alleluia! Alleluia!

      Rent the temple curtain’s centre,

      Fearless each may strive to enter,

      Through the veil, the Holy Place,

      There to stand before His Face;

      He Who once came down from heaven,

      Fear from all our breasts hath driven;

      Alleluia! Alleluia!

      Hence thy King, O Zion, praising,

      Heart and voice to Him upraising,

      Shout with joy, for once thou art

      In His Reign to bear thy part.

      Come, thyself as offering bringing,

      Come, thou Bride, for ever singing,

      Alleluia! Alleluia!

      Adventlied. II.

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      Siehe, der Bräutigam kömmt:

      Gehet aus Ihm entgegen.

      Wachet auf! ruft uns die Stimme

      Der Wächter sehr hoch auf der Zinne:

      Wach auf, du Stadt Jerusalem!

      Mitternacht heisst diese Stunde,

      Sie rufen uns mit hellem Munde:

      Wo seid ihr klugen Jungfrauen?

      Wohl auf, der Bräutgam kömmt!

      Steht auf, die Lampen nehmt!

      Alleluia!

      Macht euch bereit

      Zur Hochzeitfreud:

      Ihr müsset Ihm entgegengehn.

      Zion hört die Wächter singen,

      Das Herz thut ihr vor Freude springen,

      Sie wachet und steht eilend auf:

      Ihr Freund kommt vom Himmel prächtig,

      Von Gnaden stark, von Wahrheit mächtig,

      Ihr Licht wird hell, ihr Stern geht auf.

      Nun komm, Du werthe Kron!

      Herr Jesu Gottes Sohn!

      Hosianna!

      Wir folgen all’

      Zum Freudensaal

      Und halten mit das Abendmahl.

      Ehr und Preis sei Dir gesungen

      Mit Menschen- und mit Engelzungen,

      Mit Harfen und mit Zymbeln schön!

      Von zwölf Perlen sind die Thore

      An deiner Stadt, wir stehn im Chore

      Der Engel hoch um deinen Thron:

      Kein Aug hat je gespürt,

      Kein Ohr hat mehr gehört

      Solche Freude:

      Dess jauchzen wir

      Und singen Dir

      Das Alleluia für und für.

      Philipp Nicolai. 1556–1608.

      Advent Hymn. II.

       Table of Contents

      Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him.

      St. Matthew, xxv. 6.

      Wake! the startling watch-cry pealeth,

      While slumber deep each eyelid sealeth;

      Awake! Jerusalem, awake!

      Midnight’s solemn hour is tolling,

      And cherub notes are onward rolling;

      They call on us our part to take.

      Come