Son Of Man, To Thee We Cry

The original poem was for Lent

An excerpt from

Words: “Savior, Who, Exalted High,” Bishop Richard Mant (1776-1848), 1828, alt., in Richard Mant, Biographical Notices of the Apostles, Evangelists and Other Saints (Oxford: J. Parker, 1828), pp. 536-539, consisting of nine stanzas of 12 lines.

Source: Charles Rogers, ed., Lyra Britannica (London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1867), pp. 394-95. Two versions: “Saviour, Who, Exalted High” (Four Verses of 12 Lines) and “Son of Man To Thee We Cry.”

Four stanzas of six lines.

Verses 3, 6, 8, 9 of the original, alt.

JESUS OUR LIGHT AND SAVIOUR.

1. Son of man, to Thee we cry :
By the wondrous mystery
Of Thy dwelling here on earth,
By Thy pure and holy birth,
Lord, Thy presence let us see :
Thou our Light and Saviour be.

2. Lamb of God, to Thee we cry :
By Thy bitter agony,
By Thy pangs to us unknown,
By Thy Spirit's parting groan,
Lord, Thy presence let us see:
Thou our Light and Saviour be.

3. Prince of life, to Thee we cry :
By Thy glorious majesty,
By Thy triumph o'er the grave,
By Thy power to help and save,
Lord, Thy presence let us see :
Thou our Light and Saviour be.

4. Lord of glory, God most high,
Man exalted to the sky,
With Thy love our lwsom fill;
Help us to perform Thy will;
Then shall we Thy glory see,
Heaven our home, and we with Thee.

Note from Dr. Rogers:

RICHARD MANT was born at Southampton, on the 12th February, 1776. His father, Dr. Mant, was rector of All Saints' church, Southampton, and possessed distinction as an author and general scholar. The subject of this sketch was placed at Winchester School, in 1789; he afterwards entered Trinity College, Oxford. He graduated M.A. in 1801, and in the following year was ordained as curate to his father. After different changes, he became, in 1810. Vicar of Coggeshall, Essex. In 1813, he was appointed domestic chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1816, he obtained the rectory of St. Botolph, Bishopsgate. In 1820, he was consecrated Bishop of Killaloe, Ireland. He was translated to the see of Down and Connor, in 1823. His last promotion took place in 1848, when he accepted the bishopric of Dromore. He died on the 2nd November, 1848. Bishop Mant was a most voluminous writer. His edition of the Bible, prepared in conjunction with Dr. George D'Oyley, is held in much esteem. He published an "English Metrical Version of the Book of Psalms,” "Ancient Hymns from the Roman Breviary, for domestic use," etc., and other works in verse. His hymns are spread over his different works.

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