Now Suspend The Wistful Sigh

Hymn for Matins of Christmas Day

Words: Jam desinant suspiria, Charles Coffin (1676-1749), the Paris Breviary, 1736, with notes
Translation by Rev. Gilbert Rorison, in his Hymns and Anthems Adjusted to the Church Services throughout the Christian Year (London, 1851), No. 23.

Music: Thomas Helmore and Thomas Morley, eds., Music of the Appendix to the Hymnal Noted. (Novello, Ewer & Co., No Date, ca. 1870), Tune #125, p. 134.
Meter: P.M. - 77 77

Source: Rev. John Mason Neale and Rev. Thomas Helmore, eds., Hymnal Noted, Parts I &  II (London: Novello & Co., 1889), Appendix, #125, pp. 134-135.

1. Now suspend the wistful sigh,
God hath heard our plaint on high ;
Peace to mortal man is sent —
From the opening firmament.

2. Hark, the glorious sons of light
Break with song the calm of night ;
Angels with the courts of morn —
Tell the earth that God is born.

3. While the sleepless shepherd throng
To the manger haste along,
Let our hearts with them repair
To the cradled Saviour there.

4. Lowly is that hallowed shed,
Lowly lies that sacred head ;
Poor the Mother undefiled,
Wrapped in swaddling-bands the Child.

5 And art Thou the eternal Son,
With the eternal Father One ?
Sleeps there in Thine infant hand
Strength to bear the sea and land ?

6. Yes — and faith can pierce the cloud,
Now Thy glory's awful shroud ;
Through the fleshly veil can see,
And with Angels worship Thee.

7. In Thy silence, Lord, is speech ;
From Thy manger Thou dost teach
Fleshly pleasures to refuse,
Things that flesh abhors, to choose.

8. Jesu ! tend the good within ;
Jesu ! quell each rising sin ;
Come, and in each heart, this morn,
Son of God ! again be born. Amen.

Sheet Music from Thomas Helmore and Thomas Morley, eds., Music of the Appendix to the Hymnal Noted. (Novello, Ewer & Co., No Date, ca. 1870), Tune #125, p. 134.

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