Predestinate of God Most High

For Advent

Words:  C. Coffin, Statuta decreto Dei, Vespers Hymn from the Paris Breviary

Translation:  W. M. A., 1883

Source: Orby Shipley, Annus Sanctus: Hymns of the Church for the Ecclesiastical Year. Vol. 1. (London and New York: Burns and Oates, 1884), pp. 18-19.

Predestinate of God most high, 
The appointed times are drawing nigh ; 
Purchased by cost of many a year, 
The heavenly day at length shines clear. 

	By crime too horrible to say, 
The Father's offspring wounded lay ; 
Beneath the deepest shade of death 
The race of Adam drew its breath. 

	Victims of heaven's undying ire, 
Devoted to eternal fire, 
Their souls possest by ceaseless fear 
Until the just judge should draw near. 

	Ah, of such ruin, who shall dare 
The heavy losses to repair ? 
For wound so terrible, what hand 
A healing unction can command ? 

	Thou Christ, thou canst, and thou alone, 
Thou, who didst leave thy proper throne ; 
Thou to thine image canst restore 
The loveliness which once it bore. 

	Drop down, ye heavens, supernal grace ; 
Let earth the Holy One embrace ; 
And her rich bosom opening 
To a lost world salvation bring. 

	Honour and praise to thee, O Lord, 
Incarnate, consubstantial Word ; 
To Father and to Spirit be, 
Now and through all eternity. 

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