That Christ is Come Why Dost Thou Dread

For Epiphany

Words: Hostis Herodes Impie.

From the Primer, 1604, Translator Unknown

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

That Christ is come why dost thou dread,
O Herod, thou ungodly foe ?
He doth not earthly kingdoms reave
That heavenly kingdoms doth bestow.

The sages three did follow on,
The star their guide that they did see,
By light whereof true light they sought,
Confessing God by presents three.

The Lamb of bliss hath touched now
The running streams so clearly dight ;
The sins he not on us imposed,
By washing he defaced quite.

A new and mighty power it was,
In vessels water waxed red ;
And wine commanded to be filled,
From former kind the water fled.

Glory be unto thee, O Lord,
Which didst appear this present day,
With the Father and Holy Ghost,
Both now and to endure for aye.

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