Ye Heavens, Oh Haste Your Dews To Shed

For Advent

Words: "Ihr himmel, tröpfelt Thau in Eil'," Johann Franck (1618-1677), 1653
Translation "The Dayspring From On High" by Catherine Winkworth, Lyra Germanica: Second Series, The Christian Life, 1858
See: Christmas Poetry of Catherine Winkworth.

Music: "Composed for this Hymn by H. R. Schroeder"

Source: J. H. Hopkins, ed., Great Hymns of the Church Compiled by the Late Right Reverend John Freeman Young (New York: James Pott & Company, 1887), #36, p. 52.

1. Ye heavens, oh haste your dews to shed
Ye clouds, rain gladness on our head,
Thou earth, behold the time of grace,
And blossom forth in righteousness!

2. O living Sun, with joy break forth,
And pierce the gloomy clefts of earth:
Behold, the mountains melt away
Like wax beneath Thine ardent ray!

3. O Life-dew of the Churches, come,
And bid this arid desert bloom!
The sorrows of Thy people see,
And take our human flesh on Thee.

4. Refresh the parch'd and drooping mind,
The broken limb in mercy bind,
Us sinners from our guilt release,
And fill us with Thy heavenly peace.

5. O wonder! night no more is night!
Comes then at last the long'd for light?
Ah yes, Thou shinest, O true Sun,
In whom are God and man made one!

Sheet Music from J. H. Hopkins, ed., Great Hymns of the Church Compiled by the Late Right Reverend John Freeman Young (New York: James Pott & Company, 1887), #36, p. 52.

"Usually sung to the Melody of 'Vom himmel hoch da komm' ich her.'"
(Johann Pachelbel?)

Sheet Music from William Sterndale Bennett and Otto Goldschmidt, eds., The Chorale Book For England. Congregational Edition. (London: Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts, and Green, 1863, Supp. 1865), Translator: Catherine Winkworth, #20.

Sheet Music to "From heaven above to earth I come" from William Sterndale Bennett and Otto Goldschmidt, eds., The Chorale Book For England. (London: Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts, and Green, 1863), Translator: Catherine Winkworth, #20.

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