Hark, The Glad Sound! The Saviour Comes!

The Mission Of Christ

For Advent, For Christmas

Words: Philip Doddridge (1702-1751), 1735

Music: "Bristol," from Ravenscroft's Psalms, 1621
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF / XML
"Antioch," Arr. from G. F. Handel
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF / XML
Northfield, J. Ingalls, 1764-1828
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF / XML

Plus numerous other Common Meter (C. M. ) (86 86) tunes, including
"Chesterfield," Thomas Haweis, 1792
"St. Saviour," Frederick G. Baker, 1876
"Richmond (Haweis)," by Thomas Haweis (1734-1820), 1792
"St. Stephen," Rev. W. Jones, 1926-1800

Source: Job Orton, ed., Hymns founded on Various Texts in the Holy Scriptures. By the late Reverend Philip Doddridge, D.D. Published from the Author's Manuscript. The Third Edition. (London: J. Buckland, et al., 1755, 1776), #203. pp. pp. 180-181. First edition was 1755.

Christ's Message. Luke iv. 18, 19.

1. Hark, the glad Sound! the Saviour comes!
The Saviour promis'd long!
Let ev'ry Heart prepare a Throne,
And every Voice a Song.

2. On Him the Spirit largely pour'd,
Exerts His sacred Fire;
Wisdom and Might, and Zeal and Love,
His holy Breast inspire.

3. He comes the Pris'ners to release,
In Satan’s Bondage held;
The Gates of Brass before him burst,
The Iron Fetters yield.

4. He comes from thickest Films of Vice
To clear the mental Ray,
And on the Eye-Balls of the Blind ¹
To pour celestial day.

5. He comes the broken Heart to bind,
The bleeding Soul to cure,
And with the Treasures of his Grace
'T enrich the humble poor. ²

6. His Silver Trumpets publish loud
The Jub’lee* of the Lord;
Our Debts are all remitted now,
Our Heritage restored.

7. Our glad Hosannas, Prince of Peace,
Thy Welcome shall proclaim;
And Heav’n’s eternal Arches ring
With thy belovèd Name.

    Note from Text:

    * The acceptable Year of the Lord, i.e., the Year of Jubilee. Levit. XXV. [Note in the text.]

Notes:

1. Or: And on the eyes oppressed with night. Return

2. Or: To 'bless' the humble poor. Return

Sheet Music "St. Stephen" by William Jones (1789) from Henry Sloane Coffin and Ambrose White Vernon, eds., Hymns of the Kingdom of God. New York: The A. S. Barnes Company, 1910, #36, p. 72.

Sheet Music "Bristol" by Ravenscroft from Mary Palmer and John Farmer, eds., Church Sunday School Hymn-Book (London: Church of England Sunday-School Institute, 1892), #30.

Note:

After Dr. Doddridge's death his hymns were pub. by his friend Job Orton, in 1755, as:—

Job Orton, ed., Hymns founded on Various Texts in the Holy Scriptures. By the late Reverend Philip Doddridge, D.D. Published from the Author's Manuscript. The Third Edition. (London: J. Buckland, et al., 1755, 1776).

This was the first of several compilations; later editions and compilations included additional newly discovered hymns.

Also found in:

• W. H. Monk and C. Steggall, eds., Hymns Ancient and Modern (London, William Clowes and Sons, Old Edition, 1889), Hymn 53, for verses 1, 3, 5 & 7.

• Henry Sloane Coffin and Ambrose White Vernon, eds., Hymns of the Kingdom of God. New York: The A. S. Barnes Company, 1910, #36.

• Roundell Palmer, ed., The Book of Praise. Boston: Sever, Francis, & Co., 1870, # XLII, p. 49.

• A Selection of Hymns for Christmas Day, 1814, To Be Sung at the Methodist New Chapel Waltham Street, Hull, To Be Sung at the Methodist New Chapel, Waltham Street, Hull, (Hull: Topping & Dazson, 1814), Hymn #4, pp. 5-6, in five verses, omitting verses two and six above.

• A Selection of Carols, Pieces, and Anthems, Suitable for Christmas. (London: W. Kent and Co.; Penzance: F. Rodda, ca. 1872), with five verses, omitting verses two and six above.

If you would like to help support Hymns and Carols of Christmas, please click on the button below and make a donation.

Related Hymns and Carols