How Graciously Doth Shine Afar

For Advent

Words: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, Philipp Nicolai, 1597

Translation: Arthur T. Russell

Music: "Tune #33."

Source: Hymns for Public Worship and Private Devotion, For the Benefit of the London German Hospital, Dalston. (London: J. Hatchard and Son, 1848), #8.
Also known as the Dalston Hospital Hymn Book.

How graciously doth shine afar
The Lord, the bright and Morning-star,
     The light, all light excelling :
Christ by the old prophetic band
Desired, foretold, behold at hand,
     On earth with sinners dwelling!
          Praise Him! Praise Him!
     Sing ye glory in the highest,
                    Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah !

Ye saints, to whom His grace hath given
To dwell with Him in yonder heaven,
     Now bring your adoration!
Attend Him from His throne above,
O come, behold His wondrous love,
     Who brings to us salvation.
          Praise Him! Praise Him!
     Sing ye glory in the highest,
                    Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah !

O heavenly Father, Thee we bless,
Thy boundless love our hearts confess
     On us all brightly beaming:
Love that to us Thy Son has given,
That life and light of earth and heaven,
     Our souls from wrath redeeming.
          Praise Him! Praise Him!

Also found in Hymns for the Use of Cheltenham College (London: Privately Printed by Strangeways and Walden, No Date), #37, Page 31. Also known as the Cheltenham College Hymn Book.

And found in Walter Farquhar Hook, Dean of Chichester, ed., A Collection of Anthems used in the Parish Church of Leeds. Fourth Edition. (Leeds: Joseph Johnson, 1859), #211, pp. 108-109.

Note:

There are a large number of translations of this beautiful hymn. See the notes under Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern.

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