How Lovely Now The Morning Star

For Christmas

Words: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, Philipp Nicolai, 1597;
Translation: Francis Elizabeth Cox

Music: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, Philip Nicolai, 1599.
The melody is said to be from an older tune from Strasbourg, circa 1538.
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / XML
Meter: 887 887 48 48

Source: Francis Elizabeth Cox, Hymns from the German. Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged. (London: Rivingtons, 1864), pp. 229-235. This is the second hymn with this title in this volume, both based on Nicoli's Wie Schön Leuchtet der Morgenstern.
Compare: How Lovely Now The Morning-star (Cox, Hymns from the German. Second Edition, pp. 3-9)

This version also differs markedly from either of the translations currently attributed to Cox on the web site.
See also How Lovely Now The Morning Star (Cox, alt., in Hopkins)

I am the Root and Offspring of David, and the brightest and Morning Star.
Rev. xxii. 16.

1. How lovely now the Morning Star
Sent forth by God from heaven afar,
     With truth and mercy shineth!
Hail! Jesse's Root and Jacob's Rid,
Hail! David's Offspring, Son of God.
     To Thee my heart inclineth:
          Beauteous,
          Beauteous,
Prince victorious, Great and glorious,
     Freely giving,
High enthroned o'er all things living.

2. Hail ! Son of Mary, Pearl and Crown,
Great Bridegroom, King of high renown,
     Of royal race descended!
Thy glory fills my soul, O Lord;
The doctrine of thy Holy Word
     Is milk and honey blended:
          Glad praise
          I raise;
Hail, Hosanna! Heavenly Manna,
     Food sustaining
Faith that else might soon be waning.

3. Shed deep within this heart of mine,
Thou Holy Flame, Thou Light Divine,
     True love by thine excited;
Thus let my love to thine respond,
Now joined to Thee in mystic bond,
     A member close united:
          In troth --
          Heaven's growth,
Lily fairest, Purest, rarest --
     Nought shall sever
Heart and eye from Thee for ever.

4. A joyful ray from heaven above
Shoots through me when thy look of love
Thou castest down with favour;
Lord Jesus Christ, my chiefest good,
Thy Word and Spirit, Flesh and Blood
Refresh me with their favour:
Let grace
Embrace,
Closely folding, Firmly holding,
Safe from falling,
Me who come at thine own calling.

5. O God the Father, God of might,
Ere yet the world came out of night,
     Thou in thy Son didst love me;
Now safe beneath his shelter housed,
To Him in heavenly bonds espoused,
     His love to love doth move me.
          Joys pure
          Endure
High in heaven, When 'tis given,
     Tiring never,
Still to chant thy praise for ever.

6. Then hymns of tuneful gladness sing,
And wake to joy the sounding string,
     For nought shall break this union;
Each heart with notes of triumph rouse,
Because with Christ, the Heavenly Souse,
     I love in blest communion.
          The song
          Prolong;
Jubilate! Exulate;
     Spread the story,
Great is Christ the King of glory!

7. Now joy is come, and sorrow past;
Alpha, Omega, First and Last,
     Of all the source and ending,
To Paradise my soul shall raise,
For evermore to sing his praise,
     To death sure comfort lending.
          Amen!
          Amen!
My chief treasure, Crown and pleasure,
     Wait no longer;
Evermore my love grows stronger.

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