On Jordan's Bank, The Baptist's Cry

For St. John the Baptist, For Advent

Version 1
Compare: On Jordan's Banks, The Herald's Cry - Version 2
On Jordan's Bank, The Baptist's Cry - Version 3
On Jordan's Bank The Baptist's Cry - Chandler

Words: Charles Coffin, Jordanis oras prævia (1736)
Translated from Latin to English by John Chandler (1806-1876), 1837

Compare: Lo! The Desert-Depths Are Stirr'd and
Behold! The Baptist's Warning Sound

Music: "Winchester New," Musikalisches Handbuch (Hamburg, Germany: 1690);
Harmonized by William Henry Monk, 1847, alt.
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / XML
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF / XML (Melody Only)
Alternate tune: Puer Nobis Nascitur
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / XML
Melody Only: MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF / XML
Meter: LM

Source: W. H. Monk and C. Steggall, eds., Hymns Ancient and Modern (London, William Clowes and Sons, Old Edition, 1889), Hymn 50

1. On Jordan’s bank, the Baptist’s cry
Announces that the Lord is nigh;
Awake, and hearken, for he brings¹
Glad tidings of the King of kings!²

2. Then cleansed be every breast from sin;
Make straight the way for God within;
Prepare we in our hearts a home
Where such a mighty Guest may come.

3. For Thou art our Salvation, Lord,
Our Refuge, and our great Reward.
Without Thy grace we waste away,
Like flowers that wither and decay.

4. To heal the sick stretch out Thine hand,
And bid the fallen sinner stand;
Shine forth, and let Thy light restore
Earth's own true lovliness once more.

5. Stretch forth thine hand, to heal our sore,
And make us rise to fall no more;
Once more upon thy people shine,
And fill the world with love divine.³

6. All praise, eternal Son, to Thee
Whose advent sets Thy people free,
Whom, with the Father, we adore,
And Holy Ghost, forevermore.

Alternate Verses:

2. Then cleansed be every breast from sin;
And furnished for so great a Guest.
Yea, let us each our hearts prepare
For Christ to come and enter there.

3. For Thou art our Salvation, Lord,
Our Refuge, and our great Reward.
Without Thy grace our souls must fade
And wither like a flower decayed.

4. Lay on the sick Thy healing hand
And make the fallen strong to stand;
Show us the glory of Thy face
Till beauty springs in every place.

Notes:

1. Or: 'Come, then,' or 'Come near.' Return

2. Or: 'from' Return

3. Verse 5 is from another source, now lost. Return

Sheet Music from John Clark Hollister, ed., The Sunday-School Service and Tune Book (New York: E. P. Dutton and Company, 1863, 1865), #2, p. 16.

Sheet music from A. B. Goodrich, ed., A New Service And Tune Book For Sunday Schools (New York: Gen. Prot. Episc. S. S. Union and Church Book Society, 1863, New Edition, Enlarged, 1866), #66, p. 72.

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