Christ I: The Advent Lyrics

Thou art the wall-stone that of old the builders rejected. Well it seemeth that Thou become the head of the spacious hall, binding in firm embrace wide-running walls and flint unbroken ; that every eye throughout the world may marvel evermore, O Lord of glory ! In skilful craft show forth Thy handiwork, truth-firm, triumphant ; leave wall upon wall. The work hath need that the Craftsman come, the King himself, and repair that house which now lieth decayed under its roof. For He wrought the body and the limbs of clay ; and now the Lord of life shall free that wretched throng from foemen, the all-forlorn from fear as oft He did.

O Thou Ruler, Thou Just King, who holdest the keys, who openest life, vouchsafe us victory, and winsome way of life, withheld another man unless his work avail him. Verily in need we speak these words, entreating Him who shaped the race of man, that He choose not wrathfully to speak His doom on us, who here in sadness and in prison sit sorrowing all the glad journey of the sun. When on us the Lord of life shows forth His light, may He be a shield unto our souls, clothe the frail mind with splendour and grant us worth whom He chose unto His glory, when we, downcast, deprived of native home, must turn aside unto this narrow land. Wherefore he may say, whoso speaketh truth, that He redeemed the race of man, that was gone astray.

The maid was young, a virgin without sin, whom He did choose to be His mother. Without man’s love it came to pass the bride was great with child. In all the world, before or since, was never woman’s guerdon like to that. That was a secret wonder of the Lord. Then ghostly grace spread over all the ways of earth, and many a thing was lightened by the Lord of life, enduring lore which formerly lay hid in shades of darkness, songs of the prophets, till the Ruler came, who in its path enlargeth every prayer of such as will but laud the name of their Creator with eagerness and wisdom.

O Thou Vision of peace ! Holy Jerusalem ! Choicest of kingly thrones, fortress of Christ ! Homeland of angels — and in thee forever rest the souls of the righteous alone, joying in glory. Within that dwelling-place shall be revealed no sign of sin ; from thee shall all transgression flee away, all strife and every curse. Thou art wondrous full of holy hope as thou art named. Lift up thine eyes ! The ample universe, the dome of heaven, regard thee round on every hand, how that the King of heaven in His journey seeketh thee, Himself cometh and abideth in thee, as prophets sang of old, wisely foretold the birth of Christ, and to thy comfort spake, thou fairest among cities. Now that Child is come, born to cast down the works of the Hebrews. Bliss He bringeth thee, thy bonds unlooseth, for man endeavoureth, knoweth his heavy need— how that the wretched wight must wait upon mercy.

O Joy of women in the host of heaven ! Winsomest maid through all the borders of the world, of whom the ocean-dwellers ever have heard story ! Reveal to us that wonder which came upon thee from on high, how thou in childbirth didst conceive, yet knewest naught of human love after man’s kind. Truly, we have never heard that such a thing befell in days of old as unto thee was granted in wondrous grace ; neither may we look for it to happen in any time to come. Verily, fair faith abode in thee, for that thou barest in thy bosom the Prince of glory, yet was thy radiant maidhood no whit stained. As all the children of men sow in sorrow, so again they reap ; they bring forth unto death. The blessed damsel spake, holy Mary, rich in triumph :

“ What is this wondering wherewith ye wonder, and this sorrowing that ye mourn with sorrow, Salem’s daughters and sons? Eagerly ye ask how I did keep my chastity, my maidhood, and yet became the mother of the glorious Son of God. To men that wonder is not known, but in David’s beloved kinsmaid Christ made known that all the sin of Eve is done away, the curse cast out, the lowlier sex lifted up. Now hope is come that both for man and maid amid celestial joy of angels, with the Father of truth, bliss may abide forever.”

Hail Day-Star ! Brightest angel sent to man throughout the earth, and Thou steadfast splendour of the sun, bright above stars ! Ever Thou dost illumine with Thy light the time of every season. As Thou, begotten God of God, Son of the True Father, without beginning abodest ever in the splendour of heaven, so now for need Thy handiwork beseecheth boldly that Thou send the bright sun unto us ; that Thou come and shed Thy light on those who long ere this, compassed about with mist and in the darkness, clothed in sin, sit here in the long night, and must needs endure the dark shadow of Death. Now are we full of hope and put our trust in Thy salvation, heralded to the hosts of men by the word of God, which in the beginning was with God, with the Almighty Father co-eternal, and afterward was made flesh unstained of sin, which the Virgin bare, a solace unto wretched men. God was seen among us without sin ; together dwelt the mighty Son of God and the son of man, in peace among the people. Wherefore we may rightfully give thanks forever to our Victor-Lord, that He would send Himself to us.

O God of spirits ! how wisely and with right wast Thou named with the name Emmanuel ; as the angel spake it first in Hebrew tongue ; which unriddled in its inner mystery, is “ Now is the Warden of the skies, God Himself, with us,” as men of old, in days gone by, sang truly that the King of kings would come, the Priest all undefiled ; also in olden days, Melchizedek the mighty, wise of heart, made known the godly splendour of the Eternal Lord. He was the bringer of laws, the giver of precepts, to such as long abode His hither-coming, as had been promised them that the very Son of God would cleanse the peoples of the earth, and journey also by His spirit’s might unto the pit of hell. Patiently they bode in bondage until the Son of God should come to wretched men. Thus they cried aloud, prostrate in their woe : “ Now do Thou come Thyself, O King of heaven ! Bring Thou a life of healing unto us, weary thralls spent with weeping with our bitter, burning tears. In Thy hand only lieth respite after our heavy need. Come to us, prisoners soul-sorrowful, and when Thou farest hence leave not behind this mighty host, but show Thy pity upon us in kingly wise, O Saviour Christ. O Lord of glory, let not the cursed have dominion over us. Grant us the eternal gladness of Thy glory, that we may worship Thee, O Lord of hosts, whom Thou didst shape of old with Thine hands. Thou dwellest in the heavens above with the all-wielding Father, forever and forever.

(Mary.) “ O my Joseph, son of Jacob ! Thou kinsman of mighty David ! Wilt thou forsake my firm affection, and leave my love ? ”

(Joseph.) “ I am worn with sorrow and despoiled of honour ; for I have heard through thee many a word of measureless woe and taunts and insult ; and men speak scorn against me and mocking words. I must pour out my tears, soul-sorrowful. Yet easily may God heal all the grieving of my heart, and console me in my wretchedness. Alas ! thou damsel young. Maid Mary ! ”

(Mary.) “ Why dost thou mourn and wail in grief ? Never found I any guilt in thee, nor any blame of evils wrought ; and yet thou speakest words as though thou wert full of all transgression and direful deed.”

(Joseph.) “ I have known too much of bale by this child-bearing. How may I withspeak the hostile word or find an answer to my foes ? Widely is it known that, glad of heart, I gained a maiden pure and sinless from the radiant temple of the Lord ; and now, I know not how, is come a change. Now availeth me nor speech nor silence. For if I speak the truth, then must the daughter of David die, stoned with stones. Yet is it more bitter fate to hide the sin and live forsworn from this time forth, hated of every people, dishonoured among the folk.”

Then the maid revealed the mystery and thus she spake : “ By the Son of God, Saviour of souls, I speak the truth that yet I know not the embraces of any man on earth. But in my early years within my home it was granted me that Gabriel, high-angel of heaven, gave me greeting and told me truly that the Spirit of heaven would shed on me His splendour ; that I should bear a radiant son, the Glory of life, exalted Child of God, of the bright Lord of glory. Now am I become His temple without sin. The Spirit of comfort abode in me. Wherefore do thou put aside all bitter sorrow, and give eternal thanks unto the mighty Son of God, that, still a maid, I am become His mother, and thou throughout the world in wide belief art called His father, if this prophecy be verily fulfilled in Him.

O Thou Righteous Ruler ! Prince of peace ! King of all kings ! Christ mighty over all ! Before all the orders of the world Thou wast with Thy glorious Father, through His skill and power begotten Son. Nor is there any earl under the skies, nor any man of counsel so exceeding wise that he may recite unto the sea-dwellers, or rightfully rehearse how heaven’s Warden took Thee first to be His noble Son. In the beginning, first of all those things that man hath heard of among the nations, it befell under the clouds that the all-knowing God, Author of life, royally divided light from darkness. His was doom’s dominion, and thus the Lord of hosts uttered His decree : “ Let there be light forever, a gleaming gladness unto every living thing that in the generations shall be born.” Straightway it came to pass, as well should be, that light shone forth upon the tribes of men, radiant with stars through all the rolling seasons. Ere aught of this befell, by His decree, Thou His Son wert co-existent with Thy sole Lord. Thou art the wisdom that with all-ruling God did shape the wide creation. None is so discerning or so wise of heart that he may fully tell Thy kinship unto the children of men. Come, Thou Victor-Lord, Shaper of man, graciously make known Thy mercy upon us. Great is our craving to know the wonder of Thy mother-kinship ; that Fatherhood we may not comprehend. Bless the earth mildly by Thine advent hither, O Saviour Christ; and bid Thou open, Thou High King of heaven, the golden gates that full long stood locked in days of old. Then seek us, stooping meek to earth. Of Thy pity is there need. The cursed Wolf, that dark death-shadow, hath scattered far Thy flock, O Lord, in wide confusion ; which Thou, O God, didst purchase with Thy blood aforetime ; which the baleful One doth take in bondage and smiteth sore against our dear desire. Wherefore, O Saviour, with yearning hearts we pray that Thou make haste to help us, weary wretches, that the scathing Spoiler may sink headlong to hell, and Thy handiwork, Creator of mankind, may mount and come to righteousness, unto that glorious and celestial kingdom, whence by lust of sin the dusky Spirit drew us down by guile ; that, shorn of glory, evermore must we endure distress, except Thou swiftly will to save us from the Spoiler, Eternal Lord, Thou Living God, Thou Helm of every creature.

O thou radiant glory of the world, thou purest maid of earth, of all such as have lived in the long ages ! How rightfully in every realm all mortal men, dowered with speech, blithe of heart, name thee and bespeak thee bride of the Lord of the blissful sky. So also in heaven the highest, the thanes of Christ, chant and sing that by thy holy might thou art the lady of the heavenly host, of all estates on earth under the heavens, and of such as dwell in hell. For thou only of all mankind wast boldly minded to bring thy maidhood unto God and tender it unstained of sin. There came no other like to thee of all mankind, no bride adorned with rings, who with pure heart sent her radiant offering unto its heavenly home. Wherefore, the Lord of triumph bade His herald hither fly from out the angelic host, and straightway proclaim to thee the fullness of His might, that thou shouldest bear the Son of God in pure nativity, in mercy unto man, and thou thyself, Mary, unto every age be ever undefiled.

Also have we heard that long ago a prophet, Isaiah, in the days of old spake truth of thee : that he was led where he might see the abiding-place of life in its eternal home. Then gazed the man of wisdom round about through all the realm, till that he fixed his eyes where there was set a princely portal. That lofty door was bound about with precious treasure, compassed with wondrous bands. Deeply he mused that any one of men should ever put aside those firm-fixed bars, or undo the bolting of that city-gate to all eternity, ere that God’s herald-angel lovingly revealed to him the way and spake this word :

“ I say to thee,” as true befell, “ that on a time by Spirit’s might will God Himself, the Almighty Father, traverse these golden gates, and through these firm fixed bolts come down to earth, and after Him to all eternity shall they stand ever closed, nor shall another ever again unlock them, save only the Saviour God.”

Now is all fulfilled which there the man of wisdom with eye beheld. Thou art that wall-door ; through thee the all-ruling Lord once journeyed out to earth ; and even so, adorned with power, pure and chosen, Christ the Almighty found thee ; even so the Prince of angels, Lord of life, locked thee after Him as with a key, all undefiled. Reveal to us the mercy which the angel, God’s herald Gabriel, brought unto thee. We city-dwellers pray that thou show forth thy Son, a comfort to the peoples. Henceforward may we all have hope, since now we see the Babe upon thy breast. Do thou with eager word now intercede for us, that no long time He suffer us to be subject unto error in this valley of death, but that He guide us unto the Father’s kingdom, where sorrowless forever we may dwell in glory with the Lord of hosts.

Hail Thou Holy Lord of heaven ! Thou wast of old co-eval with Thy Father in that princely home. Nor yet was any angel made, nor any of that great majestic host that in the heavens above watch o’er Thy kingdom, the glorious courts of God and of His thanes, when Thou wast first, with the Eternal Lord, establishing the wide creation, the broad and spacious lands. Unto You twain is fellowship with the Holy Ghost, the Comforter. All in lowliness, O Saviour Christ, we pray that thou hearken unto the cry of captives, of Thy needy thralls. O Saviour God, how are we harried by our own self-will ! Sorely have those wretched spirits, the hostile fiends of hell, oppressed us in our exile, laid bitter bonds upon us. In Thy hand only lieth respite, O Eternal God. Help Thou the joyless that Thy hither-coming may comfort those in sorrow, though against Thee through lust of sin have we wrought hatred. Have mercy upon Thy servants and be mindful of our wretchedness, how with weak mind we stumble and miserably go astray. Come now, Thou King of men, tarry not all too long. To us is need of mercy, that Thou deliver us and grant us righteously Thy saving-grace, that henceforth among men forever we may thrive in better things and do Thy will.

O Glorious, Heavenly Trinity, high and holy, full of honour, widely blessed throughout the spacious lands ! Rightfully must all men dowered with speech, the hapless dwellers of earth, with all might glorify Thee on high, that now the Faithful Saviour hath shown us God, that we might know Him. Wherefore the righteous order of Seraphim above, eager in deed and crowned with judgment, ever chanting with the heavenly angels in unwearying strains with clear and winsome voices, sing sweetly far and near. They have the fairest of service with their King ; for Christ hath granted them, adorned with light, that with their eyes they may enjoy His presence, and ever without ceasing, far and wide, worship the Lord of all. And with their wings they shield the face of the Almighty Lord, the eternal God, and press about His royal throne, eagerly striving which of them in flight may stoop nearest unto our Saviour in those peaceful courts. They praise the Well-beloved, exalt the princely Author of all created things, and in His light chant unto Him this word :

“ Holy art Thou, Holy Lord of angels, true Prince of triumph ! Ever art Thou Holy Lord of hosts ! Thy doom endureth wide-revered on earth, among the sons of men to every age. Thou art the Lord of hosts, for Thou hast filled the heavens and earth with Thy glory, O Shield of warriors, Thou Helm of all ! Eternal glory be to Thee on high, and radiant praise on earth with men. Live, blessed Thou, who in the name of the Lord camest unto men, a comfort to the lowly. And on high eternal praise be Thine forever.”

Lo ! how wondrous change is wrought in the life of men, since the mild Creator of mankind received from mortal maid flesh undefiled ; neither knew she any whit the love of man, nor by the seed of man came the Lord of triumph upon earth. But more of craft was that than all the dwellers of earth might comprehend, how wondrously the Glory of the skies, High-Lord of heaven, through His mother’s womb wrought help to men. And so the Saviour of the nations, the Lord of hosts, dealeth out each day in succour unto man forever His forgiveness. Wherefore we should exalt Him by deed and word in all devotion, eager in glory. High rede is that to every one of men, whoso is mindful of past things, that he forever most often and in secret and most eagerly should pray to God. He granteth him reward of love, even the hallowed Saviour, in that country where he never came aforetime, in the joy of the land of the living, where thenceforth he may dwell in bliss, and bide without an end forever. Amen.