Ancient and Modern ‎#110

110. Hail to the Lord who comes

1 Hail to the Lord who comes,
comes to his temple gate,
not with his angel host,
not in his kingly state:
no shouts proclaim him nigh,
no crowds his coming wait.

2 But borne upon the throne
of Mary's gentle breast,
watched by her duteous love,
in her fond arms at rest;
thus to his Father's house
he comes, the heavenly guest.

3 There Joseph at her side
in reverent wonder stands;
and, filled with holy joy,
old Simeon in his hands
takes up the promised child,
the glory of all lands.

4 Hail to the great First-born,
whose ransom-price they pay,
the Son before all worlds,
the child of man to-day,
that he might ransom us
who still in bondage lay.

5 O Light of all the earth,
thy children wait for thee:
come to thy temples here,
that we, from sin set free,
before thy Father's face
may all presented be.

Text Information

• First Line: Hail to the Lord who comes
• Author: John Ellerton (1826-1893)
• Meter: 66 66 66
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2013
• Scripture:
  Malachi 3:1
  ;
  Mark 10:45
  ;
  Luke 2:22-40
• Topic: Atonement; Light; Mary; Other Saints and Festivals: The Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlemas); The Fourth Sunday of Epiphany: Year C; The Presentation of Christ in the Temple

Tune Information

• Name: OLD 120TH
• Meter: 66 66 66
• Key: D Major
• Source: Melody Thomas Este's Psalter, 1592, as harmonised in Ravenscroft's The Whole Rooke of Psalmes, 1621