1 Lo! The desert depths are stirred,
And the reeds of Jordan quiver;
At the Baptist’s herald word,
Shake the shores of that old river.
2 Nearer comes the Preacher’s cry,
Deeper sounds his voice and deeper,
Telling that the Christ is nigh,
In a tone to rouse the sleeper.
3 By their Maker’s coming feet
Moved, the earth, the air, the ocean
Joyously His advent greet,
With a strangely yearning motion.
4 Cleanse the heart—a highway strew
For the Godhead hither faring;
Cleanse the home—a dwelling, due
To the mighty Guest, preparing.
5 Jesu, Thou our solace art,
Thou our strength and our salvation;
Withered grass, from Thee apart,
Fades away man’s feeble nation.
6 Lift the lost, with hand of health,
Whom the plague is fast consuming;
Lift the veil—in all its wealth,
Lo! the beauteous world is blooming.
7 Thou, who comest man to free,
Son, be Thine all praise for ever;
Thine with Sire and Spirit be
Laud through ages ending never.
Source: The Cyber Hymnal #12603
Coffin, Charles, born at Buzaney (Ardennes) in 1676, died 1749, was principal of the college at Beauvais, 1712 (succeeding the historian Rollin), and rector of the University of Paris, 1718. He published in 1727 some, of his Latin poems, for which he was already noted, and in 1736 the bulk of his hymns appeared in the Paris Breviary of that year. In the same year he published them as Hymni Sacri Auctore Carolo Coffin, and in 1755 a complete ed. of his Works was issued in 2 vols. To his Hymni Sacri is prefixed an interesting preface. The whole plan of his hymns, and of the Paris Breviary which he so largely influenced, comes out in his words.
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