1 The voice that breathed o’er Eden,
That earliest wedding day,
The primal marriage blessing,
It hath not passed away.
2 Still in the pure espousal
Of Christian man and maid,
The holy Three are with us,
The threefold grace is said,
3 For dower of blessed children,
For love and faith's sweet sake,
For high mysterious union
Which naught on earth may break.
4 Be present, awful Father,
To give away this bride,
As Eve Thou gav’st to Adam
Out of his own pierced side:
5 Be present, Son of Mary,
To join their loving hands,
As Thou didst bind two natures
In Thine eternal hands!
6 Be present, holiest Spirit,
To bless them as they kneel,
As Thou, for Christ the Bridegroom,
The heavenly Spouse dost seal!
7 O spread Thy pure wing o’er them,
Let no ill power find place,
When onward to Thine altar
Their hallowed path they trace.
8 To cast their crowns before Thee
In perfect sacrifice,
Till to the home of gladness
With Christ’s own Bride they rise.
Amen.
Source: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal #548
First Line: | The voice that breathed over Eden |
Title: | The Voice that Breathed Over Eden |
Author: | John Keble (1857) |
Meter: | 7.6.7.6 |
Language: | English |
Notes: | This hymn was sung at the marriage of Lucy Maud Montgomery, author of Anne of Green Gables. It's a good choice for weddings, and is still sung in marriage ceremonies at Cavendish, Prince Edward Island, in the house where Lucy Montgomery wed. Alternate tunes: MATRIMONY, John Stainer, in Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1889; ST. ALPHEGE, Henry J. Gauntlett, 1852; ST. EDITH, Justin H. Knecht, 1799, & Edward Husband, 1871; WEDDING DAY, Edward G. McCollin, 1895 |
Copyright: | Public Domain |
The voice that breathed o'er Eden. J. Keble. [Holy Matrimony.] Written for and first published in the Salisbury Hymn Book, 1857, where it was given as No. 187, in 8 stanzas of 4 lines. In the author's posthumous Miscellaneous Poems, 1869, it is headed "Holy Matrimony. To be sung at the Commencement of the Service," and is dated "July 12, 1857." In Biggs's annotated edition of Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1867, it is rendered into Latin by Lord Lyttelton (1866) as "Elle Edenaeas qui Patris Deus." The original is in extensive use, and is one of the most beautiful of modern hymns for Holy Matrimony.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)