This day the first of days was made, When God in light the world arrayed (Bridges)

This day the first of days was made, When God in light the world arrayed (Bridges)

Author: Pope Gregory I; Translator: Robert Seymour Bridges
Tune: [This day the first of days was made]
Published in 8 hymnals

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Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1. This day the first of days was made,
When God in light the world arrayed;
Or when His Word arose again,
And, conquering death, gave life to men.

2. Slumber and sloth drive far away;
Earlier arise to greet the day;
And ere its dawn in heaven unfold
The heart’s desire to God be told.

3. Unto our prayer that He attend,
His all creating power extend,
And still renew us, lest we miss
Through earthly stain our heavenly bliss.

4. That us, who here this day repair
To keep the apostles’ time of prayer,
And hymn the quiet hours of morn,
With blessèd gifts He may adorn.

5. For this, Redeemer, Thee we pray
That Thou wilt wash our sins away,
And of Thy lovingkindness grant
Whate’er of good our spirits want.

6. That exiles here awhile in flesh
Some earnest may our souls refresh
Of that pure life for which we long,
Some foretaste of the heavenly song.

7. O Father, that we ask be done,
Through Jesus Christ, Thine only Son;
Who, with the Holy Ghost and Thee,
Doth live and reign eternally.

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #6520

Author: Pope Gregory I

Gregory I., St., Pope. Surnamed The Great. Was born at Rome about A.D. 540. His family was distinguished not only for its rank and social consideration, but for its piety and good works. His father, Gordianus, said to have been the grandson of Pope Felix II. or III., was a man of senatorial rank and great wealth; whilst his mother, Silvia, and her sisters-in-law, Tarsilla and Aemiliana, attained the distinction of canonization. Gregory made the best use of his advantages in circumstances and surroundings, so far as his education went. "A saint among saints," he was considered second to none in Rome in grammar, rhetoric, and logic. In early life, before his father's death, he became a member of the Senate; and soon after he was thirty and ac… Go to person page >

Translator: Robert Seymour Bridges

Robert S. Bridges (b. Walmer, Kent, England, 1844; d. Boar's Hill, Abingdon, Berkshire, England, 1930) In a modern listing of important poets Bridges' name is often omitted, but in his generation he was consid­ered a great poet and fine scholar. He studied medicine and practiced as a physician until 1881, when he moved to the village of Yattendon. He had already written some poetry, but after 1881 his literary career became a full-time occupation, and in 1913 he was awarded the position of poet laureate in England. Bridges published The Yattendon Hymnal (1899), a collection of one hundred hymns (forty-four written or translated by him with settings mainly from the Genevan psalter, arranged for unaccompanied singing. In addition to volumes… Go to person page >

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The Cyber Hymnal #6520
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
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Instances

Instances (1 - 8 of 8)
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Hymns #31

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #6520

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The English Hymnal #50

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The English Hymnal #50a

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The English Hymnal #50b

The Oxford Hymn Book #39

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The Oxford Hymn Book #39

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The People's Hymn Book #365

Exclude 7 pre-1979 instances
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