Ancient and Modern ‎#384

384. O Christ the Word incarnate

1 O Christ the Word incarnate,
O wisdom from on high,
O truth unchanged, unchanging,
O light of our dark sky,
we praise thee for the radiance
that from the hallowed page,
a lantern to our footsteps
shines on from age to age.

2 The Church from her dear Master
received the gift divine,
and still that light she lifteth
o'er all the earth to shine;
it is the precious treasury
where gems of truth are stored;
it is the heaven-drawn picture
of Christ, the living Word.

3 O make thy Church, dear Saviour,
a lamp of burnished gold,
to bear before the nations
thy true light, as of old;
O teach thy wandering pilgrims
by this their path to trace,
till, clouds and darkness ended,
they see thee face to face.

Text Information

• First Line: O Christ the Word incarnate
• Author: William Walsham How (1823-1867) (alt.)
• Meter: 76 76 D
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2013
• Scripture:
  Psalm 119:105
  ;
  Matthew 5:14-16
  ;
  1 Corinthians 1:30-31
• Topic: Church: Ministry; Church: nature of; Future hope; Light; Pilgrimage; Scripture; The Word of God
• Notes: May also be sung to WOLVERCOTE (748).

Tune Information

• Name: ELLACOMBE
• Meter: 76 76 D
• Key: A Major
• Source: German melody, 18th century, as adapted in Gesangbuch, Mainz, 1833, and harmonised in Gesangbuch, St Gallen, 1863; altered by Compilers of English Hymnal, 1906