Church Book ‎#140

140. As with gladness men of old

1 As with gladness men of old
Did the guiding star behold;
As with joy they hailed its light,
Leading onward, beaming bright:
So, most gracious God, may we
Evermore be led by thee.

2 As with joyful steps they sped
To that lowly manger-bed,
There to bend the knee before
Him whom heaven and earth adore;
So may we, with willing feet,
Ever seek Thy mercy seat.

3 As they offered gifts most rare
At thy manger rude and bare;
So may we, with holy joy,
Pure, and free from sin’s alloy,
All our costliest treasures bring,
Christ, to Thee, our heavenly King.

4 Holy Jesus! every day
Keep us in the narrow way;
And, when earthly things are past,
Bring our ransomed souls at last
Where they need no star to guide,
Where no clouds Thy glory hide.

5 In the heavenly country bright
Need they no created light:
Thou its Light, its Joy, its Crown,
Thou its Sun which goes not down;
There for ever may we sing
Hallelujahs of our King.

Text Information

• First Line: As with gladness men of old
• Author: William Chatterton Dix (1860)
• Meter: 7s.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1890
• Topic: Epiphany
• Notes: Now Public Domain. Alternate tune #37 or #41

Tune Information

• Name: DIX
• Meter: 7s.
• Key: A Major
• Notes: Now Public Domain. Composer from index: C. Kocher? Ad. W. H. Monk