The country of peace

Representative Text

1 My soul, there is a country
far beyond the stars,
where stands a wingèd sentry
all skilful in the wars.

2 There, above noise and danger,
sweet peace sits crowned with smiles,
and One born in a manger
commands the beauteous files.

3 He is thy gracious Friend,
and — O my soul, awake! —
did in pure love descend,
to die here for thy sake.

4 If thou canst get but thither,
there grows the flower of peace,
the rose that cannot wither,
thy fortress and thy ease.

5 Leave then thy foolish ranges,
for none can thee secure
but one who never changes,
thy God, thy life, thy cure.

Source: Ancient and Modern: hymns and songs for refreshing worship #735

Author: Henry Vaughan

Vaughan, Henry, M.D., commonly called "The Silurist," was one of twin brothers born of a titled family at Newton, Llansaintffiad, in 1621. After studying under the Rev. Matthew Herbert, Rector of Llangattock, he proceeded to Jesus College, Oxford, in 1638; but through the national troubles of those days, his studies, in common with those of his brother, were interrupted, and they had to leave the University. Subsequently he entered the medical profession, and practised at Brecon and at Newton. He died April 23, 1695. His published works include, Poems with the Tenth Satire of Juvenal Englished, 1646; Olor Iscanus, 1651; The Mount of Olives, 1652, &c. As a religious poet he followed very closely the peculiarities of George Herbert, of whose… Go to person page >

Text Information

Notes

My soul, there is a countrie. H. Vaughan. Heaven—Peace.] This poem on "Peace" appeared in 20 lines in his Silex Scintillans, or Sacred Poems, Pt. i., 1650 (2nd ed. 1655); in Lyte's reprint of the same, 1847, and in the Bell and Daldy reprint, 1858. In the reduced form of 4 stanzas of 4 lines, it was given in the People's Hymnal, 1867; and in its full and unaltered form, as a hymn for " Private Use," in Thring's Collection, 1882.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Tune

CHRISTUS, DER IST MEIN LEBEN (Vulpius)

Melchior Vulpius (PHH 397) composed this short chorale tune, published as a setting for the anonymous funeral hymn "Christus, der ist mein Leben" ("For Me to Live Is Jesus") in Vulpius's Ein Schön Geistlich Gesangbuch (1609). Johann S. Bach (PHH 7) based his Cantata 95 on this tune and provided two…

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PASSION CHORALE (Hassler)

The tune HERZLICH TUT MICH VERLANGEN has been associated with Gerhardt's text ["O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden"] since they were first published together in 1656. The tune's first association with a sacred text was its attachment in 1913 [sic: should read 1613] to Christoph Knoll's funeral text "Herzl…

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Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #4377
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Instances

Instances (1 - 6 of 6)
Text

Ancient and Modern #735

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Common Praise #261

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Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New #464

Hymns Ancient and Modern, New Standard Edition #191

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The Cyber Hymnal #4377

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The New English Hymnal #412

Include 32 pre-1979 instances
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