How brightly shines the Morning Star! What ray divine streams from afar?

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How brightly shines the Morning Star! What ray divine streams from afar?

Author: Philip Nicolai (1599); Translator: J. M. Sloan (1865)
Tune: WIE SCHÖN LEUCHTET
Published in 16 hymnals

Piano/Organ
	CHRISTMAS MAJESTY

Choral
	O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright - (C…

Instrumental
	O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright - (C…

Representative Text

1 How brightly shines the Morning Star!
What ray divine stream from afar!
God’s glory there is shining.
Bright beam of God, which scatters night,
And guides the wandering soul aright,
Which after truth is pining!
Jesus, God’s Word, truth revealing,
Sorrow healing,
Soothe our sighing,
Dry our tears, and end our dying.

2 My comfort here, my joy above,
Man’s Son, Son of the Father’s love,
Enthroned in highest heaven,
With my whole heart Thy praise I sing;
To Thee, our Prophet, Priest, and King,
Be endless honors given.
Saviour, to Thee, trusting, clinging,
Come I bringing
Soul and spirit,
Thee, my portion, to inherit.

3 Aid me, my God, to sing Thy praise,
Thine ageless love, Thy matchless grace,
In Christ, our Lord appearing.
When such a gift God gave for thee,
When such a brother true is He,
Why still my soul be fearing?
Choose Him, know Him, greatest, dearest,
Best and nearest,
To befriend thee
‘Gainst all foes who may offend thee.

Source: Hymns of the Kingdom of God: with Tunes #105

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Author: Philip Nicolai

Philipp Nicolai (b. Mengeringhausen, Waldeck, Germany, 1556; d. Hamburg, Germany, 1608) lived an eventful life–he fled from the Spanish army, sparred with Roman Catholic and Calvinist opponents, and ministered to plague-stricken congregations. Educated at Wittenberg University, he was ordained a Lutheran pastor in 1583 in the city of Herdecke. However, he was soon at odds with the Roman Catholic town council, and when Spanish troops arrived to reestablish Roman dominance, Nicolai fled. In 1588 he became chief pastor at Altwildungen and court preacher to Countess Argaretha of Waldeck. During that time Nicolai battled with Calvinists, who disagreed with him about the theology of the real presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper. These doctri… Go to person page >

Translator: J. M. Sloan

Sloan, John Morrison, M.A., eldest son of John Sloan, farmer of Stairaird, near Mauchline, Ayrshire was born at Stairaird, May 19, 1835. He studied at the Universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Erlangen, and graduated M.A. at Edinburgh in 1859. In 1864 he became collegiate tminister of the Free Church, Dalkeith; in 1868 minister of the South Free Church, Aberdeen; in 1878 collegiate minister of Anderston Free Church, Glasgow; and is now (1890) minister of the Grange Free Church, Edinburgh. He contributed 8 translations from the German to the Rev. J. H. Wilson's Service of Praise, 1865, 2 of which have since appeared in Mr. Wilson's Songs of Zion, 1877, and 1 in the Free Church Hymn Book1882. The best known of these is his translation of "W… Go to person page >

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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	How brightly shines the Morning Star! What ray divine streams from afar?
German Title:	Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern
Translator:	J. M. Sloan (1865)
Author:	Philip Nicolai (1599)
Language:	English
Publication Date:	1884
Copyright:	Public Domain

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Tune

WIE SCHÖN LEUCHTET

Adapting a tune written for Psalm 100 found in Wolff Köphel's Psalter (1538), Nicolai composed WIE SCHÖN LEUCHTET, which was published with the text in 1599. Although the tune was originally more varied rhythmically, the hymnal version here is isorhythmic (all equal rhythms) and set to the rich ha…

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WACHET AUF (Nicolai)

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