Why, Herod, Why The Godhead Fear?

Why, Herod, why the Godhead fear

Author: Sedulius; Translator: Richard Mant
Tune: DOVERSDALE
Published in 1 hymnal

Printable scores: PDF, Noteworthy Composer
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 Why, Herod, why the Godhead fear,
When told Judea’s king was near?
Not earthly crowns away to bear
He came, but heav’nly to confer.

2 Led by the star, which ruled their sight,
To seek and find the Lord of Light,
The Magi spread their gifts abroad,
And prostrate own the present God.

3 The present God the heav’ns proclaim,
When to the laver pure He came,
The spotless Lamb; and on Him bore
Our sins, who knew not sin before.

4 The God the blushing waters own
By mighty sign, unheard, unknown;
When the pure spring, poured forth in wine,
Confessed the present power divine.

5 Now unto Him, th’incarnate Son,
Whose glory to the world was shown,
With God the Father glory be,
And, holy Comforter, with Thee!

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #8392

Author: Sedulius

Sedulius, Coelius. The known facts concerning this poet, as contained in his two letters to Macedonius, are, that in early life, he devoted himself to heathen literature; that comparatively late in life he was converted to Christianity; and that amongst his friends were Gallieanus and Perpetua. The place of his birth is generally believed to have been Rome; and the date when he flourished 450. For this date the evidence is, that he referred to the Commentaries of Jerome, who died 420; is praised by Cassiodorus, who d. 575, and by Gelasius, who was pope from 492 to 496. His works were collected, after his death, by Asterius, who was consul in 494. They are (1) Carmen Paschale, a poem which treats of the whole Gospel story; (2) Opus Paschale,… Go to person page >

Translator: Richard Mant

Mant, Richard D.D., son of the Rev. Richard Mant, Master of the Grammar School, Southampton, was born at Southampton, Feb. 12, 1776. He was educated at Winchester and Trinity, Oxford (B.A. 1797, M.A., 1799). At Oxford he won the Chancellor's prize for an English essay: was a Fellow of Oriel, and for some time College Tutor. On taking Holy Orders he was successively curate to his father, then of one or two other places, Vicar of Coggeshall, Essex, 1810; Domestic Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury, 1813, Rector of St. Botolph, Bishopsgate, London. 1816, and East Horsley, 1818, Bishop of Killaloe, 1820, of Down and Connor, 1823, and of Dromore, 1842. He was also Bampton Lecturer in 1811. He died Nov. 2, 1848. His prose works were numerou… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Why, Herod, why the Godhead fear
Title: Why, Herod, Why The Godhead Fear?
Author: Sedulius
Translator: Richard Mant
Meter: 8.8.8.8
Source: Tr.: Ancient Hymns from the Roman Breviary (London, J. G. & F. Rivington, 1837)
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

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The Cyber Hymnal #8392
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The Cyber Hymnal #8392

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