COME, THOU REDEEMER OF THE EARTH

 A HYMN FOR GAUDETE SUNDAY

By St. Ambrose, translated by J.M. Neale

1 Come, thou Redeemer of the earth,

and manifest thy virgin-birth:

let every age adoring fall;

such birth befits the God of all.

 

2 Begotten of no human will,

but of the Spirit, thou art still

the Word of God, in flesh arrayed,

the Saviour, now to us displayed.

 

3 From God the Father he proceeds,

to God the Father back he speeds,

runs out his course to death and hell,
returns on God's high throne to dwell.

4 O equal to thy Father, thou!

Gird on thy fleshly mantle now,

the weakness of our mortal state

with deathless might invigorate.

 

5 Thy cradle here shall glitter bright,

and darkness glow with new-born light,

no more shall night extinguish day,

where love's bright beams their power display.

 

6 O Jesu, virgin-born, to thee

eternal praise and glory be,

whom with the Father we adore

and Holy Spirit, evermore. Amen.