7786. Yesterday, with Exultation

1. Yesterday, with exultation,
Joined the world in celebration,
Of her promised Savior’s birth;
Yesterday the angel nation
Poured the strains of jubilation
O’er the monarch born on earth.

2. But today o’er death victorious,
By his faith and actions glorious,
By his miracles renowned,
See the deacon triumph gaining,
’Midst the faithless faith sustaining,
First of holy martyrs found.

3. Onward, champion, falter never,
Sure of sure reward forever,
Holy Stephen, persevere;
Perjured witnesses confounding,
Satan’s synagogues astounding
By thy doctrine true and clear.

4. Thine own witness is in Heaven,
True and faithful, to thee given,
Witness of thy blamelessness;
By thy name a crown implying,
Meet it is thou shouldst be dying
For the crown of righteousness.

5. For the crown that fadeth never
Bear the torturer’s brief endeavor;
Victory waits to end the strife;
Death shall be thy life’s beginning,
And life’s losing be the winning
Of the true and better life.

6. Filled with God’s most Holy Spirit,
See the Heav’n thou shalt inherit,
Stephen, gaze into the skies;
There God’s glory steadfast viewing,
Thence thy victor strength renewing,
Pant for thy eternal prize.

7. See, as Jewish foes invade thee,
See how Jesus stands to aid thee,
Stands at God’s right hand on high:
Tell how opened heaven is shown thee,
Tell how Jesus waits to own thee,
Tell it with thy latest cry.

8. As the dying martyr kneeleth,
For his murderers he appealeth,
For their madness grieving sore;
Then in Christ he sleepeth sweetly,
And with Christ he reigneth meetly,
Martyr firstfruits, evermore.

Text Information
First Line: Yesterday, with exultation
Title: Yesterday, with Exultation
Latin Title: Heri mundus exultavit
Author: Adam of St. Victor (12th Century)
Translator (from Latin): John M. Neale
Meter: 88.78.87
Language: English
Source: Translated from Latin to English by John M. Neale & the compilers of Hymns Ancient and Modern
Copyright: Public Domain
Notes: The lyrics speak of Stephen's martyrdom. Other translators also
Tune Information
Name: HERI MUNDUS EXULTAVIT
Composer: Walter C. Macfarren (1868)
Meter: 88.78.87
Incipit: 11112 22233 33444
Key: F Major
Source: Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1868
Copyright: Public Domain



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