190. Of the Father's Love Begotten

1 Of the Father's heart begotten,
ere the world from chaos rose,
he is Alpha; from that fountain
all that is and hath been flows.
He of all things is Omega
yet to come the mystic close,
evermore and evermore....

2 By his word was all created;
he commanded, and 'twas done:
earth and sky and boundless ocean,
universe of three in one,
all that sees the moon's soft radiance,
all that breathes beneath the sun,
evermore and evermore....

3 He assumed this mortal body,
frail and feeble, doomed to die,
that the race, from dust created
might not perish utterly,
which the ancient law had sentenced
in the depths of hell to lie,
evermore and evermore....

4 O how blest that wondrous birthday,
when the Maid the curse retrieved,
brought to birth the world's salvation
by the Holy Ghost conceived;
and the Babe, the world's Redeemer
in her loving arms received--
evermore and evermore....

5 This is he, whom seer and sybil
sang in ages long gone by;
this is he of old reveal-ed
in the page of prophecy;
lo! he comes, the promised Savior;
let the world his praises cry
evermore and evermore.

6 Sing, ye heights of heav'n, his praises;
angels and archangels, sing!
Wheresoe'er ye be, ye faithful,
let your joyous anthems ring,
ev'ry tongue his name confessing,
countless voices answering,
evermore and evermore!

Text Information
First Line: Of the Father's love begotten
Title: Of the Father's Love Begotten
Author: Aurelius Clemens Prudentius
Translator: John Mason Neale (1854)
Translator: Henry Williams Baker (1859)
Meter: 8.7.8.7.8.7.7
Language: English
Publication Date: 1985
Scripture:
Tune Information
Name: DIVINUM MYSTERIUM
Arranger: Charles Winfred Douglas (1916)
Meter: 8.7.8.7.8.7.7
Key: E♭ Major
Source: 12th century plainsong (Mode V)
Copyright: Arr. used by permission of The Church Hymnal Corp.



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