Hail the Blest Morn

Representative Text

1 Hail the bless’d morn, see the great Mediator
down from the region of glory descend!
Shepherds, go worship the babe in the manger,
lo, for his guard the bright angels attend.

2 Shall we not yield him, in costly devotion,
fragrance of Edom and off’rings divine,
gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean,
myrrh from the forest or gold from the mine?

3 Vainly we offer each ample oblation,
vainly with gifts would his favor secure.
Richer by far is the heart’s adoration,
dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.

4 Cold on his cradle the dew-drops are shining,
low lies his head with the beasts of the stall.
Angels adore him in slumber reclining,
Maker and Monarch and Savior of all.

5 Bright-est and best of the stars of the morning,
dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid.
Star of the East, the horizon adorning,
guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

Source: Voices Together #272

Author: Reginald Heber

Reginald Heber was born in 1783 into a wealthy, educated family. He was a bright youth, translating a Latin classic into English verse by the time he was seven, entering Oxford at 17, and winning two awards for his poetry during his time there. After his graduation he became rector of his father's church in the village of Hodnet near Shrewsbury in the west of England where he remained for 16 years. He was appointed Bishop of Calcutta in 1823 and worked tirelessly for three years until the weather and travel took its toll on his health and he died of a stroke. Most of his 57 hymns, which include "Holy, Holy, Holy," are still in use today. -- Greg Scheer, 1995… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Hail the blest morn, see the great Mediator
Title: Hail the Blest Morn
Author: Reginald Heber
Meter: 11.10.11.10
Language: English
Refrain First Line: Kindest and best of the sons of the morning
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

"Hail the [thou] blest morn, see [when] the great Mediator" is an anonymous text which, in the (Fasola) shapenote tunebook traditions of the United States is frequently prefixed to Reginald Heber's Epiphany hymn, "Brightest and best of the sons of the morning". Heber's first stanza is sometimes set as the second stanza of the hymn, but perhaps more frequently cast as a refrain to this stanza and the remainder of Heber's. A number of significant tunes originated with this version of the hymn, but are sometimes set with Heber's original stanzas.

Tune

STAR IN THE EAST

First published in Japheth Coombs Washburn’s The Temple Harmony (1826), in three parts, Joshua Leavitt's The Christian Lyre (1830), in two parts, and in John H. Hickok's Sacred Harp (1832), in two parts. Chris Fenner / Barry Johnston

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[Hail the blest morn when the great Mediator] (55356)


THE SHEPHERD'S STAR


Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 100 of 226)

A Baptist Hymn Book, Designed Especially for the Regular Baptist Church and All Lovers of Truth #d263

A Choice Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs #d39

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A Choice Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of the Baptist Church and all lovers of song #460

A Choice Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs. Stereotype ed. #d38

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A Collection of Hymns and Sacred Songs #136

A Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Generally Used at Camp and Prayer Meetings #d74

A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the United Brethren in Christ #d127

A Collection of Psalms and Hymns Suited to the Various Occasions of Public Worship #d110

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns #67

A Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs Suited to the Various Occasions of Public Worship. 2nd ed. #d118

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A Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs #67

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A Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs #67

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A Collection of Sacred Hymns, for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints #285

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A Collection of Spiritual Hymns #86

A Compilation of Genuine Church Music. 4th ed. #d96

A New and Choice Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the Use of the Regular Baptist Church. 10th ed. #d180

A New and Choice Selection of Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs #d53

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A New Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs #81

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A New Selection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs #621

A Prayer Meeting and Revival Hymn Book . 27th ed. #d157

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A Selection of Favorite Conference Hymns with Historical Sketches of Church History #19

A Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Designed for the Use of the Pious #d52

A Selection of Hymns, from Various Authors #d129

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A Selection of Hymns #89

A Selection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs, from the Most Approved Authors ... of the Church of Christ #d106

An American Christmas Harp #90

Camp Meeting Hymn Book #d53

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Choice Hymns #68

Choice Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs #d28

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Choral Echoes from the Church of God in All Ages #13

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Christian Hymn and Tune Book, for use in Churches, and for Social and Family Devotions #71

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Christian Hymnal (Rev. ed.) #104

Christian Psalms and Hymns to Aid in Public and Private Devotion #d319

Christmas Favorites #41

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Church and Sunday School Hymnal with Supplement #487

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Church Hymnal, Mennonite #99

Church Hymnal, Mennonite #99

Church Hymnal, Mennonite #d172

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Church music #428

Compilation of Hymns for the Use of the Churches of the Christian Union #d244

Conference Hymns for Social Worship. 8th ed. #d43

Conference Hymns, Selected and Original. 3rd ed. #d36

Conference Hymns. 2nd ed. #d7

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David's Harp #232

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Deutsches Lieder- und Melodienbuch #a34

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Dupuy's Hymns and Spiritual Songs (Rev. corr. and enl.) #S65

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Dyer's Psalmist #24

Echoes of Praise #d42

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Evangelical Hymns #47

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Evangelical Hymns #8

Evangelical Musick #d20

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Evangelical Musick #253

Family Hymns #d88

General Collection of Hymns, Original and Selected, for Use of Christians #d110

Glad Tidings #d25

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Hallowed Songs #151

Harmonia Sacra, being a Compilation of Church Music. 10th ed #d104

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Hymn and Tune Book for Use in Old School or Primitive Baptist Churches #59

Hymnal #221

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Hymns and Chants #16

Hymns and Psalms, Original and Modern, Selected and Revised #d145

Hymns and Spiritual Songs #d132

Hymns and Spiritual Songs with Choruses Affixed; as Usually Sung at Camp-Meetings. 24th ed. #d48

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Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Original and Selected, for the Use of Christians. (5th ed.) #B199

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Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Original and Selected, for the Use of Christians. (8th ed.) #b199

Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Selected and Original. 7th ed. #d151

Hymns and Spiritual Songs. 1st Canadian ed. #d105

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Hymns and Tunes #34

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Hymns for Social Meetings #11

Hymns for the Use of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Impr. ed. #d171

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Hymns of the "Jubilee Harp" #a701

Hymns of Zion #d80

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Hymns selected from various authors #47

Hymns, Selected and Original, for Sunday Schools of the Evangelical Lutheran Church #d131

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Millennial Harp #B2

Missionary Hymns #d33

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New Christian Hymn and Tune Book #87

New Christian Hymn and Tune Book #87

Original and Selected Reformation Hymns ... dedicated to the Twelve Tribes of the Lord's Modern Israel #d36

Our Favorite Hymnal #d83

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Pocket Hymns #82

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Popular Hymns Number 2 #89

Popular Hymns, revised #121a

Popular Hymns, revised #121b

Prayer Meeting, Revival, and Union Hymns #d20

Primitive Baptist Hymn and Tune book #d129

Primitive Baptist Hymn and Tune Book. Rev. #d50

Primitive Baptist Hymn Book for All Lovers of Sacred Song. 3rd ed. #d72

Prison Hymn Book #d107

Psalms and Hymns Adapted to Social, Private and Public Worship #d273

Psalms and Hymns Adapted to Social, Private and Public Worship in the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. #d285

Psalms and Hymns for the Worship of God #d264

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Psalms and Hymns, for the Use of the German Reformed Church, in the United States of America. (2nd ed.) #99

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Psalms and Hymns #760

Pages

Exclude 220 pre-1979 instances
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