How Brightly Shines the Morning Star!

Representative Text

1 How brightly shines the Morning Star!
The nations see and hail afar
the light in Judah shining.
Thou David's son of Jacob's race,
The Bridegroom, and the King of grace,
for thee our hearts are pining!
Lowly, holy, great and glorious,
thou victorious Prince of graces,
filling all the heavenly places!

2 Though circled by the hosts on high,
he deigns to cast a pitying eye
upon his helpless creature;
the whole creation’s Head and Lord,
by highest seraphim adored,
assumes our very nature.
Jesus, grant us, through thy merit,
to inherit thy salvation:
hear, O hear our supplication.

3 Rejoice, ye heav'ns; thou earth, reply;
with praise, ye sinners, fill the sky
for this his incarnation.
Incarnate God, put forth thy pow'r,
ride on, ride on, great Conqueror,
till all know thy salvation.
Amen, amen! Alleluya, alleluya!
Praise be given evermore by earth and heaven.

Source: Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New #291

Author: Philipp Nicolai

Philipp Nicolai (b. Mengeringhausen, Waldeck, Germany, 1556; d. Hamburg, Germany, 1608) lived an eventful life–he fled from the Spanish army, sparred with Roman Catholic and Calvinist opponents, and ministered to plague-stricken congregations. Educated at Wittenberg University, he was ordained a Lutheran pastor in 1583 in the city of Herdecke. However, he was soon at odds with the Roman Catholic town council, and when Spanish troops arrived to reestablish Roman dominance, Nicolai fled. In 1588 he became chief pastor at Altwildungen and court preacher to Countess Argaretha of Waldeck. During that time Nicolai battled with Calvinists, who disagreed with him about the theology of the real presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper. These doctri… Go to person page >

Translator: William Mercer

Mercer, William, M.A., born at Barnard Castle, Durham, 1811, and educated at Trinity College, Cambridge (B.A., 1835). In 1840 he was appointed Incumbent of St. George's, Sheffield. He died at Leavy Greave, Sheffield, Aug. 21, 1873. His principal work was:—- The Church Psalter and Hymn Book, comprising The Psalter, or Psalms of David, together with the Canticles, Pointed for Chanting; Four Hundred Metrical Hymns and Six Responses to the Commandments; the whole united to appropriate Chants and Tunes, for the use of Congregations and Families, by the Rev. William Mercer, M.A. . .. Assisted by John Goss, Esq…., 1854; enlarged 1856; issued without music, 1857; quarto edition 1860; rearranged edition (Oxford edition) 1864; Appendix 1872.… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: How brightly shines the Morning Star! The nations see and hail afar
Title: How Brightly Shines the Morning Star!
Author: Philipp Nicolai
Translator: William Mercer
Meter: 8.8.7.8.8.7.4.8.4.8
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

WIE SCHÖN LEUCHTET

Adapting a tune written for Psalm 100 found in Wolff Köphel's Psalter (1538), Nicolai composed WIE SCHÖN LEUCHTET, which was published with the text in 1599. Although the tune was originally more varied rhythmically, the hymnal version here is isorhythmic (all equal rhythms) and set to the rich ha…

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Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 2 of 2)
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The New English Hymnal #27

TextPage Scan

Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New #291

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