Incarnate word, who, wont to dwell

Representative Text

1 Incarnate Word, who, wont to dwell
In lowly shape and cottage cell,
Didst not refuse a guest to be
At Cana’s poor festivity.

2 Oh, when our soul from care is free,
Then, Savior, may we think on Thee,
And, seated at the festal board,
In fancy’s eye behold the Lord.

3 Then may we seem, in fancy’s ear.
Thy manna-dropping tongue to hear,
And think—e’en now, Thy searching gaze
Each secret of our soul surveys!

4 So may such joy, chastised and pure,
Beyond the bounds of earth endure;
Nor pleasure in the wounded mind
Shall leave a rankling sting behind!


Source: The Cyber Hymnal #12066

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: Incarnate word, who, wont to dwell
Author: Reginald Heber
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

Incarnate Word, Who, wont to dwell. Bp. R. Heber. [Epiphany.] Appeared in his (posthumous) Hymns, &c, 1827, p. 32, in 4 stanzas of 4 lines, and appointed for the 2nd S. after Epiphany. It is given in several collections in an unaltered form. Another form, "Messiah, Lord, Who, wont to dwell," is also in common use. This was given in Martineau's Hymns, 1840.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Tune

EISENACH (Gesius)

MACHS MIT MIR was first published in the collection of music Das ander Theil des andern newen Operis Geistlicher Deutscher Lieder (1605) by Bartholomäus Gesius (b. Münchenberg, near Frankfurt, Germany, c. 1555; d. Frankfurt, 1613). A prolific composer, Gesius wrote almost exclusively for the churc…

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The Cyber Hymnal #12066
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The Cyber Hymnal #12066

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