Ascension Sunday
This is one of the over 6000 hymns written by Charles Wesley (1707-1788). Although it's long, I have reprinted the lyrics in full, as brother John Wesley requested in the preface to the 1799 Methodist hymnal.
Robert Williams (1782-1818), who wrote the melody used for this hymn, was a blind basket maker from Wales. The tune is named Llanfair, and some speculate that it is named for Williams’ home town of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllandtysiliogogogoch. In English, it translates to “church of St. Mary in the hollow of white hazel near the rapid whirlpool of the Church of St. Tysillio by the red cave.”
"Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise"
Hail the day that sees Him rise, Alleluia!
To His throne above the skies, Alleluia!
Christ, awhile to mortals given, Alleluia!
Reascends His native heaven, Alleluia!
There the glorious triumph waits, Alleluia!
Lift your heads, eternal gates, Alleluia!
Christ hath conquered death and sin, Alleluia!
Take the King of glory in, Alleluia!
Circled round with angel powers, Alleluia!
Their triumphant Lord, and ours, Alleluia!
Conqueror over death and sin, Alleluia!
“Take the King of glory in! Alleluia!”
Him though highest Heav’n receives, Alleluia!
Still He loves the earth He leaves, Alleluia!
Though returning to His throne, Alleluia!
Still He calls mankind His own, Alleluia!
See! He lifts His hands above, Alleluia!
See! He shows the prints of love, Alleluia!
Hark! His gracious lips bestow, Alleluia!
Blessings on His church below, Alleluia!
Still for us His death He pleads, Alleluia!
Prevalent He intercedes, Alleluia!
Near Himself prepares our place, Alleluia!
Harbinger of human race, Alleluia!
Master, (will we ever say), Alleluia!
Taken from our head to day, Alleluia!
See Thy faithful servants, see, Alleluia!
Ever gazing up to Thee, Alleluia!
Grant, though parted from our sight, Alleluia!
Far above yon azure height, Alleluia!
Grant our hearts may thither rise, Alleluia!
Seeking Thee beyond the skies, Alleluia!
Ever upward let us move, Alleluia!
Wafted on the wings of love, Alleluia!
Looking when our Lord shall come, Alleluia!
Longing, gasping after home, Alleluia!
There we shall with Thee remain, Alleluia!
Partners of Thy endless reign, Alleluia!
There Thy face unclouded see, Alleluia!
Find our heaven of heavens in Thee, Alleluia!
2 comments:
Thanks for posting Wesley's great ascension hymn in full. (Not many congregations I know of would have the patience to sing it all! We seem to want to be done with 3 or 4 stanzas.)
Also, today is the 227th anniversary of the composer of Llanfair, Robert Williams. To follow the various "anniversaries" in hymnology, I encourage you to check on my daily blog, Wordwise Hymns.
Robert,
Thank you so much for writing! I've been lax with my blog lately, and you encouraged me to post hymns again. I'll be sure to check out your blog.
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