Hymns of the Early Church / being translations from the poetry of the Latin church, arranged in the order of the Christian year

Heaven

JERUSALEM LUMINOSA VERÆ PACIS VISIO

The second in a group of three hymns, of all which the author is quite unknown. First published by Mone from a fifteenth century MS., at Karlsruhe. This hymn has for title in the original, De GloriÂ Coelestis Jerusalem quoad dotes Glorificati Corporis—“Of the Glory of the Heavenly Jerusalem, so far as concerns the endowments of the Glorified Body,” and was a favourite at dedications and other festivals. All the three of the series will be found, with English renderings, in Dr. Neale’s “Hymns, chiefly MediÆval, on the Joys and Glories of Paradise.”

I

O city girt with glory!

Thou scene of quiet rest,

Where dwells the King Eternal—

O beautiful and blest!

Thy streets are filled with glorious song,

The praises of a myriad throng.

II

With stones of polished beauty

Is reared thy structure fair;

And gems, and gold, and crystal

Are sparkling everywhere;

With pearls thy gates are glittering gay,

And golden is thy bright highway.

III

For ever and in sweetness

Are Alleluias given;

Unending is the feast day,

The royal feast of heaven;

Whate’er within thy walls is stored,

Is pure and holy to the Lord.

IV

No clouds with sombre curtain

Thy glorious brightness screen;

There shines the Sun Eternal,

And aye at noonday seen;

There is no night to give repose,

For no one toil or trouble knows.

V

The vernal glow of springtime

Is bright and lasting there,

The wealth of summer’s richness

Is scattered everywhere;

And that fair realm can never know

The autumn’s blast or winter’s snow.

VI

The notes that fall in sweetness,

Where birds in woodland sing;

The sounds of softest music,

That winds in summer bring,

Are wafted o’er that city bright,

In strains of unalloyed delight.

VII

There youth adorned with vigour

Ne’er into age declines;

No aged fears the mortal,

Nor for the past repines;

For past and future are unknown:

The present reigns in heaven alone.

VIII

No fleshly law can triumph,

And over reason ride;

With bodies pure and stainless

The spirit shall abide;

And power of flesh, and power of will,

Shall both one common law fulfil.

IX

O bright the heavenly glory,

This fragile frame shall wear,

When health, and strength, and freedom

Shall crown with beauty rare;

And pleasure’s draughts no sorrow know,

But everlasting joys bestow.

X

Now gladly bear the burden;

With zeal thy task maintain,

And gifts shall crown thy labour,

And all thy loss be gain,

When decked with splendour thou shalt be,

Where glory dwells eternally.

URBS BEATA HIERUSALEM

The author of this fine old rugged hymn is unknown. It is conjectured to be of sixth- or seventh-century date. It passed into many mediÆval Breviaries, sometimes entire, but often divided into two parts. It was largely used for the dedication of churches.

Part I.

I

O vision bright of heavenly peace,

Jerusalem on high,

With living stones Thy walls are built,

All beauteous to the eye;

A high-born bride, the angels stand

Around Thee, an attendant band.

II

From heaven she cometh down prepared

Her nuptial hour to grace;

With jewels decked she shall be led

To see her Bridegroom’s face.

O fair her streets, her bulwarks fair,

For purest gold is everywhere.

III

Her gates, adorned with glowing pearl,

Stand open day and night,

And hither come the faithful souls,

And enter in His right,

For whom they bore the cruel shame,

That earth has linked to His dear name.

IV

All precious stones and shapely all,

By sore affliction made;

Each in its place the Heavenly King

With His own hand has laid—

Such was the plan, that with the Elect

The walls of Zion should be decked.

Part II.

I

Most firm the sure foundation stands,

And strong the corner-stone,

To bear the walls that proudly rise,

And bind them into one;

And Zion all her trust will lay

Upon the strength of Christ alway.

II

Within that city, God beloved,

Flow streams of praise along;

And towers and bulwarks echo forth

The gladness of the song;

’Tis praise to God continually,

The Three in One, the One in Three.

III

Within Thine earthly temple, Lord,

We meet to seek Thy face;

O in Thy loving kindness, hear,

Diffuse Thy heavenly grace;

Grant, as Thy people humbly bow,

Thine ample benediction now.

IV

Be found of all who seek Thee here,

And every need supply—

The joys of heaven that cheer the soul,

When streams of earth are dry;

And in the greatness of Thy love,

Hereafter, open heaven above.

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