Behold the Baptist's warning sounds

Behold! the Baptist's warning sounds
thrill through the Jordan's winding bounds:
as rings his herald voice on high,
let listless slumber quickly fly!

The heaven, the ocean, and the earth,
their great Creator's coming birth
see rising on their longing sight,
and greet it with supreme delight.

Then cleanse your hearts, to sin a prey;
for God approaching smooth the way;
prepare for him a place of rest,
meet home for such a worthy Guest.

Thou, Jesus, thou our safety art,
the strength and balm of every heart:
as grass that fades, our mortal race
lies pining for thy absent face.

Stretch forth thy hand the sick to heal;
lift up the fallen; thy face reveal:
its own fair beauty now, once more,
let bloom upon this earthly floor.

To him, who comes the world to free,
to Son, and Father, honor be;
thee, gracious Spirit, we adore,
from age to age, for evermore.

Words: Jordanis oras praevia, Charles Coffin (1676-1749);
trans. Robert Corbet Singleton, 1867;
The more common translation is On Jordan's bank, the Baptist's cry.

Music: Spires (Geistliche Lieder, Joseph Klug, 1543;
harmony by Johann Sebastian Bach)

Meter:

Hymnal, Year Number Tunes Other comments
Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1861-1874      
The Anglican Hymn Book, 1868 038 Spires  
The Sarum Hymnal, 1869      
The Church Hymnal, 1871 (Hall & Whiteley)      
The Church Hymnal, 1874 (Goodrich & Gilbert)      
The Church Hymnal, 1874 (Tucker & Rousseau)      
The Church Hymnal, 1874 (Hutchins)      
Church Hymns with Tunes, 1874      
Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 1874      
Hymns Ancient & Modern, Standard, 1875-1924      
A Church of England Hymn Book, 1879      
The Universal Hymn Book, 1885      
The Hymnal Companion, 1890      
The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Darlington)      
The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Parker)      
The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Hutchins)      
The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Tucker & Rousseau)      
The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Helfenstein)      
The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Messiter)      
The Yattendon Hymnal, 1900
      
Church Hymns, New Edition, 1903      
Hymns Ancient & Modern, New Edition, 1904      
The English Hymnal, 1906      
The Book of Common Praise, 1908      
The Hymnal 1916      
Church Hymnal for the Christian Year, 1917      
Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 1919      
Church Hymnal Revised, 1920 (Hutchins)      
The Oxford Hymn Book, 1925      
Songs of Praise, 1925      
Songs of Praise, Enlarged Edition, 1931      
The Book of Common Praise, 1938      
The Hymnal 1940      
Hymns Ancient & Modern, Revised, 1950      
The Mirfield Mission Hymn Book, 1955      
Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 1960      
Anglican Hymn Book, 1965      
The Hymn Book 1971      
The Australian Hymn Book / With One Voice, 1977      
The Hymnal 1982      
Hymns Ancient & Modern, New Standard, 1983      
The New English Hymnal, 1985      
Hymns for Today's Church, second edition, 1988      
Church Family Worship, 1988      
Hymns Old & New, New Anglican Edition, 1996      
Common Praise (Anglican Church of Canada), 1998      
Together in Song: The Australian Hymn Book II, 1999      
Sing Glory, 1999      
Complete Mission Praise, 2000      
Common Praise: Hymns Ancient & Modern, 2000      
Hymns Old & New, Complete Anglican Edition, 2000      
Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 2000      

Website compiled by Steve Benner, 1999-2004.