We saw thee not when thou didst come

We saw thee not when thou didst come
to this poor world of sin and death,
nor e'er beheld thy cottage home
in that despised Nazareth;
but we believe thy footsteps trod
its streets and plains, thou Son of God.

We did not see thee lifted high
amid that wild and savage crew,
nor heard thy meek imploring cry:
'Forgive, they know not what they do';
yet we believe the deed was done,
which shook the earth and veiled the sun.

We stood not by the empty tomb
where late thy sacred body lay,
nor sat within that upper room,
nor met thee in the open way:
but we believe that angels said
'Why seek the living with the dead?'

We did not mark the chosen few,
when thou didst through the clouds ascend,
first lift to heaven their wondering view,
then to the earth all prostrate bend;
yet we believe that mortal eyes
beheld that journey to the skies.

And now that thou art throned above,
and dost from heaven thy people bless,
no ray of glory from the sky
doth shine upon our wilderness:
but we believe thy faithful word,
and trust in our redeeming Lord.

Words: Ann Richter (1792-1857) and John Hampden Gurney (1802-1862)

MIDI: Credo (John Stainer, 1840-1901)

Meter: 88 88 88

Hymnal, Year Number Tunes Other comments
Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1861-1874      
The Anglican Hymn Book, 1868       
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 174 Credo  
A Church of England Hymn Book, 1879      
The Universal Hymn Book, 1885 062 Credo  
The Hymnal Companion, 1890 282 Credo  
The Church Hymnal, Revised and Enlarged, 1892 (Darlington)      
The Church Hymnal, Revised and Enlarged, 1892 (Parker)      
The Church Hymnal, Revised and Enlarged, 1892 (Hutchins)      
The Church Hymnal, Revised and Enlarged, 1892 (Tucker & Rousseau)      
The Church Hymnal, Revised and Enlarged, 1892 (Helfenstein)      
The Church Hymnal, Revised and Enlarged, 1892 (Messiter)      
The Yattendon Hymnal, 1900
      
Church Hymns, New Edition, 1903 587 Credo  
Hymns Ancient & Modern, New Edition, 1904 340 Genevan Psalm 127  
The English Hymnal, 1906 509 Farmborough  
The Book of Common Praise, 1908 660 Credo, St. Silas  
The Hymnal 1916      
Church Hymnal for the Christian Year, 1917 354 Credo  
Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 1919 384 Surrey  
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 513 Credo, St. Silas  
The Hymnal 1940      
Hymns Ancient & Modern, Revised, 1950      
The Mirfield Mission Hymn Book, 1955      
Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 1960      
Anglican Hymn Book, 1965 514 Credo  
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 121 Credo Text modernized
Church Family Worship, 1988      
Hymns Old & New, New Anglican Edition, 1996      
Common Praise (The 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, 1999-2003.