Timeless wisdom from an ancient source.
This hymn by the Venerable Bede is one of the oldest in the English language. His counsel follows that of Paul, urging us to set our minds on the things that are above, where Christ is seated in heavenly places. Jonathan Edwards would heartily agree. Anyone like to try their hand at setting this to a familiar hymn tune?
A hymn of glory let us sing;
New songs throughout the world shall ring;
By a new way none ever trod
Christ mounteth to the throne of God.
The apostles on the mountain stand,
The mystic mount, in Holy Land;
They with the virgin mother, see
Jesus ascend in majesty.
The angels say to the eleven:
“Why stand ye gazing into heaven?
This is the Savior, this is He!
Jesus hath triumphed gloriously!”
They said the Lord should come again,
As the beheld Him rising then,
Calm soaring through the radiant sky,
Mounting its dazzling summits high.
May our affections thither tend,
And thither constantly ascend,
Where, seated on the Father’s throne,
Thee reigning in the heavens we own!
Be Thou our present joy, Oh Lord!
Who wilt be ever our reward;
And, as the countless ages flee,
May all our glory be in Thee!
Translated by Elizabeth Charles
In James H. Trott, A Sacrifice of Praise (pp. 25, 26