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Words: Attributed to Adam of St. Victor, circa 1170 (Plausu chorus laetabundo); translated from Latin to English by Jackson Mason, 1889.
Music: "Praetorius 7," composer unknown, 1536; adapted by Michael Praetorius, 1609
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Come sing, ye choirs exultant,
Those messengers of God,
Through whom the living Gospels
Came sounding all abroad!
Whose voice proclaimed salvation
That poured upon the night,
And drove away the shadows,
And filled the world with light.
In one harmonious witness
The chosen four combine
While each his own commission
Fulfills in every line;
As, in the prophet's vision,
From out the amber flame
In form of visage diverse
Four living creatures came.
Foursquare on this foundation
The Church of Christ remains,
A house to stand unshaken
By floods or winds or rains.
O glorious happy portion
In this safe home to be,
By God, true man, united
With God eternally.
Hymns supplied through the gracious generosity of the Cyber Hymnal Website