ON JORDAN'S BANK THE BAPTIST'S CRY

"He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord." John 1:23

Words: Charles Coffin, Paris Breviary, 1736 (Jordanis oras praevia). Stanzas 1-3 translated from Latin to English by John Chandler, 1837; stanzas 4-5 translator unknown.
Music: "Winchester New," Musikalisches Handbuch, Hamburg, Germany, 1690; harmonized by William Henry Monk, 1847, alt..

On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry
Announces that the Lord is nigh;
Come, then, and hearken, for he brings
Glad tidings from the King of kings!

Then cleansed be every Christian breast
And furnished for so great a Guest.
Yea, let us each our hearts prepare
For Christ to come and enter there.

For Thou art our Salvation, Lord,
Our Refuge, and our great Reward.
Without Thy grace our souls must fade
And wither like a flower decayed.

Lay on the sick Thy healing hand
And make the fallen strong to stand;
Show us the glory of Thy face
Till beauty springs in every place.

All praise, eternal Son, to Thee
Whose advent sets Thy people free,
Whom, with the Father, we adore,
And Holy Ghost, forevermore.