The Co-Eternal Son / Instantis Adventum Dei

Painting by Pietro Da Vicenza - Courtesy Wikipedia

The Co-Eternal Son is an adaption of the Robert Campbell (1814-1868) translation of the 1736 hymn: Instantis Adventum Dei by Charles Coffin (1676-1749). Campbell's translation: The Coming of Our God was later revised by the editors of the Parish Hymn Book, resulting in a number of changes including the omission of the original 1st verse, hence - the different title. In the Divine Office (1974), The Co-Eternal Son is sung during Advent from December 17 up to Christmas. The recommended musical setting in the Office is the tune: Optatus. An alternative tune that can be used in it's place is Franconia, as featured in the following video.


Alternative Tune: Franconia

THE COMING OF OUR GOD tr. by Robert Campbell (Public Domain)

1. The coming of our God
Our thoughts must now employ:
Then let us meet him on the road
With songs of holy joy.

2. The co-eternal Son
A maiden’s offspring see:
A servant’s form Christ putteth on,
To make his people free.

3. Mother of Saints, arise
To greet thine infant-King,
And do not thanklessly despise
The pardon he doth bring.

4. In glory from his throne
Again will Christ descend,
And summon all that are his own
To joys that never end.

5. Let deeds of darkness fly
Before the approaching morn,
For onto sin ‘tis ours to die,
And serve the Virgin-horn.

6. Our joyful praises sing
To Christ, that set us free;
Like tribute to the Father bring,
And, Holy Ghost, to thee.


INSTANTIS ADVENTUM DEI by Charles Coffin, 1736 (Public Domain)

1. Instantis adventum Dei
Poscamus ardenti prece,
Festisque munus inclitum
Præoccupemus canticis.

2. Æterna proles, feminæ
Non horret includi sinu:
Fit ipse servus ut jugo
Nos servitutis eximat. 

3. Mansuetus et clemens venít;
Occurre, festina, Sion:
Ultro tibi quam porrigit,
Ne dura pacem respuas.

4. Mox nube clarâ fulgurans
Mundi redibit arbiter,
Suique membra corporis
Cœlo triumphator vehet. 

5. Fœtus tenebrarum, die
Cedant propinquo crmina:
Adam reformetur vetus,
Imago succedat novi. 

6. Qui liberator advenis,
Fili, tibi laus maxima
Cum Patre et almo
Spiritu In sempiterna secula.

They Come, God's Messengers of Love

They Come from Realms of Peace Above

They Come, God's Messengers of Love, by Scottish Barrister Robert Campbell (1814-1868) and was first published in the Episcopal Church of Scotland sanctioned St. Andrew's Hymnal of 1850. In 1852 he converted to the Roman Catholic Church. They Come, God's Messengers of Love is set to the traditional Irish tune, Daniel. An alternative tune that it can be sung to is St. Crispin, as shown in the following video. In the Liturgy of the Hours it is used on September 29th, the Feast of Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael; Archangels.

Tune: St. Crispin

THEY COME, GOD'S MESSENGERS OF LOVE by Robert Campbell, 1850 (Public Domain)

1. They come, God’s messengers of love,
They come from realms of peace above,
From homes of never fading light,
From blissful mansions ever bright.

2. They come to watch around us here,
To soothe our sorrow, calm our fear:
Ye heavenly guides, speed not away,
God willeth you with us to stay.

3. But chiefly at its journey’s end
’Tis yours the spirit to befriend,
And whisper to the faithful heart,
“O Christian soul, in peace depart.”

4. Blest Jesu, Thou Whose groans and tears
Have sanctified frail nature’s fears,
To earth in bitter sorrow weighed,
Thou didst not scorn Thine angel’s aid;

5. An angel guard to us supply,
When on the bed of death we lie;
And by Thine own Almighty power
O shield us in the last dread hour.

6. To us the zeal of angels give,
With love to serve thee while we live;
To us an angel-guard supply,
When on the bed of death we lie.

 7. To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Spirit, Three in One,
From all above and all below,
Let joyful praise unceasing flow.

At the Lamb's High Feast / Ad Coenam Agni Providi (Ad Regias Agni Dapes)

Christ the Victim, Christ the Priest

At the Lamb's High Feast is a Geoffrey Laycock adaptation of the 1849 translation by Robert Campbell (1814-1868) of the 6th century Latin hymn, Ad Coenam Agni Providi. Among the oldest of the Ambrosian chants, in 1623 it was revised by Pope Urban VII (1568-1644) and has henceforth been known as Ad Regias Agni Dapes (see below) in the Roman Breviary where it is sung at Vespers from Easter Sunday until Ascension. Raised a Presbyterian, Campbell would after a period in the Episcopal Church of Scotland join the Roman Catholic Church. Much of his life, both as a Protestant and a Catholic was dedicated to the education of Edinburgh's poorest children. At the Lamb's High Feast is set to the 1678 tune, Salz­burg by Ja­kob Hintze (1622-1702). In the Liturgy of the Hours it is used at Easter.

Tune: Salzburg

AT THE LAMB’S HIGH FEAST WE SING by Robert Campbell, 1849 (Public Domain)

1. At the Lamb’s high feast we sing,
Praise to our victorious King,
Who hath washed us in the tide
Flowing from his piercèd side;
Praise we Him, whose love divine
Gives His sacred blood for wine,
Gives His body for the feast,
Christ the Victim, Christ the Priest.

2. Where the Paschal blood is poured,
Death’s dark angel sheathes his sword;
Israel’s hosts triumphant go
Through the wave that drowns the foe.
Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed,
Paschal Victim, paschal Bread;
With sincerity and love
Eat we Manna from above.

3. Mighty Victim from the sky,
Hell’s fierce powers beneath Thee lie;
Thou hast conquered in the fight,
Thou hast brought us life and light;
Now no more can death appall,
Now no more the grave enthral;
Thou hast opened Paradise,
And in Thee Thy saints shall rise.

4. Paschal triumph, Easter joy,
Only sin can this destroy;
From sin’s death do Thou set free
Souls reborn, O Lord, in Thee.
Hymns of glory and of praise,
Father, to Thee we raise;
Risen Lord, all praise to Thee,
Ever with the Spirit be.

Ad Coenam Agni Providi

AD COENAM AGNI PROVIDI (6th Century)

1. Ad coenam Agni providi,
stolis salutis candidi,
post transitum maris Rubri
Christo canamus principi.

2. Cuius corpus sanctissimum
in ara crucis torridum,
sed et cruorem roseum
gustando, Dei vivimus. 

3. Protecti paschae vespero
a devastante angelo,
de Pharaonis aspero
sumus erepti imperio.

4. Iam pascha nostrum Christus est,
agnus occisus innocens;
sinceritatis azyma
qui carnem suam obtulit.

5. O vera, digna hostia,
per quam franguntur tartara,
captiva plebs redimitur,
redduntur vitae praemia!

6. Consurgit Christus tumulo,
victor redit de barathro,
tyrannum trudens vinculo
et paradisum reserans.

7. Esto perenne mentibus
paschale, Iesu, gaudium
et nos renatos gratine
tuis triumphis aggrega.

 8. Iesu, tibi sit gloria,
qui morte victa praenites,
cum Patre et almo Spiritu,
in sempiterna saecula. Amen.

Ad Regias Agni Dapes (Singing starts at 0:35)

AD REGIAS AGNI DAPES (1623)

1. Ad regias Agni dapes,
Stolis amicti candidis,
Post transitum maris Rubri,
Christo canamus Principi.

2. Divina cuius caritas
Sacrum propinat sanguinem,
Almique membra corporis
Amor sacerdos immolat.

3. Sparsum cruorem postibus
Vastator horret Angelus:
Fugitque divisum mare,
Merguntur hostes fluctibus.

4. Iam Pascha nostrum Christus est,
Paschalis idem victima:
Et pura puris mentibus
Sinceritatis azyma.

5. O vera caeli víctima,
Subiecta cui sunt tartara,
Soluta mortis vincula,
Recepta vitæ praemia.

6. Victor subactis inferis,
Trophaea Christus explicat,
Caeloque aperto, subditum
Regem tenebrarum trahit. 

7. Ut sis perenne mentibus
Paschale Iesu gaudium,
A morte dira criminum
Vitæ renatos libera.

8. Deo Patri sit gloria,
Et Filio, qui a mortuis
Surrexit, ac Paraclito,
In sempiterna saecula. Amen.