point of the Lutheran Church. With it all he is genuinely human and takes a fresh and wholesome view of nature and of mankind. This emphasizes the teaching and content of the hymn. When we see the depth of soul and the fulness of meaning as well as the beauty of expression in a hymn such as this Advent hymn of Paul Gerhardt, what a rebuke it is to those who would use silly and superficial jingles and think they contain elements of worship. The advent of our Saviour is worthy of the best in poetry and music that can be found in our hymns. A very different type of hymn, but one which is especially appropriate for the opening of Advent and which is a general favorite is: On Jordan's banks the herald's cry This hymn, as we have it, was translated in 1837 by John Chandler from the Latin of the author, Charles Coffin. The original was written in 1736. Simple in statement of fact, confession and faith, it is a hymnprayer, full of unction, which is the element which appeals to the heart in the Advent season. A hymn which looks for the second Advent of Christ and well worthy of its popularity is: Thou Judge of quick and dead, For that tremendous day, This hymn is from the pen of Charles Wesley, the "Bard of Methodism," who was a prolific writer of hymns, as is seen from the fact that of seven hundred and seventy hymns in the "Wesleyan Hymn Book" six hundred and twenty-three are from his pen. It is very evident that there cannot be as much variety as there is in the Lutheran books of worship, the hymns of which are drawn from many sources. The determining factor for the recognition and use of a hymn is the evangelical character and conformity to the high standard of poetic form and perfect harmony with the principles of faith and worship. The true joy of Advent is fittingly expressed in another grand hymn which has come from one of the bards of Germany, Laurentius Laurenti, who has been pronounced "one of the best hymn writers of the Pietistic School." His hymns are, as a rule, founded on the gospels for the Sundays and festivals of the Church Year. They are simple, spiritual, full of unction and educational as well as devotional. Dr. Schaff pronounces his Advent hymn, which is a versified interpretation of the Parable of the Ten Virgins, his best hymn. The English translation which we use is from the pen of Miss Jane Borthwick. It is included in a book which she, with the assistance of her sister, published in 1854, the title of which is "Hymns from the Land of Luther." Laurenti's hymn is found in a number of the very best hymn books of the present day. It is evidence of the beauty and the richness of our purely evangelical hymns. The hymn is so beautiful that we quote it as it is now commonly used: REJOICE, ALL YE BELIEVERS Rejoice, all ye believers, And let your lights appear! The evening is advancing, And darker night is near. The Bridegroom is arising, And soon He draweth nigh. Up! pray, and watch, and wrestleAt midnight comes the cry! The watchers on the mountain The Bridegroom is at hand! Ye saints, who here in patience Our Hope and Expectation, We plead, O Lord, to see |