An Advent hymn by St. Ambrose on his feast day.
O
COME, Redeemer of the earth,
and
manifest thy virgin-birth.
Let
every age in wonder fall:
such
birth befits the God of all.
Begotten
of no human will
but
of the Spirit, Thou art still
the
Word of God in flesh arrayed,
the
promised fruit to man displayed.
The
Virgin's womb that burden gained,
its
virgin honor still unstained.
The
banners there of virtue glow;
God
in his temple dwells below.
Proceeding
from His chamber free
that
royal home of purity
a
giant in twofold substance one,
rejoicing
now His course to run.
O
equal to the Father, Thou!
gird
on Thy fleshly mantle now;
the
weakness of our mortal state
with
deathless might invigorate.
Thy
cradle here shall glitter bright,
and
darkness breathe a newer light
where
endless faith shall shine serene
and
twilight never intervene.
All
praise, eternal Son, to Thee,
whose
advent sets Thy people free,
whom,
with the Father, we adore,
and
Holy Ghost, for evermore. Amen.
