The Passion-Hymns of Iceland

THE PASSION - HYMNS OF ICELAND

BE ING T RANSLATIO NS FROM THE PASSI ON HYMNS OF HALLG RIM PETUR SSON AND FROM TH E H YMNS O F THE M O DE RN IC ELAND IC H YMN B O O K

TOGETH ER W ITH A N I NT R ODUCT I ON

c V E NN P I L C H E R . ,

FOREWORD BY TH E RI GHT R EV .

M L D D. . c . E H G. O U , . B IQ H O I‘ OF DUR HA M

’ L O N D O N ! R O B E R T S C O T T R O ! B U R G H E H O U S E w E R N S E R o E . C . P A T O T R ,

M C M ! I I I

E MY M OTH R , WHO FIRST TAU GHT ME

THE STO RY F TH C R OSS O E ,

AND I NTERESTE D ME

I N TH E

PEOPLE OF I CELAN D .

FO R EWOR D

’ P assion - H mns o el d MY friend Mr . Pilcher s y f I c mz ﬁnds at least one deeply interested welc omer in myself. From early youth till now the great

d its northern islan , with natural wonders , its population of hardy and educ ated peasants and

i s c ﬁshermen , and t prac ti al retention , through a

s its c c thou and years , of an ient spee h , has had for me a pec uliar fasc ination . To be thus introduc ed to the spiritual life of I c eland , as embodied in and d fostere by its hymnody, is no common delight acc ordingly . That delight , I am conﬁdent , will be shared by a large circ le of readers . To the believer whose anc hor - hold is settled for

’ his life and death at the foot of Redeemer s Cross , it is cheering indeed to se e in these beautiful E nglish renderings , by a scholar whose sympathies are complete with the faith and hope of the N orse

c c psalmists , how I elandi hearts have in the past beat true to the Gospel of Calvary , and how they do so still in these days s o often troubled by alien thinking. Fo re w o rd

The I ntroduc tion is rich throughout in historic al

d the an biographical interest , and greatly helps as reader to a true appreciation of the hymns , full e these are , in their setting , of the air and landscap of Iceland . H A Y N DLE DUNELM .

A K LAND CAS TLE UC , a n u a r 2 1 1 y y 5 , 9 3 . P R E FAC E

H I b T S book represents what is , I elieve , practically a pioneer attempt to do some such work in the ﬁeld of Icelandic Hymnology as that already an d done so admirably in the Latin , Greek ,

German ﬁelds . as Icelandic sacred song is worthy of study , well o for its own sake , as because it is the ﬂ wer of the Spiritual life of a people and of a church s o nearly akin to our own , and yet situated in such a different environment . The closeness of this i w a s relationship s not often realized . Iceland largely colonized by N orse settlers from our a s E islands a s well from N orway . ven the Celtic element was not absent from the blood of the new N als nation . The greatest of Icelandic Sagas , j ’ ” is . Saga , simply Neil s Saga And the Ice l andic a s o langu ge i tself, unintelligible to us now , was spoken over . half E ngland a thousand years ago by the Norsemen , spoken , too , by some of our I t has Kings . is our language that changed , not theirs . The modern Icelander still speaks what is practically the tongue of the Sagas . l \ x P re fac e

c The Icelandic Church may laim our interest , as one of those Lutheran Churc hes whi c h posse ss the allegian c e of so large a part of the Teutonic c d Ra e , Churches closely connecte with our own

Royal Family, Churches whose history , at the w as period of the Reformation , entwined with that of the Church of E ngland . But while the I c elandic people are thus closely ' diﬂe rin related to ourselves , under what vastly g conditions have they passed the thousand and odd years of their national life ! Inhabiting Ultima Thule ” itself (a land containing some of the wildest and weirdest scenery on the globe) , speak ing the most northern of civilized langu ages, and forming the far - ﬂ un g outpost of E urope to the h- nort west , this people have braved the rigours

s u b- c of a ar tic c limate , and survived the loneliness

fam in e cthe of isolation , the wasting of , violence of volcanic action . The life of such a people has i an interest of ts own to all . The hymnologist asks , What type of sac red song did such a life develop P” The story Of the hymns of Iceland centres d H all rim P e tu rs largely roun two names , that of g s o n in the seventeenth century , and that of Bishop E Valdimar riem at the present day . Not that e either of these singers stands alone , but ach towers above his contemporaries in the domain of o sacred song , as Mont Blanc over the neighb uring r n s la Aiguilles . The maj ority of the present t a P re fac e xi tions are made from the hymns of these two writers . H all rim I , hope that the translations from g Pe tu rs so n will give some idea of his pec uliar power. I have chosen passages which illustrate his method of drawing comfort from spec ial ’ c in idents of our Lord s Passion , passages which illustrate the prayers with which his hymns abound (prayers which have a wonderful power of haunting the memory) , and also one passage which will give an example of his bursts of praise — a stanza often sung by itself in Iceland as a doxology . From the hymns of Bishop Valdimar Eriem I have chosen those which seem to me interesting by their originality , or by their fulness of refer ence to Nature , although a selection made on such a principle will scarcely represent the ordinary devotional simplicity o f Icelandic hymns . I have closed this collection with a translation of the hymn written by Matthias J o c hu m s s o n on the occasion of the thousandth anniversary of the — landing of the ﬁrst settlers ah occasion marked by the gift to the island of the privilege of Home ” Rule from the King of Denmark . The hymn well mirrors the feelings of the people emerging from a period of struggle and isolation into the dawning brightness of a freer and a wider life . I am aware that my translations may appear to

Icelandic eyes somewhat too paraphrastic , at least Pre fac e

in . certain parts But I v enture to think that , n upon the whole , this is i evitable . I have always d E tried to make as goo an nglish hymn as I could , and to do this the I c elandic ori ginal must at times be treated with some freedom . The reasons for this E nglish scholars of I c elandic will understand . The great majority of the translations are in the same , or very nearly the same , metres as their prototypes . Only portions of the long hym ns of H allgrim s P e tu rs s o n have been translated . This is true al o of some of the other hym ns . As c to the anglicizing of Icelandi names , I have used my j udgment in each case . ’ k R e I should li e to suggest Gounod s tune , ” “ ” as E demption , suitable to the aster Hymn ’

B arn b s . y tune , St Sylvester, for The Divine “ ” P au lu m Guest and the old chorale , Attolle , for the two stanzas on Our Lord ’s Cry from the ” “ o Cross . The Whitsuntide Hymn g es well to a Danish tune by Bergreen , one of the few m odem tunes in the Icelandic Hymn Book which E really please nglish ears . I should like to call particular attention to the H all rim P e t u rs s o n longer translations from g , especially to the Hymn on the Stream from ’ a s Our Lord s Wounded Side , representing some hi of s best work . From the Hymns of Bishop E i Valdimar r em , I would select , in addition to a e c those lr ady mentioned , The Voi es of Crea P re fac e

” “ tion , The Good Shepherd , and Labourers in ” the Vineyard . I have u s ed the eleventh e dition of the Icelandic ” “ lm abOk P i l S é , and the edition of the a s s u s a ” m ar e dite d o o 1 0 . l , by J nas J nsson in 9 7 The who e o ‘ a of these bo ks I have gone over , as well s the hymns of the Icelandic Sunday School Hymn

Book , published in Winnipeg , choosing those hymns for translation which made a personal

. o appeal to me I have als , besides the invaluable Zo e a Grim u r dictionaries of g , made use of Thom ’ sen s edition of the Works of H a llg rim P e tu rs s o n ; of the article on H allg rim P e tu rs s o n appearing in ' c B ar m z the ﬁrst number of the Icelandi Paper, j ’ of Matthias J o c hu m s s o n s Lj o thm ae li of Vigfu s ’ “ ” son and Powell s Icelandic Prose Reader ; of ’ ” Annandale s , The Faroes and Iceland ; and of ’ S te fan s s o n s - Collingwood and , The Saga steads ” of Iceland . I most gladly ac knowledge the encouragement f and help which I have received rom friends , and al espec i ly the unfailing kindness of the Rev .

O . n B arna so n D . D J j , , Pastor of the leading Ice l i an d c Church in Winnipeg . N ot only have I gathered much information from various numbers ' c S am einin z n o f of the Icelandic Chur h Paper, g , E which he is ditor, and received valuable know ledge by correspondence , but I have had the privilege of being his guest at Winnipeg , when he a s a s put at my disposal his unique library , well P re fac e his own profound knowle dge of Icelandic Litera ture . If these translations from the hymns of Iceland are able to draw out the brotherly i nterest of E nglish - speaking Christian s towards that Church e s and p ople , whose be t spirits are ﬁghting the battle against twentieth - c entury rationalism and materialism without the encouragement which we derive from our numbers , and without the inspira tion of our unique construc tive and devotional

religious literature, I shall not have worked in

vain . P I H R . E C V N N LC E .

A ’ T D L S T. S C H R J ME A E A , TORO TO N ,

cn m ar 1 1 . j y I , 9 3 C O NT E NT S

I NTRODUCT I ON

HALLGRIM P ETURSSON THE M ODERN I CELANDIC HYMN BOOK AND B ISH OP VALDI MAR E RIEM H ELGI HALFDANARSON MATTHIAS JOCHUMSSON

TRANSLATI ONS FROM TH E HYMNS OF HALLGR IM P ETURSSON

THS P assiusalm ar No 2 E . GE EMAN ( , ) T BO S OF C R ST P as siusalm ar No 6 HE ND H I ( , . )

T S Is O R HO R P as siuszilm ar No . 8 HI Y U U ( , ) T WAY OF T CROSS P as siu sélm ar No I I HE HE ( , . ) THE LORD TURNED AND LOOK ED U P ON PETER (Passin

sal a No . 1 2 m r, ) T R P S P as iu l r N 2 O s sé m a o . HE EC M EN E ( , 5) ’ A T P as siu l ar R S R R sé m No . 0 FA HE P AYE ( , 3 ) i A R R P as s usalm ar No . P AYE ( , 45) MY GOD MY GOD W HY ST T O FORS K ME ! , , HA H U A EN

P ass iu salm ar No . 1 ( , 4 )

A DO! OLOG P assiusalm ar N 2 o . Y ( , 5) xv x v i C o n te n ts

P AGE TH R SHALL B E OP O TA P as sru sélm ar E E ENED A F UN IN ( , No 8 26 . 4 )

’ OD AR P i a 2 8 S as s u salm r No . 2 G G DEN ( , ) TH I L D B R AL H M lm abOk No 606 2 8 Sa . E CE AN IC U I Y N ( , ) ’ HALLGR I M P ETUR SS ON S DEATH - B E D HYMN 29

TRANSLATI ONS F ROM TH E HYMNS OF B I S HOP VALD I MAR B RI E M

R AT O S lm abék No 2 T O S OF C a . HE V ICE E I N ( , 3 ) l ab k 2 A A T H S é m é No . 0 N U UMN YMN ( , 5 ) ’ AT R S élm ab k N O S B OOK OF N é o . G D U E ( , 34) N TH ALL OF TH SHADOW Salm abOk o . E V EY E ( , 97)

T L D B O T S EA Sélm abék No . 68 HE AN EY ND HE ( , 4 ) TH D V ST Sélm abék No E I INE GUE ( , . 99) T D V LOT Sél m abék No 1 1 HE I INE PI ( , . 7)

T HOL M O T Sélrnabék No . 1 2 HE Y UN ( , 7) T D SH H RD S lm ab k No 1 2 OO P é é . HE G E E ( , 9)

T H R S TH E P UB LI OAN Salm abOk No . 1 HE P A I EE AND ( , 3 4) LABO R RS T RD S m abOk No 1 6 Al . U E IN HE VINEYA ( , 3 ) A W TS T H Sélrnabék No 2 0 HI UN IDE YMN ( , . 3 )

T RANSLATI ONS F ROM VAR IO US AUT HORS N TH S R FT Sélm abék o . 8 E UMME GI ( , 49 )

SP R H S alm abOk No . VE E YMN ( , 545)

A EV G H Salm abék No . 0 N ENIN YMN ( , 53 ) A EAST R S alm abék No 1 H . N E YMN ( , 75) A E NTE R OES S I N S élm abék No 6 V G I O . N ENIN ( , 53 ) I L M LL AL H L Othm ae li V o l I I CE ANDIC I ENNI YMN ( j , . . ) I NT RO DUC T I O N

H ALLGR I M P E TUR S S ON

TH E M ODE R N I CELA N D I C H YM N B OO K AN D B I S H OP VALD I M AR E R I E M H E LGI H ALF DANAR S ON MATTH IAS JOCH U MS S ON

4 I n tro du c ti o n the assurance of a speedy release from the bond age o f corruption into the glorious liberty of the ’ - children of God . It w as the man s swan song .

Not long afterwards , by the quiet hand of death , ’ he gained his heart s desire . as I I re Such must have been , n magination we construct the scene from the knowledge at our H all rim P e turs so n disposal , the passing of g , the sacred singer of Iceland . It was a notable the example of the victory of Spirit over the ﬂesh , of the triumph of the Christian in his hour of deepest physical need . Small wonder that this was the man who out of his poverty left to his countrymen one of the most precious legacies which they have ever received— those Passion

Hymns, which Iceland hearts will cherish , as a o s u n p et of their own has said , as long as the shines upon the cold J o ku ll . H l 6 1 a lg rim P e tu rs s o n was born in the year 1 4 . H is youth w a s cast in one of the stirring period s of Icelandic history . The breath of the Reforma tion w as breathing upon the dead bones and o s kalksso n waking them to life . Odd G tt had his c 1 0 published Icelandi New Testament in 54 , — s ix years before the death of Luther a version of “ which Gu dbra n d Vigfu s s o n could write ! It is well worthy to stand by the Side of that of Tyndal or Luther, and higher praise could hardly be given ” ran to it . Bishop Gu db d of Holar had brought out his complete edition of the Icelandic Bible in I ntro du c tio n 5

1 8 s m 5 4, and wa issuing hy ns and other religious literature from his press . It was in this bracing H all rim his atmosphere that g spent early years , his father being sexton of the Cathedral at Holar . Here doubtless were sown in the boy ’ s heart those seeds whic h later were to bear such abundant fruit .

But the harvest w as not yet . Possibly owing H all rim to some youthful indiscretion , the young g was sent from the school at Holar to Copenhagen . ’ a Here , in the great city, the boy s t lents were in

Immi nent danger of being lost . But divine a B r n o lf providence w s watching over him . y j S v e in ss o n , later to become one of the most c famous of I elandic Bishops , found him in a ’ c blacksmith s Shop , and with quick eye dis erning the gold beneath the grime , put him again to s c ho o L His educ ation In Cope nhagen was continued c its until an . event oc urred which was to cast inﬂuence over his whole life . It was in the year ’ 1 62 Gu dbrand s 7 , the year of Bishop death , that four ships from North Africa , three of them being c corsairs from Algiers , fell upon the defen eless a coast of Iceland . The main attack w s delivered H e im ae upon the Island of y, the chief of the

Westman group . The wanton and inhuman atrocities committed by the pirates s o burnt themselves into the memory of the unfortunate inhabitants , that Mr . Nelson Annandale relates 6 I n tro duc ti o n

’ that during his s ix weeks stay at H e im ae y in the year 1 898 he heard almost daily of the raid . Between three and four hundred persons w ere taken captives chieﬂy by the Algerians , and sold a s slaves in the market at Algiers . Many suffered c great cruelty, largely in the form of perse ution “ ih for their faith . They were chained in supportable po sitions , beaten on the hands and c faces , exposed naked in publi places , and again ” beaten until they lost the power of speech . At w a length , however, an Icelander s allowed to carry a petition to the King of Denmark , asking for rix - dollars as a ransom pric e for the surviving captives . A subscription was raised in Iceland , to which the King of Denmark him self largely contributed . This was paid over in 1 6 due course , and in 3 7 , ten years after the raid , thirty - four survivors out of the hundreds taken s e were t at liberty . Some of these people broke their homeward e is journey at Cop nhagen , and here it that

H allg rim P e tu rs s o n again comes into the story . c c During their enfor ed soj ourn in North Afri a , these survivors seem to have become more or less infected with M ohammedanism , or at least to have let a part of their Christian faith Slip away a into the limbo of forgetfulness . It w s nec essary s o to remedy this state of things , and to do an c I elander, learned in Christian truth , but resident l im P . H al r e tu rs so n , at Copenhagen , was needed g I n tro du c ti o n 7

ca now a distinguished theologi l student , fulﬁlled o these conditions , and was forthwith app inted by the authorities to be the religious instruc tor of his rescued compatriots . w as Gu drid Among the captives a lady , by name , who by her beauty had already attracted n the attention of the so of the Dey of Algiers .

The young princ e had even wished to marry her . c This , of course , ould not be tolerated , and the source of temptation was sent out of the country u ri among the other ransomed slaves . G d d thus became a member of the group which w as c o n l ﬁde d to the pastoral care of H a lg rim P e turs s o n . It was perhaps not unnatural that he in his turn should become a captive to those charms which had already proved too potent for the Algerian h Prince . Su c h was the infatuation of the u Gu drid fortunate man , that although had been a married woman in Iceland before the raid , and w as although , for all that known to the contrary , H all rim her husband was still living there , g determined to leave Copenhagen and to sail back to Iceland with Gu drid . Upon their arrival in that country they remained together , and at ’ length , hearing of the husband s death , were married . ’ This conduct was the great blot Upon H allg rim s life . He did not go unpunished . The sweet fruit became bitter in his mouth . The Mohammedan leanings of his wife were through long years a pain 8 I n tro duc ti o n

hi and grief to his sensitive nature . Nor did s con s cience keep silence .

Lo r d I h av e s o w n the s e e f sin , d o H d u s h av e m rans r s n n i e o y t g e s i o s be e .

- has So he sings in one of his Passion Hymns , and it been thought that the words bear a Special refer a ence to this episode of his career . This Sin m y bea m cu l a have been in a sense the p , which , with its attendant remorse , drove him to the Cross al for that gift of pardon and renew , of which he w as afterwards to sing s o peerlessly to his country men H allg rim P e tu rs s o n was ordained in 1 644 and was in 1 65 0 appointed to the parish of S au rby

- on the Whale ﬁrth in the south west of Iceland . Here he gave himself largely to the exercise c t of his poeti gif , writing much religious verse ; and it was here that , inspired by the example of Paul Gerhardt in Germany and of Kingo in Denmark , he achieved his greatest work in

- the composition of the immortal Passion Hymns . 1 6 They appeared in the year 59 , a ﬁrst copy of the manuscript being sent to the daughter of that Bishop B rynj o lf S ve in s s o n who had formerly befriended him in Copenhagen . But the singer of Christ ’ s Passion was soon himself to pass through a very furnace of afﬂiction . He contracted the dread diseas e of leprosy . This he bore with exemplary fortitude , and passed away after a I n tro duc ti o n 9 lingering illness in the glory of an Unclouded hope . He died at F e rs tikla near the parsonag e of S au rby 1 6 in the year 74.

- The Passion Hymns are ﬁfty in number . They tell the story of Christ ’ s sufferings from the moment when the Master sa ng the Pascal Hymn with H is disciples in the Upper Room until the military watch was set and the seal made fast upon E His tomb . ach hymn consists , as a rule , of from b ﬁfteen to twenty sta nzas . The poet egins by paraphrasing the biblical narrative o f that incident in the Passion Story with which he is about to is deal . He thus accomplishes what achieved in

Oratorio by the recitative . He then passes on to meditation , exhortation , prayer or praise . The hymns were written to be sung , generally speaking , to German chorales of the Sixteenth century . With these tunes of stately dignity they naturally blend To S I ng them to lighter modern airs would jar on the ear as a kind of sacrilege . I n fact , to fully appreciate the hymns , it is necessary to hear them sung to these slow and majestic melodies from the times of Luther , which give free play and scope to the beauty of the Icelandic vowel sounds . In former days it was the custom in the scattered farm - houses of Iceland to sing the Passion - Hymns through during Lent . This custom is still to as some extent observed , , for instance , in the chief

Icelandic Church in Winnipeg . N or can a better I 0 I n t ro du c ti o n

“ preparation for Good Friday , the Long Fast ” Day, as it is called by the Icelanders , be well imagined . The practice however is not as f e universal as it was , partly owing to the indi f rence which pervades s o much of the modern world , and partly through the prevalence of views in recent years , which , as an Icelandic clergyman has

“ - pointed out , must make the Passion Hymns ” of H allg rim P e tu rs s o n die u pon the lips . It is however still true to s ay that this singer of the Cross is the outstanding poet of his

people . His hymns have been called The ﬂower ” of all Icelandic poetry . He is still sung f and quoted with reverence and with a fection . s a a s He holds his position , we might almost y, the Shakespeare or the Milton of his native land . If we seek the reasons for the spell which the Passion - Hymns have cast over the heart of Iceland S for nearly two centuries and a half, we hall not i have to look far for an answer. It s true that the t d range of though is not wi e , that the style is sometimes almost irritatingly didactic , and that the c harm of colouring from nature through metaphor or Simile is conspicuous only by its

- absence . The Passion Hymns possess , however, one mighty secret . In exquisite Icelandic the poet dwells upon the beneﬁts procured for sinful ’ man by Christ s Passion . He isolates (and surely we may forgive him for doing s o ) each particular

I 2 I n tro du c ti o n as an old man he turns him to his last sleep , it is ’ H allg rim s hymns which have power to soothe o c hu m s s o n and to heal . And when Matthias J is des cribing in another poem the passing of Gud Vi fu s so n brand g , the great Icelander of Oxford , he l * his pictures him lying with the H av am a at head ,

H e im s krin la g at his breast , but the Passion

is . Hymns at his heart . That their secret The Passion - Hymns have spoken to the heart of

Iceland .

TH E MOD E R N I CE LAND I C H YMN BOOK A N D B ISH OP VALD I MAR E R I E M The present Hymn Book of the Icelandic

Lutheran Church appeared ﬁrst in the year 1 886 . It is the fourth in order since the Reforma rallar i tion . First came the G (from the Latin Grad u ale ) o f 1 594— a book which maintained its position as the ofﬁcial Icelandic Church Book

E l k- for two centuries . The v a ng e is Kris tile g S élm abOk 1 80 1 followed in , a work of a mildly 1 1 rationalistic type . In 87 a new hymn book e its app ared , which was an improvement on pre

’ “ R e a d e rs o f Lo n e llo w s Sa a o f K n Ola in the gf g i g f, Tal e s ro a W a s d e I n n w ll n e e d n o e x lan a o n o f f m y i , i p ti th e s e te r ms . I n tro duc tio n 1 3

decessor . At last in 1 886 the pres ent bo ok was authorized , a book which won immediate recog n itio n as a vast improvement on all its pre de c e s s o rs o , a b ok which , speaking generally , contains what was best in them with much admirable new materi al besides . On examination one remarkable feature is re

0 . vealed . The book contains 65 hymns Of this entire number, two men alone are responsible for H e l i H alfdan ars o n 2 1 1 3 53 , g for , and Bishop E Valdimar E riem for 1 42 . ach of these two writers makes his characteristic contribution . The work of the former consisted in making available for the Icelandic Church , ﬂowers culled from the wider ﬁeld of Lutheran Hymnology . H e l i H élf ar n g dan s o excelled as a translator . Not u only did he translate hymns , ntranslated into

Icelandic before , but he retranslated hymns , faulty versions of which had appeared in the previous

Icelandic Hymn Books . The present book owes hi an immense debt to this work of s .

The characteristic contribution , on the other E hand , of Bishop Valdimar riem lies in his original 1 0 6 hymns . Of these the book contains , and they may be said to form its most outstanding feature . It was through these hymns mainly that the new book achieved its immediate po pularity . The “ editor of S am eining in wrote Icela ndic sacred poetry has been raised to new honour . For that ” our people have chieﬂy Valdimar E riem to thank . n r I 4. I t o du c tio n

Valdimar Eriem takes his place beside H allg rim P e tu r n s s o .

’ This pastor - poet s outward life has been u n

. E a rthu r eventful Born at Grund , near the yj t , 1 8 8 in 4 , he was sent at the age of ten (being one 1 86 of a large family) to live with an uncle . In 3 he entered the Latin School at Reykjavik , and in 1 8 0 a 7 w s transferred to the Theolog ical College . 1 He was ordained priest in 873 . Subsequently ’ S tOrin tI u r he was appointed to p , a little country charge about ﬁfteen miles to the north - west of the famous volcano of Hekla , and there he still lives and writes , although raised recently to the episc opal rank . His output has been immense . He has published two volumes of Bible Songs a (a collection of metrical pictures of biblic l events) ,

a volume of translations from the Psalms , a o as metrical paraphrase of the Bo k of Job , well as hymns and many occasional poems . It is however in his hymns that he makes his chief is appeal . As the Icelandic Hymn Book scanned , it is they which ﬁrst catch the eye and invite translation . And wherein lies their po wer ! Not least in the wonderful music whi c h the poet makes , play ing on the instrument of his exquisitely musical language . His verses also live with the charm

of nature , the grim charm of Icelandic nature .

The long dark winter days , the biting frost , the

- - barren surf beaten coast , the blocking snow drifts I n tro du c ti o n I 5

all and the rushing torrents , have left their impress his c on hymns , as well as the fair I elandic ﬂowers ,

- the summer sunlight , and the snow capped moun tain peaks . In this connection it is interesting to notice how often a kind of Christian melancholy sounds in these poems . Death and sorrow are mentioned more frequently than life and service , though always the heavenly hope shines through to lighten the darkness . ’ Our author s spec ial strength however lies in his original treatment of the parables and miracles of

Our Lord . In this he excels . Is he writing on the parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard ! H e is not content to think of different men being ff called at di erent hours , but his voice rings out , al ou Remember that God c ls y in baptism , in ”

o . youth , in manho d , and in old age Is he treating of the sc ene on the Mount of Trans ﬁguration ! He allegorizes it into a pict u re of

- the present prayer life of the soul . Does he sing of the miracle at Cana ! His hymn is an invita tion to the Divine Guest to come into our hearts , there to transform sin into holiness . So noticeable ’ B rie m s is this feature of Bishop writing , that in the section of the Icelandic Hymn Book in whic h ’ are grouped hymns on Christ s Life and Teac h ” ing, those bearing the signature V . B . vastly preponderate over those of any other I c elandic author . Perhaps we might ﬁtly describe his c hief work 1 6 I n t ro duc ti o n by sa ying that a s H allg rim P e tu rs so n was the ’ s o singer of Our Lord s Death and Passion , h H i Valdimar E riem as sung of s Life .

H ELGI H ALFDANAR SON

H e l i H alf an ars o n 1 8 g d was born in 26 . After graduating from the College in Reykj avik he studied Theology in the University of C Ope n 1 8 I n 1 86 hagen . He was ordained in 54 7 he became a professor on the staff of the Theological 1 88 Seminary in Reykjavik . In 5 he succeeded fﬁ to the o ce of Principal , a post which he held till his death in 1 894. A man of a sincere Christian in character , a Lutheran of the old school , his ﬂu e n c e lives on not least in the admirable trans latio n s of foreign hymns which he bequeathed as a legacy to the Icelandic Church .

MATT H IAS JOC HUMS SON

This poet , whose name may be said to lead the company of those whose writings have marked the Icelandic literary revival of the nineteenth century, I n tro duc ti o n

1 w as born in the year 83 5 . He graduated from 1 86 the Reykjavik College in 3 , and from the wa Theologic al Seminary two years later . He s 1 86 was m ordained in 7, and for some ti e in c harge f o . i Akureyri , the metropolis of the North He s s till living as a pastor emeritus .

G E TH S E MAN E

J E S US in Gethsemane Bowed with mortal strife I s e e

Conscien c e stings me , for I know ’ Twas my s in constraine d Him so All that weight of agony ’ God s Son underwent for me .

LO my s in doth heavier lie ’ E e n than earth and se a and s ky ’ Jesus in His Father s name

Bears . this universal frame ;

Yet the Word of God falls low , ’ When He bears sin s weight of woe .

Thus Thou givest me , Lord , Thy peac e Comfort which can never cease Greater that paid ransom’ s worth U nto God than heaven and earth By Thine agony I win n Certain pardon for my s i . 2 2 The Bo n ds o f Ch rist

TH E BON D S OF CH RI ST

E U w as J S S , the Son of God , bound That I might go forth free ;

He, chafed with cruel fetters, found Unbounded grace for me Around His wrists the cords of pain

Harsh , agonizing , lay From me in that dread hour sin’ s chain

Unfastened fell away .

Lord , let the bonds that bound Thee hold

M e bound in bondage pure ,

Kept mid temptations manifold , ’ Shut from the world s allure ; s o That my will , untrammelled , free,

Whiles here I dwell below,

M ay aye Thy ready servant be .

This boon , dear Lord , bestow

TH I S I S YO U R H O U R

LO now is the accepted time ! ’ ' Heed thou God s call to- day ’ ’ E e n while we sing salvation s hour

Glides noiselessly away .

i Give heed , for that one hour m sused Thine endless doom decides ;

On Him , who such salvation spurns,

The wrath of God abides . “ ” This is y o u r H o u r 2 3 More dread the punishment must fall ’ ’ When mercy s day is o er , ’ Upo n that man with whom God s love Most patiently forbore

Take heed unto thyself, my soul ; To hoard thy S in relent Behold yon quickly westering s u n

Delay no more repent .

Perchan c e the hour of grac e divine

This night may pass away .

Dear pardoning Lord , we leave our sin ,

- We come to Thee, to day .

TH E WAY O F TH E C ROSS

TH E pathway of Thy P as sIOn To follow I desire ; Out of my weakness fashion

A character of ﬁre .

When the weak will sinks failing,

And ﬂesh starts back afraid ,

Before the dread Cross quailing , ’ Lord , grant Thy Spirit s aid . “ ” 2 4 The Lo r d l o o ke d upo n Pe te r

TH E LO RD TU RN E D AN D LOO K E D U PON PE TE R ”

’ H E NE E R W in act or word ,

Slighting Thy warning grace ,

Like Peter , I deny Thee , Lord ,

Toward me turn Thy face .

Yea , Master , turn and look On me in love untold ! m lan c e whic h Cast that sa e searching g , broke The Apostle ’ s heart of old

U ntil with weeping eyes I gaze toward Thy heaven S “ ! Then , Saviour , peak the word , Arise

Arise , restored , forgiven

TH E RE CO M PE N SE

’ ’ E E R since beneath God s Open sky

The wounded Saviour cam e , ’ From Pilate s hall led forth to die

Upon the Cross of Shame , For me the road has open lain To God ’ s bright halls of day ’ The barrier of my s in Christ s pain

For ever bore away . ’ A Fathe r s Pray e r 2 5

A FATH E R ’ S PRAYE R

E U d J S S , Lor , remember me ; E ase my hour of mortal strife Le t my children ﬁnd in Thee Guidance through this earthly life

Write , with those dear names I love ,

My name in Thy Book above .

A PRAYE R

MY life I draw , Lord , from Thy Death

Thy Cross my comfort pe rfe c te th. 0 let Thy Passion ’ s mighty power

Work in my bosom from this hour ,

And crucify me , Lord , that I

To Thee may live , to sin may die .

O GOD , M Y GOD , W HY HAST TH U FO RSAKE N ME

FOR S AKE N of God on Cal vary

The Saviour Christ hung dying , ’ That I might ne er forsaken be , While on His death relying

Yea , for the sake of His lone cry , With ready ear the Lord M ost High

Will aye regard my c rying . 2 6 A Do xo l o gy

’ When from earth s light I pass away ,

Sight , hearing , sense declining, ’ Father , recall Thy Son s dismay , For Thy felt presence pining And by that cry from Calvary ’ s tree

Thy countenance uplift on me ,

With gracious welcome Shining .

A D O! O LOGY

H OU 0 ! T art , Christ , the everlasting Son

Thou , by Thy Death , for sinful man a Share

In Thy divine inheritance hast won , ’ o - And made him with Thyself, God s Son , c heir , ’ ! Thyself, the One Begotten of God s love Therefore let all the sons of men upraise d ’ To Thee , Go s Son , an anthem of high praise ,

Through endless days , in earth and heaven above .

TH E RE SHALL B E A FO U N TAI N OPE N E D FO R S IN AN D FOR U N C LE AN

E Z a h. N SS ( c xiii .

NEATH B E the Cross of Jesus kneeling , Dawns on my soul the endless day

There , deeper than all tides of feeling, Doth God His boundless grace display Thence ﬂow the mystic waves of healing

There al l my stains are washed away .

’ Go d s Gard e n

GOD ’ S GARD E N

’ B E H OLD God s Garden ! Resting here ’ Soft sleep till dawn God s children dear . Whene ’ er thou passest by this place

Breathe low a fervent prayer for grace .

u - Death ponder ; then , with hope p borne ,

Think on the Resurrection Morn .

TH E I C E LAN D I C B URIAL HYM N

I KNOW that my Redeemer Lives crowned upon the throne Lord over earth and heaven

He saves , and He alone ; He conquered death by dying c Upon the a cursed tree , And from His death sprang glorious

E ternal life for me .

Christ conquered death by dying

Jesu , Thy mortal pain ’ O e rthre w the King of Terrors ’ And brake the captive s chain . What though this earthly body Obey Death ’ s dread behest The soul soars free rejoicing

To mansions of the blest . The I c e l an dic Buri al Hym n 2 9

I think upon my Saviour , His I trust power to keep , His mighty arm enfolds me

Awaking and in Sleep . C hrist is my rock , my courage ’ Christ is my soul s true life ; And Christ (my still heart knows it)

Will bear me through the strife .

’ ’ Thus in Christ s name I m living ; Thus in Christ ’ s name I ’ ll die I ’ll fear not though life ’ s vigour ’ From Death s cold shadow ﬂy.

O Grave , where is thy triumph is O Death , where thy sting c Come when thou wilt , and wel ome

Sec ure in Christ I sing .

’ H ALLGR IM P E TUR S S ON S D E ATH - B E D HYM N

OME C , Lord , Thyself with Thine abounding grace ; M ine utmost depth of need Thine eyes c an trace ’ d Thou , Lord , through life s long way my Guar and Guide ; ’ d Let not Thy pilgrim s last tire footsteps slide .

Upon my sight dark dawns the rising day ; f Faint all the sounds of earth , and far away ’ r None , none can aid ; by death s lone , nar ow door, ’ I pass be yond man s help for evermore . ’ 3 0 H allg rim P c tu rsso n s De ath - be d H y m n

N one , none can aid but Thou , Almighty Lord ; I stay me on Thine everlasting Word ’ - ﬂu n Let earth decay, heaven s far g glories pale , ’ Jehovah s plighted word can never fail .

E Within the ternal Arms I sink to rest , Washed in the stream that ﬂowed from Jesus ’ breast !

The life Thou gavest , Father , now defend

Into Thine Hands my spirit I c ommend .

Let the last psalm my dying voice can raise ,

E - xtol Thy loving kindness , hymn Thy praise Let the ﬁrst notes my wakening lips can frame

Amid the eternal glory , laud Thy Name .

c First , midst , and last , through that un louded day , ’ I would my Saviour s boundless grace display ,

And swell the anthems of the ransomed host ,

Ado rI n . g Father, Son , and Holy Ghost TRA NS LAT I O NS F RO M TH E HYMNS OF B I S HO P VA LD I MA R B R IE M

TH E VO I C E S OF C RE ATI ON

’ H o w glorious is God s greatness ! How marvellous God ’ s might ! To this the world bears witness In wonders day and night ;

In form of ﬂower and snowﬂake , ’ In morn s resplendent birth ,

In afterglow at even , In Sky and s e a and earth

E ach tiny ﬂo w e re t whispers ’ The great Life - giver s name ; The mighty mountain masses His majesty proclaim ; The hollow vales are hymning God ’ s shelter for His own The snow - capped peaks are pointing ’ To God s almighty throne .

The ocean ’ s vast abysses In one grand psalm record The deep mysterious counsels And mercy of the Lord 3 3 3 4 The Vo i c e s o f C re ati o n

The ice - cold waves of winter d Are thundering on the stran , ’ ’ E e n grief s chill stream is guided ’ ” - By God s all gracious hand .

The starry hosts are Singing

- s k Through all the light strewn y , Of God ’ s eternal Tem ple

- And Palace courts on high .

When , in these outer chambers ,

Such glory gilds the gloom , What the transcendent brightnes s Of God ’ s own Presence Room

AN AUTU M N HYM N

ULL F soon will fall the winter rain , Soon fade the green hill - side ;

With all thy glory, fare thee well ,

- Thou radiant summer tide .

Full soon will wail the winter wind , Soon fail the ﬂowers that blow ;

Let autumn blight the buds of earth , The ﬂowe r of Hope doth grow

The I c e la n di c o f B is h o p Valdimar B r ie m is bas e d o n a D an s h h n b Kas ar o hann e s B o e i ym y p J y .

’ 3 6 Go d s Bo o k o f N atu re

G OD ’ S BOO K O F NATU RE

H I m T S wondrous world, my God , a book I dee , Wherein the Author ’ s heavenly glories shine The petals of the wayside ﬂowers m e s e e m ’ Its pages , pencilled o er by hand divine .

The s u n that soars above the eastern deep Toward the realms celestial be c ko n e th me S The glowing orb , which westering sinks to leep ,

Tells of eternal rest and peace with Thee .

’ Within my breast fair spring s life - laden wind Kindles new hope in Thine abounding g race ; The gathering gloom of autumn bids me ﬁnd

Within Thy sheltering arms my hiding place .

r The countless stars which gleam athwa t the Sky , Speak of Thine eyes which sleep not day nor night

- While at my feet the earth born ﬂowers reply, ’ We live our lowly lives within God s Sight . d Grant me , dear Lor , to scan Thy works , until m I n l r My heart their soothing st y doth own . What though Thy might the ﬂesh with awe instil

- The Spirit yearns to Thine all gracious throne . The Valle y o f the Sh ado w 37

TH E VALLE Y O F TH E SHADOW

’ OFT in death s shadowy vale , like screen of night , ’ Before life s Sun the driving cloud - mists blow

N o way lies Open to the halls of light . The passes stand deep blocked by drifted snow ;

Lord , ever let Thy heavens unclouded shine ’ Lighten Thy pilgrim s eyes with light divine .

- Oft in the narrow rock girt paths of life ,

The weary will would fail , the strength would ﬂee ;

I stagger weakened by the unceasing strife ,

Fainting I fall , unless Thou succour me ’ o e rbu rde n e d What time the spirit dreads defeat ,

O champion her , Thou heavenly Paraclete . Oft mid the noisy tumult of the world ’ No more I hear the angels healing song , ’ Only the torrents threatening roar, where hurled In rapids time ’ s swift stream is borne along ’ Lord , o er the surge of waters rude and wild ,

Grant me to hear Thy call , My child My child !

’ When o er mine eyelids steals the long last sleep , ’ Thy face s unveiled glory would I s e e ;

The weary ﬂesh seeks rest in slumber deep ,

0 . With might , let my spirit strengthened be E ’ arth s voices fade deep mid the peace of heaven ,

Speak , Lord , the assuring words , Arise , for given 38 The Lan d B e y o n d the Se a

TH E LAN D B E YON D TH E S EA

I S TAND by the lonely breakers ’ s e a And gaze o er the misty , Which wrapt in the clouds of winter I s heaving sullenly ’ Tis a shore where gaunt Need reigneth , And Wo e with her freezing breath S For the shore is the hore of the dying ,

And the sea is the sea of death .

But far o ’er the dim horizon There lieth a land that is fair The s u n with his gorgeous colours I S painting the cloud - banks there

- There , robing the green hill shoulders , The golden ﬂo w e re ts grow ’ And the fruit - trees cloaks of blossom

In the Spicy breezes blow .

Girt round with a mystic glory al Fair p aces I behold ,

With many a sculptured pillar , With many a tower of gold ;

The hosts of the saved , resplendent

In glistering white array , M id rapture untold are thronging

Those corridors of day . The Lan d be y o n d the Se a 39

In silen c e I yearn a s I listen To the far - off chime of bells How nobly the voice of worship Through the heavenly Temple swells S I hark to the hout of the victors , ’ I list to the angels lays , AS they sing to the Lo rd of Glory

Grand anthems of endless praise. Speak Is this a baseless fabric Reared high by the dreams of man Nay ! N ay ! ’tis the fair fulﬁlment ’ Of God s everlasting plan .

Sure speaks the eternal promise ,

Sure works the almighty grace , * Till the strife - men of earth are marshalled ’ Triumphant before God s face .

TH E D IVI N E G U E ST

O T H OU who madest water wine ’ At Cana s festal board ,

Remember me , great Guest Divine , And speak the mighty word ; The sin that taints life ’s mingled cup Transform to Christian grace ; And for j ust anger , Lord , lift up

The shining of Thy fac e .

“ Strife - m e n is a lite ral re n d e rin g o f the I c e lan dic ” n r w o rd m e an i g s o ldi e s . 40 The Di vin e G ue st

Thy time , O Christ , is not yet come Heaven ’ s rapture to bestow

But grant that , exiled here from home , My heart may thither go The earth - renewing sunshine sleeps Till winter ’ s storms be passed s o And Thy wisdom , Saviour, keeps

The goo d wine till the last .

’ If Thou should st deign my guest to be , Full well may I rej oice ; E ach anxious festal want shall ﬂee

- Thine all creating voice .

Come sup with me on earth , dear Lord ,

Where tears with gladness blend , That I may join Thy heavenly board

I n bliss that knows no end .

TH E D IVI N E PI LOT

W H E N winds far - blown from realms of pain ’ - Lash sorrow s storm waves high , ’ de e m e s t Thou , tossed on life s rough main , That death looms threatening by c c Thou allest , Christ , whose voice once urbed

With power the raging deep , Where is Thy might ! All - undisturbed ” Thou liest , O Lord , asleep . The Di v i n e Pi lo t 4 1

’ What though He seem to sleep yea , e en To slight thine anguished cries 7’ Yield not to gaunt despair serene

Against the danger rise . ’ He sleeps not . Nay tis we that sleep Untouched by slumber ’ s power

He watches . Would that we could keep Such watch with Him one hour Behold Him rise in majesty ! Shame on thy faithless fears !

He stays the wind , He stills the sea , ff From o the rocks He steers . ’ ’ So watch , for tis Thy Lord s command , Thyself in calm or strife

For hard the task , and weak the hand ,

And Short the course of life .

Give heed to watch , give heed to pray ,

But scorn thy guilty fear , Though mighty billows night and day

Their threatening crests uprear . What if untracked before thy face The watery wastes expand ’

he lm . thro u h The , g God s abounding grace , ’ Lies in thy Saviour s hand .

M idst black confusion of the storm ,

Midst moan of winds , He hears ;

And ever at the stern His Form ,

- s Majestic , God like steer 42 The H o ly Mo u nt

’ - o Till onward past death s ice b und strand , ’ il ' re a ke r Where pain s w d b s foam ,

He guides thee to that Blessed Land ,

Anchored in endless home .

TH E H O LY M OUN T

W HAT though this weary earth - born ﬂesh lie fettered i l n prison - house of night !

The spirit rises heavenward , upward ranging Toward the realms of light

- e she Up to the ray crown d peak her Lord follows , With s in - purged eyes to s can From that clear height the fair far - spreading vistas ’ Of God s redeeming plan .

- Yea , though the ﬂesh , far sundered from the

dawning ,

M id shades of death here lie , The soul upon the mount o f faith ascending

In prayer to heaven draws nigh . So high that hill that in the darkling distance E arth ’s troubles fade away

Close , close at hand the high things and the holy

Stand forth in fair array.

a - Far, far below, down in the e rth girt valley ,

Night broods upon the clod . Look up along the mountain c rest is breaking

The glad sunrise of God .

44 The G o o d Sh e ph e rd

’ ’ Yea, though death s chill mist shroud life s ﬂowery

valley, It hath no power to affright

I raise mine eyes , and near me Jesus only

Stands in immortal light .

TH E GOO D S H E PH E RD

OOD d G Shepher , Thou who gavest

Thy life upon the Cross , A sacriﬁce to save u s ’ From sin s eternal loss , Grant us in dear remembrance

Thy wondrous gift to keep , d Bought by Thy blood and numbere ,

Saviour, among Thy sheep .

Sure stands our steadfast comfort , For Thou our Shepherd art With this bright faith no sorrow Can overwhelm the heart ; Thou leadest forth Thy people Where living waters ﬂow With fruits celestial feedest ’ On Calvary s Tree that grow . What though the wolf would drive Far from this blissful ground ! The Lord with arm of glory Doth compass u s around ; The Ph ari se e an d the Publi c an 45

And over stream and mountain , ’ - Whene er self willed we roam , The Shepherd on His shoulders

Rejoi c ing bears us home .

’ One day in God s new heavens ,

Jerusalem above ,

Their Guide the sheep will follow ,

Drawn on with cords of love , ’ Through life s immortal pastures ,

Through raptures all untold ,

One ﬂock for everlasting ,

One Shepherd , and one fold .

TH E PHARIS E E AN D TH E P U BLICAN

’ U NTO God s House in olden day Two men together went to pray ;

This for his right deeds sought reward,

That for mere mercy low implored .

When in Thine House to Thee I cry,

Lord , whether of the twain am I

Ofttimes I kneel , a Pharisee

- In Sinful self complacency,

Though nought I have , and all I owe

rac iOu s Thy pardon , g Lord , bestow, And grant that humbler mind which stayed

Far off in temple courts , and prayed . Labo u re rs in the Vi n e y ard I dare not lift mine eyes on high To search the glories of t he s ky ;

But , seated on Thy throne of light ,

Thou , Lord , canst pierce this earthly night

Thine eyes can count each contrite tear ,

NO Sigh but ﬁnds Thy listening ear .

My breast I smite in sorrow sore , ’ And 10 ! I knock at Mercy s door — m Be each unlocked y breast to Thee , Thy Kingdom ’ s boundless realm to me s in So make my heart , from washed pure ,

Thy Kingdom , Lord , for evermore.

LABO U R E RS I N TH E VI N E YARD

W HAT time life ’ s early morning S k Is purpling in thy y, And on thy brow lies glistening With glory from on high ’ The font s fresh dew , Thy Lord doth say ,

n - Go ! In my Vi eyard work to day .

At the third hour, when gorgeous o f The sun youth doth rise , And life ’ s entrancing glamour

Allures thy wondering eyes , Remember ! Still He calleth thee

To tend H is Vineyard faithfully . Labo u re rs in the Vine y ard 47

At noon when all - reluctant

- The hard pressed toilers work , Hark ! Still that VOIc e Is calling ; One task thou dar ’ st not Shirk

- To make that vine row wondrous fair ,

Which He hath trusted to thy care .

u At the last ho r He calleth , ’ When westering sinks life s sun , And sable twilight falleth ' E e r half the task be done While the last fading day - beams s hm e ! Toil on toil on in strength divine .

At night the Lord His workmen Himself doth homeward lead

E - ach wins the self same wages ,

E ternal life the meed . ’ ! God Tis Thy gift , not our reward All merit ﬂows from Christ the Lord ! 48 A Whi ts u n tide Hym n

A WH ITS U NTI D E H YM N

O R D L , let Thy Spirit , from earthly passion

weaning , ’ - Lead me along Thy will s all holy way , ’ To ﬁnd , by faith on Jesus bosom leaning , ’ Mid trial , doubt , and need , in Him my stay .

’ Lord , let Thy Spirit , Thy Word s deep wealth

unsealing, ' Lighten mine eyes with truth s celestial ﬁre ;

In life , in death , the narrow path revealing

Towards the Promised Land o f our desire .

Lord , let Thy Spirit , new love , new life bestowing , Create a holy heart my breast within ; ’ That I , into my Saviour s likeness growing , in May bear H is image through a world of s .

- Lord , let Thy Spirit , each idol form down tearing,

Cast from my soul the thoughts , the Sins that stain

Within those walls a temple meet preparing,

Where Jesus evermore may dwell , and reign . T RA NS LAT I O NS F ROM VA R I O US A UTH ORS

5 2 An Ev e n in g H y m n

AN E V E N IN G HYM N

’ TH E s un S inks o er the western sea , Swift fades the light of day ; Thus ends another stage for me ’ Of life s soon travelled way . S Whether athwart the eastern kies ,

With morning glories strown ,

- S A new born day for me hall rise ,

God knows , and God alone .

E nough for me to know that life o M oves to its certain g al , And that the hour of mortal strife ’ My Father s hands control .

E nough to feel (and so in peace

To rest , dear Lord , I go)

Thy care for me can never cease , ’ Thy love n e er weary grow .

Father of love , to Thee we bow Do Thou in mercy keep

Our land , our home in peace , as now

We lay u s down to sleep .

' A e r the I e lan d c o f Ar n o r on ss o n A D 1 8 c . . ! ft i J , 53 An Easte r Hy m n

AN E ASTE R HYM N

E ATH D is dead , the true Life liveth O ’ er the portals of the grave ’ Life s great Sun bright - Shining giveth Light our darkened souls to save Christ arisen bursts our prison

- See His triumph banners wave .

’ ’ Life s own King on C alv ary dyin g Wins a crown of life for me ’ E e n the grave to Him complying Flowers in life abundant free Death’ s chill sadness changed to gladness This the E aster victory !

He who rose from death all - glorious Soon will gather to His side

Those who sleep in Him , victorious By the blood His wounds supplied ; S Flesh and pirit , through His merit ,

fi . Reunited , glori ed

’ Jesu , death s Destroyer, make me Day by day to die with Thee ;

Thus , with Thee arising , take me Thine through all the days to be

Thine for ever, faithless never

This my prayer unceasingly .

A te r the I c e l an d c o f H e l i lfd n ar n f i g Ha é s o . 5 4 An E v e ni n g I n t e rc e ssio n

AN E VE N IN G I NTE RC E SSI ON *

ORD ’ O L , my soul s true Sun , to rest Day ’ s orb is sinking in the West ’ As earth s light fades , upon my sight

Let dawn Thy everlasting light . Come breathe on us a holy peace Bid every haunting fear to cease ;

S in - Our sick spirits heal , and aid

Thy servants in Thine image made .

Dear Saviour , seek each wandering child ,

- Lost on the snow waste bare and wild ,

Until he taste , no more to roam , ’ The warm love of the Father s home .

Thou knowest , Lord , each secret need ; The hungry from Thy bounty feed ; Spare hearts too weak to conquer wrong,

. And in Thy strength , O make them strong On all who stray with blinded sight

Mid heathen darkness day and night , S Uplift the hining of Thy face , ’ A nd Show them Jesus throne of grace .

O let Thy light with power imbue E ach withered soul to ﬂower anew ;

Thy spirit grant mid earthly strife ,

Blest earnest of eternal life .

ia s o hu m s s o n Afte r the I c e lan di c o f M atth J c . I c e landic Mille nn i al Hym n 55

I C E LAN D IC M I LLE N N IAL HYM N *

’ GOD of our land , our father s God , receive

- The hymn we raise to Thine all holy name . Thy crown the ministering ages weave

Of suns celestial , galaxies of ﬂame .

To Thee one day is as a thousand years,

A thousand years to Thee are but a day ,

A ﬂower of endless time , bedewed with tears , lo riﬁe s Which g its God , and fades away

Our thousand years ,

A ﬂower of endless time , bedewed with tears , lo riﬁ e s Which g its God and fades away .

God of our Iceland , now with burning heart We offer Thee this sacriﬁce of praise ; '

From age to age Thou , Lord , our Father art ; Our holy anthem unto Thee we raise

To Thee , as now are told our thousand years ,

We sing , for other refuge have we none

To Thee our voices lift , midst falling tears , i Great Shaper of our lot , wh lst ages run . Our thousand years 10 ! Midst gloom of morning twilight , our tears , n Lit with the glory of the rising s u .

A e the I c e lan d c o f Ma hias o c hu m sso n ft r i tt J . 5 6 I c e l andi c M ille nni al H ym n

’ ! God of our land , our father s God , behold We are but fading ﬂower and withering grass ;

If Thou be not our light and life , to mould , ’ After Spring s transient gleam , we fade and pass . S Be, Lord , each morn a pring of endless life ; Our Captain midst the battle of the day ;

At eve our heavenly resting place from strife , ’ The Leader of Thy people s pilgrim way . Our thousand years ! Increase the nation ! Wipe away all tears ! We j oin the Host of God towards the day !

r n t r o w R 05 ” ! S c o tt, P a te os e R ,