William Chatterton Dix (1837-1898). I. Epiphany Hymn ("As with gladness"). Alfred H. Miles, ed. 1907. The Sacred Poets of the Nineteenth Century

Alfred H. Miles, ed. The Sacred Poets of the Nineteenth Century. 1907.

I. Epiphany Hymn (“As with gladness”)

By William Chatterton Dix (1837–1898)


AS with gladness men of old
Did the guiding star behold,
As with joy they hail’d its light,
Leading onward, beaming bright;
So, most gracious LORD, may we	5
Evermore be led to Thee.

As with joyful steps they sped,
Saviour, to Thy lowly bed,
There to bend the knee before
Thee Whom Heav’n and earth adore;	10
So may we with willing feet
Ever seek Thy mercy-seat.

As they offer’d gifts most rare
At Thy cradle rude and bare;
So may we with holy joy,	15
Pure and free from sin’s alloy,
All our costliest treasures bring,
CHRIST, to Thee our heavenly King.

Holy JESUS, every day
Keep us in the narrow way;	20
And, when earthly things are past,
Bring our ransom’d souls at last
Where they need no star to guide,
Where no clouds Thy glory hide.

In the Heav’nly country bright	25
Need they no created light;
Thou its Light, its Joy, its Crown,
Thou its Sun which goes not down;
There for ever may we sing
Alleluias to our King.	30