This is a c18 Trinitarian hymn with an unknown author and set to ITALIAN HYMN by Felice de Giardini. I’ve already blogged this under it’s other title “Come, Thou Almighty King”, but I improved the backing somewhat so I thought I’d repost.
Also, Gather has removed the archaic language and some violent imagery, but I don’t think it helps. If you really want to sing something from three hundred years ago the text from the time either works or it doesn’t. I’m not sure this sort of song can be sung these days anyway – the remote past is another country with a foreign and strange mind set that is a big issue for participation. The music has a triumphalist nature like a national anthem that is distracting – a lot of “Christ the King” songs have the same problem. Of course, that’s probably my problem rather than anything else.
That obviously doesn’t stop it being used well if your assembly is still singing and joining in such hymnody. I particularly recommend the congregation, choir and organist in the clip below because the organist stops playing for a verse to let everyone sing – lovely.
Here is a new fake BIAB organ backing to sing along to.
1
Come now, almighty King,
Help us your name to sing,
Help us to praise.
Father, all glorious,
Ever victorious,
Come and reign over us,
Ancient of Days.
2
Come now, incarnate Word,
Merciful mighty Lord,
Our prayer attend.
Come and your people bless,
And give your word success;
Grant us your holiness,
Saviour and friend.
3
Come, holy Comforter,
Your sacred witness bear
In this glad hour:
Your grace to us impart,
Now rule in every heart,
Never from us depart,
Spirit of power.
4
To the great One in Three,
Eternal praises be
For evermore.
Your sov’reign majesty
May we in glory see,
And, to eternity
Love and adore.
This is probably more original, although the text in the sheet music is even more bloodthirsty.:
1
Come, Thou Almighty King,
Help us Thy name to sing,
Help us to praise.
Father, all glorious,
O’er all victorious,
Come, and reign over us,
Ancient of Days.
2
Come, Thou incarnate Word,
Gird on Thy mighty sword,
Our prayer attend:
Come, and Thy people bless,
And give Thy word success;
Spirit of holiness,
On us descend.
3
Come, holy Comforter,
Thy sacred witness bear
In this glad hour:
Thou who Almighty art,
Now rule in every heart,
And ne’er from us depart,
Spirit of power.
4
To Thee, great One in Three,
Eternal praises be
Hence evermore.
Thy sov’reign majesty
May we in glory see,
And to eternity
Love and adore.