Christmas Carols
When The Harping Seraphim Lyrics
1. When the harping Seraphim
Sang Creation's mattin hymn,
Ere this world grew cold and dim,
All was holy, good, and fair;
Angel wings were in the air,
And the voice of God was there.
2. Oftentimes a dream will rise,
In the light of summer skies,
Of man's forfeit Paradise:
Fondly, vainly, we retrace
All the glory and the grace
Of that long-lost dwelling-place.
3. Bitter, hitter was the shoot,
Deadly, deadly was the fruit
Of the fatal knowledge-root:
When the serpent, preaching sin,
Dared his subtil way to win
Eva's wayward heart within.
4. Then our Eden was o'erthrown:
Man was driven forth alone,
In the world to toil and groan:
Weary heart and aching brow
Stubborn earth to dig and plow,
This must he his portion now.
5. But the heaven-horn light of faith
Shines upon the couch of death,
Soothes and cheers the failing breath:
One there is who opens wide
Eden's portal long denied,
Christ, our Saviour and our guide.
6. Life has sorrow, death has fear;
But the Son of God is near,
Pointing to a happier sphere:
Where, their toils and trials o'er,
Souls, by him redeem'd, adore
God their Saviour evermore.