When Christ was risen from the dead (Orlando Gibbons)

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• CPDL #29676: 

Editor: Ross Jallo (submitted 2013-07-19).   Score information: Letter, 2 pages, 75 kB   Copyright: Public Domain

Edition notes: Original key; note values halved.

General Information

Title: When Christ was risen from the dead
Composer: Orlando Gibbons
Lyricist: George Wither

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB

Genre: Sacred, Hymn

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

Published: The Hymnes and Songs of the Church (London, 1623)

Description: This text (intended for the feast of St. Thomas, December 21st) and the soprano and bass of this tune were both published in George Wither's The Hymnes and Songs of the Church (London, 1623). The text is the sixty-second song, prescribed to be sung to the tune of the ninth song. The alto and tenor parts were written by Basil Harwood for The Oxford Hymn Book (Oxford, 1908); alternatively, the soprano melody could be accompanied by continuo playing the bass line.

Original text and translations

English text

When Christ was risen from the dead,
And Thomas of the same was told,
He would not credit it, he said,
Though he himself should him behold,
Till he his wounded hands had eyed,
And thrust his fingers in his side.

Which trial he did undertake,
And Christ his frailty did permit,
By his distrusting sure to make
Such others, as might doubt of it:
So we had right, and he no wrong,
For by his weakness both are strong.

Oh, blessèd God, how wise thou art!
And how confoundest thou thy foes!
Who their temptations dost convert,
To work those ends which they oppose:
When Satan seeks our faith to shake,
The firmer he the same doth make.

Thus whatsoe'er he tempts us to,
His disadvantage let it be;
Yea, make those very sins we do,
The means to bring us nearer thee:
Yet let us not to ill con-sent,
Though colour'd with a good intent.