Hymns of the Early Church / being translations from the poetry of the Latin church, arranged in the order of the Christian year

by John Brownlie

ADESTO, SANCTA TRINITAS

Authorship unknown. It first occurs in a MS. of the eleventh century in the British Museum Library, has a place in the English Breviaries of York, Hereford, and St. Albans, and is printed in the “Latin Hymns of the Anglo-Saxon Church.”

I

Be present, Holy Trinity,

One glory Thou, one Deity;

Where’er creation’s bounds extend,

Thou art beginning without end.

II

The hosts of heaven Thy praise proclaim,

Adoring, tell Thy matchless fame;

Earth’s threefold fabric joins the song,

To bless Thee through the ages long.

III

And we, Thy humble servants, now

To Thee in adoration bow;

Our suppliant vows and prayers unite

With hymns that fill the realms of light.

IV

One Light, we Thee our homage pay,

We worship Thee, O triple ray;

Thou First and Last, we speak Thy fame,

And every spirit lauds Thy name.

V

Praise to the Eternal Father be;

Thou only Son, all praise to Thee;

And Holy Ghost to Thee be praise,

Great Triune God, yet One always.