Er will sich als deinen Bürgen An dem Holze lassen würgen: Dass der liebliche Geruch Seines Segens deinen Fluch Ganz verjage, will Er werden Selbst ein Fluch auf dieser Erden; Alleluia! Alleluia! Moses hat nun ausregieret, Christi freier Geist uns führet, Die Gefangenschaft ist aus; Wer gehört in Gottes Haus, Kann durch unsers Heilands Büssen, Freier Kindschaft nun geniessen; Alleluia! Alleluia! Nun der Vorhang ist zerrissen, Darf ein jeder sein geflissen, In das Heilge einzugehn, Und vor Gott ohn Furcht zu stehn: Der, so zu uns ist gekommen, Hat uns alle Furcht benommen; Alleluia! Alleluia! Drum auf, Zion! dich dess freue, Deinen König benedeie, Gieb Ihm Herz und Mund zugleich, Du bist Braut, Er will das Reich Mit dir theilen; darum bringe Dich Ihm selbst zum Opfer! singe: Alleluia! Alleluia! Johann Anastasius Freylinghausen. 1670-1739. Advent Hymn. I. This is the Lord; we have waited for Him: we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation. _Isaiah_, xxv. 9. Wake! the welcome Day appeareth, How with joy our hearts it cheereth! Wake! the Lord’s great Year behold! That which holy men of old, Those who throng the Sacred Pages, Waited for through countless ages; Alleluia! Alleluia! Now the wished for Morning breaketh; Hark! how Sion’s daughter waketh Shouts of joy and jubilee, Thus His Advent-dawn to see: King and Bridegroom she enthrones Him, Though ’tis but a remnant owns Him; Alleluia! Alleluia! Patriarchs erst and priests aspiring, Kings and prophets long desiring, Saw not this before they died: Lo! the Light to them denied! See its beams to earth directed! Welcome, O Thou long-expected! Alleluia! Alleluia! He, the Saviour sent from heaven, Once through faith to Abram given, Israel’s Sun and glorious King, Hope to which the heathen cling, Now on earth with men abiding, Comes to Zion meekly riding; Alleluia! Alleluia! Lo! He comes, a Victim willing, All His Father’s Will fulfilling; He will, through His precious Blood, All things once again make good, Pain and shame of death sustaining, What was lost with joy regaining; Alleluia! Alleluia! In our stead Himself He offers, On th’ accursed Tree He suffers, That His Death’s sweet savour may Take our curse for aye away; Cross and curse for us enduring, Hope and heaven to us securing; Alleluia! Alleluia! Moses’ law no longer rules us, Christ’s free Spirit gently schools us; Ended now our captive thrall, He who God obeys in all, Through his Saviour’s Death and Merit, Now enjoys adoption’s spirit; Alleluia! Alleluia!