54 HEU! QUID JACES STABULO, OMNIUM CREATOR?
By Jean Momboir, with Johannes Mauburnus for the Latin, and John Mauburn for the English form of his name. Born in 1460 at Brussels; a Canon Regular of the Brethren of the Common Life in the Low Countries; died Abbot of the Cloister of Livry, not far from Paris, in 1502 or 1503. In his large work, the “Spiritual Rose-garden,” there is a rosary on the birth of Christ, consisting of thirteen stanzas, which commence, Eja, mea anima, Bethlehem eamus. The hymn beginning as above consists of three stanzas taken from that poem. The detached stanzas passed into many of the older German hymn-books, met with great favour in the early Reformed Churches, so long as the practice of singing Latin compositions survived among them, and still retain a place in some German hymnals in an old translation, with for opening line, Warum liegt im Krippelein.
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| Wherefore in the lowly stall, O Thou great Creator, Dost Thou raise Thine infant call, Glorious Renovator? 55 Where Thy purple if a King? Where the shouts Thy subjects bring? Where Thy royal castle? Here is want with all her train, Poverty proclaims her reign— These Thy court and vassal. | | Hither, by My love impelled, Have I come to save thee; Sin has long thy nature held, Powerful to enslave thee. By My emptiness and woe, By the grace that I bestow, Do I seek to fill thee. By My humble, lowly birth, By this sacrifice on earth, Blessing great I will thee. | | Songs of praise, ten thousand songs, Sing I will and laud Thee; 56 For such grace my spirit longs, Ever to applaud Thee. Glory, glory let there be, Lover of mankind to Thee, In the heaven supernal. Let this testimony fly Over earth, and sea, and sky, Borne by songs eternal. | |