Scripture Verse

He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. Acts 7:60

Introduction

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John M. Neale (1818–1866)
Wikipedia

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Words: Un­known au­thor, 11th Cen­tu­ry (Sanc­te Dei pre­ti­o­se). Trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by John M. Neale in The Hym­nal Not­ed, 1852, alt.

Music: St. Tho­mas (Webbe) Sam­uel Webbe, Mo­tetts or An­ti­phons 1792 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Lyrics

Saint of God, elect and pre­cious,
Protomartyr Ste­phen, bright
With thy love of amp­lest mea­sure,
Shining round thee like a light;
Who to God com­mend­est, dy­ing,
Them that did thee all de­spite.

Glitters now the crown above thee,
Figured in thy hon­ored name:
O that we, who tru­ly love thee,
May have por­tion in the same;
In the dread­ful day of judg­ment
Fearing nei­ther sin nor shame.

Laud to God, and might, and hon­or,
Who with flow­ers of ro­sy dye
Crowned thy fore­head, and hath placed thee
In the star­ry throne on high:
He di­rect us, He pro­tect us,
From death’s sting eter­nal­ly.

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The Stoning of St. Stephen
Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669)