

                       "The Ancient Law Departs"
                     by Sebastian Besnault, d.1724
                                 Text From:
                      THE LUTHERAN HANDBOOK TO THE HYMNAL
              (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1942)p.94



        1. The ancient Law departs,
        And all its fears remove,
        For Jesus makes with faithful hearts
        A covenant of love.

        2. The Light of Light Divine,
        True brightness undefiled,
        He bears for us the pain of sin
        A holy, spotless Child.

        3. His infant body now
        Begins the cross to feel:
        Those precious drops of blood that flow
        For death the Victim seal.

        4. Today the name is Thine
        At which we bend the knee.
        They call Thee Jesus, Child Divine;
        Our Jesus deign to be.

        5. All praise, eternal Son,
        For Thy redeeming love,
        With Father, Spirit, ever One
        In glorious might above. Amen.

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        Notes:
        Hymn #117 from _The Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal_
        Text: Luke 2:21
        Author: Sebastian Besnault, 1736
        Translated by: composite, 1861, alt.
        Titled: "Debilis cessant elementa legis"
        Composer: Johann S. Bach, 1750, ad.
        Tune: "Potsdam"
        1st Published in: _Church Psalter_, 1854
         ______________________________________________________________
         This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg
             by Debbie Harris and is in the public domain. You may
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        comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther
                  Library at Concordia Theological Seminary.
                                       
                          E-mail: bob_smith@ctsfw.edu

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