The great forerunner of the morn,
The herald of the Word, is born:
And faithful hearts shall never fail
With thanks and praise his light to hail.

With heavenly message Gabriel came,
That John should be that herald’s name,
And with prophetic utterance told
His actions great and manifold.

John, still unborn, yet gave aright
His witness to the coming Light;
And Christ, the Sun of all the earth,
Fulfilled that witness at His birth.

Of woman born shall never be
A greater prophet than was he,
Whose mighty deeds exalt his fame
To greater than a prophet’s name.

But why should mortal accents raise
The hymn of John the Baptist’s praise?
Of whom, or e’er his course was run,
Thus spake the Father to the Son?

“Behold, My herald, who shall go
Before Thy face Thy way to show,
And shine, as with the day-star’s gleam,
Before Thine own eternal beam.”

All praise to God the Father be,
All praise, eternal Son, to Thee,
Whom with the Spirit we adore
Forever and forevermore.

Open the windows of Heaven,
Send showers of blessing just now;
Look on us, Lord, in Thy mercy,
While humbly before Thee we bow.

Refrain

Showers of blessing,
Fresh showers of blessing we need;
Showers of blessing,
For showers of blessing we plead.

Open the windows of Heaven,
Look tenderly on us in love
Coming in heartfelt contrition,
We pray Thee our sins hence remove.

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Trusting, we’ll try Thee, and prove Thee;
All effort without Thee is vain;
Earth’s greatest pleasures are fleeting,
Their loss is our infinite gain.

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Open the windows of Heaven,
And bless us for Thy dear Son’s sake;
His blood shed for our redemption,
Our plea, only plea we now make.

Refrain