"The Voice that Breathed o'er Eden"
                      by John Keble, 1792-1866             
                              Text From:
                  THE HANDBOOK TO THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL
          (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1942)p.445




	1. The voice that breathed o'er Eden,
	That earliest wedding-day,
	The primal marriage blessing,--
	It hath not passed away.
	Still in the pure espousal
	Of Christian man and maid
	The Triune God is with us,
	The threefold grace is said.

	2. Be present, loving Father,
	To give away this bride
	As Thou gav'st Eve to Adam,
	A helpmeet at his side.
	Be present, Son of Mary,
	To join their loving hands
	As Thou didst bind two natures
	In Thine eternal bands.

	3. Be present, Holiest Spirit,
	To bless them as they kneel,
	As Thou for Christ, the Bridegroom,
	The heavenly Spouse dost seal.
	Oh, spread Thy pure wing o'er them,
	Let no ill power find place
	When onward to Thine altar
	Their hallowed path they trace.

	4. To cast their crowns before Thee
	In humble sacrifice,
	Till to the home of gladness
	With Christ's own Bride they rise.
	To Father, Son, and Spirit,
	Eternal One and Three,
	As was and is forever,
	All praise and glory be.

       

        Notes:
        Hymn #622 from _The Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal_
        Text: Eccl. 4:12
        Author: John Keble, 1857, ab., alt.        
        Tune: "Eden"
        1st Published in: _Sacred Hymns and Tunes_
        Town: Boston, 1880