A thrilling voice is sounding

This Latin hymn beginning “Vox clara ecce intonate” was translated into English by Edward Caswall. He was born July 15, 1814, at Yately in Hampshire. His father R. C. Caswall was a clergyman there. Edward died January 2, 1878, and is buried in the Oratory Retreat Cemetery in West Midlands, England. The author of the original Latin hymn is unknown.

The hymn is in 8s.7s. meter and appears as Hymn 47 with the tune Merton in Hymns Ancient and Modern (William Henry Monk and Charles Steggall, editors. London, William Clowes and Sons, Complete Edition, 1889). William Henry Monk (1823-1889) was an English organist and church musician who served as musical editor of Hymns Ancient and Modern. He is possibly best known through his hymn Eventide.

Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

1. Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding;
“Christ is nigh!” it seems to say;
“Cast away the dreams of darkness,
O ye children of the day!"

2. Wakened by the solemn warning,
Let the earth-bound soul arise;
Christ, our Sun, all ill dispelling,
Shines upon the morning skies.

3. Lo! the Lamb, so long expected,
Comes with pardon down from heaven.
Let us haste, with godly sorrow,
Through his blood to be forgiven.

4. That when next he comes with glory,
And the world is wrapped in fear;
With his love may we be shielded
And with words of love draw near.

5. Honour, glory, might, and blessing,
To the Father and the Son,
With the Everlasting Spirit,
While eternal ages run.