San Francisco Central Seventh-day Adventist Church

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136 Good Christians, Now Rejoice

Tr. by John M. Neale, 1853 (1818-1866)
14th century melody
Arr. by C. Winfred Douglas, 1918 (1867-1944)

The origin of this hymn is uncertain, but it probably was written in Germany during the fourteenth century. A traditional sotry tells about a vision that came to one Heinrich Suso, fourteenth-century mystic, in which a choir of angels sang this carol to him, and then drew him in to dance with them.

At the Moravian mission in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the mission diary of September 14, 1745, records that it was sung simultaneously in 13 languages, European and Indian.

The tune name IN DULCI JUBILO means literally, "In sweet shouting, or jubilation, or joyful noise." It has been found at Leipzig University Library in a manuscript dating from around 1400. The arrangement in the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal is by C. Winfred Douglas, a prominent Episcopal hymnologist.

Good Christians, now rejoice,
With heart, and soul, and voice;
Give ye heed to what we say:
Jesus Christ is born today;
Ox and ass before Him bow,
And He is in the manger now.
Christ is born today!
Christ is born today!

Good Christians, now rejoice,
With heart, and soul, and voice;
Now ye hear of endless bliss:
Jesus Christ was born for this!
He hath ope'd the heav'nly door,
And we are blessed evermore.
Christ was born for this!
Christ was born for this!

Good Christians, now rejoice,
With heart, and soul, and voice;
Now ye need not fear the grace:
Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and call you all
To gain His everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save!
Christ was born to save!