...To cry for vengence sin doth never cease

[gwyn]

Hello all,

A question was raised at choir prac last Friday evening. We were singing through a rather nice arrangement of "Drop, drop slow tears", an alto asked "What does "To cry for vengence sin doth never cease." Mean?

Here's the whole:
Drop, drop, slow tears, and bathe those beauteous feet,
which brought from heaven the news and Prince of Peace.

Cease not, wet eyes, his mercies to entreat;
to cry for vengeance sin doth never cease.

In your deep floods drown all my faults and fears;
nor let his eye see sin, but through my tears.
Phineas Fletcher (1582-1650)

I wondered whether it might be a reference to the blood ofAbel crying from the ground for vengence, but that seems a bit of a thin link.

Any thoughs?

As ever, grateful for thoughts and advice.

Gwyn.

[Nick Baty]

And what of "those beauteous feet, which brought from heaven the news and Prince of Peace"? Did he walk?

[musicus]

Regarding the feet, it's an Old Testament reference:

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

(as immortalised by Handel in Messiah)

[musicus]

Read all about sins crying to heaven for vengeance here: http://www.catholicdoors.com/faq/qu43.htm

Sounds like Penny Catechism stuff to me, but if Phineas Fletcher references it, it must go back earlier.

[presbyter]

See catechism 1867 - with Scripture references

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P6D.HTM

[musicus]

Thank you, presbyter. I should have spotted the source on the page I have linked to.
Before my time, of course.

[musicus]

More on the feet: Isaiah 57:2 is also the source for Our God reigns (not Handel).

[Nick Baty]

Regarding the feet, it's an Old Testament reference

Quite, but slightly skewed in Drop, drop, giving the appearance of the Messiah something of a Pythonesque quality.

[Hare]

I have always interpreted this hymn as referring to the story in Luke 7 (I think-haven't checked) of the "Woman with a bad name in the town" who wept over Our Lord's feet.....

[gwyn]

Hare said,

I have always interpreted this hymn as referring to the story in Luke 7 (I think-haven't checked) of the "Woman with a bad name in the town" who wept over Our Lord's feet.....

Me too. I couldn't quite get the sin crying out to heaven for vengence. It all makes sense now though.

This Friday might be the first time I arrive to take choir rehearsal equipped with all the answers. Bet there'll be a shed-load of new questions.

Thanks everyone.
Gwyn.